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Author Topic: Velvet Illusion  (Read 21267 times)
helixturnhelix
Seattle, WA

Posts: 1945



« on: July 28, 2009, 10:58:48 AM »

Totally bummed I missed this one by about an hour, but oh well.  How is this one?  From its description is sounds pretty unusual. 

-Chris
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roadrunner

Posts: 480


SE Arizona


« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2009, 11:58:51 AM »

Yep, I missed it too. Been waiting a long time for it to show up in the store.
Gonna start sleeping next to my PC and listen for the "you've got mail jingle" for the email notification from Cindy.  LOL

dave
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Dave N.
helixturnhelix
Seattle, WA

Posts: 1945



« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2009, 12:09:36 PM »

Ya its crazy, I looked this morning and saw they were restocking, went to breakfast for an hour, came back, and BAM everything is sold out already...  I feel like for the really hard to find ones, you have to sit there and refresh when the store is getting restocked cuz if you wait they are gone.  Theres always next time lol...
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Darkhorse

Posts: 949



« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2009, 12:18:24 PM »

Come on Moonstruck!!!  I've been sitting by the computer all day refreshing!
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"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night."  -Edgar Allan Poe
Nievesgirl

Posts: 975


« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2009, 04:53:22 PM »

Come on Moonstruck!!!  I've been sitting by the computer all day refreshing!

Moonstruck  I missed stupid jury duty !
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~Kerry~
Nievesgirl

Posts: 975


« Reply #5 on: July 28, 2009, 04:54:32 PM »

Ya its crazy, I looked this morning and saw they were restocking, went to breakfast for an hour, came back, and BAM everything is sold out already...  I feel like for the really hard to find ones, you have to sit there and refresh when the store is getting restocked cuz if you wait they are gone.  Theres always next time lol...

I am lucky I can sit at a computer all day lol this is how I got wild dream. Of course when I want some like it hot its gone !
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~Kerry~
helixturnhelix
Seattle, WA

Posts: 1945



« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2010, 07:21:36 PM »

Charlie,

How would you sum up the growth habit of this CV, or if you had any comments in general about it Smiley  Its one that I keep waiting for Tongue
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Charlie
Administrator
*****
Posts: 3646



« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2010, 07:34:51 PM »

Chris, Velvet Illusion is an exceptionally beautiful flower. It's very large and heavy textured and the unique color glows wonderfully. The bush is pretty bad, wanting to grow one main stem and being reluctant to branch out. When it does branch the new stem grows off to the side and it's almost impossible to train it into a decent looking bush. However, when crowded in among other bushes it can pass as acceptable since it is strongly upright and the flowers blow you away. It's hard for me to justify growing it for anyone else due to the bush flaws but if we start up the custom grafting program that someone proposed it could be done.

Charlie
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helixturnhelix
Seattle, WA

Posts: 1945



« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2010, 08:45:52 PM »

Ah thanks for the info Charlie,  I am starting to see why some of those beautiful CVs you show in your gallery don't show up in the store very often.  I recently traded some wood and might be getting Velvet Illusion and will have a Cherry Appaloosa, both of your CVs that have less than ideal bushes with outstanding flowers.  Its looking like I will being growing lots of my CVs close together in the near future Smiley

I like the idea of custom grafting, but geez thats alot of work for you!     
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roadrunner

Posts: 480


SE Arizona


« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2010, 06:30:41 PM »

I was very fortunate to get a Velvet Illusion in the 4" size late July or August of last year.  I don't remember how I managed to get this one cause I missed it when it first showed up in the store in late July, but if memory serves I was on the waiting list for one.  It has been in a 6" size pot for several months now, but so far it isn't growing with as much enthusiasm as I'd like to see.  It was trying to be a single stalk specimen and pinching has resulted in three stems instead of one, but one of the side branches is trying to grow out instead of up and will likely need staking.  I already have the main stem staked.  It is still a young plant.   Pretty much as Charlie described it. No buds as yet.  Including the pot it's 22 inches tall and one of several plants I'm battling the spider mites on.

dave


* Velvet Illusion.jpg (100.39 KB, 833x625 - viewed 846 times.)
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Dave N.
Charlie
Administrator
*****
Posts: 3646



« Reply #10 on: August 10, 2010, 08:24:37 PM »

Dave, that looks about right for Velvet Illusion. Actually it looks better than I would expect at that age. I hope it starts blooming soon - it can bloom a lot before resting again for awhile.

Charlie
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helixturnhelix
Seattle, WA

Posts: 1945



« Reply #11 on: August 10, 2010, 08:31:38 PM »

Dave thanks for sharing that pic.  I am ok with slower growers these days,  I really dont have much room, so I am happy if they can stay in a 6in pot for a long while Smiley
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roadrunner

Posts: 480


SE Arizona


« Reply #12 on: August 10, 2010, 10:17:49 PM »

I actually prefer compact slower growers and have a couple of dozen that I hope to keep in the 6 inch pots for a while yet.  I'm just getting anxious to see a bloom on this one.  When I first started collecting and before Charlie started pinching them , I'd let some plants just grow with the single stalk so I could see some blooms quickly instead of pinching early to induce branching. That led to some funny looking plants that I've been trying to correct with in some cases severe prunning.  I also have major space issues and since it isn't feasable to heat my small greenhouse, all of the collection comes in the house for the winter.  Since I've been unable to show any restraint with each store restocking, this may be the first winter the dogs and I sleep in the laundry room. 

dave
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Dave N.
Charlie
Administrator
*****
Posts: 3646



« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2010, 06:33:05 AM »

LOL.

Your plants always look great in the photos we've seen. They clearly get lots of TLC.

Charlie
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helixturnhelix
Seattle, WA

Posts: 1945



« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2010, 01:17:14 PM »

Well wish me luck with this one, wood trade was a success. 

Delicia Amoris
Cherry Appaloosa
Velvet Illusion.

I already cut back CA and VI, to promote branching. 

I know Dave!  I am going to have several that I am going to grow in small pots, me and Cindy can compare notes on growing them this way Smiley


* photo.jpg (114.05 KB, 800x600 - viewed 829 times.)
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