learning the parts of hibiscus to do hybridizing!

[beverlycss]

ok so as i have stated many times in my posts, i am new to hibiscus but in love with them. I have only been raising nursery and local garden center plants for the past year and a half. I am ready to start educating myself on how to do my own cloning and hybridizing.

With that said i started exploring this website to learn as much as i can, and i hear a lot of great information, but a lot of it i dont understand. Such as pollen sacs, can anyone describe what this is or maybe upload an up close pic to show me? And then of course a step by step of how to do the crosses and what not?

 Another is seed pods. In the plants that i have been around so far i have never seen a seed pod! or maybe i have and didnt know thats what it was, I would not even know what this looks like or how to coax the plant into producing them if possible.

And i very clearly have read incorrect information on other websites because i read that hibiscus dont produce seeds at all. So im basically just disregarding all other information I have read from any other source but this site, becasue i have already learned so much from this site and i trust the information. i know i have asked for a lot of information so if there is some other website or resource that someone would like to recomend to me with correct information i would gladly accept that and do my own research on these topics. I just dont know what to trust now that i have found so many contradictions from the other websites.

[Nievesgirl]

Hibiscus do produce seeds but they conditions have to be right

http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/hibseed.html

[beverlycss]

oh my, that is exactly what i wanted, thank you so much! And the information i attached is also exactly what i was requesting!! Thank you thank you thank you!! i am so excited to learn how to do this!!

[Yashodhara]

Hi Beverly! Welcome to the Hidden Valley Hibiscus Anonymous Forum  

I live in Michigan (Northwest of Detroit), so I think we may share some of the same climate challenges - Our motto here in MI is: "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes" (is it the same for you, too?).  My herd of hibiscus are grown primarily as houseplants - And yes, my home looks like a jungle... But I'll elaborate on that story in another post.

Here are some more photos for your lessions in hybridizing (which I think is easier to do indoors, where you can control the climate): These are seed pods I currently have maturing on my Maui Masterpiece... If your cross is successful, the flower will drop off and seeds will start forming in the area underneath where the flower was, creating a bulging seed pod. The pod on the left (MM x Pocahontas) is starting to yellow (almost done), and the one on the right (MM x Heart of My Heart) about halfway.  I'll post more pictures when the pod cracks and the seeds are ready.

Enjoy the Forum!  

[beverlycss]

yes, our weather here is unpredicatable also, we have our 4 seasons of course, but they are to the extreme for each! and when the seasons are changing anything can happen with any kind of conditions. Glad there is someone who can sympathize with me!

Thank you for posting that pic. I will be checking frequently for the pic of when the seed pods are ready, Im curious to see what that looks like!! Please keep me updated and absolutely any tips you could give me would be greatly appreciated!!

As i have said, i really just am so anxious and excited to learn how to do this!! But being that we are from the same type of weather conditions do you often have the right conditions for the pollen sacs to open, exposing the pollen, or is there a trick to it with our conditions? Im asking because i have yet to try any of this as i dont feel like i have learned enough, however from what i have read it seems as though this only happens when the conditions are just right, would you say that its hard to get those conditions right? i could ask a million questions so if its more convenient for you i will give you my email, that is, if you wouldnt mind answering my questions of course!!

[Nievesgirl]

i have read it seems as though this only happens when the conditions are just right, would you say that its hard to get those conditions right? i could ask a million questions so if its more convenient for you i will give you my email, that is, if you wouldnt mind answering my questions of course!!

With my experience having plants in shade and being there right when they are opening is key. If you have them out in full sun and its hot outside, the pollen will dry up quickly.  

I would try to grow them for a year before I would start pollinating and crossing Hybrid hibiscus.

[beverlycss]

Thank you, I will keep that in mind. I have a few shaded areas I could move them to! Thanks again!