Crickets won't hurt you, but many pesticides have the potential to cause health side effects (even "natural" remedies are not always healthy - remember that mercury, arsenic, and lead are found in nature yet clearly not good for humans!). I personally feel that pesticides are completely justified if you are fighting a harmful pest like mealy or scale, but crickets really are not enough of a threat to justify the "nuke it from orbit" approach in my opinion. I would suggest unpotting the plant, knock the soil off it, hose off/rinse the plant well with lots of water (roots and top growth) then repot in clean soil. I feel it's best to start with clean soil any time you bring a plant from outdoors back in, since you never know what might have gotten into the soil and even if you do use a pesticide it might not kill off everything.

The light of indoors, no matter how sunny or bright, isnÂt as strong as the direct sun of outdoors. The leaves have to gradually adjust for any plant be it a geranium or hibiscus. I believe this can be done without burning the leaves if itÂs gradual. Maybe even total shade at first, especially if the plant hasn't received much sunlight while indoors. My hibiscus has done very well for the past two years on the deck for the summer. It receives about 4 hours of morning sun. One website I visited suggested don't put tropical hibiscus outdoors before nights are above 13C, but if we waited until then the plant would be outside for July only. Last year I acclimitized my hibiscus to outdoors in early to mid May. Shade at first and took it back indoors at night if I felt it would be too cool or frost or even if the daytime was just crummy cloudy cool weather. It bloomed nicely outdoors all summer and tolerated a few cool nights in August, then 4C nights in mid September, before I decided it was time to bring indoors. I was worried the cool nights might "shock" the plant into dropping it's flower buds prematurely, but that didn't appear to be the case. So, it is my theory they are tougher than they appear. One thing that impressed me was the amount of bloom they had while outdoors. It's definitely a tropical look and people who see it were impressed. Yet, it's not much more difficult to grow than a geranium. This year I saw some beautiful hibiscus at Rona for a decent price so decided to buy another one so I can have two on the deck. That new plant is already outside during nice days, and in at night. I haven't transplanted to a permanent pot yet. Regarding the plant in general, I read that they prefer to be a bit rootbound? My older plant, in relation to the size of pot, is not really that huge of a plant so I am debating on whether I should just replace some of the older soil, or add compost or something when I put it outside for the summer? Thanks, Glen

Pappa: As in anything the only stupid question is the one that is not asked! As far as two Hibiscus in a pot? many variables would have to be known to answer this...but I have grown many Hibiscus two or more in an appropriate size pot with great results. As you suggested...too see the different colours together would be nice and make an interesting display. Go ahead and plant them up together; experiment...therein lies the true pleasure in gardening.

if its all wilted and has to grow new leaves, it might be good to put it in bright shade to help it along. if any of my hibiscus are not doing well, i move them to partial or bright shade until they are start looking better so they don't have to fight the hot sun all day...