Rockets Red Glare

[Charlie]

I think your point is valid. Insulating the roots of hibiscus appears to be one of the best ways to improve performance. That is what happens in a big way when hibiscus are planted in the soil instead of a pot. I've also heard of people in places like Florida painting one side of a pot white and facing the white side toward the afternoon sun! Keeping the roots from getting too hot or too cold is one way to lessen the stress on hibiscus. Cindy drops her 4" plastic pots into various ceramic containers she has collected, such as over size coffee cups. It is rarely a perfect fit but does serve to keep the direct sun off most of the plastic pots. My opinion is that it is just plain hard to keep a small pot watered evenly, and even more so when each one has a different variety and different size hibiscus growing in it. Some dry out earlier than others and we just don't have time to individually monitor each of the hundred or so houseplant hibiscus in our house. Instead they all get watered more or less at the same time, and some are dry and some wet when we do it. So, we get some stress but overall they grow nicely and bloom some of the time.

I'm not sure what criteria Cindy uses to decide when to use the Wake-up spray (gibberillic acid). It is not good to use it constantly but maybe she will chime in and comment on how she uses it to best advantage.

Below is a photo of a Rockets Red Glare bloom being used as a table decoration.

Charlie

[Nievesgirl]

My experience with using plastic pots has been great so far. When I was living in a house and had my backyard all of my hibiscus where in big plastic pots. They all sat on top of a piece of cement slat that headed up when the sun hit it. They all did well and I did not experience any stress from them being heated by the slat or sun hitting the pots.

I am using Plastic pots right now on my balcony but I have lots of shade during certain hours. I am considering getting clay pots because the clay pots soak up lots of water and I have to water them more. This will probably help me to stop salt burn. with the plastic I water less like once a week. Now since the heat is coming I water my big plant 2 times a week.

So this weekend I might be tranfering everything into clay pots.

[helixturnhelix]

That makes sense.  Has anyone used foam insulator to coat the inside sides of the pot?  I wonder if that would provide enough insulation without having to buy heavy clay pots.

[Charlie]

I received a sample pot a few years ago that was a good attempt at providing insulation and a water reservoir. Most self-watering pots have a water reservoir built into the bottom and the plant grows above it in a separate chamber. The water is wicked from the reservoir into the potting mix. The pot I received took a different approach - the pot walls were double, creating a space all around the pot that could then be filled with water. The reservoir both insulated the roots and provided water as needed. I never saw it come to market but the idea seemed good.

Charlie

[roadrunner]

Charlie
In your reply #15 you mention a hibiscus houseplant collection of a hundred or so. How do you and Cindy manage such a large number of plants in the house and could you give some idea of the range of container and plants sizes you have? My collection is approaching 40 plants and most of my containers are 8 and 10 inch with exception of the new purchases this year in 4 and 6 inch pots. I figure this winter some windows will be 3 or 4 deep with hibiscus.

dave

[Nievesgirl]

Rocket's red glare

[roadrunner]

Kerry, that bloom is absolutely gorgeous. Makes me wish I hadn't hesitated on ordering it. I missed another one.

dave

[Nievesgirl]

Chris how is your RRG growing ?

Mine seems slow but then again a pod is developing so I think this is the cause for slow grow.

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Kerry,

RRG is growing pretty good for me.  Its not super fast, but it is growing very lush and full.  Two of the three branches mine has are budding up, but I have to move the plant so that may cause bud drop.  I think that I should have some flowers to share pics of in September. 

I have found that there is a decrease in the amount of grow/blooming on a branch when it has a developing seed pod.  It makes sense since it takes alot of energy to produce a seedpod, so it takes away from other growth like buds and leaves.  My Belle du Jour has just started putting out buds again after producing 6 seed pods for me, pretty good for a plant thats barely a foot tall   Im going to give her a break for a while, maybe ill start again when my new 4inchers start blooming

-Chris

[helixturnhelix]

The flowers are pretty similar to rockets red glare, and according to this forum and other reviews, RRG is a huge bloomer.  Mine is  small, but is already budding up, so I think this is true.  After kerry's pic, I am really looking forward to the blooms.   

[Charlie]

Rockets Red Glare has been an excellent bloomer in the greenhouse. Big flowers that really catch the eye. I hope it works well in other conditions and look forward to the reports.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Wow Charlie, thats a great picture!  I really can't wait for mine to bloom!  When you say that the flowers have wild form you weren't kidding, the foreground flower has 8 petals!

[Charlie]

Sharp eyes, Chris! I've never seen it become a double although with the extra petals it would technically be called a loose double if entered in a show. A few other cvs will add extra petals that lie flat from time to time. I remember a Dragon's Breath bloom that I photographed once that had 10 petals all lying flat so that it looked like a very beefy single.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

DB with 10 petals sounds like it was a sight to behold.  Do these extra petals occur more often in warm weather, much like some single and double varieties bloom as doubles in those conditions?

[Nievesgirl]

Rockets Red Glare has been an excellent bloomer in the greenhouse. Big flowers that really catch the eye. I hope it works well in other conditions and look forward to the reports.

Charlie

I love the picture !!!!!