Tahitian Princess

[Denise]

Hi Charlie!

I received my 4 inch Tahitian Princess yesterday. (Very excited about this one! Heck, I'm always very excited about all of them!)

I had a question about it. I see that there is growth below the graft. I know that on roses this would be a bad thing and would need to be removed. What about on hibiscus? Do I leave it or take it off? Pictures below.

Thank you!

[Charlie]

Hi Denise,

Yes, cut the growth below the graft off so it does not hinder the growth of the scion above. At this stage when the plant is very young it is easy to see where the grafted scion ends and the rootstock begins. Later on it becomes harder to see as the 2 grow together but the leaves and growth habit of any shoots that come out of the rootstock are noticeably different than the leaves of scion. It's usually no trouble to spot and remove any "suckers" that try to grow.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

I hope your TP grows up fast! I would pinch the top and try and get those nodes just below the main stem to start branching.  You will have a much fuller and more prolific plant in the spring!

[Denise]

Helix-

Thanks for the tip. Can you tell me how exactly I do that? Pinching anything off that tiny little expensive plant scares me a little!! I haven't pruned or pinched any of my HVH's yet...

Denise

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Denise

all you do is just remove the top little bit of the cutting, just the part that is starting to grow.  This stimulates the plant to make more branches and it looks like you have some semi-dormant nodes at the base of that new growth (but above the graft) that will likely start growing when you pinch it.  Your other CVs (simple pleasures, High Voltage, and Confection Perfection) have already been pinched multiple times to get the bush you recieved.  Starting with the 4 inch pot size means you are getting young cuttings which havent been shaped very much as far as becoming a bush and you need to help them along.   Good luck and I am looking forward to seeing blooms from TP next year!

[Denise]

Thanks for the info! I might need to look at the section on the website about pruning as well. All of my hibiscus so far, besides Simple Pleasures, I have actually ordered in 4 inch size, and never pruned. I may need to get pruning on them! Thanks again!

[helixturnhelix]

The pruning section is a good place to start Denise! 

Your Simple Pleasures and High Voltage look great, luckily those CVs tend to branch naturally.  I am not sure about T Princess, but I am inclined to think that it does not form nice bushes with as little effort.  Keep us updated as it grows!

[farmer d]

I just wanted to add that the T Princess I got this past spring was a tall two branched bean stalk (not HVH) that went into shipping shock and lost all it's leaves.  Since planting it in ground in a mostly shady spot it has doing extremely well.  Way beyond my expectations for a Tahitian hibiscus.  The bush is filling out very well and it really branches nicely leading to a lot of buds popping up constantly.  So far it has been really easy to grow and seems to tolerate a lot more water than other Tahitians.

Farmer D

[Denise]

So pretty! I hope I don't kill mine. So far both large leaves yellowed and fell off, but the newer growth is still green. I haven't pinched anything off like suggested further up because I am afraid there'd be nothing left! I hope it lives!

[Charlie]

Denise, do not prune your T Princess at this stage. Something is wrong if it dropped its 2 large leaves and pruning would probably be too much strain for it. There is plenty of time for that once it is actively growing. For now what it needs more than anything is as much warmth as you can provide. Warmth is more important than light although it does need some light, too. If you have or can get a seedling heat pad then place the pot on that and leave it on all the time or at least all night. These come in all sizes from 12 inches x 12 inches to big ones 6 feet long. They are waterproof and provide a gentle heat that warms the roots and helps hibiscus that are wishing they were in the tropics but aren't! Don't buy a thermostat if you get one for this purpose because its not needed. Good luck!

Charlie

[Denise]

Thanks Charlie. I will give that a try. Could it be too much direct sun? I left it in a pretty sunny spot for the first couple of days after it arrived. Now I have been trying to make sure it gets shade once the hotter afternoon sun hits...

[helixturnhelix]

Yup Denise,  I would say it was the shock of going from a the warmer, more humid and probably less sunny greenhouse to the hot direct sun of your house.  Especially with these smaller sized plants, you need to keep them in a shadier spot when you first get them.  Morning or late afternoon sun is fine, but full sun is going to stress them out and cause them to drop their leaves. 

I agree with Charlie, I would hold off the pinch until you the leaves have grown back and it seems to be growing well.  With winter coming and your plant in shock, I would wait till spring until I do anything else to it.  Best thing to do now is keep it warm, also do not transplant this plant into a bigger pot for a few weeks, when you see new growth again, then it is safe to pot up.  Unless you see new growth, the stress of both sun and disturbing the roots might be too much for it. 

Tahitian Princess does not seem to be as fast of a grower as the other CVs you have (Simple Pleasures, High Voltage) so it might take a bit longer to get back on its feet.  Good luck!

[farmer d]

Denise welcome to the wonderful world of hibiscus.  Everyday is something new to learn.  Any new plant I get no matter how big gets put in the shade at least a week before gradually introducing it to the sun.  I have a really big one that has to be over a year old and it has been in the shade a week and starting tomorrow when the weather here cools down I will put it in dappled sunlight for a few days as a start.
Good luck!

Here is a current plant shot of T Princess.  I also included one of Daisy Mae that I got as a 6" in late spring to compare bushes and growth.

Farmer D

[Denise]

Thanks everyone! I ordered a seedling heat pad and will start using that once it comes. This is my first purchase that was not on the Tried and True list, and I hope it pulls through!! (Except maybe Confection Perfection??) The small leaves still look super green and healthy, so I'm hopeful.

I have a 4" Pinot Noir coming tomorrow, so I will adopt the no direct sun for a week approach starting with that one! (And it can share the new heat mat!)

What was I thinking ordering this tricky Tahitian Princess at the beginning of Fall?

Thanks again everyone!

[Nievesgirl]

I just got my T. Princess and I am all ready loving it.  I don't think it will blooming any time soon since it was cut back upon arrival ( non HVH plant)
I also got T. Sophistication I will see how this one does. The Tahitians usually have bad bushes. I only want to buy the nice bushed Tahitians. T. Princess and Sophistication are pretty good bushes IMO. They are nice and up right.