Cross suggestions and why

[Charlie]

Hi Chris,

Yes, I agree that the seedlings of Belle are all pretty nice. No doubt some will be propagated in larger numbers. Here are a few more photos of first blooms of Belle crosses.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Charlie,

Thanks for sharing these pictures.  I am hopeful that some of mine will come out like this   The last seedling looks like a pink saffron, which I personally find pretty appealing, it looks like a bigger version of First Love.

[Darkhorse]

The two Belle seedlings look nice.  I've seen the Belle x Saffron photo before.  I also plan on making that cross BD x Belle when I get a Black Dragon and both are blooming. 

[helixturnhelix]

Charlie,

Have you gotten around to doing any BD x LL or BD x Belle crosses?  I think those could have some really nice results.  Great bushes, and huge flowers with interesting colors is what I am thinking will happen. 

[Nievesgirl]

I just collected more seeds from a cross I did. I did his cross because these where the only flowers blooming that day.  I wonder if gator pride will make these seeds soft like it's other offspring.

Rocket's red glare X gator pride 14 seeds

Charlie I am no sure if you tried this cross ? Would you want to plant the seeds ?? I also still have the gator pride cross seeds. It looks like I have more seeds on the way.

[Charlie]

Hi Chris,

I've not had any luck getting pods on Black Dragon, but Living Legend and Belle du Jour both set seeds so I can do it that way. I just moved a Black Dragon to my hybridizing area so it is more likely I can get them blooming at the same time. It has been awfully hot here lately - you moved at the right time! When it cools a bit I should be able to get pods more readily.

Charlie

[Charlie]

Hi Kerry,

I would be happy to plant those seeds. All my results with Gator Pride so far have been small flowers, not surprising of course. A cross with Rockets Red Glare could give us larger flowers with who knows what interesting colors. It's definitely worth a try. The self cross seeds would be interesting, too, since I don't think it has ever been done. That's one of the advantages of coming to something new - you don't know that it shouldn't work so you tried it and it did! 

If you want me to grow them you can mail them to our post office box in Bonsall. That's PO Box 1311, Bonsall, CA 92003. Thanks!

Charlie

[Nievesgirl]

Yes I figured the size of RRG may help the seedlings to be bigger but I guess we will have to wait until you grow them 

I will send them out this week just email me so I know you received them.

[Nievesgirl]

Hi Kerry,

I would be happy to plant those seeds. All my results with Gator Pride so far have been small flowers, not surprising of course. A cross with Rockets Red Glare could give us larger flowers with who knows what interesting colors. It's definitely worth a try. The self cross seeds would be interesting, too, since I don't think it has ever been done. That's one of the advantages of coming to something new - you don't know that it shouldn't work so you tried it and it did! 

If you want me to grow them you can mail them to our post office box in Bonsall. That's PO Box 1311, Bonsall, CA 92003. Thanks!

Charlie

I just sent the seeds out today

[Charlie]

OK, thanks! I'll get them planted and we shall see what we shall see.........

Charlie

[Nievesgirl]

Here are some suggestions for Big bloom theory lol

Moonstruck X Byron Metts or vice versa  for any of the crosses

Maybe some nice big browns or purples will come out since byron Metts has Old Spot, Nat Shepard,Devil's Gold , and Miss Liberty in its pedigree.

Moonstruck already is doubled up on both  purple/blue and brown genes because of Rainbow Christie.

Acadian Spring X Moonstruck same reason as above cross but since 'Acadian Spring'  has unknown parents you can see what comes out.

James Bond X Bryon Metts same as above lol

Bridal Path X Moonstruck ( not sure if Chris mention this cross to you before )
Bridal Path X byron Metts
Bridal Path X Giganormous


Black Dragon X moonstruck
Black Dragon X Byron Metts
Black Dragon X Robin hood
Black dragon X James Bond

Burnt Saffron X James bond
Burnt Saffron X moonstruck

Crinkle in time X It's a wonderful life
Crinkle in Time X bryon metts
Crinkle in Time X robin Hood

It's a Wonderful Life X Black dragon
Its's a wonderful life X burnt Saffron
It's A wonderful Life X Rockin Robin
It's a wonderful life x red satin

Red Satin X Monnstruck
Red satin X Black Dragon
Red Satin X Rockin robin

Rockin' Robin X moonstruck
Rockin R X James Bond
Rockin R X bryon Metts

Stolen Kiss X Moon Struck
Stolen Kiss X rockin robin
Stolen Kiss X robin hood

White lightening X moonstuck
Strawberry Cream X moonstruck
Both with Robin hood, and rockin robin  
I think this might be interesting since both CV's are double up on the genes

Giganormous X moonstruck
Giganormous X Crinkle in time
Giganormous X James bond
Giganormous X robin hood
Giganormous X rockin robin
Giganormous X Matador


Fantasy Charm x Moonstruck
Fantasy Charm X robin hood
Fantasy Charm X rockin robin
Fantasy Charm X james Bond
Fantasy Charm X crinkle in time
Fantasy Charm X bridal Path


I have more crosses but just think about the ones listed hehehehe

[Nievesgirl]

a few more lol

Belle Du Jour X black dragon
Belle Du Jour X matador
Belle Du Jour X burnt Saffron
Belle Du Jour X rockin Robin
Belle Du Jour X red satin
Belle Du Jour X robin hood

[helixturnhelix]

Wow those are alot of crosses, you should get on making them Kerry!

My philosophy is a bit different.  I think it would be cool to make homogenous crosses of varieties that can be used to produce dark coloration or lighten colors up.  Perhaps one gives you ruffling or large flower size.  Then you could just mix and match these varieties so that you have a higher probability of getting offspring that you want.  I think that its a long way off and maybe not entirely practical since there are many loci and factors that contribute to gene expression.  I do have to say that I have been looking at how Orchids are bred (since they have been hybridizing them for decades)  and it seems that many varieties are well documented to produce offspring with specific trait.  So much so that cross a particular red with a specific small yellow will give you small orange varieties.  I think that hibiscus hybridizing is a bit young, but I think that in time you will be able to perform very predictable crosses and get that bush and flower you want much like they do with orchids.   

[Nievesgirl]

Wow those are alot of crosses, you should get on making them Kerry!

If I had all of the varieties above I would LOL. I will have to suggest crosses for Charlie for the cv's I dont have yet or wont buy because of no space left.

[Charlie]

This subject is certainly worth exploring. Unfortunately for me, I have too much to do today but promise to return to it soon.

One of the first difficulties one comes to with strategizing is that a lot of the cvs that are desirable to work with do not set seeds readily if at all. Many times both cvs that one wants to cross don't set seeds well so you have to work around that by using intermediaries.

Back later.

Charlie