I have written previously about my dear hibiscus plant. I have nurtured it for many, many years. My hibiscus loved warm temperatures and in the summertime it would happily sit on our deck and bloom and grow and bloom some more, all summer long.
And, as much as I don’t like indoor plants I brought in my hibiscus each winter. Often times I’d threaten to put it in the compost and then it would start blooming or showing- off so I would tend to it another winter.
My hibiscus also had an advocate… my friend Jayne always talked me into giving the hibiscus one more chance when I was going to toss it out. My hibiscus’ life was lengthened many years because of her!
My hibiscus had tiny specks (mites) on the leaves, last winter and again this winter. I didn’t want the mites to get on my other indoor plants. Also, the branches of the hibiscus were old and gnarly and woody, so I decided it was time to say good-bye and set my hibiscus in the garage.
As much as I love flowers and gardens and nature, I don’t like to tend to indoor plants so much. But I have four (now). One is the Christmas cactus; from a parent plant that is generations old I’m told.
Another is a palm plant that will occupy the hibiscus spot in our home during winter and will be put outside in summer. The palm plant was from an arrangement we received when Gary’s mother passed away several years ago.
The other two plants are hardy pothos plants I bought for pops of greenery in our house.
Although I think it was the right time, it was a very hard decision to say good-bye to my hibiscus.
I understand the difficulty of letting a plant go. For the first time ever, I didn’t bring my ferns indoors for the winter. They were thriving outdoors. But they take up so much space and shed leaves and are messy. I semi regret my decision. But, at the time, I had too much in my life requiring my full attention that I couldn’t even think about ferns. So I let them freeze.
I, too, have a Christmas cactus with a long history as a cutting from my grandmother’s cactus. She’s been gone for more than 63 years now.
Thank you for sharing your plants with us and bringing a splash of green into a Minnesota winter.
That is the story of my friend’s Christmas cactus, the one I got a clipping from. It was her grandmother’s.
I was kind of surprised how hard it was to let the hibiscus go…
What a beautiful hibiscus! It is always a challenge for me to winter plants indoors but often worth it!
I agree Shirley, plants are worth tending to…they do bring joy.
Wow, I can see where it would be sad to let your plant go. You have such a history with it. But, better to say good-bye and let it re-cycle itself, than find yourself resenting the mess it makes, the work it takes, etc. But so sad, nonetheless.
I suppose letting go is a good lesson for all of us. We, all of us, I suppose have our season. And then life goes on.
That is true Sheri…and it’s another lessons on letting go.