Triloba Tracker
So sorry to hear about your Grandfather-in-laws passing.
Don't give up Triloba... you can do it!! You mentioned the fig and giant papaya are doing well.. Now that's a great thing!!..
You're doing something right, and that's worth cheering about.
We've all made our mistakes with plants, and you don't learn till you make one. Inspite of my Forum name, I can't tell you how many times I've turned things brown or black!! You say you lost some basil... hehe I've lost some cocoa to wrong humidity, some garcinias, many jabos seeds.. Oh a few mangoes too.. some nice beautiful fruit-bearing ones to a cold snap, or fungus, or deer rutting!! Almost wanted to kill that deer for dinner that night..
Almost!! My point is that don't give up, just pick up where you last left off and try again.
Try and try and then.. try again, all the while having fun of course. You will get that Basil and Cilantro to grow! Spring is almost around the corner. You just let me know, I've tons of basil seeds to share till you get them to grow!
Oscar's right, sometimes growing plants, may it be herbs, flowers, roses, and in our case fruit trees etc., does require patience. Then add to it some hard work, some know how, and lots and lots of hands on training! Growing some of these fruit trees is like a relationship you nurture, you get to know exactly what the trees like, or don't like, what makes them tick,or what makes them peeved.
I have never used a grow tent, but I do bring lots of plants indoors in winter. Some go into the garage, but the ultra-tropicals, and most seeds, or grafted plants come in. I've had a few issues with low humidity, and spider mites and this yr, GNATS!! Unbeknownst to me, this year I brought in a green gecko lizard that made a home in my Avocado. My cat found it before I did!
Growing indoors is not easy, but it's doable, with trial and error. With the heat on, it's very drying to the soil and to leaves, so you constantly have to keep an eye on the watering. Spider mites love the dry condition and too much water and you've Gnats or other bugs!!
Humidity issues have been different for different plants. Some do just fine and don't mind it at all. Some I've lost some leaves but other than that are fine, like my mangoes, miracle berry or jabo. Then there's things like rambutan; it definitely needed to be tented.
Some plants thrive on neglect. I know you've heard of, or seen those gorgeous trees that when you ask the owner what they do special to make the plant fruit as much, or flower, or just have such beautiful glossy leaves, they tell you, "Nothing". Jujubes and figs for example, you plant and then forget till fruit time. Others need more attention. I have to admit I do ''baby" my mangoes, and I still haven't had a ripe fruit from my trees.
If you feel the tent's the problem, try tenting the structure with the clear plastic or try growing them in the open near the south facing window, where the fig and papaya are happy. And see if you can add a picture, so we can see what the problem might be.
Don't give up...