"Cowplant Berry failed to germinate..." ???

[Sannara]

I tried to plant a cowplant (and an alien fang plant) and got the following message: "Cowberry Plant failed to germinate. Try putting it on a more open space before planting it."  The problem is that it was in the large planter (which holds 4 plants or 1 tree), so I don't know how to give it more space. (Since "plant" isn't an option when the seed is on the ground in TS4.)

My sim's gardening skill is maxed, I have no CC or mods. Any ideas?

[oshizu]

You'll need an empty area of 2x5 tiles to plant your cowberry.

Here's a picture of my cowplant in Build mode, so you can see how much space the cowberry needs.


You can't initially plant a cowplant in one of those 2x2 planter boxes.
Once it's fully grown, though, you can move it to a planter box and it will only occupy a 2x2 footprint. 

[Steellace]

In regard to the cow plant, I agree completely with oshizu's post.  I've experienced the same thing, including being able to put it into a 2x2 box after it's grown.  As for the alien fang plant, my experience was a little different.  I was able to germinate it in a pot, but I had to put the pot in a nice open space (I think I used a 3x3 or so, but it's been a while, so it might have been bigger).  After it germinated, I was able to move the pot to a smaller area.

[sdhoey]

As oshizu posted, the cowplant has to planted on the ground in a open spot. It cant be grown in a pot or box.  As for the Fang, I've always grown it on the ground also.

[Sannara]

Thanks everyone. I'll try moving these to a bigger clear area.

[starwizard]

Hello all,

So with city living, I am getting the same error. I understand I need more ground space than the planter allows. Is it possible to plant the cowplant in an apartment? Where would I find ground to plant it in?

[Playalot]

Hello all,

So with city living, I am getting the same error. I understand I need more ground space than the planter allows. Is it possible to plant the cowplant in an apartment? Where would I find ground to plant it in?

I haven't been able to figure out a non-cheating way to grow a cow plant in an apartment. I did manage to complete the requirement by moving my sims into a house, growing the cow plant and then placing the cow plant into their household inventory and then moving them back into their original apartment. I then placed the cow plant down in their apartment, went into live mode so it would register and then sold it! A lot of fluffing about just to complete one requirement!

[iamsweetmystery]

The Alien Fang Plant is a tree. It must be grown either in the ground or a 2x2 planter box. Also, when grown indoors, they require a maximum-height ceiling. There's only one apartment with a default ceiling that high and that's the expensive glass penthouse on the left. Most apartments can't have their height changed either, because they have immovable floors above them.

[Sindocat]

I had to move a lemon tree off my covered porch to get it to germinate (in a round pot, btw), but bb.moveobjects let me put it back where I wanted it, by the front door. So germinate it where you can. Once it's growing, you can cheat to put it where you want it.

[apzaboro]

You'll need an empty area of 2x5 tiles to plant your cowberry.
...

You can't initially plant a cowplant in one of those 2x2 planter boxes.
Once it's fully grown, though, you can move it to a planter box and it will only occupy a 2x2 footprint. 

Knowing the 2x5 requirement, I was able to plant the cowplant in a 2x2 planter in the penthouse apartment.

I wasn't sure which way the plant would face, so rather than mess about with trial and error, I just gave the planter box 3 squares of clearance on all sides temporarily while I planted it, and it worked fine.  Once planted, it shows the 2x5 grid it needs, and I oriented it into an area just big enough for it.

My garden is on the rooftop, so I can't be certain if the ceiling height requirements are the same as for trees.