helixturnhelix
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« Reply #75 on: March 12, 2012, 11:18:46 PM » |
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Wow David, That is the most amazing acapulco gold I have ever seen! Your careful pruning and hard work has paid off, congratulations!
Darren,
Remember hibiscus are tropical plants, so they don't gear up to send out spring growth like deciduous species do. They simply tolerate less ideal conditions until they are conducive to growth. Your observing the effect of more normal weather patterns (cool and rainy) where your hibiscus are responding by slowing down. When conditions favor growth they will start again. This seems to be evidence that your high bloom count earlier in the year was due to atypical weather, seeing as that is the only variable that has changed for you.
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Doll
Posts: 1036
Houston, Texas
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« Reply #76 on: March 13, 2012, 07:27:12 AM » |
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Louis, all of your seedling blooms have been outstanding.
David, words can't even describe your Acapulco Gold.
High Voltage and Cindy's Heart
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I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could.
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #77 on: March 13, 2012, 12:40:40 PM » |
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Darren, Remember hibiscus are tropical plants, so they don't gear up to send out spring growth like deciduous species do. They simply tolerate less ideal conditions until they are conducive to growth. Your observing the effect of more normal weather patterns (cool and rainy) where your hibiscus are responding by slowing down. When conditions favor growth they will start again. This seems to be evidence that your high bloom count earlier in the year was due to atypical weather, seeing as that is the only variable that has changed for you.
Chris it is good to hear this simple and basic reminder - thanks for the input. I think what I am looking for is the signal for when my hibs start to really wake up back into high growth mode but that is not a one point in time moment where they just keep going. It is a frustrating stop and go with the weather bouncing up and down every month or two. Patience will be key for me as this could go on for several months more potentially. Last April was when most of mine started showing new leaves and growth finally and was pretty steady after that as the weather then was a constant mild with no real crazy swings. This year with the atypical weather I had that in late January which has subsequently stopped with the more typical weather. Interestingly last April there was no change in the weather or rise in temps so I'm surmising the longer days of sun must have been enough then. This year has been more of a roller coaster...cool and wet Nov & Dec, very warm Jan, more typical Feb & March so far.
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #78 on: March 13, 2012, 12:49:38 PM » |
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Nice suprise for me today was my Acapulco Gold, very hot the last few days so never expected a show like this. In the second photo I have brought the pot in out of the sun, hopefully I will be able to enjoy the lovely blooms longer.
David this is an amazing site to behold. Talk about density of blooms! That is the picture of the year in my book! Chris nailed it about all your hard work on AG paying off. WOW!! Farmer D
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davidwood
David In Nha Trang Vietnam
Posts: 1054
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« Reply #79 on: March 13, 2012, 02:08:12 PM » |
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Chris it is good to hear this simple and basic reminder - thanks for the input. I think what I am looking for is the signal for when my hibs start to really wake up back into high growth mode but that is not a one point in time moment where they just keep going. It is a frustrating stop and go with the weather bouncing up and down every month or two. Patience will be key for me as this could go on for several months more potentially.
Last April was when most of mine started showing new leaves and growth finally and was pretty steady after that as the weather then was a constant mild with no real crazy swings. This year with the atypical weather I had that in late January which has subsequently stopped with the more typical weather. Interestingly last April there was no change in the weather or rise in temps so I'm surmising the longer days of sun must have been enough then.
This year has been more of a roller coaster...cool and wet Nov & Dec, very warm Jan, more typical Feb & March so far.
Not sure if you and Cris will find this interesting or has much to do with what you are discussing [bit beyond me sometimes what you talk about haha], but here in the Tropics my Hibs also shut down, I think they must naturally want to do this and here its nothing to do with the weather, I know its not the weather as each Hib will do it at different times of the year. They all seem to have a cycle of growth bloom rest, but at least once a year that rest go's from maybe 2 or 3 weeks to about 2 months, a total shut down where they do nothing. Thanks for all the nice comments about AG, I truly never expected it, I am in the middle of what I call my bud drop season, its so hot here with little cloud so was a nice suprise.
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David.
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #80 on: March 13, 2012, 03:09:57 PM » |
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Darren,
More than anything it seems like hibiscus just like consistency. In Colorado I had more trouble growing hibiscus outdoors than in Seattle, despite the warmer and sunnier temperatures Colorado had overall. There were massive weather swings even throughout the day, which did not make the plants very happy. Compare these conditions to do those of Seattle where it rarely got into the 70s this summer, but the difference between the high and low of the day was only 5 degrees. Even thought the weather was cooler than typical for hibiscus, they still grew and flowered and never showed any signs of stress. I think that by April you should see a significant improvement. Though it sounds like there is something out of balance in your soil if the new growth is looking weak and yellow. It would probably be a good idea to get your soil tested if you haven't already. It should provide you with more information about which nutrients aren't quite right.
David,
It is interesting how some CVs are more flush bloomers and others are almost always in bloom. One such CV that I noticed is a flush bloomer is Rosalind. She budded up and bloomed like crazy for a few months, then would stop and just grow. After the growth phase, there was then a burst of buds again. Contrast to this was Muffin man, which always produced buds and never really showed any slow down or switch to growth phase. Even in the tropics there are some species that can go dormant, but this is usually based on the amount of water available and not necessary the amount of sun or temperatures. There are several species of Orchids which go dormant during the dry season, and resume growth when water is available. In Hawaii it seems as though the native species (many of which make up the ancestry of our modern hybrids) live in wet and warm forests and usually do not have a dormant phase. I bet some of the other species which make up our hybrids may exhibit some sort of dormancy like phase. Interesting to say the least!
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #81 on: March 13, 2012, 03:40:35 PM » |
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David and Chris you bring up an excellent point about consistent bloomers vs the non consistents. I'm adding flush bloomers to my vocabulary now as for me that is quite an important characteristic to identify when it comes to assessing hibiscus or any flowering plant really.
My most prolific cvs that I can say are not flush bloomers so far would be: Acapulco Gold Ay Caramba Black Dream Chariots of Fire Daisy Mae Living Legend Palm Springs Prosperity Some Like It Hot Valentines Day
My Flickering Flame definitely is a flush bloomer even as large bush.
This makes me think that I do notice however that as the plants grow and mature some have transitioned from flush blooming to being constant with Daisy Mae being a good example of this. So I am thinking my non-flush bloomer list will keep growing over time.
I guess in the end the true genes show up when the plant is fully matured so you know which way it will behave. Some do let you know from the start like Prosperity and Chariots of Fire.
Farmer D
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #82 on: March 13, 2012, 04:09:11 PM » |
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What percentage Perlite are using in your mix, I now use 25% but of course mine is in a pot and not in the ground, truth is I have never heard or read of anyone using Perlite directly in the ground but I see no reason why not.
David I checked the bag but I didn't see a percentage breakdown for perlite. So I did the next best thing I snapped a picture of it so you can gauge for yourself what it looks like. Farmer D
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Charlie
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« Reply #83 on: March 13, 2012, 05:01:35 PM » |
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Lou, that's a splendid new seedling. I really like the colors of this one, size and form looks good, too. How did the colors hold up the next day?
David, my goodness, that Acapulco Gold is mind-boggling. Have to get you to send us that photo in full size! One of the prettiest hibiscus photos I've ever seen.
Charlie
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davidwood
David In Nha Trang Vietnam
Posts: 1054
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« Reply #84 on: March 13, 2012, 05:13:22 PM » |
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David I checked the bag but I didn't see a percentage breakdown for perlite. So I did the next best thing I snapped a picture of it so you can gauge for yourself what it looks like.
Farmer D
Sometimes Darren I am not with it haha, I thought you would be chopping up your clay and just adding your own extra Perlite to it, your own mix so to speak, anyway there seems to be plenty in there, different sizes as well which I have read is supposed to be good.
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David.
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Louis
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« Reply #85 on: March 13, 2012, 06:05:28 PM » |
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Lou, that's a splendid new seedling. I really like the colors of this one, size and form looks good, too. How did the colors hold up the next day?
David, my goodness, that Acapulco Gold is mind-boggling. Have to get you to send us that photo in full size! One of the prettiest hibiscus photos I've ever seen.
Charlie
Hi Charlie, the color held up great the second day. i am excited about this one. louis
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #86 on: March 13, 2012, 06:47:35 PM » |
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Darren, do you use gypsum or anything like that to help improve the drainage of your soil? I suspect mine is similar to yours--kind of dense. So every time I dig a hole for planting I put a layer of pelletized gypsum (trade name Soil Busters) on the bottom and then put a layer of gravel over that before adding the potting mix. I use horticultural pumice instead of Perlite because that is what I was used to using when I had a lot of cacti. You can get it in large bags from a farm supply store and it's probably cheaper than Perlite that way.
Erny
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farmer d
Farmer D
Posts: 5573
Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #87 on: March 13, 2012, 07:11:28 PM » |
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Erny I use a cactus soil mix that is probably very similar to what you do when lining the bottom of most of the holes unless I feel it is a real hot spot and I want more moisture retention. Off the top of my head I know it has the pumice in it. Great information - thank you so much!
Last week I was taking ground temperature readings on various planters and even on a day in the mid 60s F the ground temp for my south facing planters was 96F. I was not expecting that at all - I am scared to see what that will read during a hot summer day.
Farmer D
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blupit007
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« Reply #88 on: March 13, 2012, 07:49:38 PM » |
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Here is a first timer that bloomed today. Charlie, do you have any photos of Laguna Starlight blooming in the cooler temps? This one looks real different then your photos of it. It is very similar to Gabriel. Beautiful, Super intense!!
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-Kristen
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Ernest
Posts: 1704
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« Reply #89 on: March 13, 2012, 07:51:27 PM » |
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Darren, interesting observation on tthe ground temperature. I hadn't ever given that any thought but I'd like to learn more about it. It would be interesting to hear what Charlie and Chris have to say about it.
Louis, that's some impressive collection of seedlings that you are cultivating. Both Wild Grape and Moonstruck seem to produce really nice offspring.
John, your Cindy's Heart seems to consistently produce some of the nicest blooms I've seen in that cv. Really nice High Voltage as well.
David, nothing left to say about your fabulous AG. Your Adeniums are also looking great. I'm not used to seeing them so densely flowered.
Heavy Metal put out a nice bloom today. Also Jazz, Love Story, and a red double I can't identify. Can anyone ID this for me? It has small serrated leaves. Finally, my Sun Shower bush that has been in the ground for 3-4 years. I've read that it has a bush of marginal quality but mine is upright and densely branched at a little over 6 feet tall. I haven't pruned it much or tried to shape it--mostly just removed some low growing branches near the base.
Erny
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