Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

One of the most beautiful Hibiscus, that I have seen. I bought four for my planter boxes. Just a couple of pics.
John

Me likey !

Does this cv have crests all the time or is this a semi double ?

These are Big double flowers, very impressive. I had one today that approached 10 inches and the colors were very rich for summer. I took a photo but it is still in the camera.

Charlie

Charlie, What are the chances that I can get Magic Moments to adapt to North Texas?
I know I slaughtered three of my plants due to improper care, and they are still in the "Hospital" getting SuperNova,HVH Fert,water and SuperThrive.  I started using HVH Wakeup Spray a couple of weeks ago and two of the three have shown positive improvement.  This is going to take a long time to rehab these.  Assuming they continue to grow and not die, do you think I could get them back by next spring to start again in my planter boxes?

The good news is the other one is trying to bud up and make flowers!
John

Hi John,

Honestly, I'm not sure. It was hybridized in Louisiana so you would think it succeeded in that climate which is hot but more humid than yours.

The usual thing is that the plants are in place by the time the last freeze date is past, and they acclimate as the days lengthen and the temperatures increase. I think this will work for Magic Moments, too, but the proof is in the doing.

BTW, did you cut back any of the stems that lost all or most leaves? Oftentimes it is quicker to do that than it is to wait for the original stem to leaf out and start growing again. However if you ever try that the plant should be in the location you want it to stay in so that the new leaves develop in those conditions.

Here's a photo I took last week of a very large and richly colored Magic Moments in the greenhouse which is as hot but not as sunny as your conditions.

Charlie

Hi Everybody!

For those of you who are growing Magic Moments I sure would appreciate it if you would post some pics. Thanks all

John

John,

Here's a couple blooms from Ohio.

Patrick

So Patrick, how did your Magic Moments do in the heat of mid-summer. Did you have them in some shade or in full sun? Any leaf burn problems? I know John has some very intense heat to contend with near Dallas and his Magic Moments practically burned up when in full sun in that heat but I am thinking that with lower temperatures and some shade they would not have that problems. It was also interesting to learn that he was able to place 'Bridal Path' plants in the same location and they did not burn up and instead thrived. Definitely there's a difference between cultivars in how much each can take.

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

When I had it in full sun it did not have leaf burn but I had alot of bud drop so I moved it to morning sun and afternoon shade to see if that would solve the bud drop, well it didn't because I still have bud drop just not as much as before.


Patrick

My M/M plants were young, and did not have a chance to acclimate to the wonderful growing conditions of Texas! Having lived in Ohio in a prior life I know that the growing conditions are much more favorable for M/M than here.

Good News Bad News: I have two of the four M/m's really responding to the "Hospital Rehab Program"


Comments and progress will be in the next Chapter of the "Saga of a Newbie Hibiscus grower in Texas".  Look for it the first week of Sept. Under "Hibiscuis Stories"

Charles, wants data and I am trying to provide that to him, along with usefull info to my fellow Forum members. Thanks for your posts and pics.

Regards to All
John

Thanks, John, I'm looking forward to the next Newbie installment! Don't give up on the final 2 MM plants in the hospital. Hibiscus are forever surprising us, sometimes all they need is steady conditions for awhile and just when you are about to give up they respond. If you are up to taking photos of them it would be interesting to see the difference between the good ones and the not-so-good ones.

Charlie

Hi Patrick,

If you have any spinosad you might try treating the Magic Moments twice a week for 2 weeks and watering them twice a day. Just as an experiment to see if you can get them blooming again. I just had a big old Living Legend plant that was cranking out dozens of buds but losing half of them before opening. I doubled up the spray on that plant and today noticed that not one of the 20 or so big buds is getting that rotten color they get before falling. I'm about to bring it home where I can pollinate a bunch of the blooms in some deep shade as they open.

Charlie

Charlie, I thought you would like to see what two of the Magic Moments look like after I tried to kill them, and they are out of the Hospital now!

Well, this one isn't dead, and in fact looks like it might start growing more rapidly any day now. Here's hoping that by spring you will have a lush bush ready to bloom!

Charlie

Pic two M/M

Ahh, the second one is doing exceptionally well! I bet the first one will look like this before long, too.

Charlie

Charlie and the gang, For those of you who have followed my "Saga of the Newbie" I thought I should update you on the progress of the ones that were in my "Hospital"  A pic is worth a 1.000 words

John

Nice, John - buds and attractive foliage now after practically burning up completely when they first arrived!

Charlie

HI, John,

Good work! A nice result of your patience.

I am sure you will like that gigantic bloom!

Very slow grower at my place and drops buds in summer, but worth having all the same.

Hi Nina! What kind of temps are they able to handle and still produce flowers?
Thank you
John

I think I have finallly fiqured this out for the M/M. Which I love!  Has Taken a long time and taught me patience.  Here is Nov 9th pics before I prune and put them away till next year.

John

Hi, John,

This is a beautiful pair! Why are you going to prune now, when it has started blooming?

I do not know exactly at what temp it will stop blooming. Generally speaking, I have blooms till late December, the temps being around 6-8C (46,4F), but I do not know for that specific cv.

Very nice, John! I'm glad you persevered from defoliated plants to recovery with very nice blooms. I know you are facing freezing temperatures soon, maybe already had some frost? Have you figured out where all the hibiscus will spend the winter?

Charlie

Charlie, The garage is ready, I have space for all the pots and will probably bring them in when it gets below 40 at night.  I still have good growth with moderate to cool temps. 70-75 days, 50-56 at night

John

John- That is a beautiful November tablescape a couple posts up! ^

Denise, we do grow Magic Moments each year. It's one of the biggest double flowered hibiscus and the bush is strong and holds the blooms up so they are easily visible. Usually we have them in several sizes during the year - from big plants in 2 gallon pots full of buds to small 4 inch pots.

Charlie

Thanks Charlie. I like that it's big. I have a couple of garden variety doubles but they are quite small. I think seeing a large double in person would be breathtaking! This one is pretty.