Re: hib care

Hey Andrea

Cold greenhouse? If they aren't growing don't feed them. They'll just have a salt buildup. Also, remember to never feed a dry plant. Snails amongst a host of other critters do like them so maybe some Escargo.

Thanks for the nice comments on the web site also. I'll tell my wife...she's the mistress!

DF
http://www.atouchofthetropics.net
----- Original Message ----- From: "A A HODGES" <hodgesaa@earthlink.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 7:50 PM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] hib care


Do you think snails/slugs are getting in the greenhouse, because the leaves
have holes in them too. Should I make a beer trap in there? I'm religiously
NOT watering them. But, should I give them a dose of fertilizer as they
probably need 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 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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