Let me introduce myself

[westwindschild]

Hi; I saw the spotlight when I logged in and this could be the resource I've been looking for. I live in Hummelstown PA, which I think is in Zone 4 or 5 and I am currently off work, due to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, which makes it difficult for me to maintain a garden, even though I would have the time. I've been thinking I could

Comments

Hibiscus

[bethoven]

Hibiscus is a tropical plant and as such it does not do very well in cold weather. You can actually keep it indoors year round, they make wonderful house plants. They do need quite a bit of light so choose a southern exposure for them. Good luck!

Re: Hibiscus

[singeaddams]

they make wonderful house plants

I didn't know that. I'll have to try it, thanks!

[bailey36]

there are hibiscus that are adapted for northern climes, I love hibs and have several all over. I even save the blooms for teas. Remember even the rose-of-sharon are hibiscus.

[westwindschild]

I had a lovely rose of sharon in the yard at my old house. When I saw hibiscus the first time I went to Las Vegas, I just fell in love with them and knew that I wanted to have them some day. Ever since I bought these 2 (can you believe it? $6.25 ea for 10 inch pots!), they have provided me with dozens of absolutely gorgeous pink blossoms almost non-stop. I just hope that I can keep them alive over the winter. Not much space in our house for 2 giant planters, and only one window with a southern exposure.

[bailey36]

I hope you can keep them going over winter too. What zone are you in now?

[westwindschild]

Apparently Zone 6B (just went to the Nat'l Gardening Assoc webpage).

I've just been reading the last few days of posts on the gardening community and checking referenced websites like mad! I am definitely going to try some of the recommendations for vertical gardening with containers next year. The square foot gardening also looks like it has possibilities for my tiny yard. In the meantime, I'm going to try to keep the hibs and a few other houseplants alive over the winter and start some window pots of basil, oregano, thyme and mint, so I have fresh herbs for cooking.

[sammason]

Hello and welcome! Hibiscus are so beautiful.

Do you use a wheelchair? If so, vertical containers might be ideal. Or get 2 lightweight, stackable plastic chairs. One for you to sit on while gardening and another for your partner or whoever to sit on while admiring your plants.

[westwindschild]

I don't use a wheelchair, fortunately. But I still think vertical containers are the way to go. My yard is about the size of a postage stamp! And it will provide a practical limit to help me not bite off more than I can chew - I'm still working on the concept of obeying my physical limitations rather than trying to power through them.

[leene_chan]

Hi!

You're actually in Zone 6, the same as me (I live in New Haven County in CT). I have a potted tropical hibiscus plant myself that I've managed to keep alive for 12 years. They're hardy to 55 degrees, so you need to keep it outside in the summer and move it inside when the night temperatures start to fall below 50 degrees. You can leave it inside year round too if you like, but from my personal experience unless you have a strongly lit room they won't bloom.

They need a lot of light to bloom, but strong sun often burns the leaves. I've actually put an umbrella over mine a few times. Once they start to get bigger you're probably going to need to upgrade them to bigger pots.

[westwindschild]

I actually have these 2 round terra cotta planters - I salvaged them from a building I worked at when they were set out for trash - that are about 2 feet in diameter. I usually fill them with annuals for the summer, to brighten up the porch. This year I didn't have the energy or the funds, since I only started getting SSD in July. I bought the hibiscus plants on clearance at my grocery store the day I got my first check! Just for this summer, I made a big enough hole in the dirt in the planters and placed the plants in, pot and all, since I knew I would have to bring them inside in just a few months. I have several pots larger than what they are currently in but smaller than the porch giants. For next summer, I may graduate them into the mid-sized pots.

[westwindschild]

By the way, I love your kitty icon!

[westwindschild]

Thanks. I loved your blog post; way encouraging. I joined a gym this summer to have the use of a pool (my rheumatologist recommended aqua therapy). But I have so much trouble focusing some days that I am afraid to drive myself there. So I'm going to try to get there 2-3 times a week for now, and focus on preparing the soil for planting spring bulbs beside the house. I'll get exercise now, and in the spring, pretty flowers!

[sammason]

I enjoyed your post there, too. Glad that you linked to it.