August flowers of the day.

[roadrunner]

Hi Charlie,

That Cindy's Heart bloom opened a couple of days after I received it so I'd guess it hadn't been here long enough for local conditions to affect it much. I've been a little concerned about the difference from your photos of it.  Some later blooms have had more pink than this one, but nothing close to your website photos.  It's been in a section of the greenhouse where it didn't get a good dose of the morning sun.  It was screened by several taller plants.   I recently moved it to a brighter spot so will see if that makes a difference in the amount of pink.  Our summer monsoon season has been in full swing the last couple of weeks so instead of being hot and dry it's been rather mild (mid 60s to mid 80s) and very humid with thunderstorms around nearly every day.  Anyway, it should have some more blooms by the end of the week so will see if the humid weather and location change affect its appearance.  The Strawberry Cream's bloom was about 8" on a fairly young plant purchased in 4" size pot. I definitely noticed a texture difference compared with Fantasy Charm. I had a couple of 11" blooms on the Fantasy Charm when it was still a small plant in a 6" pot.  Most of them this year have been around 9".

dave

[Doll]

The Cindy's Heart bloom I got was pretty similar. I think the heat must affect the amount of pink. Kristen's pic was very close to the photos on the website.

[roadrunner]

It appears temperature and possibly humidity do make a difference in the amount of pink.  I had forgotten that I took this pic during last weeks mild and very humid weather (for us anyway).  I must be getting senile.  Compare it to the earlier June photo when high temperature was near 100, dewpoint in the 30s, and no clouds.  In late July the high temperatures were generally in the low 80s, dewpoints in the 60s and a lot of overcast days with thunderstorms.  That was a great week in late July, most of the collection only needed watering every other day instead of daily.

dave

[1.618]

I was waiting to reply about P's Purple until I could get a look at my next bloom just after it opened. Well I think the verdict is that yes it is more pink right after it opens but I've been usually looking at it later in the day when it changes to a more silver look. The pic shows the early opening form on my plant today.

Ian

[helixturnhelix]

Great pics of Cindy's Heart.  Mine has been through alot, so I am hoping that it blooms soon.

Bonnie Lass and Saffon blooms and bushes

[Charlie]

All very interesting about Cindy's Heart. How about longevity? Here even in full all day sun we get several days out of each bloom. Kristen's photo back on page 1 of this thread is very typical of what we see with Cindy's Heart blooms. She lives in Connecticut but I'm not quite sure what that means for summer weather conditions. Dave, it will be interesting to see how the changes you have made will affect the next blooms.

Charlie

[Charlie]

Chris, beautiful bushes on those 2!

Charlie

[blupit007]

Hi all,

  Last week we had such beautiful weather.  Mid to low 80's with NO HUMIDITY!!!  What a change.  But this week, back to the usual with high 80's to mid 90's with 80-100% humidity.  Awful!  But that is a typical July / August in CT, hot and humid!  My photos were taken when we had the hot and humid conditions.  Some in the triple digits too!  I had a 3 week no bloom stretch from everyone because of the horticultural oil treatment I was doing for spider mites.  But now, back to normal and healthy plants with blooms! 

  Charlie, quick question.  I have a small Gabriel plant that is about a foot tall, it was just a cutting when I got it a couple months ago.  It is flourishing to say the least, but still skinny like a chopstick.  Question is, and I really hope I'm not overstepping my boundries, the poor thing keeps trying to put out buds.  I pinched 2 already and now I see another shooting out.  Should I let it do it's thing?  Or still pinch?  I was told somewhere that sometimes a small plant like that will die after the flower blooms because it put all its energy into producing it.  Thanks for listening.

ttyl,
Kristen

[roadrunner]

Charlie, my Cindy's Heart blooms have been lasting 2 days so far.  I had this really strange bloom on Rainbow Sherbet today.  First time I've had a bloom like this on any plants in my collection.  I've also posted a non hibiscus weather photo of a nice storm we had July 30th. Not the stereotypical image of Arizona summer that many people have.  Also you can see another plant addiction I have is roses. Too many plants, not enough space.
Chris, seeing those nice blooms of Saffron and Bonnie Lass makes me wish mine would get going.  Kristen's question I'll definitely leave for Charlie.


dave

[motherof4]

here is porcelin doll.......charlie this is a picture of my belle...the last couple of blooms were very small...and pale...do you think I should give some extra booster??....I put some in with her last feeding on sunday...do you think I should give some more??...thanks lynette

[blupit007]

Lynette, my blooms of Belle have been the same way.  About 6-7" and look the same color as yours.

[Pachrian]

Dave, your yard looks wonderful even in the rain...so many flowers RS sure looks weird though.

Lynette and Kristen, hope you get Belles to increase their size, 6-7" is really sad for this cv

I have a question for Charlie too: under what circumstances do you see Fallen Hero with a dusty pink like on its website? The photos you have there seem to have a bit of a colorcast but you saw them with your own eyes. Mine have just never looked that way. They are either the raspberry pink you describe or a regular light pink along the edge with the dark center like the one in this photo:

[motherof4]

my belle is not even 6-7 inches...its only about 3-4in charlie help....Lynette

[blupit007]

Uli, that flower is absolutely beautiful.  Lynette, we can get through this!  I know we can!

[motherof4]

yes I know she will get bigger blooms....she is one of my new ones...patience i guess