Rain Drop

[helixturnhelix]

Hi Charlie,

I just un-boxed Rain drop and it looks like it needs to be transplanted already!  Should I transplant it to an 8 inch pot now or wait until spring?  Here is a pic of the bush for those who want to see the growth habit. It definitely looks like a vigorous grower, is it as vigorous as parent P's purple or Sparkling water?  

[Charlie]

Chris, you could go either way with it - but if left in the 6 inch pot it will need to be watered more often than your other hibiscus. Since you have the plants indoors I wouldn't worry about transplanting to an 8 inch or so pot. It can be fatal to transplant to a larger outdoor pot in late fall because a cold snap can stop it from growing and filling in the rootball which can then lead to disease.

The nice thing about Rain Drop compared to P's Purple is that it branches so much more. All those branches you see came from one pruning! The more branches, the more flowers since each stem will bud up. I bet you get some indoor blooms on this one during the winter.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

Wow one prune!  Thats a good trait to have Thanks for the info Charlie, I think I will probably just repot it, I am looking forward to the blooms, I've never seen the combination of blue/purple with a white eye, so it should be a treat

[blupit007]

Do I see some buds on it?  I can't wait for the photos!  Good luck Chris!

[helixturnhelix]

I do see buds   I would say there should be blooms around thanksgiving.  I just transplanted RD, I think it will be right at home in the emerald city, rain rain rain

[helixturnhelix]

Another bloom today, sadly it looks like the one from yesterday is closed this morning, so that would make it a one day bloom  

[blupit007]

BEAUTIFUL!!!

[helixturnhelix]

Thanks Kristen.  And it bloomed again today!  Three days in a row!  This bloom is more Grey than the last few have been

[Charlie]

Raindrops in Seattle rain - nice, Chris. I'm glad she's blooming without a lot of sun.

Charlie

[helixturnhelix]

I am hoping she keeps it up through the winter, the days are getting shorter and shorter...  So far it hasnt slowed Rain Drop down, what I like best about her blooms is they are very delicate.  Not in your face bright, but beautiful like an overcast Seattle morning
I crossed all three blooms with stored Cosmic Gold pollen, I think that cross would have some great potential!

Is navajo sunset a podmate to Raindrop?  I noticed it was the same cross, again no dark rainbow christie eye.  Perhaps P's purple can be used to lighten those dominant eyes up!

[helixturnhelix]

I planted my raindrop in my parents yard back in Oct completely pruned and bare-rooted, shipped from WA.  Boy does this one make a nice bush with minimal effort.  Raindrop is also not phased by temps into the 30s at night, so this is another that seems to have more cold tolerance than most.  Finally as if cold temperature tolerance, vigor and natural branching werent enough, it grows fantastic without heavy fertilization.  My parents don't like to fertilize unless I am at home, so any CVs that do well at their house require very little effort or care to look fantastic. 

[helixturnhelix]

I also thought I should post the dark look Raindrop can show.  It blooms like this only when subjected to cool weather and high potassium fertilizer, but the results are fantastic. 

[Charlie]

Expletive deleted! Amazing, Chris. This is what the forum is all about - showing flowers in every condition and wowing us all.

Charlie

[Marilyn]

My rain drop has had a lot of different looks, but none of them look like what it's supposed to. Thoughts?