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Paul
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« on: August 16, 2012, 06:27:01 AM » |
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Hello everyone. I have a question about bud forming, or rather lack thereof. Here is a picture of my Ice Fairy and Rain Drop plants. These are 2 of the first CV's that I ever purchased from HVH. I got them as 4" plants back in the spring. As you can see, they are both now over 3 feet tall if measuring from the base of the pots. Ice Fairy has one main branch with about 5 - 6 smaller branches, and Rain Drop has one main branch with 2 or 3 smaller branches. Both plants have been kept out on my deck since spring, so they have been getting plenty of sun. I have been fertilizing regularly with a good fertilizer (not the HVH fertilizer, but with NPK levels very close to to it). But neither plant has ever formed a single bud. About 3 weeks ago I started using Supernova and Dark Energy (which smells like a rotting corpse by the way), both with watering and as a foliar spray. And as soon as the UPS guy gets here today, I will have the HVH Hibiscus Booster (as well as My Blue Heaven, Sky, and Gator Pride) to add to the mix.
So my questions are:
1) Since they were just 4" pots just 5 months ago, are they possibly still too young to be forming buds?
2) Is there anything else I can do to help coax some buds?
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Charlie
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« Reply #1 on: August 16, 2012, 08:47:00 AM » |
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Paul, each variety is genetically unique and it is mostly genes that determine when the first buds form on young hibiscus. Both Ice Fairy and Rain Drop are among the slower varieties to begin forming buds but with healthy plants getting plenty of sun I would expect them to bloom before winter sets in. Using the Booster could help speed them up but never fear, they will both start blooming when the time is right for them. Next year it should be a different story since they will already be fairly mature plants by then.
Charlie
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Paul
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« Reply #2 on: August 16, 2012, 04:15:44 PM » |
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Thanks Charlie! I just wanted to make sure I was helping them out as much I could. My Booster has arrived and has been applied. Sky, My Blue Heaven, and Gator Pride arrived safely too. Now I just need to figure out what to do with all of these green bamboo rods I have accumulated.  |
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Denise
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« Reply #3 on: August 16, 2012, 04:20:22 PM » |
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Paul- Regarding the sticks- save them, I bet you'll find a use! I used a bunch of mine to stake some hydrangea plants  |
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Paul
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« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2012, 06:01:23 PM » |
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I did use a few to stake my tomato plants. But if I buy any more plants, I could rebuild Noah's Ark. Lol  |
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roadrunner
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« Reply #5 on: August 17, 2012, 06:53:23 PM » |
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Paul, I use those bamboo rods for staking many of my hibiscus plants. I have way too many plants and limited space so need to keep them growing more upright and not spreading too much. They're also great for staking and training poorer bushes like Cherry Appaloosa.
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Dave N.
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Paul
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« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2012, 04:26:39 AM » |
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I have been saving them for that purpose. You are right, they do make great stakes! But the crafty side of me wants to make something out of them. |
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roadrunner
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« Reply #7 on: August 18, 2012, 11:21:56 AM » |
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I think I would too if I had a crafty side. I'm having enough trouble with my gardening side right now. lol
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Dave N.
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