Hidden Valley Hibiscus Forum

I've noticed that the blooms on Cosmic Gold open much later or take longer to open than most cultivars. But the flower lasts well into the next day even in the heat. Also this is probably the only one so far that hasn't lost a lot of buds going from the mild climate of San Diego to the hot climate of Houston.

Interestingly, Cindy just told me this morning that 5 Cosmic Gold blooms were still open from the Saturday Open House. That would make them open for 3 days and still open at the beginning of the 4th day. These are blooms picked as buds about to open Saturday morning and then sitting on a table in the shade since then.

Charlie

Cool weather blooms on Cosmic Gold, much larger size and better form than summer blooms.  This one really loves more mild temperatures!

(This saves you the trouble of moving the pics from Nov flower photos of the day, Charlie) 

I've noticed the same thing, Chris. Mild weather allows the full size and beauty of Cosmic Gold to show itself. Thanks for posting it here!

Charlie

Its amazing how different the first bloom I had in mid summer was. It was pretty, but wasn't a wow bloom for me.  This cool weather bloom is really something and I just measured it, about 9 inches!  Most other varieties bloom smaller in cooler weather, but look like CG breaks the mold.  Really is a special one, thanks for introducing this beauty Charlie! :)

I am sure we will be seeing some of its offspring in the store next year?

Cosmic Gold today
(http://i52.tinypic.com/outoqf.jpg)
Compared to one from summer
(http://i53.tinypic.com/1tr1og.jpg)

What a difference! It's been a good parent for me so far, often yielding very large offspring.

Charlie

Charlie, not sure if i should post this here, however my cosmic gold was going gang busters with several blooms on at one time. all of a sudden the new buds, that are about 3/4 inch long, turn yellow and drop off. i thought possibly a thrip, but i have never seen one here. i have examined the plant with 20 x mag and a bright light and see nothing. any ideas?

louis

 btw, none of the other plants are affected

It sounds like your Cosmic Gold was subjected to some sort of environmental change it didn't like.  Is it by a door to your sun room, or maybe a crack where a draft can get in?  Ive observed the same thing when conditions changed quickly with my plants.  Seems like some CVs are more prone to sudden changes than others.  Hopefully it fixes its self soon!

hi helix,

the plant has a choice spot on the greenhouse bench and has been fine for months. interesting though, i will move it to another spot and see what happens.

thanks,

louis

Hmm, that's kind of surprising. 90 percent of the time it's insects - either thrips or hibiscus gall midge. That would still be my guess. But as Chris suggested cold drafts or perhaps several days of solid clouds could do it, also. Thrips are almost never seen as adults except inside open flowers and gall midge are best seen as yellow worms inside of rotten buds. I would try a light misting of spinosad over the tops and buds of Cosmic Gold and any nearby hibiscus with buds. Sometimes these problems come and go and we never know what caused it.

Charlie

Hi Louis,
Just another thought on your bud dropping. Is there a chance that your Cosmic Gold got a little too dry and got water stressed especially since you stated that your sun room can get quite warm even at this time of year?  Warm to hot temperatures and water stress caused a few of mine to drop some buds this past summer.  I didn't have thrips or gall midge in my greenhouse so I've eliminated those as the cause for mine.  Some of mine also seem more prone to bud dropping from any kind of stress or change.

dave

I would like to do a mass planting of Cosmic Gold this spring.
(http://i54.tinypic.com/33u4px4.jpg)

A mass planting of Cosmic Gold could be spectacular. Just curious when your plant reached blooming stage? I'm not certain but Cosmic Gold has shown some tendency toward smaller, less attractive flowers in the hot months and reserve the huge, beautifully formed flowers for milder times. Has anyone else noticed that or had great blooms in mid-summer?

Charlie

I can tell you my 4 inch started blooming when it was about 9 inches tall, really spectacular considering it has huge blooms on a small plant. 

I have to agree with you about the cooler weather blooms.  In the summer they are smaller, but still pretty flowers.  However, the blooms I have been getting this winter have been fantastic, huge ruffly blooms that come in shades of gold and tangerine.  Its interesting that the blooms are so much nicer in cooler weather, when most varieties it seems as though the opposite is true, the warm weather is required for huge blooms.  I wonder if any of CG's offspring also show this trait?  I am all for great cool weather bloomers these days :)

Robin hood produces small dark blooms in cool weather, and seems to be pumping out the blooms despite the lack of sun!  In fact it seems as though sun is required for initiating blooming, but the plants keep going for several months even when they aren't getting sun.  Good trait to have if you are ever going to sell those Christmas hibiscus :)
 
 

The heat here affects all of the cultivars adversely. Even most of the garden varieties struggle. Something I just have to live with. But Cosmic Gold and Cindy's Heart held up to the heat better than any other. Since Cosmic Gold isn't grafted I figured it would be more readily available.

Another reason I like Cosmic Gold. This is the same bloom from the 24th.
No other cultivar lasts this long for me. Even during the summer heat CG lasted for 2 days.
(http://i55.tinypic.com/1z671j6.jpg)

An added bonus is CG is a good seed setter.
This seed pod is 8 weeks old.
(http://i54.tinypic.com/14dhhxj.jpg)

Very nice CG Doll. I love that waxy look you have on your leaves, I used to get that a little but I don't get it at all now, most of mine are very pale and have a very dry feel to them, I am sure I add all the right supplements so I am not sure why.

You probably don't know but I am not allowed HVH fert anymore[its to do with bombs on the plane], I do have a very good Palm fertilizer and I add extra iron and magnesium but they are nothing like yours.

That looks like a good fat pod that most likely contains seeds. With the colder weather it may take longer to ripen but one of these days it should if you don't get too much cold that causes it to fall off. If that happens place it in a small container with a half inch of water in it and only the stem holding the pod touching the water. They will sometimes finish ripening off the plant if this is done.

Charlie

My Cosmic Gold seed pod opened today and it had 20 seeds.

Well done Doll, I am treating myself to a game of golf today so I will enjoy my cigar afterwards.

Thanks David. I got them all planted today. I'll let you know how many actually germinate.

Luckily I still have half the cigar, took my new girlfriend [soon to be old] to golf and all she did was moan, its to hot the bags heavy ect, then she nearly died coughing when I lit the cigar hehe so I will enjoy later.

Well I finally have my own Cosmic Gold, I have been admiring everyone else’s for so long its nice to have my own. Cant really believe this is a 6 inch plant, this is how it arrived last week and needs no pruning for shape and has potted up lovely, its in a 8 inch plastic for a few months and will then be sunk in to its new planter, the planter itself is a bit special, I bought a pair and then had them painted by an artist friend of mine, one of the reasons for the planter is it will not be in my garden but in my front porch, here it will hopefully stay a bit cooler as there is a permanent draught, bright light and less sun. So thank you Charlie, it really is a bit special. 

Beautiful, David. Can't wait to see the flowers as well.

Charlie

Cosmic Gold is one of my favorites for picking and bringing indoors. The blooms always last 2-3 days.
3 blooms are from today and 1 is from yesterday.

John those are some gorgeous blooms!  I really enjoy Cosmic Gold in the winter when it has a lot of orange in it.  The blooms are very sturdy and as John mentions lasts for 2-3 days no problem when not in full sun.

Farmer D

I have had my Cosmic Gold plant now for 7 years. It is a non stop bloomer all year round. Few cultivars I have bloom more often and with as many blooms as it does. It gets really pretty deep orange in cooler weather which is also very pretty. The ruffling of the blooms are fantastic. Easy to grow and it does it's best when pruned down a lot every couple of years to encourage the branches to keep all their leaves from top to bottom. 

I think it is also important to note the parents are: Simple Pleasures x Blonde Ambition so as to not confuse this one with any other cultivars out there.

Farmer D

Farmer D