Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

It may be a bit optimistic to start a December Bloom photo topic but they are still blooming here in southern California and no doubt elsewhere. We've had cold nights in the 40's but sunny days mostly in the 70's around here. Indoor blooms are always a possibility so we shall see what flowers get shared this month.

Below is a surprising photo of 'Heartbreak Hotel' which seems to be cranking out a last batch of blooms. I don't think I've ever seen so many on this plant, although they are smaller and less spotted than usual. Cherry Appaloosa and Belle du Jour are the others that were really blooming.

Charlie

Wow Charlie,

It looks like Belle loses its texture in cooler weather.  It looks like BD is about to bloom so I will have some pics to share

Hi Chris,

Yes, Belle and just about all of them react to the cold nights in one way or the other - change in color and/or change in size being the most common.

A second look at these Belle blooms reveals that they are.......not Belle du Jour. I was thinking how much they looked like Living Legend blooms when I noticed the chain link fence. That is where Living Legend is, Belle being nowhere close to a fence. So, no texture change after all. I remember taking photos of Belle that same day and will see if I can find one now.

OK, I did find the real Belle du Jour, posted below. I also found a Saffron from the same day, going to town as it did all summer. To the left of Saffron is Rosalind, on the right Acapulco Gold. This particular Saffron plant is the source of many of the new Saffron plants shipped each year, and as of now it is just a bunch of sticks with a few leaves after giving up a lot of wood to the cause!

Charlie

Very pretty Charlie!  It's great to see photos of large plants producing lots of blooms.  I can't wait until my plants get to be that big.

This is Bridal Path. Its a strange bloom, its almost 11 inches in diameter. it remained as a bud forever, seemed to be stuck together, then all of sudden it burst open, tearing some petals. it has been open for several days now.

normally the plants are in a bay windor, but come into the room at night. gets cold in the window.

louis

(http://www.imagesct.com/web/hibiscus/bridal%20path/bridal-path.jpg)

Hi Lou,

An 11 inch bloom is quite a sight, torn petals or not! I've noticed occasionally that a couple of cloudy days can cause buds to continue to grow instead of opening and then when the sun comes out and the big buds pop open the flowers can be larger than normal. Congratulations on growing Bridal Path well enough to get this big flower!

Charlie

That Belle plant is really something.  Unfortunately my Saffron looks terrible, off green color to the leaves and slightly wilted.  I really hope it doesn't have hibiscus wilt :(

Chris, send me a photo of the ailing Saffron if you have time.

Charlie

Funny enough Charlie Saffron must have know I was worried about it because its leaves perked up today.  I also did water it with some super nova so that probably helped alot.  I will be keeping my eye on it and will let you know as soon as she starts to look bad.

Here is Black dragon. 

Great photo, Chris. Very dramatic!!!

I'm glad to hear that Saffron perked up. Yvonne, from Sweden, used to tell me that her indoor hibiscus could suffer from cold window drafts if located in the wrong places. You being a new transplant to Colorado might have to figure out any such idiosyncrasies of your micro-climate. Another technique reported to me by people growing in cold climates was to water with warm tap water instead of cold tap water which at times could be very cold. I have no idea what the situation is with this Saffron, but you may find answers in small details like the above. Good luck with it!

Charlie

Great pics and blooms from everyone... Still blooming pretty good for me in Los Angeles. Here are some blooms from this week starting with T. Princess

Blue Balerina next to Dragons Breath

Living Legend

Silver Memories

Paper Moon

Rodeo Drive

Midnight Serenade

Unknown mini from my neighborhood. The cooler temps made the eye green. It had white eyes on the blooms about a week or so ago

Very nice blooms, Jon! Colors are super in this cool but sunny weather. I like the contrast in the photo of Blue Ballerina and Dragon's Breath.

Southern California is showing us why growing hibiscus here is worth it even though most varieties don't start blooming until May after the winter. Bloom season May to December is a long 8 months and for hibiscus protected in greenhouses or other suitable areas the season can actually be 12 months.

Thanks for posting.

Charlie

Hi, Jon,

I have never seen that, a green eye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a gorgeous combination with yellow.

Two seedling plants bloomed yesterday for the first time, showing bright colors. The first was a Geronimo x Creme de Cacaoa cross that came out bright orange. It got my attention due to the bright color but I was also interested to see the metallic ring around the eye, reminiscent of an old cultivar named Jazz that was well known for its metallic ring. Also notice the juvenile leaf form of this new seedling bloom. Such leaves usually become standard hibiscus leaves before the plant flowers for the first time, so its possible this one may keep the 3 lobed leaves which is rare for hibiscus.

Second is a Saffron x Rosalind cross. Again a super bright color, but not unlike some other Saffron crosses that have the white eye. This one interests me because of the pollen parent, Rosalind. As many of you know Rosalind was the most successful variety from the many we imported from Australia a number of years ago. It is a great bloomer on an excellent and long lasting bush so I am going to watch this one for more than the flower. Many Rosalind crosses are dominated by the orange double flower so it is also interesting to get a red single this time.

Charlie

Key Largo today... its first bloom for me.

Great bloom Jordan, I wanted to get key largo, how do you like it.

Charlie,

The Rosalind x Saffron cross is very festive for this time of year.

I really like the creme cross, would you say it is a mini?  It looks pretty small from the photo. 

Thank you for sharing :)

Chris,

   So far I'm liking my Key Largo.  It is still quite small as it's in a 5" pot, but as you can see it still blooms!  It seems pretty sturdy with regards to changes in environment, too. 

Thanks for showing the Key Largo, Jordan. Are you overwintering all your hibiscus indoors?

Charlie

Chris, yes, the Jazz-like cross from Creme de Cacao is larger than parent Geronimo but smaller than CCacao, based on this one bloom. I'm reluctant to form opinions of any of the new seedlings that bloom for the first time at this time of year because the cold nights make the flowers smaller and can also alter the color that we will see in summer blooms. I have a big group of seedling plants that should be ready to bloom in spring and early summer and eagerly anticipate seeing the flowers. Then there is another group that will probably flower in late summer that also has a lot of promising crosses among them. Growing and hybridizing hibiscus takes patience! It seems we are always waiting for plants to root, grow up, buds form, flowers open, winter pass, etc.

Charlie

Charlie, yes, all of the plants are inside at this point.  I am down to less than 15 now, unfortunately.  I had over 30.  Sigh.  I am hoping for better luck next year now that I have learned a great deal and will have more space/light for them in winter.

Charlie,

Those are both great seedlings.. I really like the white eye in the saffron cross.

Nice photos of key largo Jordon..

Sunkissed Blonde's first bloom for me.  Very pretty!  I accidentally ripped two of the petals being impatient... lol

Jordan, I love your 'Sunkissed Blonde'! Hibiscus are usually thought of as bright flowers but I've developed a taste for the softer colors as well and this flower is a nice example of one.

In another vein, below is yesterday's 'Creme de la Creme', with wintry look.

Charlie

Thanks, Charlie!  I agree... I really enjoy the softer colors of Sunkissed Blonde, and of course anything unusual.  On that note, nice photo of CDLC!  I am hoping to snag that one in the coming year.

JL

My SKB still hasnt bloomed, but yours looks very nice jordan.  I am also hoping for a CDLC, especially with that nice pic charlie!  Thrid time is a charm, I can feel it :D

Hello All, Which ever way you celebrate the holidays. I wish you the best.

Here are a couple blooming today during a raging snow storm and temps around 15 deg F.

First is Sleeping Beauty, second day, the white in the background is the snow storm.

The other two are of Voodoo Magic, first bloom on a new plant that i purchased from HV a couple of months ago. the color is slightly off on Magic due the lighting.

Louis

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hibiscus/sleeping.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hibiscus/voodoo-1.jpg)

(http://www.lousviews.com/web/hibiscus/voodoo-2.jpg)

Hi All, to complete the year, and my first attempt at growing Hib's for a whole season Here is a pic of my "Garage Flower", along with the winter conditions outside
Happy New Year to All

John

Hi Louis and John,

It's so great to see your flower photos in the midst of the snowy winter! You guys are proving what Cindy and I always are saying - if there is some natural light present and you keep them warm enough they can flourish indoors.

Bart has also proven that you can get flowers in winter, even in a room that totally lacks natural light. He is now getting flowers inside a room he built inside his garage that has no windows. To do this he installed a 1000 watt HID light that gives off enough light in the right spectrums for the hibiscus to flower. Very cool!

Charlie