Hibiscus: Hibiscus 10/28/07 to 11/03/07, 1 by cindyhib

cindyhib wrote:
Very nice Ring of Fire, Cat, and Liz, don't worry about the colors of yours. The solid red/orange look is typical for California at this time of year. When it warms up next summer you will get many variations of color from it, with many vivid yellows.

Also that Lady In Waiting bloom looks really big and beautiful. I've wondered just how big it could get in climates warmer and more humid than mine. Here it has great texture, very substantial petals that are stiff. In your photo the bloom looks big and fluffy but I bet the petals still have good substance to them.

Cat, the 'Liz' bloom looks more like the rare 'Eva Paoloni' - I had a few last year, maybe you have one, too. Attached is a photo of Liz.

Ardesia, by picking and displaying hibiscus indoors you are following in a long and grand tradition. When the Tahitian flower lovers went nuts over the new hibiscus several years ago (imported about 40,000 plants in one year!) I was told that by mid morning each day you can find very few hibiscus flowers on the hibiscus bushes in Tahiti. That's because they are all picked and used for displays in homes, shops, restaurants, and in the hair of local ladies. Great tradition, though we love the blooms on our plants, too!

Continuing down the messages, Cat, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your cat. My brave little female was snatched right off the deck of this house by a wily coyote when I first moved here 2 years ago. At first I wanted to hunt down the predator but after awhile I accepted that coyotes are just following their nature, same as most creatures here. On the positive side this opened up my house for Cindy's two 14 year old cats, something mine would never have stood for if she were still with us. Losing a pet is always sad, you have our heartfelt sympathies.

Karen, it's neat that your Voodoo Magic survived the unexpected translocation across the yard! Was that one of those big 2 gallon plants we had for awhile? It was a tough break that the fires (wind and smoke) got to your plants just before the fall blooming season. Next year will be better!

Cat, if your Simple Pleasures isn't blooming something is wrong with it since it blooms a lot normally. I suspect midge or thrip infestation and even if you can't see any you should spray the plant with a suitable insecticide a couple of times a few days apart, and perhaps treat it with potassium nitrate sprays and/or Synergy if you have some. I did all this in our garden a few weeks ago and the buds and blooms we're seeing now are the payoff. Even though we usually recommend treating all hibiscus in an area at the same time, it is possible for just one or a few among many plants to get infested or stay infested and maybe the Simple Pleasures has such a problem.

All in all, great blooms and photos in this thread!

Charles