Pruning and Supernova.

[farmer d]

This is a very interesting discussion, showing we still have much to learn. Darren's situation will always be complicated by winter while David gets the benefit of year round tropical weather. Pots versus in the ground also makes a difference so as always what works for one grower in their situation may be different for someone else.

Pruning has many uses but it is hard to manage anywhere winter interrupts the growing. I ended up doing it in fall because that brought me flowers earlier the next summer than if I did it in spring. Traditionally hibiscus pruning is done in early spring just after the last threat of a freeze. In hot places with warm nights like the Gulf Coast this works well because the plants grow back so fast. Even so the spring bloom season is mostly lost for the pruned plants.

Now, if a growth stimulant like Supernova can encourage faster regrowth and even stimulate dormant shoots to grow into new branches - wow, that is a game changer! I haven't been able to test that in the greenhouse because I have to cut my plants in order to get wood to make new plants. However, I do spray the baby plants in 4 inch size with Supernova and believe I see more side branching on many of them because of it. This topic will be interesting as more people try out techniques using natural growth stimulants.

Charlie

I posted the continuance of this discussion from the Rainbow Sherbet topic under this topic since it began here originally...

Charlie you summed this up perfectly.  What really got my attention is that (and I could be interpreting this incorrectly) David even saw new shoot/node development on some of his plants with the SN spraying.  I don't know if this is even really possible but if that can happen like you said it maybe a game changer.  

One other thing that makes it hard for me to know how successful this all is is that I don't have a second duplicate bush without spraying to see if what I'm seeing is normal growth and development or the spraying is really making a difference.  So I have experimented and really eased off on the SN spraying and heavy feeding with the HVH booster and special blend fertilizer for a month and I swear all of my plants are shrinking and the weather has been very consistent here the whole time.  

My monster COF has become so skinny, is losing all the lush leaves and has almost stopped blooming with only minis now.  All my other bushes pretty much are doing similar things with the exception of Black Dream, Prosperity and Ay Caramba which are all in shadier spots and seems to enjoy it staying easily hydrated without much hot afternoon sun like all my others (just as Charlie & Louis has stated numerous times is the preferred balance).

So I use this as evidence that the combination of spraying and very hearty feedings definitely made a big positive difference with my in-ground hibiscus.  Remember my plants are mostly in ground for 16 months now and over 2 to 3 yrs in age getting strong sun from 12 - sunset.  My potted plants and 4"s I got this year get light doses of feedings but same sprayings.  They've burned easily and got over watered quickly - the difference between the two is amazing and anyone reading this has to understand that potted plants vs more mature in-ground is so different you might as well not even compare as I've discovered.

Let's see what now happens for an extended period of time with renewed spraying and heavier feedings...

Farmer D

[Charlie]

Farmer D, we may have to start calling you Scientist D, or really just Horticulturist D which combines the 2 nicely.

You are right that we need some control plants to determine just what is going on when spraying with Supernova or changing any of the other growth factors. I should do that but am always trying to be as efficient as possible in getting new plants started and have not wanted to give any of them less good treatment than others. My "control plants" are plants grown in the past vs the ones being grown more recently using Supernova along with good fertilizers. My impression is that I get better branching of the young ones and faster growth of the young plants in 4 inch pots. We do also pinch the growing tips but it is the response that seems to be faster with more side branch development happening after the growing point is removed. I rarely see just one branch emerging from the highest point which was common in times past.

Our larger plants also are sprayed once a week with Supernova. The result here is less clear but I have to say we have never had to send out so many 4 foot high boxes as did this year. Cindy is yelling at me to grow them shorter which we will try next year - shorter but fuller! All this is very interesting - thanks much for the input, Darren.

Charlie

[Charlie]

For those who are reading the forum and are not familiar with SuperNova I have copied and pasted the description of this great product from the manufacturer's website (American Hydroponics). You can also learn more details about this product and why it works by checking out this page of our web site by clicking here: http://www.hiddenvalleynaturearts.com/acatalog/growthenhancer.htm

SuperNova™ is more than just a seaweed extract!
SuperNova™ is an extremely unique blend of seaweed extract (derived from the sea plant Ascophyllum nodosum), specialized amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamin C and B vitamin complex. This enhanced seaweed bio-blend will improve the growth performance of any plant.

SuperNova™ contains high concentrations of the phytohormone cytokinin, which promotes cell division, differentiation, lateral growth, cell enlargement, bud formation and production of chlorophyll. Cytokinin can cause the release of lateral buds from apical dominance thus promoting bushier plants with an increase in flowering sites. Increasing the chlorophyll production enhances the rates of photosynthesis and overall energy production throughout the plant.

Carbohydrates are the primary products of photosynthesis and are used as the main source of energy for every vital plant function. They aid in energy (ATP) transport and are components within DNA and RNA. Also included are the specialized amino acids, betaines. Betaines play a major role in increasing the plant’s tolerance of high nutrient levels, drought and leaf curling diseases caused by thrips and mites. The plant will also respond to the presence of betaines with an increase in chlorophyll content.

Through continued use of SuperNova™ you will notice the following changes in your plants:

Improved crop yield and quality
Improved rate of photosynthesis
Improved root and shoot development
Improved seed germination
Stimulated microbial life
SuperNova has an N-P-K of 1-1-1
If you are striving to push your plants to their maximum potential, and achieve quality only found in crops grown by the most advanced gardeners, you require SuperNova™!

SuperNova™ contains a wetting agent, increasing it’s effectiveness as a foliar spray.

[farmer d]

For anyone whose interested about spraying Supernova I can attest that this stuff is making a huge difference with my hibiscus.  If you can spray yours do it as often as you can.  The more I do the better it gets and this is the coolest start to winter that I can remember here in Southern California.

I'll let the pic do the talking - Dec 23 and just look at the amount of buds ready to bloom.  I can't count them - too many and it's winter...

Just showing you what I'm seeing.



Farmer D

[Charlie]

Farmer D, that is a heck of a sight - even for summer! Is that Valentine's Day in the middle?

Charlie

[roadrunner]

Guess it's time to add Supernova to the program.

dave

[helixturnhelix]

It is not surprising that the results of using Super Nova heavily is really showing in this wintery weather, as opposed to less obvious results under greenhouse conditions.  Since it contains nutrients and vitamins that are produced naturally by growing and healthy plants, addition of these hormones and vitamins during this phase is not clearly seen, because they are produced naturally.  When plants are stressed, they decrease the production of these hormones and replacing them helps "tell" the plants to start growing again, stimulating new growth.  The same is true in cooler weather, there is a decrease in concentration of these hormones as plants decrease their growth rate.  Since Darren is replacing these hormones through the use of supernova, it is effectively "tricking" the plants into thinking its time to grow.  I bet if Darren continues to spray supernova he will continue getting buds into warmer weather.  I am interested to see if his plants can keep it up.

I think that this bud-master is V-day as well.     

[farmer d]

Charlie and Chris you're right that is my metropolis Valentines Day bush.

Continuing on the seeing what I see tangent I want to focus on the new growth all of my plants are exhibiting currently.  What I'm observing is that not only are the plants obviously in growth mode but it is like growth mode on overdrive.  Look at the front part of each large branch and it is amazing how much new branching, leaves and buds are just packed together and exploded out.  It is like the plant is unable to contain itself and is using every available spot and nano meter to put out something.  

My other Valentines Day plant (VD II)


Rise and Shine


Ay Caramba


Even my smaller plants have multiple buds on each branch in mid winter

Candy - this plant is barely 1ft (.3 meters)  tall and in complete shade since begin of Nov


Deep Waters - every single branch has tons of buds, and tons of new growth at base.  It is recovering from a hefty spider mite attack.


Speaking of bases look at the trunk of Chariots of Fire.  I spray this area extensively on a daily basis and it is really responding.


and finally Heavy Metal.  This thing never even hinted at a branch and once I figured out to turn off that sprinkler head in front of it combined with a lot more spraying and look at all the new leaves and baby branches starting up.  Again in mid winter it is really taking off.  Just last night it was 38F (3C) and no effects whatsoever.


I think most people would either prune or pinch the tops to induce branching but it seems that I can get both vertical growth as well as horizontal simultaneously.  


Tell me what you think after seeing these...

Farmer D

[Denise]

Has anybody used Super Nova on other plants? I also grow roses and am curious if anyone has seen results with Super Nova on them?

[farmer d]

Denise it works really well on my dwarf citrus trees.  For few months I was spraying 3 new rose plants I bought in the spring and I did see a small difference.  I wish I had the time to keep spraying them to see where it would lead.  I also recently learned that rose plants are really heavy feeders so I'll be feeding them a lot more come spring.

Farmer D

[Denise]

Thanks Darren. I'll probably spray my roses, since I only (for now ) have 11 hibiscus to take care of!

[Doll]

One problem I have with Supernova is that it causes the newer growth on my plants to wilt badly in the sun for a few days after being sprayed. On cloudy days there isn't any problem. I thought I might be using too high a concentration, but no matter how much I dilute it the wilting occurs. They bounce back after the sun goes away and there is never any lasting damage. I was just curious if anyone else has the same experience.

[Charlie]

John, I don't know what to make of that. I spray Supernova at the rate of 2 teaspoons per gallon of water once a week on most of the plants in the greenhouse and don't see any wilting. The gh does have shade paint on the roof that provides about 50 percent shade. Darren uses an even stronger dose that is equivalent to 8 teaspoons per gallon and apparently does not see any wilt in the direct sun of his garden.

My best guess, and it is just a guess, is that the wilting you see is coincidental to spraying with Supernova and would occur whether or not you sprayed. I have seen strange wilting in past years that I attributed to insufficient root growth (or performance) relative to fast new top growth. Several people have reported that Acapulco Gold gets soft for them on hot days and I have seen it too. That is a vigorous growing variety and I think some days the roots are just not taking in as much water as the top growth needs. You could try misting the leaves that are wilting and see if that helps. I am assuming of course that the soil is not too dry.

Let us know if things change or you come up with a solution.

Charlie

[farmer d]

John are your plants doing this wilting while still indoors?

I have not experienced any sort of wilting at all from my spraying at any point.  The only thing I can think of is maybe you should think about this from the other side of the spectrum.  

I like what Charlie has to say - have you seen any wilt in the sun without spraying?

If not and only when you spray on sunny days vs ok on cloudy days I'm thinking maybe the water from the spray is magnifying the sunlight once on your plant and since the new growth is more delicate and more flexible it shows wilt more easily as the sunlight might be too intense for it.  My thinking is to increase the dosage of SN instead of diluting it and spray less often for longer lasting effect.  Maybe even check the weather forecast and see if you have some cloudy days coming up that might coincide with makeshift spraying intervals.  Spray on the cloudy days or...

The other alternative if possible is to spray and let dry before in the sunlight and see if that makes a difference (create your own shadows until dry).  If the sunlight is coming through windows I believe glass can be a magnifier of sunlight too so that might be like a double effect.  Plus your plants have been inside for a while now so maybe they get more sensitive over the last several months too as well as just not as used to the sun.

Farmer D

[Doll]

Charlie and Darren, thanks for your feedback.

These plants are the ones that have been outside all winter except for the nights it got too cold. So they should be used to the sun. The plants that I have inside all winter have no problems being sprayed. I had one plant outside that I had never sprayed. So I sprayed it just to see if it would also start wilting and sure enough it did. I never spray them when they are in direct sunlight. I never thought of actually increasing the dosage. I can try that on one plant as an experiment. Actually, I'm more inclined to think the ph of the water here might be part of the problem. I think I will try mixing with distilled water and see if there is any difference. It really baffles me. I am guessing you don't get the same results using supernova as a soil drench. Maybe I should just avoid spraying the new growth. The mature leaves are never affected nor are the buds.