shrubbery

[norwich36]

Anyone out there with a green thumb? I have a question. Because I could not resist, I bought one of those rosemary plants Target was selling that were cut in the shape of Christmas trees. All well and good. The instructions say (a) don't let the plant sit in water and (b) it's really an outdoor shrub, though it can be indoors for a couple of weeks. Since I am heading east tomorrow for a couple weeks, I was trying to decide whether it would be better to (a) water it copiously today and hope for the best or (b) stick it on my back porch, where, given the California winter, it is bound to rain at some point in the next few weeks. Maybe a lot. But it is also getting down below freezing here every night--will that kill it?

I've killed every houseplant I've ever owned, so advice is appreciated!

Comments

[allzugern.livejournal.com]

It really needs dry roots -- too much water will rot them. You should have it potted so that it has good drainage. You usually bring a Rosemary indoors when the temp. starts dipping below 30F -- so if it doesn't get too much colder than that at night it should be fine outside. You can get a timed watering tube for pretty cheap. You just fill it with water and then stick it in the soil -- it will let water out a little at a time.

If I had to go with one or the other, I would put the plant outside -- overwatering it is bound to rot it before being too dry kills it.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

Thanks! If I had thought ahead, I could have gotten a watering tube, but I'm leaving in the morning and hadn't really thought about it. Poor rosemary! We are unusually cold here--it's supposed to get down to 25F tonight and tomorrow--but then the lows are predicted in the 30s or above for the next ten days, so I guess I'll chance it.

I appreciate the advice!

[sadface.livejournal.com]

You could get a soda bottle and make a teeny pinprick in it so it slow releases. Though this might be an idea that only works in my head.

I'd have thought that the cold was more harmful than a little too much water, but as you can clearly see, I am making all this up.

[norwich36.livejournal.com]

That's a brilliant idea! Too bad I didn't see this comment before I left town. :-(

I guess we'll find out which is worse, since I ended up leaving it on the back porch.