Another Blooming Question

HI! Iv'e been enjoying the posts and pictures on this forum for a while, but now I have a question about one of my hibiscus. I have quite a number of small plants - some in the ground and some in pots - that are all doing well and have been covered in blooms ever since the weather improved. One huge tree of a plant, however, has bloomed very rarely for the past three years. The first non-blooming year I blamed on having lost so much of it to frost damage, but that has not happened again. It looks terrific, just no flowers. Any ideas?

Some cultivars aren't quite as floriferous as others so if you're just getting fewer blooms than the others then that's a possibility, but if it's really not getting any at all then I wonder if it's getting enough sun, water, and/or fertilizer. Also if you've been fertilizing it with something that's high in phosphorus that can cause problems--hibiscus don't want a lot of that.

I was told to use the regular miracle grow formula but some folks buy a fert. for hibs. Some of the sites selling the tropicals sell their own mix. Have you got a picture of how big it is?

deb

Sorry, I don't have a picture but it is probably 25 years old and I keep it trimmed to House-eave height in order to be able to cover it when we have frost. It is very bushy: probably 6' in diameter. I fertilize with composted manure and straight nitrogen which the others like and show their appreciation with flowers, and so did the "tree" until last few years. It used to flower in waves nearly year round. Is it possible it is just too old? Except for being virtually bloomless, it seems extremely healthy. I'm not good at pictures, but I will try tomorrow.

Too old? Wow 25 yrs is a long time but I hope that's not the case. Can't wait to see this tree. BTW, I've been afraid to use manure because I've burned plants before with the bagged stuff I buy. What's your method?

The manure I use is home-grown barnyard manure and mixed with other organic matter (sawdust, grass clippings, straw etc. ) and not very aged - 6 months? I apply it liberally more like a mulch and add more when it disappears. Not very scientific, I'm afraid, but it generally seems to work well here. I am waiting for the fog to lift to get a photo.

I've got to try it again with the manure mix. Thanks

OK here is the hibiscus in question.( Please excuse the rampant sunflowers, they are trying hard to please.) It must have known that I was reporting it, it squeezed out a couple of blooms at last. In the past it would have covered in flowers.

Holy cow! I didn't envision it being that big, she had to be awesome in full bloom! I wonder if it should be trimmed more? I say that but I could never do it, some of the hibbie experts around here might can share more. I love your sunflowers too, got em all around my place. Thanks for the picture, porkpal.

deb

Speaking of big, that is just one sunflower plant. It was Taller than the hibiscus before gravity got the best of it.
I'm not good at trimming. It seems a shame to cut off perfectly good plant parts! When I do, I end up rooting them and just have more to care for - in my somewhat laissez-faire fashion.

That certainly looks healthy. That sunflower is enormous. What is that growing next to the wall against the house just to the left of the Hibiscus? I know what you mean about cutting things back. But mine were in pots & looked tall & gangly & I really whacked them down & now they are filled out & blooming great. But yours is a beautiful plant & mine certainly was not pretty & every time the wind blew I was picking them up. Wish I could put mine in the ground. Thanks for sharing your plants with us.

Judy

The plant growing against the wall is some sort of cactus that was given to me a few years ago. It is now too big (seems to be a recurring theme here) to stand up unsupported. I don't know its name, I'm afraid. I should look through Plant Files - unless one of you know?