Re: hib care

Yes, it's basically cold. I have a small heater that helps keep it just
above freezing but other than that yep, it's cold. So, no water and no food
I guess until they get moved outside in March. Should only be about another
4 weeks or so before we can start moving things outside. We ALWAYS get a
freeze in late March, no matter what. 

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


> [Original Message]
> From: David Franzman <dfranzma@pacbell.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Date: 2/18/2005 12:04:00 AM
> Subject: Re: [CHAT] 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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