Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

That was not fun last night.  The power came on 10 hours later...

Two brave souls dared to bloom today during the windstorm.

Farmer D

Bridal Path Thanksgiving and Cranberry Muffin today.

Here are my blooms bf took pics not sure what some of the blooms are

Fall Leaves
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v33/p139422420-5.jpg)

I think a dark Cranberry Muffin ?
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v33/p192404278-5.jpg)

Black Dream
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v30/p490818327-5.jpg)

Wild blueberry or bayou rose
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v29/p319303338-5.jpg)

No sure what this is atm
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v33/p3496152-5.jpg)

I think this is Wild Dream
(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/s11/v35/p477901699-5.jpg)

Today I also had an Electric Orange and a Saffron on the same day, so easy to compare, EO is much more brighter and about 5 and half inches, where as Saffron is about 7inches for me here.

Did everyone in Cali make it though those winds?  I saw it on the news here that tractor trailor trucks were blown over from the 100 mph winds!  Hope everyone is ok!

I got a beautiful Night Runner bloom the other day.  Made me really happy.  I crossed it with Blue Ballerina, My Blue Heaven, and Voodoo Magic.

David, beautiful comparison!  Love them both!
Darren, Love the brave souls!  Hope you made out ok.

Kristen, that Night Runner is one of the most beautiful blooms I've ever seen. That's going right to the top of my must have list. As to the winds here in southern California, Darren's area took the brunt of the high winds. I'm about 40 miles south of him in Orange County and we lucked out with only moderate gusts and very little damage.

Erny

We lucked out in both our locations and had no power or wind issues.

David, those are great looking blooms, in particular the Cranberry Muffin looks very fancy and nice in a hot climate which I wondered about.

Erny, I've got some Night Runner plants just about ready to offer for sale for spring delivery. Keep in mind that this fantastic bloom is on an equally NOT fantastic bush. However, it's worth growing for some people due to the flower while others have given up on it. Note that Kristen has 3 bamboo sticks holding up the branches of hers. If you have the patience to train this one it might even end up looking half decent.

Charlie

Hi Kristen,
The winds here were the worst I have seen in my life living in Southern California. We had some plant casualties, but nothing that cannot be repaired. Thankfully, the plants were fairly well sheltered by the neighbor's house. We had lost electricity for for approx 16 hours here and I hooked up my generator so we could keep the fridge cold and watch TV.
Beautiful NR bloom, good luck with the crosses....

David, those are great looking blooms, in particular the Cranberry Muffin looks very fancy and nice in a hot climate which I wondered about.
Charlie
[/quote]

Haha I think my camera makes it look more fancy, I am having problems with it, it seems to take a different type of picture when I tilt it, and I have to tilt it as Cranberry Muffin is now 7 feet tall, here is the same bloom with a distance picture, I think still nice mind.

David your blooms are showcase quality.  The colors are so rich - amazing!

Kristen you NR is beyond words...

Hal you have my sympathies - 16 hours with no power sucks.  At least it sounds like your neighbors house helped out somewhat to lessen the effects of the wind.  For us the wind came head on at a diagonal angle so not only did the plants get battered but all the neighbors' crap ended up on my property.  Oh well, new day!

You can see the wind burn on some of the shots like Ay Caramba and Valentines Day.  Rainbow Sherbet decided to celebrate normal conditions again and went bezerk.  Celebrate good times come on...

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/RainbowSherbetProfusion12-2.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/NorthPlanterColor12-2.jpg)

Farmer D

more...North Gate Planter consists of The Path down low, Some Like It Hot behind it and Daisy Mae sticking out in front in all it's glory.

Farmer D

and some more...

Farmer D

Darren I dont think your plants knew that there was a storm or that it is December!  Man the yard looks fantastic!

NR sure is nice, I wish its bush was nicer.  Probably wouldnt have cross it to Voodoo Magic though, they are both siblings and have bushes that could be improved on

The winds in my area have been crazy! Luckily, no lost power or damage, just loud sleepless nights and my yards are a mess!

Simple Pleasures is still pushing through outside. These blooms are pretty tiny, but still a joy to see. The colors are interesting.

Charlie,

Here is one of our latest seedlings, it looks alot like one of it's parents, what do you think, one of the parents is one of your creations.


Patrick

Patrick, WOW!  What a beauty!!
Darren, Hal, Denise, so glad your hibiscus made it without any damage.  All looks good.

Erny, You should give Night Runner a try.  Totally worth the messy bush.  And Charlie,  correction.  Three bamboo stakes and many lines of string tying the branches up!  LOL!! Sure is a sloppy bush, but wow.  I was so happy with the bloom.  haha

Kristen, I am just starting to construct a wish list and the only reason Night Runner won't head the list is that it has to be alphabetical. The main problem is trying to keep the list down to a manageable size. Everytime Darren posts some of his great pictures I want to add several more to the list.

Erny

Patrick, that is a beauty. Looks big, too. Perhaps Acapulco Gold as pollen parent?

Charlie

WOW! All you guys have such beautiful blooms...  I can't wait to get more hibiscus!!  I'm going to have to add Night Runner to my wish list too... simply amazing.
I'll just post my humble little Bon Temps for now...  can't wait until my four inchers get big enough to bloom!  I guess they look okay so far!

Wow Patrick that flower is stunning.

Patrick, your seedling is beautiful. I was thinking Rainbow Sherbert might be one of the parents.

Patrick,

your new plant is stunning. congrats to you and the parents :)

louis

Doll, I agree it could be Rainbow Sherbet. The other possibility that comes to mind is Cosmic Gold because it passes that type of eye to its offspring. Saffron passes white eyes, too, but this big type of eye is usually Cosmic Gold.

Charlie

Ernest I know what you mean about Darren's pics inspiring additions to your wish list. In fact not only his pics, that goes for many other forum member's pics as well. I've purchased or added several plants to my wish list for this reason. Too many to list. Thanks guys. lol

Kristen your Night Runner bloom is incredible. I had one that died after only a few months and never got a flower. I can live with the bad bush if I can just get it to grow and bloom. Maybe I'll give it another try if I'm lucky enough to get one.

Charlie are these soon to be available Night Runners own root or grafted?

Angela, nothing humble about your Bon Temps bloom. What bright rich color!

Patrick I concur with the others, your seedling is gorgeous.

dave

I agree Charlie, Cosmic Gold was my first guess as well.  It is a another beauty to add to the Big and Bright category!

John that is a splendid Cindy's Heart.  Gorgeous magenta and a lot of it too.

Today's blooms...

Farmer D

a few more...

Farmer D

Hi Angela,

Wow if that is Bon Temps that is really surprising.  The colors and layers of colors are so different.  I wonder if it is....

What does anyone else think?

Farmer D

Darren I see what you are referring to. There are some differences. Oh what a gorgeous bloom.  If it isn't Bon Temps I'd love to know the identity.


dave

Oh thats Bienvenue, not Bon Temps, the eye gives it away.  Still a really nice one!

Thanks for your comments everyone about the seedling, and Charlie the cross is Rosalind and Rainbow Sherbet, I thought the bloom looks alot like one of your photo's  on the Rainbow shertbet page, it's the photo on the bottom of the page.  Without cutting the bush it already is shelf branching.  I'm not sure what the look might be if it was outside, due to the Ohio cold it has been inside the house since September.




Patrick

Thanks Chris as always.  Angela's is very pretty!  I hope mine get somewhere's near that look one day...Congrats Angela - can't wait to see many more from you.

Mine lack that colorful vibrancy but as always I'll keep tweaking things in hopes of better blooms.

Farmer D

Here's my "Bienevue" and "Bon Temps" side by side... (these were the first blooms after buying them)  But who knows maybe the grower doesn't have the true CVs.... or it could be my colder temps.  It hasn't been getting much over 75˚ here but our overnight temps are more mild. We have a small temp swing here.

Wow I love that salmon-ish Bienevue...  wanna trade LOL ;D

I was just thinking... when I look at my photo it looks pretty true to what it looks like in reality but seeing colors on the web is complicated...  there are color profiles that cameras assign and each browser can interpret them differently and monitors vary too!! But thanks for the compliment! Like I said I'm a newbie when it comes to hibiscus and I hope to have some awesome flowers like all of you on the forum... I'm totally blown away by everyone's beautiful photos. :)

I have been away for 2 days, I cant believe all the yellow leaves I came home to, watered Saturday morning and its now Monday afternoon, about 50 hours and everything was bone dry, after I had cleaned up I had a few nice blooms. I have been usuing half a teaspoon of Booster with each watering for a few weeks now and am seeing a big improvement in my blooms.

Beautiful photo David. The colors are so vivid they just jump out at you.

Thanks Erny, its the end of the rainy season here so very cloudy overcast sky's, this certainly brings out the best in my garden, maybe just 1 or 2 hours of blazing sun a day and sometimes none at all, this should last for about 7 weeks, hopefully I can show more nice blooms to cheer up your American winter.

I know I prattled on yesterday about my plants all being bone dry after not watering for 50 hours but it was a big shock for me, I had left it before and never had a problem like that, it just proves that by increasing the Potassium you need a lot more water, one more thing to try and remember.

Have been away and just seen your seedling, wow!!!

Hi Angela,

Such beautiful blooms. I definitely see the one on the rt as Bienvenue.  The other one I still doubt it is Bon Temps.  The form is closer but boy those colors are so different.  If you could got a shot of the leaves that would be the clincher as BT has some unique leaves that are more pointy with jagged sides and usually really dark green.

Either way you got some killer blooms.  Glad to have you on board!

Farmer D

High Voltage mother and daughter and a nice Samba Dancer.

David isn't it amazing how much more water the drink up when the potassium is upped.  I'm lucky since my soil is wet heavy clay my plants have an endless supply of water to drink from.  It is also scary how fast things can change too.  I couldn't believe what the spider mites did in the week and half I was out of town after 2 days of 100F temps.  Three of my smaller plants were almost defoliated in that time.  Such is the life of the hibiscus lover....

David your Acapulco Gold has so much deep color I can't believe it.  Though I remember you saying you prefer it in the yellow zone so maybe we should switch!

Today's blooms...

Raging Bull went back to normal but interesting shot with the super dark one still in the background.  Amazing how right next to each other and just a few days apart the blooms can vary so much in color.

Ay Caramba today showed a new bloom with some pink in the eye - that's a first.

Farmer D

a few more...Picante seems really happy with a giant petaloid

Farmer D

Ugh... perhaps I'm a victim of another mislabeling or maybe a customer switched them...  I'm too impatient to buy ones that are blooming!  I almost bought the wrong hibiscus when I was looking for a "Gabriel" luckily there was am old closed flower on it and I could tell it was similar to Gabriel. LOL but it's probably not Gabriel...

Thanks for the ID help Chris and Farmer D....  Chris I was confused about which one you meant was Bienevue, mine or Farmer D's...  after googling it I see now that mine is definitely Bienevue...  here is the first flower from it (the one before the one I posted).

BTW beautiful shots Farmer D... love the  Raging Bull... I hope my Chariots of Fire will grow up to be as nice as yours someday!

Now I'm wondering... what the heck is my plant that was sold as Bienevue?  It looks nothing like Bienevue or Bon Temps to me.   ???

Darren its showing that much deeper color because we have no sun here at the moment [or very little], once the suns back it will soon fade to the yellow I like. Saying that since using the booster the colors are deeper and last much longer.
My booster isn't the real stuff from Charlie but I will refer to it as booster as its just about the same thing, and it does make a huge difference, I would say I also have about an average increase of about 25% in my bloom size.
Darren because of the extra Potassium do you give much extra Magnesium?, that's something I have read I must do.

Its strange really, I try to read and learn as much about the garden as I can and one thing you read is that Hibiscus don't like wet heavy clay soil, well I think you have well and truly knocked that theory on its head ha ha.
How have you been getting on with the Kontos? have you had to up the dose because yours are in the ground, its good stuff and its for sure improved my enjoyment of our hobby, its also improved this Forum, you rarely read about Spider Mites now where as 3 years ago it was every other topic and a struggle for everyone. Just wish I could find something to control caterpillars, big fat horrible things that eat my Adeniums.

David, BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a good control for most caterpillars if you can find it there. Can you post a pic of those caterpillars?

dave

This is a picture of what it exactly looks like, it starts of as a one inch thing about as thick as a pencil [very lime green color] and then just eats and poo's till its about the size of my thumb. Sometimes I will have one thats orangy looking, still horrible, thing is they are hard to see, what I first look for is there droppings, and until you find it them droppings just get bigger and bigger.

That is sooo cool!!!  Man look at those huge false eye spots!

David it seems like your blooms were looking pretty close to this even before your rainy season started.  Or at least the colors are so awesome that it sure seems that way.  

As for magnesium I haven't added any additionally though if I did I would probably go the epsom salt route.  I am hoping my big plants can handle this winter much better than last and come spring I won't need a lot of fert and booster to get the exponential growth which I don't think is needed for them as they are so big now.  I really am trying to get back to a more organic approach if possible.  But my smaller young ones I think will go into the high fert/booster regime once the growing season starts again as I bet 2012 will be another shorter cooler growing season.  Cooler is definitely good though for the spider mites!

With that said last two nights here were 38F (3C) so this would be the time for the plants to start shutting down.  I have seen the leaves get a little smaller and curl a little this week but I am still heavily spraying with supernova and I tell you these plants are acting like it is still growing season.  Is it possible to keep them growing all winter long without any stopping?  They all have tons of new growth currently and are getting taller by the day still...Wouldn't that be a game changer even with this really cold start to winter here in So Cal to have them never stop growing the entire year.  Lofty goal but this is what I am starting to see as a realistic possibility.  February will be the time marker I'm shooting for.

Oh as for Kontos I just fed COF and Bonnie Lass a few days ago as they are still giving me yellow leaves continuously.  As long as it doesn't rain I can keep treating them on a weekly feeding basis.  And yes it is a lot more for in ground.  One spoonful per two gallons of water and I don't know if that is enough yet.  All my other 70ish plants are spider mite free currently.  I'll keep you posted.

Farmer D

Hey Lynette are you using your Plankets yet?  I was down to 38F (3C) in Hollywood last couple of nights so I'm sure you were much colder.  I have my stash ready...

Today's blooms....

Farmer D

David, that's a very interesting caterpillar. Would you be interested in transferring this discussion over to the hibiscus care section? I have a couple more questions about it.

dave

Done that Dave.

It got down to 30 degrees last night so all of my hibiscus are now stashed in various spots throughout my house and garage. Here are a couple hanging out in the guest shower...haha

WOW love that Tahitian Lavender!

Denise, isn't that unusually cold for your area?  Those are great looking bushes and blooms.  Your setup sounds a lot like mine.   I also have my hibiscus all over the house, but without a garage mine have taken over my unheated laundry room. Low temps of 26, 24, and 26 the first 3 mornings this week. Will be glad when this current cold snap is over. Ok you guys in Connecticut please don't laugh.

dave

I had to bring in the rest of my plants yesterday. It got down to 28 this morning.

....Yes Darren I have for about the last 10 days...its been in the low 30s....they seem to work well....I cover them around 4 every night and uncover around 8-9 am....they seem to work well...I would cover yours if you are getting that low of temps....I waited a little too long and have about 4 that are not looking well.....droopy leaves..so I am spraying super nova daily...it kills me to see one not do well..but I think they will recover....your blooms and everyone elses are  awsome....I will be posting some pics later today :D ;D

Darren, like you I have almost all my plants in the ground. It has been getting a little colder each night--last night was our low at 39 F. Do you plan to use Plankets for each individual plant or do they make something that would work for a whole line of plants? I think I better stock up and be ready just in case. Where do you get them? I was thinking that my larger plants that have been in the ground for several years will be OK and it may only be necessary to protect the smaller ones that I planted late this summer. Does that sound like a reasonable way to go?

Lynette I think you're in good shape there.  Are the winds any issue with keeping the plankets on your plants?  That would be my concern here especially with the taller plants I have.  I have half a dozen near or over 5 feet tall and I wonder if the wind would get under the planket and do the parachute thing causing broken branches and such.  I got the 10x20 ones to cover whole sections of my planters.  I don't know if you tie yours down at all.

Coincidentally here are a few shots of cold burn I saw for the first time today.  Hot Pepper and Valentines Day which are right next to each other.  All the others are fine.  It's supposed to start warming up at night now so hopefully this stretch is over.

Farmer D

Erny I think your more mature plants should be fine especially up against your house.  That is a nice bit of protection for those nights that are getting a little close.  My main concern is with global warming it seems that here in So Cal we actually are getting a lot cooler and experiencing more dynamic weather conditions including colder winter lows.  I wouldn't be surprised if this winter or next we have some widespread freezing all over So Cal and all plants no matter how mature will need protection.

I got the Plankets that are 10x20 feet so that I can quickly cover whole swaths of my planters.  I just have too many plants to go individual.  I think your small ones should definitely be covered anytime it gets close to 40F (4C).  I lost several 4 inchers last winter so maybe even keep them inside during winter if you want to dig them up.

Check out plankets.com (http://www.theplanket.com) to see what you want.  My last order shipped really fast - within a week I got it.

Farmer D

Today's blooms - it's really slowing down now.  But man i love The Path!!!  And AG is just always so pretty too...

Farmer D

Darren, thanks for the info. I'm especially glad to hear about the 10 X 20s since it would get quite expensive to order individuals for about 60 plants. So far no cold burn here but the flowers sure don't like it-- especially Black Dream.

Erny

oops...i dont know how that happened ..sorry

some blooms from the last week.....lynette

and a couple more....

Lynette your Confection Perfection lives up to its name, perfect. Rainbow Sherbert is nice for me today and my Melon Melange has got buds and blooms after a long rest.

Wow you guys!  All I can do is look at all your photos and drool. :)

David your melon melange is beautiful!!!!

Lynette and David just fabulous blooms....

Today I was down to just one new bloom but if there was one to have this will do...

Farmer D

Chariots of Fire and City Slicker today.

David great blooms.  COF just wants to bloom and bloom.  Great CV.  Your City Slicker is just gorgeous!!!

Today's blooms for a full moon...

Farmer D

few more...

Farmer D

Darren, thanks for sharing your wonderful photos. I have lots of buds but they are very slow to open during this relatively cold spell we have had lately and when they do open they are not very spectacular to say the least. All your blooms look great but I am especially drawn to the color pattern of Tahitian Lavender Mist. It's one of the first choices I made on my recently submitted wish list.

It's always a great pleasure to be able to enjoy the blooms that you and others post here when I am having so few myself.

David, that City Slicker is beautiful.

Erny

Great stuff Erny!  I'm really intrigued by this really cold autumn we've had to see if I can continue to get blooms and growth out of my plants.  I really want to avoid having my plants pretty much shut down for several months like last winter.  We'll see. 

TLM is actually not from HVH as I believe the only Tahitian Charlie has so far in the store is Tahitian Princess which I am a huge fan of.  The bush on that one is very nice and vigorous.  Can't wait to see what new ones are in the wings for 2012.

Farmer D

Hot Southern Nights with a different red colour Dragons Heart and Bright Horizon today, I have to cut BH and place them, there in a part of the garden I cant see. Here in Vietnam they are small at 4 inches and I have to force them open but I wouldn't swap them, I think they are lovely.

Our house hibiscus on the front porch also stopped blooming after the cold weather hit in December. Many of them had buds so we moved several into sunny windows inside the house about 10 days ago (just before we had the first freeze of this winter) and they are blooming once again. It has been interesting to watch the first flowers come out about half normal size and with the red shifted colors of cold weather but with each new flower the size has increased and the color has become more normal. I can't help but wonder if all these green hibiscus in the house clean and oxygenate the air enough to be measurable. They sure brighten the place up anyway.

Beautiful Bright Horizon flowers, David. I'm very disappointed that the cloned plants of that variety do not open well much of the time. The original seedling plant did not show that flaw. As you said, the flower petals can be pushed open by hand and then look fine but I can't see putting a note on every plant of BH suggesting that. Might have to take it off the market despite the popularity of the colors.  :(

Charlie

Thats too bad about Bright Horizons Charlie, its a real beauty.  Is it a cool weather bloomer?  Ive heard it does well, blooms and opens well indoors.

Its pretty amazing how much live plants clean the air.  This is the link to one of the original papers on using plants to clean indoor air pollutants. http://www.scribd.com/doc/1837156/NASA-Indoor-Plants   Whats really surprising is how there is negligible concentrations of benzene after only 1.5 hours.  What I found most interesting about having a significant number of houseplants in the house, was the significant increase in humidity.  Especially since heated air is so dry.  

Attached are my blooms from this week from my basement!

I know ti's not officially winter yet but it might as well be. On my 60+ plants only one photographable bloom today and I had to open it by hand. This is the down side of having your plants in the ground. Jazz shows decent colors but the metallic ring around the eye is much less defined in the cooler weather.

Erny

David and Chris your blooms are beautiful.  Great colors and form!!!

Erny Jazz looks great.  That is a really nice bloom.  I can imagine a whole bush full of those and that would be pretty amazing.  Soon!!

Speaking of out door and in ground hibiscus down sides...here is another one that I really really really hate!!!  Sorry but cats suck between this and their mating at 4am in the morning that sounds like babies on drugs.

It all starts when you see that mound of dirt that wasn't there the day before...

Happy Saturday!

Farmer D

Not sure which one this is.  This one never bloomed all that well because it was neglected.
I pruned it a tiny bit and fed it...  judging by the blooms it looks happier! 

Common here in Hawaii but I still love this little hibiscus...

Just bought these ("Modern Art" and "Elishea")... they had these buds on them when they were shipped (from O'ahu).  Not quite living up to the photos yet!  As you can see the pads aren't developed on the Modern Art, I'm guessing from stress.  Hopefully the next blooms will be better.

LOL Darren, nice cat doodie pic.  The Path looks great!

Lovely colour to my Thanksgiving today and loads of pollen, its 79f here today so may get lucky, I have crossed it with a just opened Saffron.

Jazz is just beautiful I hope to get mine back in good shape :]

I love bright Horizon !  Your Dragon's heart is very inspiring, Mine is coming a long nicely it gave me a lot of blooms this year.

I also love it, Charlie is thinking of withdrawing it because the blooms don't open, thing is I have the exact same problem with Transcendent so its probably as much to do with the heat here rather than a fault with the cv, I for sure have never heard of anyone with the same problem on Transcendent so that's what got me thinking. Its most likely a coincidence but these 2 cv's are by far and away the most strongest cv's I have, both main trunks are now over an inch thick and Transcendent grew to 8 feet in 9 months [I pruned it yesterday]. Dragons Heart is a suprise for me, for over a year it was rubbish, but as soon as I put it in a much larger pot it exploded with blooms, in fact I cant remember the last day I did not have a bloom on it and somedays I regularly have half a dozen.

Safaron and Cranberry Muffin today.

Have to love a 4 flower Saffron, David. Cranberry Muffin looking good in the heat, too.

Charlie

Angela, you can't rely on the photos or descriptions from many hibiscus sellers. That's one of the reasons that we started this forum - to show real flowers grown by hibiscus enthusiasts around the world. The forum is limited to photos and discussion of varieties the moderators are familiar with - which includes thousands of varieties - so that we can encourage those who post to keep it real. This inconveniences a few people but all in all the policy is working well to present a realistic yet still inspiring view into the world of hibiscus collecting and growing.

Charlie

Hey Angela,

I also have Modern Art, and it has always looked just like the description and picture for me.  I have a feeling that this is a different CV because it is one that does not have alot of variation in the bloom color.  I try not to discuss non HVH or CVs Charlie hasnt grown here, per Charlie's wishes.

As Charlie has outlined above, the main purpose of this forum is to share experiences and photos of HVH cultivars, or other CVs that have been grown by HVH.  This gives Charlie feedback on his new CVs and gives new and old customers a more holistic view of a variety.

If you are interested in discussing other CVs, there are a bunch of forums where you can do this.  THML is also an excellent place to ask questions and discuss aspects of growing different CVs.  You are also more than welcome to send me an e-mail if you would like to discuss anything further or would like leads to other hibiscus communities. :) 

:)

Well said Chris. This forum has been kind of a Godsend for me and a curse at the same time. The many wonderful cultivar photos by so many forum members have inspired so many purchases, too many to try listing here.  Why do I feel it is also a curse?  I ran out of space a long time ago so same reason.  I have essentially no will power.  Well, curse is probably too strong a word.  The forum is definitely an enabler though.  At any rate I'm really looking forward to the big store reopening on Dec 30th and kind of dreading it at the same time.  I'm just short of 100 plants and I'm sure I'll go over it that morning.  Little did I know when I purchased those first 3 exotic hibiscus back in 2004 that it would lead to this.  Repeating myself again, what a wonderful addiction!!

dave

.

Here are a few pics from this week. These are from the unheated greenhouse. Outside, temperature range for nearly 3 weeks was 38 to 65 outside on average. Not sure about inside the greenhouse, don't have a thermometer in there. 

Maui Masterpiece still blooming large 8" with great color but reflexing a lot. Next is Peppermint Drop showing very little white but still a really nice shade of red and a bloom about 6".  The last two pics are Voodoo Magic. Maui blooms lasting about 6 days, PD lasting 4 days on average, and VM about 3 days.

After those 3 nice weather weeks, the cold snap hit with lows in the mid 20s and highs in the 40s and low 50s. Everything was moved into the adjoining laundry room for several days, yet a few have continued to bloom. This mild hopefully wet storm coming in has allowed me to move them back into the greenhouse for a few days.

dave

Dave you should have put forward Peppermint Drop as a mystery bloom, for sure I would never have guessed but I don't think anyone would have found that one very easy.
The Maui is a real beauty, reflex or not and 8 inches, wow!! I am still waiting for my first 8 inch bloom, since using the Booster I have increased the size of all my cv's and Bridal Path at 7 and a half came close, but no eight incher yet.

You mentioned December 30th, well I am dreading it, not sure if you know but I have been banned from importing any more Hibs and seeing all the beauties on offer is going to be a killer, I shall of course still be sat here looking and watching, ha ha just less stressfull. I will be getting 4 more Hibs later in the year though, I have a friend who lives in Texas who will be returning to Vietnam later next year so Cindy will ship to her and she will bring me them in her suitcase.

Dave those are some awesome blooms.  Maui Masterpiece is to die for.  Glad they are hanging in there and showing off still.  This autumn has really been a cold winter so far for us in the southwest.  Tough way to end the growing season early...

A few from yesterday and today...

Farmer D

Oops sorry!
I have currently two 4" I bought from HVH and I'll post some pics as soon as they bloom.
I'm planning on getting more as they become available.  :)

David I considered posting the Peppermint Drop bloom in the mystery bloom section but there are so many reds and red and whites out now I didn't think it would be fair, tho I'm sure Charlie would have gotten it.
So why have you been banned from importing any more hibiscus? That must be incredibly maddening! Glad you have a way to get a few in.  I am surprisingly limited on who I can order from here in Arizona, but at least I can order. Thank goodness for HVH.

Thanks Darren. Maui has an incredible bloom. I may have some summer pics that I didn't get around to posting. Currently that plant is 5 ft tall in an 8 inch pot. Definitly on the 'move to larger pot list' early next year. Love your Prosperity and The Path, well really love all three.  Prosperity is the #1 priority on my buy list. That cold snap got just about all us of out here. Wish it would have brought some precip with it. As usual Cochise Co. got bypassed. Getting some ok rain out of today's system tho, .42, better than the usual few hundredths or nothing at all. Hope we aren't finished yet. We're in severe drought down here.

dave

Cant really say to much Dave but if you think third world country and corruption you will have a clue, for sure its nothing to do with the plants,it wouldn't matter if it was Talcum Powder, someone needs paying.

Still not to worry, its now or never for my crosses, 75 f last night which is about as low as it gets, I also have it in a porchway that's a sort of a wind tunnel making it even cooler, I had 3 Saffron blooms and X'd with the supposedly hot Cream De Cacao, for here I doubt I will  have all them conditions at the same time again so like I say, now or never and I can just hope.

David I think I understand.

 Wow, low of 75 there and that's considered cool, right?  Our high today was 56.  !00 percent chance of more rain tonight and tomorrow. Hope they're correct, we need it badly. Forecasters have trouble with our part of the state.  Glad I'm a weatherman retired, so I don't get chewed out any longer when the weather isn't what everyone wants it to be.

Good luck on your crosses.

dave

Sweet Dave, meteorology sure is a fascinating subject! 

Believe it or not I am actually an amateur meteorologist.  So this is very welcome news...Dave it looks like you got some substantial rain from that last system.  Glad to see it.

Today was a surprise awesome day.  Twin quintuplets courtesy of Acapulco Gold and Prosperity.  Making up for the lack of blooms lately but there are so many buds on my plants I don't see it lasting long.

Also how about this: a 10 day old blossom on Cindy's Heart.  I kid you not, this one has been on there since 12/5 and still looks very classy.  What's the record?

Farmer D

more of the AG variety....and a SB

Farmer D

Acapulco Gold Samba Dancer and Peppermint Drop today. Also a nice garden Hib from Saigon.

I am now of the view that Peppermint Drop just needs sun and lots of it, had a few weeks of cloudy overcast days and it has struggled a bit, so I can see its going to be a real star here in Vietnam cos there arent to many of them.

Darren, 10 days for an open flower of Cindy's Heart (or any other variety) is probably the record. It still looks pretty good, too! Denis in Croatia reported an 8 day CH flower recently but 10 is the most I have heard. Cindy and I had a 5 day bloom in summer in full sun so this is not a winter phenom only. Of all the varieties I have grown, this one has consistently shown the longest lasting blooms.

David, that house photo in Vietnam was interesting. Nice Peppermint Drop flowers, too!

Charlie

Wow Darren I agree with Charlie, 10 days for a Cindy's Heart bloom or any hibiscus bloom is incredible. I've had a few CH last 4 days inside the house during winter. The Maui Masterpiece I posted a photo of a few days ago is still open this morning so this is day 6 for that one. The pic I posted was a 3rd day bloom. Your Prosperity continues to amaze. If I only buy one on the 30th it will be Prosperity, assuming there are some available.
I remember you mentioning that you were an amateur meteorologist a while ago, I think it was during one of those major California rain events. Are you a member of the CoCoRaHS volunteer weather network by chance?  Our recent storm did bring some good rainfall totals for a change to this corner of AZ, but we're still way below normal for the year. As usual the heavier rains missed us in town, slightly under and inch for the two days.

David that is a really great group shot. I hope my Peppermint Drop starts looking something close to yours next summer. Mine hasn't shown much white yet so I assume it isn't getting nearly enough sun.  From what I've seen so far its bush is outstanding. Oh, that yellow garden variety with the large red eye is a very showy flower.

dave

Darren, that is amazing that CH lasted 10 days. I think one of the reasons mine don't last more than 3 days even in the cooler weather is that I always pollinate them. But my persistence has paid off. I have 5 seed pods on my CH.

David, I love that yellow garden variety. You need to send one back to Texas with your friend when she returns after visiting you. :)

Wow Darren, i wonder how long my moms CH is lasting.  She loves that CV alot, it's perfect for her since it loves sun and has almost obnoxiously bright pink blooms.

Man peppermint drop is nice, alot like Morgan Alyssa, but with a nice bush! Looks like you finally figured out the special needs of your plants in the heat.

Man peppermint drop is nice, allot like Morgan Alyssa, but with a nice bush! Looks like you finally figured out the special needs of your plants in the heat.
[/quote]
Sorry but those pics of PD could be a bit misleading, they have been cut and placed on Rainbow Sherbet for a group picture.
 If PD does have one flaw it is that the blooms sometimes face into the bush and can be difficult to see, they also tend to be a bit all over the place rather than up at the top where they are easy to see. Saying that its still young and  growing like crazy, its very compact and loves the sun, I haven't had any need to even think about pruning yet but I can see it being very large in the future.
I think a lot of the problems I had with the heat and sun was down to my inexperience and my potting mix, now I have finally sorted the mix out[took me 2 years and discovering Perlite was a godsend] they are all thriving, mainly only 1 day blooms but that's no problem, in fact it can be an advantage sometimes, I don't ever worry about cutting the blooms and placing them so they can be viewed easier.

Here are a few from this morning. Maui Masterpiece day 7 and Blonde Ambition not looking her best in this colder weather. Both relocated from the unheatable greenhouse to the unheated laundry room during this current cold spell. Cindy's Heart blooming inside the house and a portion of the collection in the south facing living room window. Newest additions are still in their 4" pots on the window sill.



dave

David my Peppermint Drop's blooms haven't had the amount of white that yours have shown but all the blooms have been well displayed on top of the bush. The first two photos are from late October when I still had my larger plants outside. The first pic is a PD bloom showing just a little white. The white pot in the group shot is PD with the same bloom showing on top. The burried bloom lower to the right is actually First Lady from the plant to the right. The third picture inside the greenhouse was taken in late November. It's not a very good pic, the PD blooms are barely visible at the top of the plant in the rear of the greenhouse. They are partially open. A First Lady bloom is visible in front and lower, looking red instead of her usual pink. My PD was a very large robust 1 gal. plant when I received it. Hopefully yours will outgrow the poor bloom placement tendency as it matures.

dave

Dave I maybe have made it sound worse than it is, its only a small flaw as I have many blooms up on top, also my bush I think is a bit bigger than yours and has many branches growing on the inside, like I say its very compact so its bound to have blooms that cant be seen so easy. It does need a bit of sun on it to get the blooms open though and the more sun the better, I was beginning to notice before the rainy season came that on a blazing sunny day the red color goes more like a wine color which is nice. I just nipped out and took a quick picture in the rain.
You know sometimes I am envious of everyone getting 3 4 and 5 day blooms, but I will be happy just having the one dayers 365 days a year if it means I can leave all my cv's outside with no worry, it must be hard work and frustrating to have to bring them all in, I take my hat of to you and all who have to do that, that's true dedication to our hobby.

David you make an excellent point about having blooms every day and by the way Dave (AZ) your Maui Masterpiece looks just great at day 7.  That is an amazing number of days to have a bloom!

This last few weeks the nightly temps are at highest in the low 40Fs (4C) and daytime we haven't been in the 70Fs (21C) now for a few weeks.  Result is I have buds coming out of my ears but the blooms are so painfully slow to happen.  I wonder though if this will lead to some bigger blooms again as the buds seem to be building up in size a little more each day.  Just look there are so many of them it's ridiculous.

I'm calling today as the last day for Cindy's Heart at 11 days of blooming.  Poor thing has been through two rain events including today so my hat's off to it!

Farmer D

& some blooms from today...

Farmer D

Rainbow Sherbert in the rain today, and my largest ever bloom, a 7 and a half inch Bridal Path, also my heavily pruned Vin Beugelois
Darren how have you got on with the bush of Vin Beugelois, I haven't half struggled, in fact 2 weeks ago I pruned it back to near nothing and started again, I have had very good success doing this in the past so I am hoping the same this time.

Farmer D, you're lucky you didn't (I hope) get the hail storm we had here in the Inland Empire this afternoon.!

Charlie

Well the rain has finaly stoped for the day, got a very orangy Thanksgiving and a large Cosmic Gold.

David your blooms are just amazing.  The colors you get out of them are so rich!

As for Vin Beaujolais it is an interesting one.  I got mine middle of last year as a really tiny 4".  I immediately planted it in ground (was summer) but it was right next to a sprinkler head that apparently dribbled a lot of water when on and kept the ground by VB really wet which is a problem here with my heavy clay soil.  Long story short it never grew an inch the whole entire year and winter as well.  Then my brain decided to start working and I reworked the sprinkler head so that the soil got no water from it.  Starting this spring it has gone bonkers and has probably quadrupled in size.  It has grown into a really nice ball shape with a ton of branches and buds everywhere now.  Only drawback is the branches are on the thin side so far but let's see if they get thicker as it continues to mature.  

I don't see any need to have pruned it as it has branched very well on it's own - and with a lot of Supernova spray of course.  Maybe though the pruning would help with the branches being thicker.  I don't mind them being thin as all branches and blooms are always presented upright and are well dispersed.

I did recently prune a few branches for some cuttings (which didn't make it on the receiving end due to their thinness) so I will watch to see what those branches do going forward.

Please check the pics I posted on the cultivar topic for VB to see some of my plant shots.  It is pretty current to where it is now.  I'll take a pic of it tomorrow as it is still growing like crazy.

Farmer D

I love the weather but fortunately the main energy of that front seemed to be over you more.  Got some lightning and rain but thankfully no hail.  At one point I could see blue sky in front of the storm as well as behind it.

Was it pretty intense in your area?  The radar showed it red over that vicinity for a while this afternoon.

Farmer D

It was intense. First the sky darkened ominously but I needed something from Lowe's so went to get it. Once inside the store, the lightning and thunder broke and you could hear what I thought was rain pounding on the roof of the big box. A few minutes later some guy walked by and commented "you're gonna freeze outside, man" I guess because I was wearing shorts. I looked out the door and saw the hail mixed with cold rain and decided to spend some more time looking at tools. We live right at the base of Mt. San Jacinto so do get some weather intensity that is more rare closer to the coast.

Charlie

LOL, Charlie you are describing almost every day at 4pm in CO.  The atmosphere is unstable at such a high altitude, so we got strong thunderstorms and hail everyday in the late afternoon during the summer.  At least there is no fear of tornadoes in the inland empire.

Ironically, the PNW has as variable weather as CO, especially since I live right next to the Strait of Juan de fuca.  The long obstructed fetch allows winds to rip through this area.  We consistently get sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts 60-80 mph...  Putting any plants outside in the summer is probably not going to happen out here... Seattle was much wetter and cloudier, but the weather was more consistent, major difference 50 miles makes! Interestingly Sequim is about 40 miles from me and gets less than 17 inches of rain a year, and is almost always sunny!  And only 40 miles from Sequim is the Hoh temperate rainforest which receives 121 - 165 inches of rain a year.   It seems as though this is truly the land of micro climates! 

I keep getting error messages telling me I already posted this but I can't find it anywhere. So here are some cool weather blooms. Sorry if this is a duplicate.
Love Story, Me Oh My Oh, Eye of Kali, Black Dream, Living Legend, and LL bush.

Erny

A few more: 2 Night Fires and NF bush, Renaissance Blue, and Donna Lynn.

Erny

Chris I'm wondering if you have a designated evacuation route being right on the ocean in the beautiful Cascadia Subduction Tsunami Zone?  Whenever in HI that is the first mental thing I cover when we get to our destination.  Where and how fast can we get to higher ground....

Farmer D

Erny your shots of the plants is so helpful.  Thanks for posting those.  Both my Nightfire and LL are small so I now have a much better idea of what they are aiming to become.

Your plants are so nice and lush though I don't see too many buds.  I can tell you from my experience that spraying with Supernova has really kept my bud action going like crazy even with this very cold autumn we're having.  I don't remember if you spray or even have time to but I would love to see your bushes with buds all over them.  It might be too late this season but if you have the time I think you would see a difference.

Even without the buds my plants are still growing like crazy even though it has already been as cold as last winter when they pretty much shut down for several months.  Last year I didn't know about Supernova and spraying it and of course my plants are another year more mature...

Hey it's also great to have someone else posting pics of Black Dream growing out doors.  Mine is in a lot of shade this time of year and I get really wet and glossy blooms.  Check out this one from today...so dark it really is pretty much black and I super love it this way!

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream12-16.jpg)

Farmer D

Wow!! that Black Dream is lovely.  Today Melon Melange was looking nice, I have this on a small porch at the front, I needed a cv there that was tough and could stand constant strong winds, not much sun either so its doing quite well.
Cosmic Gold into its second day and much more of a gold color.

Hey Darren,

Luckily where I live is right on Puget Sound, and not the Pacific Ocean, so the force of any tidal wave would be hit the west side of the peninsula and dissipate before it got to us.  Unless of course there is a strong seismic event on this side of the pennisula, in which we will probably have alot of problems to worry about besides just tidal waves.

I attached two pictures from our front yard.  :)

  

  

Woah awesome blooms!  I am drooling over those Black Dreams, I am a sucker for dark red CVs!

Bright Horizon today, this cv may have a few problems with the blooms but its such a lovely bush, it also has very dark lush green leaves.

Darren, that Black Dream is about as good as it gets. I have two in the ground and one still in a pot. All get a lot of sun and continually put out a profusion of blooms. I started spraying with the Super Nova several weeks ago--about once a week I dump a few capfuls into a 3 gallon sprayer and that is enough to cover everything I have in the ground. It sounds like you spray a lot more often. Lately it seems that I've gotten a lot of green growth without a whole lot of buds but during the past week a lot of buds have started to appear. They just haven't liked the colder weather much. I have been spraying the 4" potted plants I got from Charlie more often--usually every other day--and they all seem to be thriving. My wife and I are going to Florida next week and will stay through New Year's eve so my plants will not get much TLC from our house sitter during the next two weeks. But when I get back I'll start a more intensive spraying regimen. It really doesn't take much time and I do have plenty of that available. By the way, I plan to visit one or two specialty hibiscus nurseries in Florida while we are there. If you would like me to scout out any rare or hard to find cvs there just let me know.

Erny that sounds like a blast!

Yeah, we're visiting my wife's family there so my part of the deal is that we go to Fairchild Tropical Botanical gardens and I get to check out the local hibiscus scene. My email is ernestncurtis@aol.com.

Erny those preliminary results you're starting to see with the green growth and buds starting to pop up sounds like what I see with spraying SN.  Keep it up and let's see what happens over this winter.  I'm starting to think that if we spray at least 2 or 3 times a week minimum our plants should keep on growing in spite of the cold.  My goal is to keep them growing and blooming all winter long, not just keep their leaves and wait for warm weather and longer days of sun.  This will be a good test of what it can actually achieve if anything.

Lynette mentioned that she was spraying too...I wonder if she has seen any difference as well?

Very exciting and thanks again to David in Vietnam for introducing this in the first place on the forum earlier this year.  

That's interesting, I would think that a tsunami would be able to wrap around and greatly affect the waters of the sound as well.  I love geology so I'll look into to this.

In the mean time Chris keep breathing in all that super fresh air...I am soooo jealous. 

Farmer D

Thanks Darren, it sure is beautiful out here, if only it was warmer I would be in Paradise! 

I guess we could see a small sea level rise, tsunami are just displaced water, so if enough was displaced it could potentially effect us.  I think the geology of this area doesnt show any previous tsunami events, the majority of the ancient tsunami evidence has been on the western side of the peninsula. I will look more into this, very cool to say the least! 

Dave !
Love the greenhouse picture look at all the lush hibiscus :)

Thanks Kerry. Quite a few buds on several of them still, but the colder temperatures result in some odd bloom colors and forms. Since the greenhouse is unheatable the hibs are frequently moved to the adjoining unheated but better insulated laundry room. That basically happens anytime the temp is forecast to be below 40. Happens a lot this time of year. When it stays cold for several days I leave them in the laundry room and hope I don't need to do any laundry. lol.   There's about 30 plants in there now.

dave

Darren that is an incredibly stunning and gorgeous Black Dream.

dave

Thanks Dave, Black Dream is at it's best in the cold weather.  Today it was quintuplets all really black and waxy.  If anyone doesn't have this CV and likes the dark colors this is a must get...too bad the camera doesn't do the black justice.

Cool shot of old and new Ay Caramba side by side.  Another amazing plant.

Farmer D

Darren, wonderful shots of Ay Caramba and Flickering Flame. I'm looking forward to getting them after the first of the year. I agree with you on Black Dream. It's one plant that doesn't seem to mind the cold at all. We had gale force Santa Ana winds here yesterday but only moderate wind this morning. Over the Rainbow finally started to open a bud today but I had to help it along. The colors are OK but the petals are somewhat curled--I presume due to the cold and wind. Only damage was two plumerias in large pots that blew over and lopped off some branches

Erny

Seem to be lucky with triples at the moment,yesterday Melon Malangi today Electric Orange and Rainbow Sherbert.
Hot Southern Nights looking a bit lost all on its own.

Samba Dancer finaly opened. I havent got any nearly black cv's but I have grown this Andenium from seed.

Always a treat to see what you've got blooming, David. Now that you've been doing this for awhile have you noticed a down time for your hibiscus or do they keep going about the same all year long there in the tropics?

Charlie

Great photos David. Seeing your Electric Orange makes me impatient waiting on the first bud of mine to open. Love that Samba Dancer. I like doubles and that is as nice as any I've seen. The dark flowered plant must be a species of Adenium. The common one here is Adenium Obesum--aptly named because of the large caudex. It is commonly known as the desert rose and typically has light red or pink flowers. I have had this one in a pot for 10-15 years. Definitely a slow grower.

Erny

No real down time as such, other than the rest what seems to be in there natural growing cycle; bloom rest grow bloom rest grow bloom etc. and although not a down time in April and May I lose most of my buds as there is not much humidity, just the heat, there is always the heat.

Electric Orange is one of my favourites, mind you when I first had it I thought I had a dud or it was just to hot for it here, every bud for months just fell off, then one day it bloomed and has never stoped since, its also very easy to take cuttings from.
I have about 10 Adenium Obesum, they thrive with me and I treat them exactly the same as my Hibiscus, there are thousands of them here but non compare to mine, mind you theres don't have the benefit of Supernova Spinosad Iron and all the other things we need for our hibs.

Erny your Over the Rainbow bloom looks a lot like some of mine.  This time of year that is how they are sometimes.  I had to finesse the daylights out of that Flickering Flame bloom to make it presentable.

David your blooms are just rocking!  It's a jot to just look at your bushes by themselves too....

Black Dream is so dark I am in heaven.  I did have a few blooms last year that in my opinion were even darker but this is quite nice too.

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream12-18.jpg)

Farmer D

a few more for today....

Farmer D

Hi Everyone. Want to wish you all a great safe Holiday.

Everyone has such great blooms and photos, lots of envy here. it gets dark here at 4 pm  and the sun does not come up till around 7 am. so its gloom city till april.


I have been much too busy to post lately although i am getting lots of blooms in the greenhouse. the crosses that i did last winter are coming into bud. i have had one bloom from a cross between purple magic and plum crazy and it turned out to be white with a yellow throat. that is strange coming from two purple parents. it bloomed while i was away and i was not able to photograph it. one more bud will open tomorrow or the day after. i see one seedling with 7 buds on it and its a cross between moonstruck and purple magic.

the bushes of the crosses between plum crazy and moonstruck, tigerama, and purple magic looks like the plum crazy bush. very nice.

stay tuned.

louis

Looking forward to seeing your X's Louis.
Acapulco and Cosmic Gold in fours today and a nice City Slicker.

Geez, David, I really don't think your blooms could be any more perfect. Thanks for sharing!

Good to hear from you, Lou! A cross of 2 purple flowers made a yellow - welcome to the world of hybridizing..... I've seen the same thing before and thought it was a mistagged seedling until it happened again. I'm still looking forward to seeing what else you get from those intriguing crosses.

Charlie

Loads of blooms for me at the moment, 5 today on Acapulco Gold which is a record for me, a nice Cranberry Muffin and a pair of Pocahontas, its absolutely pouring down as well.

David your blooms are really looking nice what is the temp @ now where you live ? are you still having some heat issues with your hibiscus ? They all seem very happy now :)

Thanks Kerry Denise and all for the nice comments. Last night was supposed to be the lowest temperature for years and it was 66f, even I was cold haha, its averaging the mid seventies during the day and hasn't really stopped raining for 3 weeks, Kim Anh turned up for work wearing hat gloves boots and scarf, I had to smile but then if you are used to 90 to 100f it would feel cold.
My blooms have been doing well for quite a while now, regardless of the weather, I seemed to have sorted all the issues I had and am very happy. .

Like I say raining all day and Peppermint Drop finally opened, and a lovely color to High Voltage .

I'm back in Southern California, visiting my parents.  One of my favorites, Cinnamon Girl, decided to say hello!  This one is never phased by any sort of weather that gets thrown at it (its been in the 30s at night here) in the summer days in the 100+ heat dont bother it either.  Must be all those Australian genes! 

I also found a seedpod that I pollinated back when I was last home in August, found one with a seed still in it.  Cinnamon Girl x Muffin Man, I hope it sprouts!

Hey Chris you couldn't have timed it better to visit Southern California.  For the first time in a month it will be in the mid 70s on Christmas...way overdue and the hibs can't wait.

Today's blooms...got my nicest SLIH bloom yet.  Can't wait to see this one in it's summer colors.

Farmer D

Chariots of Fire and Peppermint Drop looking nice. Saffron with its yellow seed pods, so far I have x'd it 14 times and they have all failed, its below 70f on that porch so I don't know what I am doing wrong.

David your Peppermint Drop is awesome.  I love how the white and red are so different from each other.  A real eye catcher for sure.  Again I just love looking at your bushes - they are so healthy looking.  A pure delight to see.

Well Happy Winter Solstice to you all!!!  The good news is the daylight only gets longer for us here in the northern hemisphere so let's see if the weather cooperates too...sunset today at 4:47pm but no matter I keep the hibs happy with another good soaking of SN especially on the shortest of days...

Black Dream is just throwing out all kinds of beautiful looks...here's another
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/BlackDream12-21.jpg)

the camera doesn't come close to doing this one justice too...

Farmer D

Prosperity - this has got to be one of the best ones Charlie has come up with so far.  Unceasing blooms, growth and branching - and the form of this CV is perfect.  Love It!

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/ProsperityTriplets12-21.jpg)

Farmer D

I have a nice Pocahontas today, I still cant seem to get that dark brown color I had last year [pic below it], its coming closer though.
Melon Melange also today and I have now moved Saffron in the kitchen, maybe its to windy for the seed pods out on the porch, a nice peachy color for a change as well.

David, what kind of floor is that in your kitchen area? Has an interesting look to it. I think you will find that Saffron changes from bright orange to yellow the less sunlight it has. Moving Saffron to the kitchen will likely allow it set seeds although it might not make new buds after these open until it gets more sunlight. Good luck!

Charlie

Darren, those are quite impressive Black Dream blooms. What's really impressive is that you are still getting blooms this late in the year. I used to say "up to Thanksgiving" but "up to Christmas" may become the new goal!

Charlie

Yesterday this Summer Shore bloomed in the greenhouse. The intense edge is a winter greenhouse gift, making the overall effect quite striking. Also below is a photo of Sky Song, a new intro in 2011 that will be back later in 2012.

Charlie

The floor is white granite tile, the staircase is black granite tile, it really looks nice and about a tenth of the price it would cost in the US or UK, its also very cool underfoot, also no one would enter a house in Vietnam wearing shoes[most people just wear sandals and dont even own shoes], they are always left at the door, everyone walks around barefooted, carpets just don't exist here its way to hot for that.
Well If I don't get a seed pod with it by the kitchen door I will be putting it back out in the sun till I get a heap more buds, then I will move it downstairs into the bedroom where I have air/conditioning, I am determined to get at least 1 seed pod.

Thanks Charlie, I can say with confidence up to Christmas no problem.  Now let's see how much further we can go...

Great shots of Summer Shore and Sky Song.  How would you describe the bush for Sky Song.  You know me and the outdoors landscaping needing awesome bushes. 

Farmer D

I thought it would be interesting to see something I think is kind of unique.  The under side of Black Dream is actually quite striking.  Cool color contrast.

Farmer D

Sky song is quite nice, I remember seeing it in the store not too long ago.   I bet it has a nice bush and is a nice blend of Barry S's Mountain Air and Vin B.  It is my understanding that MA tends to pass fancy form to its offspring and it looks like it did just that in this case.

A very bright Electric Orange and a double Creme De Cacao. The big picture is one I took yesterday and have sent out as a Christmas card.

David that is the best Christmas card idea I've seen so far.  Exquisite!

We're starting to warm up again after a long cool stretch since Tgiving.  The plants seem to sense it and many of the buds are finally starting to open.  This should be a nice abundance of blooms for the upcoming week.

Black Dream continues to amaze me...this one could be the darkest I've ever had.  Just lovely...
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream12-232.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream12-234.jpg)

Prosperity with a showcase bloom today...
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/Prosperity12-23.jpg)

Ay Caramba showing some pink as it is opening - just gorgeous.
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/AyCaramba12-23.jpg)

Farmer D

some more today...

Farmer D

What a treat for me today, my first 8 inch bloom and I have 3 of them with Bridal Path, but if that was not enough Thanksgiving took my breath away, I have nearly captured it with the camera and its easily the nicest Hibiscus I have ever seen in real life, no work for me today, I am just going to sit and look at the garden [haha bit like every day really], Merry Christmas to you all.

Hello,
Farmer D, your Black Dream is breath-taking!
My Midsummer Night is located in a cool room now (about 18°C), and today it opened so juicy bloom!

Sue, congratulations on that beautiful Midsummer Night. It looks like some fine velvet!

David, fantastic Bridal Path blooms. Your cooler temps this time of year (cooler for Vietnam, that is) should allow you to get more blooms that reach their full size potential.

Charlie

That is a gorgeous Midsummer Night bloom Sue. Here's the first bloom from mine in late November. Not close to the color of yours, I'm assuming due mostly to decreased amount of light.

dave

A few blooms from this week. My first Ruby Tuesday. The camera just couldn't quite capture the true color of this bloom which is unlike anything else that I have. A small Island Queen in the background in a couple of the pics. The last pic is the first Denim Revolution I've had in quite a while. Actual bloom color is a little darker than this photo shows.

Another cold spell, 24 degrees for this morning's low.

dave

Sue that is an extraordinary Midsummer Night bloom.  Thank you for sharing that one.  I really like that CV a heck of a lot.

David your BP and Tgiving blooms are wonderful.  Always a delight to view your awesome plants.

Dave I think your house has some fantastic ambience in it with your hibiscus plants.  Ruby Tuesday kind of reminds me of Scarlet Beauty with the solid color and the lavenderish white eye. 

A joyous Christmas to you all.  I got my gift already with a day close to 80 here and lots of supernova for my hibs - I guess that is their gift (must xmas for them everyday).

Some nice ones today...

Bon Temps
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BonTemps12-25.jpg)

Hot Pepper
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/HotPepper12-253.jpg)

Farmer D

more holiday goodies...

Farmer D

So many nice blooms today.

Peppermint Drop and a City Slicker.

David your blooms are tremendous.  Do you spray Supernova daily or just for special situations?

Black Dream just gets better along with the stunning orange edged Bon Temps.

Farmer D

David, you City Slicker makes me sad that mine died. (from another seller, not HVH)...May have to work on replacing that one eventually! Beautiful pics everyone!! And in December, no less :)

Darren I spray once a month and soil drench once a month as routine. But after pruning and with cuttings I spray daily, sometimes even twice a day.

I am being really spoilt at the moment and I will have to try and remember now come April and May when its to hot and dry for blooms.

Think Pink Samba Dancer and a nice pair of Sherlocks Mystery among the others today.

Valentines Day and a Sherlock Mystery today.

A bit different Pocahontos, its quite orangy today, I am loving this dull weather.

David, that Pochohontos is really pretty.

Season's Greetings Everyone!  :D

My first "Snowbiscus" photo, featuring Picante and Cindy's Heart

David & Darren - Your hibiscus gardens are beautiful beyond words... And David, that Pocahontas is absolutely stunning! Sorry I didn't have a chance to reply to the comments you both made about "the jungle" photo I posted last month (ha, ha!)... So, here's a quick pic to show you that you are both right ;D

Chris - I'm using narrow spectrum T8's vertically with 6500K & 2700K florescent bulbs overhead... No problems with vertical-only growth; Aside from the never ending battle with spider mites (@%&?#!!!), everyone seems to be happy (lots of buds now that it's cooler)...

Some of my recent winter bloomers:

Arnottianus
Cindy's Heart
Maui Masterpiece
Picante
Rocket's Red Glare (with bright yellow centers on its pads)

Deb  ;)

Very nice Deb, Cindy's Heart gets better every time I see it. I have a nice Samba Dancer today and a lot of blooms on my Acapulco Gold[1 from yesterday and 7 today].

Ha ha just noticed the Buddha Deb, better not let Kim An see that, or I will have allsorts of Buddhas in my garden.

Wow @ your AG David!  :o

Gorgeous Samba Dancer David!!! And that sure is one happy Acapulco Gold... Eight blooms (a sign of good fortune for the "Year of the Dragon"!)  :D

Keep forgeting about Saffron stuck out on this cold winy porch, but yeah looks like I have a pod maturing, its over 1 week old now and its not turned yellow.

Whoo hoo! Fingers crossed for that pod... Who's the lucky "daddy"?

Yes it is the year of the dragon in a month or so isnt it!  That means its almost time for Lai See  :D :D :D

Thanks Deb for the info on your lighting system.  I ended up just getting 4 6400K T5s, and my plants are covered with buds!  No problem with leggy growth either :)

Hi Chris!!!

So happy to hear about all those buds... That's the best indication that your 'biscus are happy with their new lighting!  ;D

I have added yet another light arbor ("shrine") to the plant room... A double this time! I'll post pics in the "Hibiscus as Houseplants" section when I have everything situated (most of my babies have been hanging out in my bedroom during construction... VERY crowded in there at present!)

David is AG just amazing or what???  That is an awesome display of blooms.  Heck all of your pics are an awesome display of blooms.  Just marvelous.

Deb great to hear from you again.  Looks like you got things cooking there in the snowy north.  Beautiful shots all around.  Can't wait to see more pics of the light arbor/hib shrine.  

Well I got something like a thousand buds but the blooms are slow to happen.  At least the weather has finally gotten back to our normal here with consistent highs in the 70s F again (21C).  In the mean time I'll just keep spraying away and enjoy all the winter growth.

Check out the HV bloom - could of used it for the mystery game but not tonight!

Farmer D

Howdy Farmer D!

Those blooms look positively scrumptious (yummy Prosperity)!  I would have never guessed that your "mystery bloom" was High Voltage (amazing color variation). Those Hollywood Hibs... Always trying to keep the paparazzi guessing!  8)

Hi all, Happy Holidays to all. I have had nothing special to post till today. All of my seedlings from last winter are now coming into bloom.   Here is a nice bloom, a cross between  Wild Grape X Moonstruck Grape being the pod parent.

This is the first bloom and its 7 inches in diameter and the color cant be accurately shown on monitors. The outer portion of the petals are a dark peach and the inner part rose colored. the throat is dark maroon.

Hope you like it.

Louis

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hib-misc/12-30-11/moon%20x%20grape.jpg)

Congrats Louis on your new seedling !


Happy new year to everyone  :D

Louis that is a lovely bloom.  That is a beautiful color combination so no doubt you are already having a Happy New Year!

I apologize up front for all the Black Dream pics but this is the darkest yet for me.  Close to black with that bright red veining - what a look!

Also have another long duration bloom this time Living Legend - day 9 today.

Anyone who got Prosperity get ready for non stop perfect blooms.  2 more today

Black Dream
(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream12-306.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDream12-305.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/BlackDreamTriplets12-30.jpg)

Farmer D

The Black Dream files...

Farmer D

So I'm trying to approximate the number of buds on my metropolis Valentines Day Plant.  My approach is each branch has a cluster averaging about 8 buds.  I count 19 branches with bud clusters so 19 x 8 = 152.  So at some point this will either be a giant let down or pretty awesome display.

Now normally my blooms last 3 days at most for example on Living Legend.  Currently I got a 9 day bloom so I'm somewhere near three times slower on my plant's bloom production rates.  So if it takes in the ballpark of 3-4 weeks for a bud to appear till it blooms under normal circumstances then maybe I'm looking at a few months minimum for a bud to fully develop and bloom right now.

Wow, that's a whole season right there.  No wonder all these buds just stay put week after week....everyday I learn something new.  Either way a great testament to spraying with Supernova - I just don't see how you can get so many buds in the middle of winter along with constant new growth.

Any thoughts please chime in....

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/ValentinesDayBudProfusion12-302.jpg)

(http://i1134.photobucket.com/albums/m613/darreneminian/Dec%202011%20Hibiscus/ValentinesDayBudProfusion12-30.jpg)
Farmer D

Daren,

that is one awesome plant. i dont believe i have ever seen a hibiscus with so many buds.

Poor thing will be exhausted and need a vacation.

anxious to see it in full bloom.

louis

That's pretty in incredable Darren, when my buds look like that I know they will open tomorrow, and 9 times out of ten they will just last the day.

Cosmic Gold Pochaontos and a nice Cranberry Muffin today.

In celebration of 2012 HVH Online Store Opening Day, Picante burst out with a retina-searing bloom... (Then again, she could have been saying: "Oh no you didn't just buy even MORE hibiscus!")  She's definitely showing some amazing pigmentation for an indoor girl.

Thank you Cindy and Charlie for the awesome work that you do... Can't tell you how many times these beauties have just made my day!  :D

Happy New Year to all, wish you happiness, love and prosperity!
farmer d, it's unbelievable Valentines Day Plant, look forward to see the blossom.
And your Black Dream is so interesting - petals with a tincture of blue and leaves are round-shaped. I'm curios cause my BD cultivar's leaves are feather-edged a little.  :o

Hi Sue,

My Black Dream might have a few unusual characteristics being it is planted in ground and lives outside year round.  Also I have my plants on a high fertilizer program so that can also contribute to the leaves being more round.  The blue tint you see I think is actually a reflection of the sky since the blooms are really waxy they can reflect.  I hope to see some pictures of your BD soon...

Farmer D

A huge thank you to Charlie and Cindy for allowing us the opportunity to express our hibiscus passion here on the internet.  It has been a pleasure to get to know all of you over the past year and I look forward to more and more people joining our happy corner of the net.

May all your blooming wishes come true in 2012.

Last blooms of 2011!!!

Farmer D