Hibiscus Blooms From Ft Lauderdale, FL June 10 -14, 2009

I have a few photos from the last few days...so here goes. This is Hibiscus "Fine Wine".

Hibiscus "Silver Charm"

Hibiscus "Rocket's Red Glare" with Echinacea (Coneflower) "Primadonna White" in the background.

Hibiscus "Black Jack" accompanied by Gerbera Daisy "Lollipop Pineapple"

Hibiscus "Solar Eclipse"

Hibiscus "Dancing Fire" twins.

Nice Jon....

I have been wondering when you where going to put up some pics. Dancing Fire is Great. I gave my solar ecipse to a friend before it bloomed for me. I might have to take it back after seeing your pic. I had another rockets red glare bloom for me today. It was a definite stand out and I'm glad I bought it.

Thanks for posting more pics. I look forward to seeing your photos..

Jon

My God! finally somebody made a home run and a couples of double hitters, for one moment I thought we were going to have an out today. I've been hoping somebody would at least post one beauty today. Since I didn't get not one bloom today at least I could admire somebodies else's hibs, it's been rainy for three day now and no sunshine, thank you Jon for posting sash gorgeuose hibs.

Wilfred

Thanks Jon & Wilfred, Things have been blooming not too badly considering we're now into our typical hot, humid summer season. Lots of yellowing leaves this time of the year as the plants are trying to adjust to the hotter/more humid conditions of the summer. It's something they go through down here every year in late May-June. Most of my Hibs in the ground are starting to bloom again now. I had pruned back most of them, about 2 months ago, to at least half their previous size so they would fill in more and branch better. It's kind of tough to sacrifice several months of blooms, but feel it's worth it in the long run. I used to try just doing a few branches at a time, but it seems they respond better to an overall pruning. Solar Eclipse is a pretty reliable bloomer and one of the better growers Jon....so you might have to go readopt it. Good self growers are a valuable asset. Dancing Fire has awesome, very LARGE double blooms, but is a pretty poor grower. It grows out in all kinds of strange directions and the blooms are so heavy and full they drag down the branches. It's still worth it though if you want something where the blooms will make you say "wow" every time. It kind of reminds me a bit of "Black Dragon" when it comes to its growing characteristics.

Be well all,
Jon

Love them all Jon,

I see you got dancing fire. I agree about the bush, it's really a disappointment.

Robert

That explains the mystery, I was wondering why the twins were photographed on a table instead of on their bush like the others. Beautiful pics Jon. I always enjoy your staging.

Thanks Robert

Yeah, I found Dancing Fire through the local hibiscus chapter. The bush is the reason the cultivator was pulled from the Hibiscus Of the Year thingy. I am noticing its holding on to almost all of its buds though...which is a good thing for doubles.
Jon

Hi Jon,

You are right about that. Beautiful blooms!!! I had found at times I had to help mine open all of the way. Just need that x-tra push sometimes..

Robert

Yep, that's part of the reason I plucked the blooms. I also wanted to enjoy them in the house also. Both blooms lasted inside for 2 days. I kind of pay attention now to the way people photograph a bloom so see if the photo gives you any indication of whether a bloom is upright or droops downward. I can think of quite a few others where the blooms are not all that often facing upward or outward. It just seems to detract from their beauty a little bit?

Jon

I know what you mean Robert. It's a good thing when you can help the bloom or extend the life of the bloom a bit during these hot summers. I'm sure I'm not the only one on here who also likes to save the bloom from rain damage also.

If a plant of mine puts out a bloom I bring the plant inside to enjoy it. I've wondered whether I'm putting it under any undue stress but there really isn't a fluctuation in temperature since our weather has been so mild lately...it may miss out on some full sun though. Am I doing something bad here?

Love your Rockets Red Glare, so crisp & clean looking, its stunning actually.

I've been trying to talk myself out of likeing Black Jack, but something about it keeps drawing my eye back to it & now after seeing it with the Gerbera Daisy, I've got this little "I need to get that one" smile going on!

BTW none of the Gerbera Daisy's around here have any name except "yellow' or "mixed colors". So, that's a real eye opener for me too, looks like ya'll just keep pulling rabbits out of your hat, some kinda voodoo going on here!

How about putting Dancing fire in a hanging basket? Bet it would look fabulous if you were looking at it from below. A good bloomer is worth trying anything.

The heat and humidity have gotten to my plants too. I am in the twice a day watering scheme right now and trimming yellow leaves off is another chore. LOL

I sometimes bring a plant in for a day. Not sure one day will have any effect on it. The gerbera daisy in the photo is new this year and an exclusive at Lowes. Never thought about putting "Dancing Fire" in a basket. Perhaps it would be ok that way. I guess I've never put any in a basket because I assumed they would get too heavy, but perhaps they would be ok.
I assume the yellow leaves will go away for me eventually. I always go through it down here at this time of the year.and have read that its fairly common for others in this area. It's also our rainiest month of the year so that may have something to do with it also. I havent had to water anything for over three weeks now due to the rain.

Hey Jon and Alice,

Heat and humidity are not only effecting the plants it's killing us here. it's just a Stale and heavy 100 degree temps.

Jon send some water here please please please!!!

I never thought about putting DF in a basket I guess I should have. could have weighted the branches to drape over instead of growing up. Well it's too little too late now. It went to hibbie heaven when Ike gave us a visit. I thought I had another lying aroung somewhere but have yet to find it.

Alice I'll Dmail you tomorrow about the other plant we were talking about.

Have a great night everyone!

Robert

Beautiful blooms Jon. I'm glad you mentioned that about the yellowing leaves cause I notice that several of my plants get yellow leaves also. I pull them off and then more show up. I wondered if I was over watering or under watering, but if heat and humidity brings this on we are definately in a heat wave. We need rain too.

I'll always get some yellow leaves here and there Patty. I think some of that is just natural. Leaves are not meant to last forever on any type of plant. It's just more of them this time of year and not on all of the varieties. Some adjust better than others, I'm guessing.

I hope that is all mine is and not because I'm doing something wrong.

Robert, I wish I could send you some of the rain that is falling here since last year, it almost rains every day now, It rained every day in our dry season, so imagine the rest,. Lost a few hibs cause of all the rain that kept on falling and still is, the roots rotted from all the water, didn't have a place were I could have protected them from so much water that was falling.

Wilfred

So pretty it would be hard to pick "just one." But, I love Black Jack & Solar Eclipse. Thanks for sharing.

Judy

Thanks Judy. Solar Eclipse has blooms that vary in coloration from season to season.