Flower only opens half way

[Doll]

What causes a bloom to only open half way? This is the second time in a row this has happened with my Living Legend.


Around 1:30 I decided to try to gently push it open with my hands. To my amazement it worked.

[Doll]

Charlie, have you any thoughts on why this is happening? It happened again on Monday. Would the heat cause this? The 3 blooms that have not opened fully were all on the same branch. I had another bloom earlier on a different branch that did open all the way. Is it possible to have a weak or bad branch?

[Charlie]

Yes, high heat does affect Living Legend and quite a few other hibiscus. Thrips can affect the blooms ability to open correctly, but I don't see any thrips scratches on your blooms so I'm pretty sure it is the heat. As you discovered, once hibiscus buds start to open you can gently push them open all the way. I have to do this before every Open House in order to get the flowers open fully before people arrive. If the flowers resist opening then it's too early and they will tear but usually a gentle push pops the flower fully open.

Charlie

[Doll]

Thanks Charlie. I was hoping it was just the heat. We should start to get some cooler weather in 2-3 weeks here in Houston. Living in Houston is like having a 4 month heat wave in other locales.

[Charlie]

Yeah, only John P has it worse this summer, being outside Dallas. Haven't heard from him in a couple of months and I suspect the drier heat has been hard on his hibiscus.

Charlie