Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #90 on: January 09, 2012, 12:37:26 PM » |
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Almost didn't see this one today.
Sun Shower - Sprawling bush but a beautiful bloom. I'm hoping Flashdancer will become available later this year. The bloom seems very similar but on a nice bush.
And Rainbow Sherbert taken later in the afternoon.
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #91 on: January 09, 2012, 05:21:33 PM » |
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Louis thank you for the link for the battery sprayers. I might need it sooner than I thought as accessing all sides of the bushes is getting more challenging by the day.
John it is great to see you're still getting some nice blooms. When do you usually get the plants back outside?
Deb & Charlie thanks for the compliments on Prosperity but the ultimate compliment goes to Charlie for creating this one. Today it is maxed out at 9 blooms and in winter....
Farmer D
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #92 on: January 09, 2012, 05:55:40 PM » |
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Darren, normally I can start moving everything outside the first week in March.
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #93 on: January 10, 2012, 03:28:00 PM » |
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A few winter blooms today: Creole Lady, an atypical Donna Lynn, Renaissance Blue, Lovely Lil, Georgia's Pearl, and finally GP trying to mate with a small papaya.
Erny
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #94 on: January 10, 2012, 06:11:05 PM » |
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Louis you had mentioned that you were fighting the dreaded spider mites and this time not even Kontos was working? That is a scary thing too hear - do you have any further info regarding what you have been experiencing?
Lovely blooms Erny - that Creole Lady is very moody and enticing!
Today a lovely Ay Caramba winter style as well as Chariots of Fire going bonkers with around 20 open blooms currently.
Farmer D
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #95 on: January 10, 2012, 06:13:07 PM » |
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some VD...
Farmer D
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #96 on: January 10, 2012, 06:49:57 PM » |
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Darren, what an impressive display with your COF. I think we are going to have to start calling Super Nova the anabolic steroid of hibiscus. Scarlet Beauty is showing good color for a winter bloom. Ditto for Ay Caramba.
I really like Creole Lady. That picture is a day two bloom and the color changes over the three day life of the flower are very pleasing.
Erny
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davidwood
David In Nha Trang Vietnam
Posts: 1054
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« Reply #97 on: January 10, 2012, 09:54:33 PM » |
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I today have had what I think my nicest C of Fire bloom so far, thing is they may have been nice for a while but I haven't been able to see them properly. But now as the photo shows I have nearly finished the top left corner of the garden and am able to bring COF down lower, now it dosent matter if they point upwards.
I very like that Creole Lady Erny.
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David.
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Charlie
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« Reply #98 on: January 11, 2012, 05:33:06 AM » |
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Beautiful winter blooms, you guys in southern California! Vietnam, too, but that is to be expected. Last year it was Lou who had fantastic winter blooms in his Connecticut greenhouse heated to balmy temps. I am sorry to hear about the mite problem this year.
Lou, spider mites are creatures of greenhouses. They seem to love the constant warmth and perhaps have fewer natural predators inside than out. Cindy and I have been growing hibiscus as houseplants for a long time and spider mites were our number 1 problem.
Kontos did change everything and still works well for us. We finally gave up on using the lowest possible dose and now use 1/4 teaspoon of Kontos per gallon of water every time we water the indoor plants. Kontos appears to be effective only when it is present in the water or soil (and thus the plant sap) at all times. Using it intermittently does not work well at all. It helps a great deal if saucers are used under the plants so any runoff is captured and re-absorbed into the pot. That way none of the expensive Kontos is lost.
And remember, if an outbreak does occur it can take the Kontos a month or even longer to get control again. That does not mean it isn't working and it is important to keep using it with every watering. Eventually the outbreak will be calmed down and no more mite damage seen.
Adding new plants to existing ones can bring about a mite attack. Most nurseries are unable to fully control mites and will sell plants with some already present. As mentioned last year, we spray every week in our greenhouses and use the best miticides available in an attempt to ship hibiscus free of mites. But, when you add hibiscus or any other type of plant acquired at garden centers of by mail that can host mites (and there are many) you should segregate the new plant and treat it with Kontos before mixing it in with the existing plants.
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Louis
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« Reply #99 on: January 11, 2012, 08:18:16 AM » |
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hi everyone, as far as my mite problem is going, Charlie, I do believe I am not using it enough. When I was using it in every watering, there was no problem. Trying to pinch a few pennies, I dosed the plants once a week, not enough for a greenhouse. On a lighter note, here is an update on my new blooms from my crosses last winter. the other day i posted a photo of the first bloom of a cross between wild grape and moonstruck. today is the second bloom from that cross and its even nicer than the first. its a true 8 inches, nice and crinkled and the colors are a little more intense. and a real surprise and delight this morning as the first bloom from a cross between wild grape and purple magic opened. real deep red throat and a predominant purple color. the photo shows the colors accurately. the bloom measures 7 inches, i have hopes that it will get bigger with each new bloom. i think this is a keeper for sure. louis |
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Denise
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« Reply #100 on: January 11, 2012, 09:39:07 AM » |
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Louis I really like both of those!
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #101 on: January 11, 2012, 09:51:17 AM » |
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Louis, the Wild Grape x Purple Magic is outstanding. I have a couple of Wild Grape crosses that should bloom this summer.
April Showers x Wild Grape
Wild Grape x President
I would be very happy if one of mine turned out so beautiful.
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #102 on: January 11, 2012, 10:24:35 AM » |
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Wow Louis, a very nice seedling indeed! I would definitely say it is a keeper!
John those should be interesting to see this summer! I think your April Showers x Wild Grape has the most potential. Don't be too disappointed if Wild Grape x President gives you some nice pink and simple flowers, but those plants will be excellent to cross with!
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Charlie
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« Reply #103 on: January 11, 2012, 05:46:26 PM » |
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This is Cindy on Charlie's log-in... Lou, I knew that Wild Grape - Purple Magic cross would be good!!!!!! I've been waiting to see it, and it was worth the wait! Wow!!!!!!! Spectacular!!!!!!!! I LOVE it!
Cindy
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Charlie
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« Reply #104 on: January 11, 2012, 05:48:23 PM » |
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I still look like Charlie, but I'm Cindy.... PS Lou, how big is the Wild Grape x Moonstruck? It looks like Erin Rachel and Mai Tai, but with a Moonstruck mom, it could be bigger than both of them. Another good one!!!!!!!
Cindy
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