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Charlie
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« on: December 01, 2008, 06:56:07 AM » |
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April Showers - Milree Park x Unknown 6-7 inch single flowers
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LJG
Posts: 78
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« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2010, 11:20:58 PM » |
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Anyone else have trouble with this plant? Not sure why but it is not cooperating even after two prune jobs. Is this just a tough plant in the ground here in SoCal?
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Charlie
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« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2010, 08:24:01 AM » |
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Len, I think April Showers needs plenty of heat to grow well. As you know, we have had little heat so far in southern California this spring/summer. The hibiscus in my garden are way behind where they usually are at the end of August but I'm still hoping for a hot September/October which is always possible here.
I recall that you wrote something about potting up your hibiscus so checked your posts and found that you wrote "Since I grow all my hibiscus in the ground, I have found it best to take Charlie's 6/8 inch pots and grow them up into 3 gallon plants first. Putting his hibiscus straight in the ground really caused some establishment issues. However ones I root into 3 gallon pots and plant out, take off fast."
Were you able to do that for the April Showers plant? It has only medium vigor but usually manages to make a well branched 3-4 foot tall plant within 3 years.
Charlie
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LJG
Posts: 78
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« Reply #3 on: September 03, 2010, 12:38:34 AM » |
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No Charlie, I did not. This was one of the first ones I got from you that went stright in the ground. Another one I have had trouble with was White Magic.
Any plants that went from 6/8 pots to 3 gallons then to the ground - have no establishment issues.
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2011, 11:31:13 PM » |
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Hi Charlie,
How similar is Spring Showers to parent April Showers?
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Charlie
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« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2011, 07:19:52 AM » |
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Chris, they are pretty similar in flower. The new one, Spring Showers, has more pink in the opening bloom but both are in the "soft and pretty" category. The big difference, and the reason we selected Spring Showers to be offered, is that it has the unique foliage of the Fascinating Foliage line which gives the plant a whole different look as compared to parent April Showers. I am looking forward to hearing how the Fascinating Foliage bushes do in different conditions around the world. They should perform better than average but we shall see what the reports are.
Charlie
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2011, 11:00:17 AM » |
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Thanks Charlie,
I am loving these FF plants. My Pinot noir has such cool leaves, really gives nice contrast to the hibiscus I am growing it with, cant wait for it to flower. I wonder what you will get with the second generation of crossing ff CVs. Any crosses in the works?
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Charlie
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« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2011, 07:59:36 AM » |
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The only crosses with FF varieties that are actively growing are those I made using Pinot Noir last year. There are a fair number of those but this will be the first year that the others will be used in crosses.
Charlie
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Doll
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« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2011, 09:40:35 AM » |
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April Showers has been a pleasant surprise. I feared the colors would be really washed out in my climate. One of the nicest pastel colored blooms there is.  |
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"An addiction to gardening is not all bad when you consider all the other choices in life."
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blupit007
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« Reply #9 on: April 27, 2011, 04:35:09 AM » |
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I wonder if this would be a good replacement for Tahitian Princess? Sort of has that soft pretty look, but made by Charlie!  AND it has cool leaves.... hmmm, have any left? |
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-Kristen
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Charlie
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« Reply #10 on: April 30, 2011, 06:10:39 AM » |
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Kristen, sorry to say but I waffled on propagating April Showers this year. I have to decide whether to use a plant to make more plants or use it to hybridize with in which case I cannot take cuttings from it. I decided to hybridize with it this year. Next year, more plants. It's aways been a favorite of mine but until the forum I didn't get enough feedback to know if other people liked it. I do appreciated hearing what works for folks and what they like.
Charlie
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LJG
Posts: 78
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« Reply #11 on: August 02, 2011, 10:02:28 PM » |
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This plant really needs some shade to keep the flowers from buring. In full sun it does this below. Here is a flower about 18 hours old and one 6 hours old.
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blupit007
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« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2011, 07:56:32 AM » |
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Oh Man!
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-Kristen
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