Blooms for 9-12-07

AuntB - I took some pics last night of my 2 Schizos. The one on the left is much taller than the one on the right and has a tiny bit more shade, if you can call it that, from the Pygmy Date it is beside. For some reason, this one is not curling over at the tips anymore, rather it is trying to grow towards my Pygmy Dates. And because of this upward growth, this one has not bloomed in a while. But the one on the right is profusely blooming, and she is curling downward at the tips. I don't know what makes them do this but they are both getting the same fertilizer/water treatment and are in the same bed, only seperated by a small Rum Runner so ... ? I don't know if this helps you or not? Can anyone else help with these?

Amanda & Robert, I'm glad you had no big problems from the storm. Things can be replaced, but people can't. Here's hoping that no more hurricanes develop before season's end.

I second that, Brugie! (What a freak storm)

To those of us who live on the coast it is really freaky, the thought that a hurricane could develop so quickly, before we had a chance to evacuate is scary.

Yeah, very true! I was a part of the Rita evacuation from Houston and OH MY GOD, let me tell you - they can tell us a Cat. 5 is coming and I'm not budging anymore. I spet 26 hours just trying to get out of Houston!!!!!!!!!!! It was CRAZY!!!

That is how it is here. Being on the water, we have mandatory evacuations.
We have to get to or cross I 95 and usually the Floridians and Georgians have already crowded the road. By the time we get there you can't even get on the road so usually we leave days in advance, before the heavy traffic, and sit in a hotel until the all clear. That only works however if you know a storm is nearby.

Grr! I know what you mean. And then if it is nearby, you never know if it will turn and go somewhere else, and you could have spent all that time and money and vacation time for nothing! So it might as well be a last-minute fun-filled holiday, right?

Seriously though - if you guys hear of a big one coming to Houston and they are evactuating us, you can count on me being the last one standing. I won't do it. We live in an area where our worries would be wind damage and loss of power and very minimal flooding (at least in my neighborhood). So bring it on!

That was just insane. The last one (Rita) the gas stations were not prepared and if you didn't bring 55 gallon drums full of gas with you, you were pretty much out of luck. Nope, I'm not gonna do it.

My cousins, who live in Houston, turned around and went home after 14 hours in the car. They are in their 70's and they just ran out of patience.

I can relate!! There were lots of cars overheating, people eating on the freeway divders, etc. If they want me gone next time, they'll have to use a tranq gun

I'm glad everyone is safe. All the material stuff (including plants, yikes! I said that?) can be replaced. I deal with tornadoes up here. Never really been through one, but lots of warnings and bad storms. I've lived here all my life, so I think I'm pretty fortunate. Amanda, thanks for posting pics of your schizo's. So maybe if I tie a little fishing weight or something on the tip, to make the limbs curl downwards, mine will bloom? (I'm kidding, I know I have to wait for it to happen on it's own).... but I really hope it will bloom before I bring it in for winter. That is funny that it "curls" down to bloom. I'll be watching for it to start its "downward" spiral and then get excited. Can't wait to get home and look at it now!

You're welcome, AuntB!! Ha ha ha, I know what you mean! And it is pretty interesting that they do that, I bet they make gorgeous trees!

This message was edited Sep 14, 2007 4:27 PM

I saw one this spring at Missouri Botanical in St. Louis. It was in the big glass dome bldg. with tropicals.. it was way over my head and almost seemed to vine around other plants. Very cool - if you ever get a chance to visit.

NEAT!!!!!!!!! I want one! :)

Yes, me too. Wouldn't that be a cool greenhouse in my back yard, need to move the fence, prolly! I'd have to quit my job and go on welfare so I could play full time! ha! I will inspect the schizo tomorrow and see if roots are ready for a bigger pot, my hibs are not liking our cool temps right now (high of 56 today).... the schizo especially, seemed a little wilty looking today, and the branches are arching down, but I think it was from being cool, I couldn't see any little bud starts, but I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, so I'll check again when I look at the roots....

Temps of 56 shouldn't make the plant wilt--they may stop growing and may not bloom as well when it's cooler, but if it's wilting I'd suspect something else, maybe too much water if it's still getting watered the same amount as when it was warmer.

Well, ecrane, Liz?, I thought it looked dry yesterday, then we got a shower, but I poked a finger in the dirt and it was kind of dry so I watered it... I think it was too dry, the top looked moist but that was just a small layer... We just had a hail storm this morning :(, but it wasn't wilty looking this morning before the hail. I'm also going to check the roots, it may need potted up one more time before winter.... Suppose to be nice next week, days 80-90 and nights 60-70, THAT IS PERFECT! It's okay if I don't get blooms this year, just so I can keep it alive and see them next season! I'm usually pretty patient. And I have new Martindale babies to fuss with.. I'll check back in pretty soon and let you know what my Sherlock skills come up with.

Too little water could definitely make it wilty too, I just assumed too much was a more likely case since I have a tendency to overwater things as the weather's cooling down, I'm used to watering things every day or every two days because they need that in the heat, and it takes me a while to adjust my frequency to what's more appropriate for cooler weather. But being too dry could definitely cause the same symptoms.

My DD is home right now, and she has been watching the brugs & hibs during the day. Sometimes they get watered 2 or 3 times, when it's scorching out. Then I worry about over-watering... But I have now instructed her about checking for the moisture before watering this time of year. We've had a little rain here and there, so it makes things look wet when they really aren't down where the roots are. Just did an inspection. It's not totally root bound, but they are visible from the bottom holes. I'm going to try to keep it growing this winter, so I do think I will repot so it can hold moisture better in the dry inside air. All the new growth at the tips looks like little leaves, so I will give up on blooms for the present time and maybe it will surprise me! Goodness knows I have enough out there to keep me occupied, without obsessing on the schizo! Lots of dime size holes in plant leaves.... darn it! (from the hail) Oh, well, most be losing them soon, anyway. Haven't done a complete walk-thru yet, but doesn't look like its devastating destruction! lol Thanks for everyone's help!

AuntB - the branches will droop before the little buds start but I think you're right, it could be the temps, too. But see, it's been getting cooler here as well (highs in mid 80s) and the Schizo on my left is doing what yours is but the one on my right sent out 3 blooms yesterday and has lots of buds so who knows?

On the watering - I've never watered mine more than once a day, even when the temps were in the 100s. Soooooooo ... maybe you are watering a tad much? But if you back off, I'd do it slowly .... they don't like much sudden change in watering according to some websites I've seen. But you can use your own judgement. :)

I'm with you on the greenhouse!! Let's both quit our jobs and do one together!!! :)

I think I read somewhere, they do bloom better when it's not scorching hot. I think mine was just dry, with the extra attention I gave it yesterday, it's all perked back up and laughing at me today. So probably when I bring it in for winter, it's going to freak out, then... oh well, I'll do what I can for the little stinker, it better just be grateful I don't leave it outside! (OH, I would NEVER do that) I took the day off today to get some stuff done at home and getting it repotted is just one of the "stuff". It probably won't like that either. I'll just be stern with it, it IS for it's own good! lol IF only we could quit, I keep saying I'm going to start playing the lottery, but I don't!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA, AuntB - that's exactly what I say, ROFLOL!! I always tell my hubby when I come back from Wal-Mart and the winnings are ridiculously high that he needs to go play for us. He just laughs and says, "Yeah, right!" But you see, I've already got everything figured out. I'm going to win one day (even though I've not a clue how to play) and we will sell our house and buy this one:

http://search.har.com/engine/dispSearch.cfm?mlnum=9358883&class=1&leadid=6&sTYPE=0&backButton=Y

PLENTY of room to LINE the fence on this 10-acre lot with Brugs!!!!!!!!!!

Now THAT is a home! AND you'll have money to hire a cleaning lady! Sure 10 acres is enough, though? You have all these hibs, too dear.

Yes, very true, AuntB. I suppose I might have to spring for this one instead; it sits on 140 acres. So I guess we'll have to wait and play only if the winnings are above $300m. But the bright side is, we could have Brug parties at my new shack!!

http://homes.realtor.com/search/listingdetail.aspx?ctid=25566&ml=3&mnp=55&typ=7&sid=ef838c35cf7b4322a1574afe1c1bf2cc&lid=1065752355&lsn=1&srcnt=1#Detail

Here are some inside pics: http://www.ebby.com/pictures/280594.html

Can you imagine the light bill?

OMG!!! The payment is only a little over $315,000 a month, you could unscrew a few light bulbs here and there and save enough to make the payment! That is OUTrageous! Love that inside pool area! And the canopy bed is very cool.... Now the dining room???? Might have to do a little redecorating in there, looks kind a dull and gloomy... my DD is an interior designer.... I'm sure she could save you some change there.... so, when you moving in?

YES AuntB - I'm SOOOO with you on the dining room. Purple columns?!?! Green walls?? The combination is yucky, and the columns are ... UGH! I love music and I play the piano so when I saw that grand piano on the platform in front of all of those windows I was like "Aaaaaaaaaaah, now this is nice."

Well, let's see ... we're currently trying to save up for the 20% downpayment (which would be $11,900,000) at the rate of $55 a week (the cost of 2 tanks of gas for my Focus) so we should be able to by it by year 6,167. So no matter how old a withered we all are, we'll be able to have a Brug party with our 4,000 year old Brugs!! Mark the date!!

LOL! That is some house. I would need every single one of those bathrooms by the time I made it from one end of the house to the other.

Ha ha ha!! I would too! I'd be too excited about being there!!