Blooms in Iowa In Febuary

[river_deb]

This plant was taken in in October and wasn't doing to well. I fed it and sprayed the leaves and what a prize it gave me.

[Louis]

very nice, are there two different types grafted on the tree

louis

[river_deb]

I know it has 2 differnt colored flowers. In the summer it just blooms and blooms. I was surprized how well it has done this winter and how big it got. It was only a little tiny thnig when we bought it at Walmart last May.

[Charlie]

Congratulations, River Deb, you have done very well with this one (or two). Some growers stick 2 or even 3 cuttings in one pot of the older varieties because this makes for a very full and attractive potted plant much faster than sticking one cutting and then pruning for fullness. That's probably why you see 2 colors of flowers - there are at least 2 plants in the pot.

As this plant grows this summer it is going to become increasingly lanky with long individual stems. If the length becomes too long it can be hard to see the flowers that bloom at the tips and you might find it takes up too much room or is not as attractive as it once was. If that is the case it will be time to consider a pruning strategy. Pruning is discussed in detail on this page of the HVH website: http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/pruning.htm

Anyway, good job saving the hibiscus will TLC during the winter!

Charlie

[river_deb]

Thanks Charlie, I was hoping to wait untill next winter to prune since I won't get any flowers for a couple of monthes after I do it. I will reread the pruning section so I do it right for next winter, because it will not fit in here if it keeps growing at this rate..LOL Deb