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Angela
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« Reply #45 on: December 06, 2011, 04:32:02 AM » |
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BTW beautiful shots Farmer D... love the Raging Bull... I hope my Chariots of Fire will grow up to be as nice as yours someday! Now I'm wondering... what the heck is my plant that was sold as Bienevue? It looks nothing like Bienevue or Bon Temps to me.  |
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davidwood
David In Nha Trang Vietnam
Posts: 1054
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« Reply #46 on: December 06, 2011, 02:57:35 PM » |
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David isn't it amazing how much more water the drink up when the potassium is upped. I'm lucky since my soil is wet heavy clay my plants have an endless supply of water to drink from. It is also scary how fast things can change too. I couldn't believe what the spider mites did in the week and half I was out of town after 2 days of 100F temps. Three of my smaller plants were almost defoliated in that time. Such is the life of the hibiscus lover....
David your Acapulco Gold has so much deep color I can't believe it. Though I remember you saying you prefer it in the yellow zone so maybe we should switch!Farmer D
Darren its showing that much deeper color because we have no sun here at the moment [or very little], once the suns back it will soon fade to the yellow I like. Saying that since using the booster the colors are deeper and last much longer. My booster isn't the real stuff from Charlie but I will refer to it as booster as its just about the same thing, and it does make a huge difference, I would say I also have about an average increase of about 25% in my bloom size. Darren because of the extra Potassium do you give much extra Magnesium?, that's something I have read I must do. Its strange really, I try to read and learn as much about the garden as I can and one thing you read is that Hibiscus don't like wet heavy clay soil, well I think you have well and truly knocked that theory on its head ha ha. How have you been getting on with the Kontos? have you had to up the dose because yours are in the ground, its good stuff and its for sure improved my enjoyment of our hobby, its also improved this Forum, you rarely read about Spider Mites now where as 3 years ago it was every other topic and a struggle for everyone. Just wish I could find something to control caterpillars, big fat horrible things that eat my Adeniums. |
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David.
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roadrunner
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« Reply #47 on: December 06, 2011, 05:07:08 PM » |
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David, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a good control for most caterpillars if you can find it there. Can you post a pic of those caterpillars?
dave
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Dave N.
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davidwood
David In Nha Trang Vietnam
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« Reply #48 on: December 06, 2011, 05:39:03 PM » |
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This is a picture of what it exactly looks like, it starts of as a one inch thing about as thick as a pencil [very lime green color] and then just eats and poo's till its about the size of my thumb. Sometimes I will have one thats orangy looking, still horrible, thing is they are hard to see, what I first look for is there droppings, and until you find it them droppings just get bigger and bigger.
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David.
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #49 on: December 06, 2011, 05:49:57 PM » |
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That is sooo cool!!! Man look at those huge false eye spots!
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farmer d
Farmer D
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Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #50 on: December 06, 2011, 06:26:45 PM » |
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Darren its showing that much deeper color because we have no sun here at the moment [or very little], once the suns back it will soon fade to the yellow I like. Saying that since using the booster the colors are deeper and last much longer.
My booster isn't the real stuff from Charlie but I will refer to it as booster as its just about the same thing, and it does make a huge difference, I would say I also have about an average increase of about 25% in my bloom size.
Darren because of the extra Potassium do you give much extra Magnesium?, that's something I have read I must do.
Its strange really, I try to read and learn as much about the garden as I can and one thing you read is that Hibiscus don't like wet heavy clay soil, well I think you have well and truly knocked that theory on its head ha ha.
How have you been getting on with the Kontos? have you had to up the dose because yours are in the ground, its good stuff and its for sure improved my enjoyment of our hobby, its also improved this Forum, you rarely read about Spider Mites now where as 3 years ago it was every other topic and a struggle for everyone. Just wish I could find something to control caterpillars, big fat horrible things that eat my Adeniums.
David it seems like your blooms were looking pretty close to this even before your rainy season started. Or at least the colors are so awesome that it sure seems that way. As for magnesium I haven't added any additionally though if I did I would probably go the epsom salt route. I am hoping my big plants can handle this winter much better than last and come spring I won't need a lot of fert and booster to get the exponential growth which I don't think is needed for them as they are so big now. I really am trying to get back to a more organic approach if possible. But my smaller young ones I think will go into the high fert/booster regime once the growing season starts again as I bet 2012 will be another shorter cooler growing season. Cooler is definitely good though for the spider mites! With that said last two nights here were 38F (3C) so this would be the time for the plants to start shutting down. I have seen the leaves get a little smaller and curl a little this week but I am still heavily spraying with supernova and I tell you these plants are acting like it is still growing season. Is it possible to keep them growing all winter long without any stopping? They all have tons of new growth currently and are getting taller by the day still...Wouldn't that be a game changer even with this really cold start to winter here in So Cal to have them never stop growing the entire year. Lofty goal but this is what I am starting to see as a realistic possibility. February will be the time marker I'm shooting for. Oh as for Kontos I just fed COF and Bonnie Lass a few days ago as they are still giving me yellow leaves continuously. As long as it doesn't rain I can keep treating them on a weekly feeding basis. And yes it is a lot more for in ground. One spoonful per two gallons of water and I don't know if that is enough yet. All my other 70ish plants are spider mite free currently. I'll keep you posted. Farmer D |
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farmer d
Farmer D
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Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #51 on: December 06, 2011, 06:37:56 PM » |
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Hey Lynette are you using your Plankets yet? I was down to 38F (3C) in Hollywood last couple of nights so I'm sure you were much colder. I have my stash ready...
Today's blooms....
Farmer D
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roadrunner
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« Reply #52 on: December 06, 2011, 07:30:06 PM » |
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David, that's a very interesting caterpillar. Would you be interested in transferring this discussion over to the hibiscus care section? I have a couple more questions about it.
dave
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Dave N.
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davidwood
David In Nha Trang Vietnam
Posts: 1054
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« Reply #53 on: December 06, 2011, 07:58:35 PM » |
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David, that's a very interesting caterpillar. Would you be interested in transferring this discussion over to the hibiscus care section? I have a couple more questions about it.
dave
Done that Dave. |
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David.
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Denise
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« Reply #54 on: December 06, 2011, 11:12:53 PM » |
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It got down to 30 degrees last night so all of my hibiscus are now stashed in various spots throughout my house and garage. Here are a couple hanging out in the guest shower...haha
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Angela
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« Reply #55 on: December 07, 2011, 03:36:42 AM » |
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WOW love that Tahitian Lavender!
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roadrunner
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« Reply #56 on: December 07, 2011, 07:01:16 AM » |
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Denise, isn't that unusually cold for your area? Those are great looking bushes and blooms. Your setup sounds a lot like mine. I also have my hibiscus all over the house, but without a garage mine have taken over my unheated laundry room. Low temps of 26, 24, and 26 the first 3 mornings this week. Will be glad when this current cold snap is over. Ok you guys in Connecticut please don't laugh.
dave
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Dave N.
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #57 on: December 07, 2011, 07:23:56 AM » |
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I had to bring in the rest of my plants yesterday. It got down to 28 this morning.
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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motherof4
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« Reply #58 on: December 07, 2011, 10:52:43 AM » |
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Hey Lynette are you using your Plankets yet? I was down to 38F (3C) in Hollywood last couple of nights so I'm sure you were much colder. I have my stash ready...
Today's blooms....
Farmer D
....Yes Darren I have for about the last 10 days...its been in the low 30s....they seem to work well....I cover them around 4 every night and uncover around 8-9 am....they seem to work well...I would cover yours if you are getting that low of temps....I waited a little too long and have about 4 that are not looking well.....droopy leaves..so I am spraying super nova daily...it kills me to see one not do well..but I think they will recover....your blooms and everyone elses are awsome....I will be posting some pics later today   |
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #59 on: December 07, 2011, 12:51:30 PM » |
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Darren, like you I have almost all my plants in the ground. It has been getting a little colder each night--last night was our low at 39 F. Do you plan to use Plankets for each individual plant or do they make something that would work for a whole line of plants? I think I better stock up and be ready just in case. Where do you get them? I was thinking that my larger plants that have been in the ground for several years will be OK and it may only be necessary to protect the smaller ones that I planted late this summer. Does that sound like a reasonable way to go?
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