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Nievesgirl
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« Reply #135 on: June 23, 2011, 10:04:38 AM » |
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At the same time I am glad to be made aware of environmental impacts as that is important to me as well. I also didn't know that with increasing temps this might work against me with the very high levels of ferts. This is how I learn and I'm not embarrassed to make mistakes - that is how it goes sometimes.
Darren I was watching something on tv yesterday about how the farmers use of fertilizer on crops are killing coral reefs  They said all these chemicals are being washed into the ocean and killing wildlife in rivers,lakes and the ocean. I as I told you I used to have reef tank if I every get another I will only get aquaculture and tank raised fish to help save the reef. ( right now I am going on a Goldfish adventure 60 gallons with Orandas LOL) I have my plants in pots and its not an issue yet but I will be using a organic fertilizer once the HVH blend is finished. When I was like 16 and started this hibiscus craze lol I used chicken poop and seaweed extract and some other organic fertilizer. I got great results. |
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~Kerry~
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #136 on: June 23, 2011, 10:13:03 AM » |
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Yeah Kerry, I think organics are great, I used to use bioblizz and got great results with my hibiscus. I am afraid of salt burn and salt-based fertilizers really wreck havoc on the micro-communities of bacteria and fungus in the soil.
I really want to try out mycorrhizae on my hibiscus, but I need to switch to organics first, so I don't kill them!
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Charlie
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« Reply #137 on: June 23, 2011, 05:07:39 PM » |
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Interestingly enough, where I (Cindy) lived in Washington, one of the main sources of pollution in the Columbia River was pure, natural cow manure, straight off of all the farms in Eastern Washington. Nitrogen is still nitrogen in any form, and algae love it. Chicken poop actually has one of the highest nitrogen contents of any fertilizer, and will burn the heck out of plants. I don't think it matters what source you use for your nitrogen nearly as much as how carefully you use it.
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motherof4
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« Reply #138 on: June 23, 2011, 07:07:54 PM » |
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CHARLIE i DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU SEEN MY POST ABOUT PORCELINE DOLL...DOES SHE HAVE ANY OF THE 3 LOBED LEAVES AT ALL...BECAUSE MINE HAS A FEW??....HERE ARE SOME BLOOMS FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS...MY BELLE HAD HER FIRST BLOOM OF THE YEAR AND MEASURED 9 1/2 INCHES....GOT A LITTLE FADED FROM THE NEAR 100 DEGREE TEMP....OH WELL  ..LYNETTE |
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motherof4
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« Reply #139 on: June 23, 2011, 07:09:45 PM » |
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AND THE REST....
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farmer d
Farmer D
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Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #140 on: June 23, 2011, 07:37:56 PM » |
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Darren I was watching something on tv yesterday about how the farmers use of fertilizer on crops are killing coral reefs They said all these chemicals are being washed into the ocean and killing wildlife in rivers,lakes and the ocean. I as I told you I used to have reef tank if I every get another I will only get aquaculture and tank raised fish to help save the reef. ( right now I am going on a Goldfish adventure 60 gallons with Orandas LOL) I hear you Kerry, I've seen quite a few of those programs showing the hundreds of miles of dead zones around major river deltas. Love going to the local farmers markets here where the vendors are all local farms that grow organic. It's nice to meet the people who actually grow the things you eat. I hope it continues to grow in this direction. Good luck with the new aquarium, knowing you it will be really nice. Farmer D |
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farmer d
Farmer D
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Hollywood, CA
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« Reply #141 on: June 23, 2011, 07:43:45 PM » |
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Wow, Lynette your blooms are amazing!! What a great line up, I love them all. How many plants do you have now? Every time you post there are always new ones to enjoy. And I'd love to see your Acapulco Gold, I'd feel really bad if anyone doesn't want to show their pics. All that hard work deserves to be rewarded with a little publicity. Loving Confection Perfection, one day mine will bloom too (little dinker almost a foot tall but with a couple buds). Also Dancing Dragon has some spectacular colors that I was not expecting. How big does that one bloom...don't we wish they were all as big as Belle... Farmer D Sea of Tranquility (ran out of room to blossom)  |
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Yashodhara
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« Reply #142 on: June 23, 2011, 07:44:24 PM » |
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CHARLIE i DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU SEEN MY POST ABOUT PORCELINE DOLL...DOES SHE HAVE ANY OF THE 3 LOBED LEAVES AT ALL...BECAUSE MINE HAS A FEW;D...LYNETTE Lynette - My Porcelain Doll has the lobbed leaves also... I think PDoll inherited the trait from Key Lime Pie. Loving all your blooms, by the way... Delicious Confection Perfection! Deb ( Sorry, not Charlie)  |
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Nievesgirl
Posts: 975
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« Reply #143 on: June 23, 2011, 08:08:58 PM » |
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Interestingly enough, where I (Cindy) lived in Washington, one of the main sources of pollution in the Columbia River was pure, natural cow manure, straight off of all the farms in Eastern Washington. Nitrogen is still nitrogen in any form, and algae love it. Chicken poop actually has one of the highest nitrogen contents of any fertilizer, and will burn the heck out of plants. I don't think it matters what source you use for your nitrogen nearly as much as how carefully you use it.
There is a big difference between natural and chemicals. If there was not then why are so many people going organic ? I didn't get any salt burn or ill effects with organic fertilizer like I did with chemical fertilizers. Yes of course cow manure will pollute a river. Its not natural for it to be there lol ...... If the cows are raised on a prairie like in a similar situation as bisons then its good for the earth. I highly believe if humans where not involved with the course of mother nature everything would be balanced. But unfortunately we need food too and farming has destroyed a lot of environments. People can use whatever fertilizer they want but I am going to start using organic ones  |
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~Kerry~
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Charlie
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« Reply #144 on: June 23, 2011, 08:15:49 PM » |
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Of course everyone is free to fertilize or not fertilize their hibiscus, but I can say that after growing 1,000,000 plus hibiscus plants over 20 years that the difference between using a good fertilizer and not doing so is night and day. Anyone can prove this for themselves - take a hibiscus that has not been fertilized for several months and treat it to a good fertilizer and notice the difference - it is astounding. More, bigger, and brighter flowers to say nothing of the improved growth and health of the plant.
Fertilizer is not some big bad ogre - it is food for plants. Some ingredients in it are absolutely essential for plant survival, other ingredients while not essential for survival still play a major role in helping a hibiscus reach its genetic potential. So called "organic fertilizers" rarely if ever contain the right ratios or amounts of major and minor minerals that are carefully formulated in good fertilizers.
This is not to say that I do not recommend adding rich humus and other organic material into pots or garden soil for the benefits that come from these. Of course we highly recommend this and always have. However, I believe that a strong base of plant nutrition in the form of essential and non-essential minerals is of critical importance to growing hibiscus the best it can be grown.
The topic of hibiscus nutrition should not be confused with pollution issues, which are an important but different topic of discussion.
Charlie
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Nievesgirl
Posts: 975
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« Reply #145 on: June 23, 2011, 08:28:38 PM » |
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Of course everyone is free to fertilize or not fertilize their hibiscus, but I can say that after growing 1,000,000 plus hibiscus plants over 20 years that the difference between using a good fertilizer and not doing so is night and day. Anyone can prove this for themselves - take a hibiscus that has not been fertilized for several months and treat it to a good fertilizer and notice the difference - it is astounding. More, bigger, and brighter flowers to say nothing of the improved growth and health of the plant.
Fertilizer is not some big bad ogre - it is food for plants. Some ingredients in it are absolutely essential for plant survival, other ingredients while not essential for survival still play a major role in helping a hibiscus reach its genetic potential. So called "organic fertilizers" rarely if ever contain the right ratios or amounts of major and minor minerals that are carefully formulated in good fertilizers.
This is not to say that I do not recommend adding rich humus and other organic material into pots or garden soil for the benefits that come from these. Of course we highly recommend this and always have. However, I believe that a strong base of plant nutrition in the form of essential and non-essential minerals is of critical importance to growing hibiscus the best it can be grown.
The topic of hibiscus nutrition should not be confused with pollution issues, which are an important but different topic of discussion.
Charlie
We will have to agree to disagree on organic fertilizer and how you think fertilizing has nothing to do with pollution.... I remember you carried some but since its not HVH brand and not available its not recommended any more. People can do their own experiments and research I guess. I done mine  Anyways here is my pic of the day Here is a bad picture I took with my cell  |
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~Kerry~
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helixturnhelix
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« Reply #146 on: June 23, 2011, 10:01:31 PM » |
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nice blooms today
Muffin Man: probably my new favorite brown, blooms have great form, texture and color.
Creme de la Creme: looking just like a brown Rum runner today
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Charlie
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« Reply #147 on: June 24, 2011, 06:50:34 AM » |
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Beautiful blooms from everyone. Nice to see Dancin' Dragon and Solar Eclipse, Lynette. Very rare varieties that are favorites of mine. Sea of Tranquility is always a pleasure to see, Darren. Kristen, can't wait to see your 6 bloom Saffron pic.
Charlie
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Charlie
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« Reply #148 on: June 24, 2011, 07:05:36 AM » |
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Does anybody recognize this one? Lots of talk about it as a seedling and the forum came up with the name of Summer Shore. It sold out very quickly back in January but there are some more 6 inch pots of it that will be ready soon. Below is a bloom close-up and a photo of it on its bush, an FF type. Flower size 7 inches yesterday.
Charlie
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Charlie
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« Reply #149 on: June 24, 2011, 07:53:28 AM » |
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Kerry, about the organic fertilizer we once carried. This was a European made liquid fertilizer suitable for use in pots and was the only organic fertilizer we could find that had an acceptable NPK ratio. It was quite good but when we tried to re-order it our main national distributor said they could not get it anymore. We found a second wholesale distributor based on the east coast who told us that the manufacturer in Europe had significantly raised the price of this product and that the distributor had decided not to carry it based on that. So, it's back to the drawing board.
The typical organic fertilizer available here has a low NPK value and very low potassium levels. They are not water soluble and are best used to improve garden soil but are not that suitable for use in pots.
Charlie
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