Tropicals & Tender Perennials: A Tropical Beauty >>> Clerodendrum Quadriloulare, 1 by GordonHawk

GordonHawk wrote:
Well .. it is a beauty.. but it just never flowers..
This attached picture is from the Logees catalog.. as was the plant some 7-8 years ago Logees says it blooms between Dec and Feb.. I've since read it blooms in responce to decreased light at that time of the year.. I got it as a little twig and it quickly grew to the 3' - 4' bush is now is.. it does have lovely foilage [ a dark green leaf and the reverse is a lovely dark purple ] two tone depending on the wind.. it's a beauty and as such it keeps being given yet another try at it.. but no good.. so far
SO>>> it grows up on the roof in the summer.. great climate there hot roots and plenty of sun.. I have it everso slightly shadded a small part of the time.. it seems to do well.. dence healthy leaves.. I bring it downstairs about this time of year and it lives with the blooming plumerias inside through out the winter .. in the brightest light available.. the other report on it said it was an understory bush through out the jungles.. it keeps it's leaves through out it's moves...and is pretty pest free.. everything prefering my variagated Brugmansias.. [ allmost worth getting some to keep the pests off the other plants ]
It's fed some and given addatives... and bloombooster.. Spay- N Grow [ the only thing that SNG hasn't flowered wonderfully ]
now I can see it being effected by something or other for a year or so.. but this has been going on for the better part of a decade.. AND STILL NO FLOWERS.. if it wasn't for the catalog picture which i visit with each incomming catalog.. it 's pretty leaves and my mule like disposition.. I'd have sent it on it's way long ago..
The only thing I can imagine is it is getting a longer day inside in the winter .... with the ambient house lighting [ all chromolux color balanced through out ] the sun rises for it at 7 AM.. and it has window sun to about 1PM.. difussed light to 5 or so when it gets dark.. and house lighting from 6PM through midnight.. is this extra diffuse ambientlight enough to stop it flowering.. I can only imagine it has soo much flowering chemicals built up by now.. I'm looking for an eruption before spring..
Could it be something else or should I , this year , attack it's lighting..
thanks... I'll go up and get a picture of the plant. and post it next... but first the flower that keeps me in the game.... Thanks.. Gordon