April Flower Photos of the Day

[davidwood]

David, yes we can prune them down if you like. You could also tell me what they are and its possible we already have them in 4 inch size but not yet added to the store. Send me or Cindy an email with the info and we'll get back to you. One advantage of sticking with the 6 inch is that I can prune them sooner to keep them short but get more side growth started before they even ship to you. Even so, they will still weigh more and be bulkier so you might want to go with 4 inch for that reason.

Charlie

Charlie I like your idea better and have just ordered the 2x 6 inchers and sent you an email. Wild Grape and Deep Waters are the 2 cv's.

[farmer d]

Charlie I like your idea better and have just ordered the 2x 6 inchers and sent you an email. Wild Grape and Deep Waters are the 2 cv's.

David I was toying with the idea of going with 4" plants for my spring order until Charlie made a good point that with the 6" ones you have much better root development which for me is #1 priority for strong plants.  Might cost more for shipping but the results especially in your HOT climate would probably be much better.

Farmer D

[farmer d]

Acapulco Gold is already off the charts and it is only April.  I can't wait for the bush to fill out again soon.  It seems to like to bud more than leaf in the beginning of the growing season when planted in the ground.

Farmer D

[davidwood]

David I was toying with the idea of going with 4" plants for my spring order until Charlie made a good point that with the 6" ones you have much better root development which for me is #1 priority for strong plants.  Might cost more for shipping but the results especially in your HOT climate would probably be much better.

Farmer D

Of course you are right Darren and know as I have had 6 inch before, the problem with me is cost, a 6inch costs about 60usd with shipping 30usd for 4inch, times 12 thats a fair bit, remember they are travelling about 12 thousand miles and I have to have sent Express, I actually think its reasonable but just a fair whack to the pocket.

Two tips I would give to anyone reading is first anyone who can afford a 6 inch rather than a 4 pay for a 6 inch, you certainly get much more than twice the plant.
Second and it goes a little against what Charlie says is leave the 4inch in the pot it comes in longer, I actually try and leave mine at least a month, gives it chance to really settle back down after the journey and the roots to grow even more in the good stuff Charlie has in the pot, just my 2 cents and leaving it longer makes them easier to transplant.

[Ernest]

Darren, I agree that 6" plants with well established roots are preferable but Charlie's plants are so good that I have never lost a 4" plant that I put in the ground--usually two to six weeks after receiving it.
I got my first blooms on a still small Gator Pride today. Also California Beauty, Silver Memories, Living Legend, and Black Dream.

Erny

[Ernest]

A few more from today:
Acapulco Gold, Flickering Flame, Velvet Illusion, and Summer Shore.

[farmer d]

I think it is safe to say that you have to let your newly arrived shipped plants sit for at least a few weeks to acclimate before planting them.  In David's case that is crucially important after such a super long journey.  It's pretty amazing that a plant can travel half way around the world inside a dark box and arrive in decent shape.  Then there is the whole motorcycle ride through the mountains to add to that.  And I totally understand about the cost factor for you too, that is true dedication.  David you're a true hibiscus adventurer and I love it love it love it!

One thing I like with any 4" hibs from HVH I plant in the ground is how nicely they branch as they grow.  Some of the 6" are quite tall with maybe 2 or 3 branches and sometimes they don't foliate as well down low and put their energy into top growth even after pinching up high a few times.  I just cut my Incandescent from 3 ft to 1 ft as an example.  Can't wait for blooms on that one someday soon...

Farmer D

[farmer d]

I am very impressed with my Crystal Pink plant since moving it to my narrow driveway planter.  It is listed as compact but it is really growing into a gorgeous, full bush with tons of buds now forming.

FYI - 25 open blooms today on AG.

Farmer D

[helixturnhelix]

Great ones Charlie, really like cosmic energy!  Sadly Ive learned that for the most part, CVs with lots of carotenoids do not seem to shine in the cooler weather up here.   On the upside the blues and brown cvs look exceptional.  

Here is one that bloomed today, Riptide.  This is a seedling I grew from seed (Tahitian Prince x M. Placebo), which I thought was good enough to keep.  The blooms have been small lately, but the first few blooms of it were large, in the 7-8 inch range and in interesting blue and grey colors with a really unusual snakeskin like edge of cream, salmon, yellow or green depending on the bloom.  Charlie has this one growing, hopefully a few will be available in the next few years.  

[Ernest]

Chris, i have a small bud on Riptide so it will be interesting to see its colors outdoors in southern California.
Darren, good point about the branching on the 4 inchers that go into the ground. I hadn't thought about that but upon reflection I think my experience has been the same as yours.
Hollywood Starlet is starting to show its spring colors. Also Magic Crystal, Summer Shore, and Love Story as both single and double.

Erny

[Ernest]

Wild Grape showed its first bloom of spring. Also Acapulco Gold, and Rosalind.

[Ernest]

Old Spice is still showing its winter red color. This cv produces lots of blooms and the bush has a nice growth pattern. Also Blue Ballerina, Prosperity, and Gator Pride.

[Charlie]

Darren, I agree that 6" plants with well established roots are preferable but Charlie's plants are so good that I have never lost a 4" plant that I put in the ground--usually two to six weeks after receiving it.

Erny

That's interesting, Erny - impressive too. For newer growers I might say "don't try this at home" unless you set up your garden similar to what Erny has done. When I visited his garden I saw a nice arrangement with a timer driven drip irrigation system and a fertilizer injector feeding directly into the drip irrigation. This gives the plants very regular water plus fertilizer and makes a big difference in how well they grow. Erny commented that he is not a plumber or particularly experienced in doing this type of thing but still found it a manageable project that has payed off in better plants and saved time since it was installed. There's lots of help out there for installing a drip irrigation system - well worth it for anyone with more than a couple of dozen hibiscus or other plants.

Charlie

[Ernest]

Charlie, I highly recommend a drip system for anyone that has a substantial number of plants--either in the ground or in pots. The savings in time and effort is incredible. I recharge my injectors with fertilizer about once every six weeks,  change the nine volt battery in the timers once a year, and check the drippers for proper functioning every month or two--and that's it. Total time is about an hour per month.

Erny

[topshelf12]

  Here ya go!
Norm