Temptation

[norsegirl]

I shouldn't be allowed to set foot in Lowes by myself. That's all there is to it. I made it out with just one little plant, but once you've bought the pretty ceramic pot to put it in and the potting soil, the $7 plant turns into a $40 investment. But look at that colour! I've never seen a hibiscus that particular colour before. I simply had to have it.

Also picked up some plywood to make a box to hold my glass rods (have been meaning to do that for about 3 years now, but I finally have the saws and workshop to do it in), some peg board to mount behind my workbench and all sorts of little hooks and things to go in it, some cup hooks to finish a key-holder box thingy and some spackle to fill in all the holes I've put in the walls recently. In other things I hadn't exactly intended to buy, I picked up a pulley-system bike lift (will be nice to have some floor space back and if it actually works I'll go back for a second). I did not buy any tools, power or otherwise. For me that's quite an accomplishment.

Put some crap up on Freecycle today, so we'll see if I get any bites or if I have to go on to post it on Craigslist. I'm thinking I might also photograph some of the baby stuff from that lot that I don't intend to keep and post that for sale on Craigslist. I've also got to find us a dentist and book both Jason and I in for routine cleanings. And I really should contact that lock company and see about getting new cylinders for our place. Can't believe I've been living here 7 months and still haven't changed the locks - bad me.

Comments

[much-ado.livejournal.com]

FYI, you should never repot a plant that's actively in bloom, as the shock to the root ball can short out any other buds. and hibiscus in particular are fairly finicky (i crippled my first two hibs making exactly this same mistake). baby it with a lot of humidity (spray bottles are your friend if you don't have a tent for it), and keep an eye on it. there won't be much you can do for it this season if it does drop the buds, but it should come back for next season just fine.

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

I've never thought of hibiscus as tricky. My parents have had one for about 20 years now and I don't think I've ever seen it without at least some buds on it. I don't think they've ever repotted it either, but it's plenty big enough as it is, so they probably don't want it taking over the place.

I'll probably wait a few weeks on repotting this one as I have other shit that needs doing anyway and it looks fine just sitting in the larger pot, so we'll see if it runs out of blooms. Thanks for the advice.

[firefred.livejournal.com]

I agree with the above - don't repot right now. Hibiscus is cool and pretty but in my view, it does not do too well in this climate. Too hot in the summertime. And then sudde4nly too cold in winter. I wish you luck though :)

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

I'd intended this one to be a houseplant. I can't see any reason why it won't do a-okay in a climate-controlled indoor environment. My parents have had one for 20+ years now. And I'm pretty sure they have 2 others that I bought when I was a teenager that are still going strong (so over a decade there).

Hibiscus house plant

[firefred.livejournal.com]

Yeah, right, if you keep it in the house it will probably survive. Not outside, though. This weather is killing me (just back from a visit to the dentist).

Re: Hibiscus house plant

[eve-the-just.livejournal.com]

I'm even going to bring the tree outside in when it gets cooler. So far it seems to be doing okay out there as long as I keep up the watering regimen. A week after my disasterous underwatering where I forgot about it for 3 days it's got hand-sized blooms all over it again, so it's recovering fine.

It looks like there's storms coming your way tonight, so you should have more to complain about in the short term, but it may cool it off for a few days too.