Re: Re: hib care

Andrea, mine loves kelp and greensand.  Kelp every 3 months, greensand every 6 months.

Pam Evans
Kemp, TX
zone 8A
----- Original Message -----
From: A A HODGES
Sent: 2/15/2005 5:53:02 PM
To: gardenchat@hort.net
Subject: Re: [CHAT] hib care

ROger that Sir! But mine languished this summer, but again, I think I was
watering too much and not feeding enough. 

THANKS!
A


Andrea H
hodgesaa@earthlink.net
EarthLink Revolves Around You.


> [Original Message]
> From: David Franzman <dfranzma@pacbell.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 2/15/2005 12:47:56 PM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] hib care
>
> Hi Andrea
>
> Yeah, cut way back on the water.  Is it a cold greenhouse?  Back off
baby! 
> They don't need that much during the winter if it's a cold house.  If
it's 
> warm you still don't need as much because we don't have that much sun. 
Try 
> that first.  Then if it still languishes then give it the bleach.  Also,
if 
> you haven't been feeding it give it half strength and a tablespoon of
Epsom 
> salts.  Also, if you have it a little Super Thrive wouldn't hurt.  By the 
> way, in the winter...and I think your climate is fairly close to mine
though 
> a little colder...they pretty much languish in the winter anyway.
>
> DF
> http://www.atouchofthetropics.net
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "A A HODGES" <hodgesaa@earthlink.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2005 3:34 AM
> Subject: RE: [CHAT] hib care
>
>
> > David
> >
> > Should I do that now while it's still relatively cold here? It's in the
> > greenhouse, has buds on it, and I think I'm probably overwatering it.
> > A
> >
> >
> > Andrea H
> > hodgesaa@earthlink.net
> > EarthLink Revolves Around You.
> >
> >
> >> [Original Message]
> >> From: David Franzman <dfranzma@pacbell.net>
> >> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> >> Date: 2/15/2005 1:00:30 AM
> >> Subject: [CHAT] hib care
> >>
> >> Hi folks
> >>
> >> Ok, exfoliating Hibs!  *First revert to fake French accent*  Hibeescus 
> >> are
> >> like women.  Intensely beautiful but at zee zame time tempermental and
> >> difficult to understand.
> >>
> >> Ok, forget that.  Loosing leaves is a common problem that everybody
> >> experiences.  The funny thing about Hibs is that they can be so damn
> >> tempermental but at the same time they will suprise you with their
> > tenacity to
> >> live.  Usually, they lose leaves because of some type of stress.  That
> > makes
> >> sense but there is a surprising number of things that make them 
> >> stressful.
> >> The most common are overwatering, underwatering or changing their
> > environment.
> >> They don't like change.  That could be taking them in for the winter or
> >> putting them out for the spring.  It could also mean just the changing
> >> seasons.  One nice thing about them though is that the leaves will grow
> > back
> >> right from the bottom of the plant.  I will quite often use that time
to
> > prune
> >> them.  Then you force the energy to the bottom of the plant and let
them
> > leaf
> >> out.  Another thing that will cause exfoliation especially for indoor
> > plants
> >> is spider mites.  Mites like warm dry air and while you may have mites
on
> >> several indoor plants they don't show it like hibs.  Look for a mottled
> > yellow
> >> leaf.  In severe cases you can see webbing.  They are relatively easy
to
> > take
> >> care of.  Blast them with water.  They live on the undersides of
leaves.
> > You
> >> can do it in the shower or outside with a hose.
> >>
> >> All of this stuff is part of the learning curve of Hibiscus.  It takes
a
> > year
> >> or two before you know what you are looking for.  I try and tell my
> > customers
> >> to ask questions before it's too late.  Most of the issues are ones
that
> > can
> >> be corrected immediately.
> >>
> >> Here's a word about watering:  Here in the west in summer it's almost
> >> impossible to overwater them.  They will take just as much as you want
to
> > give
> >> them.  During the winter when I've brought them in I almost wait until
> > they
> >> wilt before they get any.  I figure I'm just following the tropical
> > pattern of
> >> wet, hot summers and dry cooler winters.  In the east where you have a 
> >> lot
> >> more humidity than we do (as well as a lot more critters) water them
> > often but
> >> try and avoid getting the leaves wet in the evenings when they will
stay
> > wet
> >> all night.  That invites fungus problems.  Same pattern for the winter
> > though.
> >> Allow them to stay fairly on the dry side.  One of the ways I know if
my
> > hibs
> >> or any potted plants need water is to know how much your pot weighs
wet 
> >> or
> >> dry.  A tip of the finger or for larger pots tip it with your toe to
feel
> > how
> >> much the pot weighs.  When the pot is light...water.  If they are heavy
> > with
> >> water then let it dry.  Hibiscus like water running over their roots
but
> > they
> >> don't like wet feet.  Use a well draining soil.  Avoid the dark super 
> >> soil
> >> type stuff.  It retains too much water.
> >>
> >> One other thing:  They like to eat.  Use a balanced fertilizer like
> > 10-10-10
> >> with minors.  If you like to endulge your plants use a tablespoon of 
> >> Epsom
> >> salts to a gallon of water every month.  They like the magnesium and it
> > will
> >> green up your plants.
> >>
> >> Here's something I know.  When you know what you are looking for and
how
> > to
> >> deal with it you will find this to be much easier.  And if given enough
> > light
> >> throughout the winter they will bloom all year.  I know this too.
> > Virtually
> >> all of you on this list...at least the ones who mentioned they were 
> >> having
> >> problems know 10 times more about plants than I do.  And if I can do
> > this...
> >> They only difference is that I have studied them and belong to a
couple 
> >> of
> >> lists devoted strickly to them.  If you have them and need help ask. 
> >> Your
> >> curve will straighten out real quick.  For two years I struggled but
now 
> >> I
> >> don't worry about them.  They lose leaves I know they grow back.
> >>
> >> Andrea if you are still with me at this point a languishing plant tells
> > me you
> >> have a root problem.  Either your soil is not draining or you just
have a
> >> bummer root system that has problems.  Take the plant out and give it a
> > bath
> >> in a 10% bleach solution and give it half doses of fert once a week. 
See
> > if
> >> the roots are nice and white.  If that doesn't work toss it and I'll
send
> > you
> >> out another.
> >>
> >> DF
> >>
> >> http://www.atouchofthetropics.net
> >>
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