Gator Pride

[Nievesgirl]

I bought this plant a few years ago thinking I could grow in my apt with no real light coming in boy was I wrong  . But I did have the plesure of seeing two blooms of this hibiscus before it died.

I think this is one of my favorites. The colors are out of this world.

[Charlie]

I commend you for trying the Gator Pride indoors anyway. My first web master lives in Sweden, and as you can imagine it is very dark and cold there much of the year. Her mother was growing a hibiscus indoors when Yvonne was born, and she has continued to grow hibiscus indoors all her life. However, she has always managed to have apartments with big windows and apparently in Sweden having all the heat you want is considered a right so her places have always been warm. She has told me that any additional artificial light she has added has made a noticeable difference to the health of her hibiscus, particularly in winter.

Getting them to bloom indoors is the trick, and takes more light. I am looking forward to hearing from you and others who try to do it using mainly artificial light.

Back to Gator Pride - what I like about this variety is how varied the flowers are. It has many different looks, each one a fascinating study in purple and orange. It is also a good bloomer once it gets going. You should be getting yours soon, sometime in April!

Here are a couple of photos of Gator Pride.

Charlie

[nina]

I am not fond of it, in fact, I cannot make it open fully. I am still keeping it, because the color is so nice that I cannot force myself to throw it away. However,  I have seen it fully open in numerous photos coming from numerous people. I wonder what I may try to do to make it open fully, like in your photo.
Also, my blooms are much more pendulous than the blooms in your photo. Will a stronger plant give less pendulous blooms?

[Charlie]

Hi Nina,

Many varieties react noticeably to different growing environments. There isn't much one can do about that usually. If hibiscus are grown hot and wet with lots of nitrogen they will grow differently than if they are grown cooler and on the dry side with little fertilizer. Extra potassium will help strengthen the plant and may help with the pendulous problem. Not opening properly is part genetic, part growing conditions, and often is made worse by insect infestations such as thrips or microscopic mites like cyclamen mites.

My observations of Gator Pride here in my conditions are that it does not open well until the weather is nice and warm. I'm surprised that it does not open better for you when your greenhouse heats up in summer. The flower colors are excellent and I am hoping to hybridize a larger look-a-like with other improved qualities.

Charlie

[Nievesgirl]

gator pride bloomed on wedsneday 

[GrowTropical]

Very pretty!  Are you growing them in sunlight or artificial light  now? 

[Nievesgirl]

I am growing them in real sunlight. I get sun on my balcony in spring thru summer so when fall comes around I will get some t5 lights

[nina]

Well, good news! I have finally found good conditions for my Gator Pride to open: outside, where it gets a bit of morning and a bit of afternoon sun. The buds now open rather well, so the colors are visible and can be enjoyed.

Not only GP has reacted well to being put outside, in the shade. The same happened with Eye of the Storm, Topanga, Cherry Apaloosa,  Living Legend and The Path.  So, definitely, those ones do not like high temperatures with high humidity.

[LGrove]

This is my Gator Pride, I have mine in the sun, I actually love all the stages the flower goes through during the day! I almost like the faded Gator best, the purple and olive green it turns to is my favorite!

[Cindy]

OK, now I'm really jealous! My Gator Pride looks pathetic compared to yours! 

When I put my hibiscus in the garden, Charlie comes along with his pruning shears and harvests "cuttings" down to the very nub.  So my poor babies have to grow all the way back from severe pruning every year. When I put them in the house, he still takes cuttings, but knows he's in trouble if I catch him!  But in the house, they don't get as lush and full.  Hmmmm... I need to create a secret garden somewhere safe from the pruning shears of a certain Charles Black!  LOL

[helixturnhelix]

I will figure out some way to get lush bushes inside the house!  I really don't like it when they look like sticks with a few leaves and blooms at the tip so I really hope my plants don't look like that once they are forced to become houseplants  

I have a gator pride, for me it is doing alot better in the morning sun and afternoon shade, than in full sun.  Its going to bloom soon, so I will have to take some pictures

[LGrove]

Honestly, I have just maintained the lovely plant you sent me in the first place! I forget the circumstances, but I ended up getting a pretty large plant in the first place, so I had a good start!
Lisa

[LGrove]

Hi All,
I just had to share my beautiful Gator Pride today, 10 blooms, I could only get 8 forward, but what a show!
Lisa

[helixturnhelix]

Lisa,

Thank you for sharing!  your GP is great!

[Charlie]

Splendid! Don't you just love it when a bush hits its summer peak!!

Charlie