Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

Temperatures have cooled in Texas, and The Bridal Path have responded
Enjoy

A triple today! the blooms are geting larger evey week
John

Those Bridal Path are some of the best looking ones I've seen yet! Thanks for posting!

Charlie

Hi All,

I've been receiving photos from Bart in Kentucky. Like John in TX, Bart is new to growing hibiscus but has gotten way into it this summer. He does some important things right - such as taking a good look every day at what is going on with his plants, and responding to whatever their needs are. When it was determined that thrips were after his buds, he got the 2 types of sprays that are effective and has used both in rotation to get rid of the thrips. He has kept the hibiscus well watered and fertilized and has been rewarded with excellent growth and many fine blooms at a time of year that many hibiscus are not blooming due to heat and thrips. He has sent me many great photos in recent days, some of which are posted below. Congrats to Bart on a job well done!

It's also interesting to see that he has been getting blooms from doubles like Magnifique that are very prone to mid-summer bud drop. These plants were all shipped to Bart as 6 inch pots this spring - the growth is impressive! It was particularly interesting to me to see how much taller Bubble Gum Fun has grown as compared to the other varieties in these photos - High Voltage, Hot Pepper, Magnifique, and Island Queen.

Charlie

Bart, What an impressive display! Thanks Charles for posting these pics. I would like to know what watering/fertilizer program you use
Regards,
John

Bart those are very nice plants you have , so lush and big ! I need to hurry up and get back into a house so I can grow my hibiscus bigger  ;D

John it looks like Bart is using HVH special blend take a look at picture number 2 those containers in front of Bart looks like HVH fertilizer.

Kerry, My plants have never just had water unless it was raining, and in Texas we don't get much rain. I use HVH Fertilizer, SuperNova, and Superthrive with every watering. Thanks for your input!
Best to you
John

nightfire
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/kalibobs/Nf.jpg)

Nightfire with 2 Heartbreak hotel blooms
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/kalibobs/NFhh.jpg)
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/kalibobs/nightfirehh.jpg)

Very pretty! Do you ever take blooms to work?

Charlie

Hi All,

I wanted to show another photo from Bart in Kentucky. I wasn't sure what this flower was until he confirmed that is Pina Colada. Note the extra strong yellow color of these blooms. Pina Colada is more muted normally - sort of like Pineapple juice mixed with some coconut milk. Bart tells me his fertilizer regime is "two teaspoons HVH (Specialblend) and two teaspoons BOOSTER in a five gallon bucket, three times a week." I think it is the potassium nitrate from the Booster that has amped the color of Pina Colada. Kerry's Heartbreak Hotel photos are another example of the strong effects of good nutrition on flower color.

As always, be careful with fertilizer (don't overuse it) and remember that each growing situation is a little different and adjustments to suit your own growing environment are a MUST!


Charlie

Wow I am impressed.

"two teaspoons HVH (Specialblend) and two teaspoons BOOSTER in a five gallon bucket, three times a week."

Maybe I will try his regime and see what happens.

most of the time no because I either pollinated the flowers or because they don't open up in time for them to bring them to work. Since I have 15 of my seedlings at work, along with dragon's heart ( which almost died at work eeekk) midnight flyer, in the mood, passion play and blue ballerina they should start to see some blooms. Blue ballerina bloomed over the weekend so we all missed it.

 ;)
1.voodo magic ans simple pleasure
2.voodo magic and tahitian princes

here is wild dream again . Lady bug, voodoo magic, and heartbreak hotel will bloom today but I will probably miss it
(http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k72/kalibobs/wdoutside.jpg)

That is a great photo and nice bloom Kerry. I have a new camera on my X mas list. Hopefully I will be able to take some better pics like the ones you post.

Heart break hote,Wildbluebarry,and voodo magic,in way I like to see them  ;D

Oklaner those blooms look great ! Don't you just love voodoo and heartbreak hotel ?

it is more than love,it is an obsession!

Wow, I've got to get Wild Dream, Nightfire, and Heartbreak Hotel. Those are fabulous looking blooms. The wish list keeps growing and I've got to find more space. Anyway, here are a few of mine from the past week. In order: Unnamed seedling,  a larger than normal Bluebird about 6 1/2", Over the Rainbow, Aztec Sun, and Heavy Metal.

dave

Great blooms Dave..

Your yard in the background of Heavy Metal looks really nice.

Nice flowers daves , I always wanted to see more pictures of aztec sun thanks.

You will not be disappointed with heartbreak hotel or wild dream. Nightfire is nice looking and has a great buch but it is slow growing and the blooms last only one day which is a shame but the cv is still worth having.

Jon and all,

You can see more of Daves yard and setup in the World Gardens section of the website - his is at http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/world/southarizona.htm

charlie

I haven't had any blooms for awhile, but here are 2 today!  Not only that, but this is the first time both of these plants have bloomed.  :)

Belle du Jour (with 4.5 petals, one is little and apparently stopped developing) and Buttercup

today

Rocket's red glare bloomed today every one at work loved it.

(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p156153681-4.jpg)

without flash

(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p60585823-4.jpg)

Very pretty!!  I love your photos.   :D

U are going to get everyone at work hooked on hibs.

few more

Hi! everybody, Well as we know not all things in Texas are normal, and the last 10 days we have nothing but rain, not torrential, but continuous, we have had over 7.5 inches according to my rain gage.  Everything has been saturated with water. So I have not been able to keep with my watering regimen and fertilizer program.  I have lost several buds on my Bridal Path, and lots of leafs are starting to turn yellow. Temperatures have moderated with lows in the 60's and highs in the low 70's.  This has given Bridal Path a break from the heat of summer and they have responded! Today the largest Bloom ever at 9.5" Hope you enjoy
John

At 9.5 inches that may be the biggest one so far for Bridal Path! Fall can be an excellent time for hibiscus for just the reasons you are talking about. It's good to enjoy it before putting the plants away for the winter, and not miss out on it by putting them indoors too soon!

The planters drain, right? With that much rain they could build up too much water inside if they do not drain. It's also good to keep in mind that hibiscus change their leaves as part of their natural growth cycle so every yellow leaf is not an indication of a problem - some are just to be considered as "scheduled maintenance" by the plant.

I'm so glad that the Bridal Path plants worked out after the disappointment with Magic Moments.

Charlie

Charlie, There is no disappointment, with the Magic Moments! Only with their care giver! Like Tony Romo, I accept full responsibilty for their health.

On the other hand, the two that went to the hospital have responded very well, and I will post in the M/M section, their pictures.  Two of them would be further along if I had taken your advise and pruned them back earlier.
Thanks for everything,
John

Two blooms today, 5th Dimension and Belle du Jour.  I can't wait for the Belle to get bigger so I can experience the full size of her blooms!  ( I got this one as a 4" a few months back)

Very nice, Jordan! I think I guarantee you that Belle will show off some 8 inch plus blooms when conditions are right for her.

Charlie

Yoda is WOW!

Charlie is Belle more of a heat loving cv or does it prefer average conditions?  My guess is it likes more moderate temps, as I do remember hearing it does well indoors.

beautiful pictures and flowers Quaver

Jordan, Belle du Jour does fine indoors but thrives in the summer heat. The colors are a lighter pink when its hot but the blooms get really large. Below is a photo sent by a customer of Belle in summer along with his granddaughter - you can see the size and color pretty well in this photo which is a favorite of ours.

Charlie

Nievesgirl , okianer Thank you.

And this is today ....

(http://s06.radikal.ru/i179/0909/3d/2a0025ec7544.jpg) (http://www.radikal.ru)

Question for Quaver.
Hello friend,I must say you have beautifull colection,I read somewhere that you live in Rusia,it must be cold in winter there,I presume you put your plants indoor this days for winter rest?
I am also interested in wich way you make your colection grow,because here in my "balcan" state it is hard to get any.

Bridal Path continues with it's outrageous growth and blooms, almost 3' tall. They started out as 6" plants in June and there are two plants in each planter box. Enjoy
John

John I love you backyard and garden your hibiscus look so healthy an happy. When I get into my own place I think I will try the square containers like the ones you have.

carolina breeze bloomed today

(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p281296873-4.jpg)

(http://kerrysroxy.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p524421243-4.jpg)

Pretty color. I would cross it with Saffron to bring the size up. I'm pretty sure that some of the seedlings would be solid orange and others would have the white eye of Saffron. They would surely root well.

Charlie

Sounds like I good cross , I might need to buy saffron now :D

John, your garden and patio are fabulous. I'm envious of your photos of Bridal Path. I just lost mine and ordered another one last week. It had some of the most spectacular blooms in my collection this spring. Here are a couple of pics of mine from early May before it rapidly went downhill. As you can see it was still a young plant. Wish I could have placed it in your hibiscus hospital. You've had much better success at rehabing badly stressed plants. Your Magic Moments are recovering nicely and look great.

dave

Tamibon and First Lady. First Lady seems to handle heat well for a large double bloom. It has bloomed consistently all summer.

dave

The versatility of Bridal Path, from a Texas perspective.  The first pic is during the "Heat of Texas!" The second pic is from the cooler "Temps of Texas".  the only thing different is that about a month a go I added the HVH Hibiscus Booster to my watering formula.  Hey Roadrunner awesome pics! Thanks
Best Regards to all,
John

few at my place ;)
first one is voodoo magic and heart break hotel