Growing of the 4" Hibiscus

[jpiper82]

So many of us have been buying the 4" varietys of CV's from HVH, I thought it would be good to start a thread on how we grow these little guys up.  Everyone does it a little differently and has a story to tell, along with Pics, and first blooms!
Is there any interest?
John Piper

[helixturnhelix]

Hi John,

Great idea!  Almost all of my plants were purchased in the 4 inch pot size. I have been happy with my first shipment of 4 inchers this year, very large and lush.  My dragon slayer (picture one), along with my others from that shipment were nice sized plants. I am hoping that I will get them to bloom this year!  

I did receive a few that came smaller than normal, and failed to thrive. Picture 2 is my Confection Perfection that is about 1 year old, and still barely kicking.  I also received Ruby Tuesday (Picture 3) about two weeks ago and it is still looking wilted and is a stark contrast to the great plants I received in my first shipment.  I was a bit disappointed given that my first shipment of 4 inchers were so awesome, I just hope it makes it!  

I guess bottom line, the majority of plants of this size have been great and are still doing well, but I recieved the occasional dud with this pot size.  All 6 inch sized plants have been impressive and huge plants.  

[helixturnhelix]

Check out the 6 inch "Corazon" I got, it is a monster!  I had to transplant it to a three gallon pot. 

[jpiper82]

Check out the 6 inch "Corazon" I got, it is a monster!  I had to transplant it to a three gallon pot. 

That is a Monster!, Charlie must have had that in the back "40" and forgot about it!

[farmer d]

Fun idea John, thanks for putting this out there.

Some of my favorites 4 inchers:

Cosmic Gold, got it in Sept and it somehow survived all winter long outdoors.  It still is about the same size though.  Doesn't want to grow much yet but keeps trying to bloom with buds falling off at a certain size.


My Confection Perfection got end of Oct, survived winter and is slowly doing it's thing so don't feel too bad Chris.


My Simple Pleasures is crazy.  Got it same time as above CP but for the longest time it just developed a bunch of nodes everywhere and tried growing a dozen branches at once all going sideways.  Now it has finally started looking like a plant.  Prosperity next to it (came in 6" pot last month) for comparison.




This is my favorite.  Last April got both High Voltage (right) & Acapulco Gold as 4"ers.  Check out the difference in one year...I thought High Voltage was a quick grower but this particular plant is a slow one.  Getting better this season.


Bonnie Lass (on left lost all leaves to mites last yr) & Rainbow Sherbet got last April as 4" and Scarlet Beauty (right) came in Sept.


All That Jazz (left) came in Sept, Hot Pepper, Valentines Day and Vin Beaujolais (rt) last April.  VD is such a nice bush whereas VB didn't do anything last year.


Farmer D

[davidwood]

Not that I am allowed anyway [banned from Importing] but I would never buy 4 inch again, its not that there is any thing wrong with them its just the 6 inch are so much better, I know double the price but you get much more than double the plant. In fact the 6 inch I received this year where nearly twice the size than the 6 inch last year, huge plants and gives you a great start.