lessons from a hibiscus
we bought 2 trees this spring, a fig for him and a hibiscus for me.
the hibiscus, with its big green leaves and bright pink flowers and gold pollen, fits perfectly into my office. but being the sensitive plant it is, it exasperated itself blooming 20 or more flowers, then each and every leaf shriveled up, turned yellowish-brown and fell to the floor.
i kept watering it, and one by one the leaves reappeared. now there are more than ever. it even sprouted a new tree in the pot, which i will try to transplant in another week or two, when its big and strong enough to go on its own.
in the process of all of this i found out that the tree likes coffee--not the grounds, but actual coffee--and thrives with it. so starting last week, i pour it a cup of joe once a week and already there is a blossom that is going to grace me with its pink petals in the morning. i keep envisioning this tree drinking up the coffee. does it crave an americano or a carmel macchiatto? sorry, black will have to do.
its interesting to me how one alteration in its environment can throw it off so drastically and inflict such damage. but the rebirth of the plant and its tremendous growth is promising to me at this moment in my life; it is a perfect example of what i must do.
out with the old, in with the new. enjoy a cup of coffee here and there. grow. and bloom all over again.
update:
it bloomed. and its as vibrant as ever.
the hibiscus, with its big green leaves and bright pink flowers and gold pollen, fits perfectly into my office. but being the sensitive plant it is, it exasperated itself blooming 20 or more flowers, then each and every leaf shriveled up, turned yellowish-brown and fell to the floor.
i kept watering it, and one by one the leaves reappeared. now there are more than ever. it even sprouted a new tree in the pot, which i will try to transplant in another week or two, when its big and strong enough to go on its own.
in the process of all of this i found out that the tree likes coffee--not the grounds, but actual coffee--and thrives with it. so starting last week, i pour it a cup of joe once a week and already there is a blossom that is going to grace me with its pink petals in the morning. i keep envisioning this tree drinking up the coffee. does it crave an americano or a carmel macchiatto? sorry, black will have to do.
its interesting to me how one alteration in its environment can throw it off so drastically and inflict such damage. but the rebirth of the plant and its tremendous growth is promising to me at this moment in my life; it is a perfect example of what i must do.
out with the old, in with the new. enjoy a cup of coffee here and there. grow. and bloom all over again.
update:
it bloomed. and its as vibrant as ever.