voo doo magic flowers opening half way ....

[Nievesgirl]

Hello Charlie ,

My plants came and they are both doing well. The voodoo has lots of buds but the first bud did not open all the way and today another one is opened half way? Could this be from shipping stress?
or something else ?

here is a picture

[kris]

It looks to me that Voodoo might have tried to open in the box and couldn't fully open.  My second guess is temperature, I have a good sized gator pride in the back yard and when the weather is cooler the flowers dont open all the way.  I dont know where you live, but going from a nice warm green house to a truck or airplane, then to a house is alot of different climate changes for the plant so I would expect that it would effect the unfurling of the flower like cold weather effects my Gator pride.  It might be interesting to see if the flower colors change at all in response to the changing climates.  Just my two cents

[Darkhorse]

I also have a VM and its flowers don't open all the way in cooler weather.  Where are you located?  Even if the days are warm but the nights are still cold mine has trouble.

Have my first VM bud of the year, though, and looks like it will open within the week.  I'm still working on nursing it back to health from its weird leaf issues.  I love the uniqueness of the bloom, though.  Can't wait for summer. 

[Nievesgirl]

Thanks for the info it is probably the weather then. I live in Los Angeles Ca but its been cold the whole time I had the plants its just now getting hot but the nights are still cold.  I could bring them to work for a while until the nights get warm , on my desk I have nice window sun and its always warm there

[Charlie]

I think Kris and Darkhorse nailed it - temperature and light variations are the most common cause. Later in the summer thrips can cause odd behavior by flowers in some varieties. Did you try helping the bloom open? Often you can gently push on the petals and they will pop into place. Don't rush it because the petals will tear but a slow gentle push can help a reluctant bloom open fully.

We and our hibiscus are liking this new warming trend in southern CA!

Charlie

[Nievesgirl]

I think Kris and Darkhorse nailed it - temperature and light variations are the most common cause. Later in the summer thrips can cause odd behavior by flowers in some varieties. Did you try helping the bloom open? Often you can gently push on the petals and they will pop into place. Don't rush it because the petals will tear but a slow gentle push can help a reluctant bloom open fully.

We and our hibiscus are liking this new warming trend in southern CA!

Charlie

Yes it is 97 degrees ! lol the flowers are now opening up all the way thanks for the info guys.