Hardy Hibiscus seeds

I had several seed pods from this hardy Hibiscus- should I keep them in the fridge and start them in the spring, or what does anyone suggest? I will also take cuttings in hopes of rooting them. All advice is appreciated.

I tried seed , could not get them to grow [ I kept them in butter section oh frig .
1 out of 5 hard wood cuttings grew roots when left in water for about a month

I don't refrigerate the seeds. They are the little round ones found inside the pod. You can nick or scrape the seeds against concrete or a file and soak overnight. Cover lightly with soil in spring after the threat of frost is over and when the ground is warm. They grow slowly and should flower the second year.
You could plant them in a pot of soil to watch them more carefully.

I don't refrigerate mine, I can germinate seeds from three years ago. Nick and soak 24hrs in hand-hot water or fall sow.

Does the Hardy Hibiscus come true from seed? I have gathered a good number from 'Summer Storm'.

This message was edited Mar 9, 2015 10:27 AM

Thank you!

blomma, that is a beautiful photo. So my pink & white flowers may not be that if I sprout seeds?

This message was edited Mar 9, 2015 10:28 AM

Blomma ~ Thank you for your suggestions. They are quite helpful.

Jo ~ Good luck! Let us know how they turn out, OK?

I just started some Hardy Hibiscus seeds in damp paper towels inclosed in a ziplock bag on top of my fridge. I just potted them up and put them on a heating mat under lights until I can move them outside. They germinated in 3 or 4 day's using this method.

As of today not one seed has sprouted. They have been on a heat mat and kept barely moist. Maybe I'll try some on moist paper towels inside a zippy bag.

JoParrott, I have around 25 seeds that I started with the Deno method, moist paper towel and zip bag. Most of them have their second and third set of leaves now. Last year I grew around 75 this way. Good luck to you.

I am wondering if they are getting to warm on the heating mat.

I started over 200 hibiscus from seed that I gathered last year. I used the Deno method of moist paper towel in baggie. I gave most away and they have bloomed beautifully. Most came out deep red. I did pinch the top after 4-5 leaves appeared and they branched out. I cannot believe the success I have had. I will do that again this year. I got one from Lady Baltimore, the leaves are the same as the original but it has not bloomed.

Did you germinate them at room temperature?

I have had 2 tall, perennial Hibiscus for years--and EVERY year, when I gather
the seeds. in a while. all these Hibiscus weevils come crawling out of the seeds
leaving a hole in one end of them.
Do any of you have these weevils? They are by the 100's in the season's collected seeds.

I have to soak them in insecticide in a closed bag to hope they will die.

This year--I only collected my white Hibiscus "Luna" seeds--and in no time flat--
there were the weevils crawling around in the baggie.
I sprinkled Sevin powder in there. lets see if it helped.
I am guessing that some bug lays eggs in the developing seed pods
long before the blooms buds come. What do you all know on this???
They don't show up right away--but in a week or two.

Also--I have has a Kopper King Hibiscus for many years. Love, love it!
It has never made seed pods--this year I picked about 6. Took the seeds out
and am now waiting to see it these are infested too...
I am also tempted to grow a few of these seeds out and see what becomes of them.
i KNOW it won't be another KK Hibiscus---but.....who knows?

Here are the weevils from my Red Hibiscus seeds in 2008. Disgusting!
They are all emerging now that I sprayed Insecticide in the bag and closed it up.

And--my Kopper King Hibiscus in bloom.



Gita

This message was edited Sep 21, 2014 8:51 PM

Those awful weevils come out of Mimosa seeds every year. I have tried everything including freezing the seeds and when I take them out the weevils hatch out. I don't think it is possible to kill out the weevils while they are in egg stage in the seed. I have to go through each seed and hope I have some left without holes. If anyone has an answer please let me know also. Maybe if you could pollinate the bloom them place it into a mesh bag until the seeds set and dry. You can make one out of Nylon toile from a fabric store.

I just found this and my thoughts are maybe protecting the seeds once they are developing. My thoughts are to use a granular systemic insecticide. The problem is I am not sure what it does to the bees that pollinate the flowers. It appears the bugs lay eggs then the larva (must be small) make their way into the seed while developing and then hatch out later as the beetle when the seed develops. Again the placing it into toile pouch could work.

Adults deposit eggs on seeds, then the larvae chew their way into the seed. When ready to pupate, the larvae typically cut an exit hole, then return to their feeding chamber. Adult weevils have a habit of feigning death and dropping from a plant when disturbed.

Host plants tend to be legumes, but species will also be found in Convolvulaceae, Arecaceae, and Malvaceae, and several species are considered pests.

Several species are native to the United Kingdom, but there are also records of several introduced species from stored products in warehouses and dwellings, although these species cannot proliferate outside of heated buildings in that climate.

Ilovejesus99---

Your analysis sounds good. may I ask where the information you posted
is from?

I have often wondered whether spraying the developing flower buds
or thew just open flowers (as they are only open one day) with something--
but...WHAT?
I am sure this would require knowledge of exactly WHEN and WHERE the weevils
start their life on the blooms..buds...or wherever.

Perhaps spraying something right into the throat of the just open bloom would stop them--
something like liquid Sevin???

I don't plan to collect any more seeds from either my Red Hibiscus--not the white one.
I have enough of both.
Perhaps, this year, me applying Sevin powder to the freshly collected seeds
and having them in a sealed baggie may do the trick???

Would you know this:
Which end of the seed do there weevils tend to make the hole in?
Do they feed on the "germ" end? This would make these seeds unusable for growing.

IF I share these seeds--i always warn people that the ones with the holes in them
will not germinate...assuming the "germ" has been eaten out.

Need to watch my few collected seeds from the KK Hibiscus now. 1st year it made seeds...

Thanks for any further thoughts or comments. Gita

Have any of you tried Neem oil?

evelyn--

At what stage of this would you use the Neem Oil? Would it help?

Here's the thing....all this stuff I am using to kill the Weevils on the seeds--the seeds
still have to be reasonably "clean" if I am sharing them with someone at a Swap.
Neem oil is an oil---wouldn't that make the seeds gooey?

I use Neem Oil in spraying quite often--but that is to eradicate bugs on my
evergreens of plants. Not on seeds...

Seems a catch 20. Gita

That's true. It would be messy.

What about diatomacious earth?

This is where I got the info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bean_weevil

Last year I put the mimosa seeds in the freezer and then laid them out to dry for 24 hours incase they would have any frost or dampness. I them put them into a vitamin bottle and left them there several months. When the beetles hatched they died from the oxygen being depleted. I could then separate the seeds from the beetles and pick out the seeds with holes. The year before I laid out the seeds to dry for a day or 2 and bagged then in small ziplocks 2 in by 3 inch size 25 to a bag. For months I would find the bags had holes where the beetles ate through the bags. I lost atleast 100 baggies. I rebagged the what I thought were good seeds and it happened again. It was a horrible experience and loss of some money and a whole lot of time. That is why I resorted to putting them into the vitamin bottle as they don't all hatch out at once.

My cannas get leaf rollers and I use a granular for roses that is systemic. As my cannas are hybrid and don't set seed I can't tell you how it affects the bees but you can still pollinate them yourself. You don't have to worry about the weevils as they won't stay on the plant. It lasts about 6 months and you can use it just around the plant you want it on without affecting your whole garden and beneficial bugs. The bees still may pollinate the flowers I just don't know that for a fact. It is worth a try one season.

I just found this link as I was searching the answer is the seed still good and the answer I get is no. They eat out the inside area of the seed larger than they are which to me leaves nothing to sprout. Some of these pictures in this atticle show the damage http://books.google.com/books?id=FREhAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=seeds+eaten+by+weevils+still+grow&source=bl&ots=qswD6cmNIN&sig=5FaF-1p71OPQOjHHXERdBTmaA9Q&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jsMhVO-QC6np8AH6loCgAQ&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=seeds%20eaten%20by%20weevils%20still%20grow&f=false

I would just place the seeds in a airtight jar for an extended period like 4 months or longer so the bugs die and then pick out the seeds with holes and discard them. I really think a systemic is the best answer. Or if you try neem just spread them out to dry before sealing them into a container. It seems killing the bugs before they can lay eggs which develop into the larva which then enter the seed to pupate is the best answer.

Zone 6 a doesn't seem to be as troublesome as the 7a I used to live in. The cooler winters might kill off more adults. And thank God the Japanese beetle population is really drastically reduced.

JoParrot: I have let a few of my native Hibiscus lasiocarpus grow thinking someone might want one for postage. It's white with a red eye so you may not want it. It will be true from seed.

Thanks, birder, but after my hibiscus flowers all got roasted this summer I am giving up on them. As soon as they opened up they turned brown & shriveled up. I don't have space for plants that can't thrive.

I understand about plant performance and space.

birder----

So good to see you posting here again!!!
Trying to remember what you and I sent each other--if anything.
It has to be ages ago! But--my pea brain remembers some kind of a "connection"

Help me out.....Gita

We traded Aquilegia 'Dorothy Rose' seed that didn't make it for me.
Angelonia Seed that turned out to be a beautiful burgundy Coreopsis.
and
you gave me extensive info regarding Brugmansia care which I just reviewed again this fall.
and I sent the "real" Christmas Cactus to you that blooms a fuchsia color. I can't remember if I sent you anything else or not. Sounds ashamedly lopsided! :(

birder---

I KNEW it was you that gave me the correct name to the "Dorothy Rose"
Columbine. Up till then--I was just calling it "Winky Pink"....

And- yes! My Angelonia seeds have turned out to be the "DWARF RED SATIN COREOPSIS"
for me too--for 3 years now. I gave up planting them and hoping for Angelonias.

Your little true Christmas Cactus is doing very well. It had ONE bloom last Christmas--
but I missed it. I just saw the remnants of it hanging down.
At this time--it has little bloom buds on it and I will make sure I catch it blooming.

I am going to take a picture of it for you--right now!
I'm also going to move it under my lights. It needs more light....
maybe, next year, I can transplant it to a better pot.

Thank you again---Gita

Your little C. cactus looks wonderful--very healthy and happy. You definitely have a green thumb.

I like the Red Satin Coreopsis. I had one re-seed in a close location from the original. I saved some of the seed and hope to germinate a few. They look really nice with pink flowers or white flowers.

I haven't had luck getting Angelonia seed to germinate. I have had some propagate from cuttings. I have them in my unheated downstairs garage, but doubt they will make it until next spring.

birder--Good morning....

I have grown Angelonias from seed--under my light set-up.
I have NO idea how the 2 seeds got mixed up!

Buy a pack of seeds in the spring--that way you will know they are the real thing..

Glad you still liked the red Coreopsis......it IS cute as a border accent.

Gita

Really pretty, Gita.

"Buy a pack of seeds". Are you referring to the Angelonia? I would have to order it--no one around here offers it. I have looked on websites and think the Angelonia seeds are rather expensive. 15 seeds for about 5 bucks. My luck would be I would buy the seed and none would sprout! :(
Any special tricks for getting this plant to germinate? I saved a little bit of the seed this summer.

I can find the Angelina 'Serena" which grows about 14" but haven't been able to find the one that gets about 18 to 24". I can't find the seed nor the plant. The taller ones are quite dramatic.

Well, Birder---
All I can do is wait until spring and see if Angelonia seeds are available
at HD in the slew of seeds they get in each summer. Most packets cost $1.29 or so.

Someone on here--in our group--took some of the seeds from my stash last seed Swap
and planted them--and did get Angelonias. Beats me! There must be some in the mix.

The Coreopsis self-seeds like crazy. Just wait....
The seedlings grow out in a flat cluster of spreading leaves. Then--all of a sudden--
up come the tall spikes that the blooms are on.

I remember one year I planted Angelonias--and they germinated easily and grew out.

Instead of blowing $$$ to get some seeds--why don't you ask around on your Forum
if anyone has some to share?

I can inquire as well.

My HD sold many big pots of Angelonias. All colors--white, pink, blue.
Threw many out too.

Lets hope, somewhere, you get some seeds. Gita

Okie-Dokie!
Last year, I just bought them outright. They were expensive for annuals though. Because they bloom all summer and require little care, I am willing to buy a few. If I could grow them from seed, that would be even better.

Birder---

I have a question about my Christmas cactus---see picture above.

It definitely needs to be repotted --as there are hair roots all over the surface of the soil.
Will do that after it blooms. As i do that--I am wondering if I should trim it back
a bit--or just let it grow out the way it is going????
By 'trimming it back" I mean pinching off some of the tips to make it fuller.
Also--then I could root some of the sections to share.

I don't, especially, like the fronds to just hanging down with NO side branchings.
Would YOU do it?

It seems to be doing OK in the way it has grown--all by itself.
Please give me your opinion on this.

--Here it is as you gave it to me--in Oct. 2012. Such a little thing!
--And, again--here it is right now. Just 3 years later! Pretty good!

Can't wait for it to bloom! never seen it before.

Thanks, Gita

Gita, What would I do? I would just leave them hang down cause I don't think to pinch them back. I have a picture of mine so you can see how it looks when it's not pinched back. Then, you can decide. It can't hurt the cactus. It's still in my garage. I need to get it in the house. I moved three in today. They are all blooming! So nice with this cold, cold weather.

What do I think you should do? I think you should pinch yours back. I can always send you some more.


This message was edited Nov 15, 2014 6:39 PM

BIRDER--

I have a few Holiday cati that, for some reason, just hang and hang.
These never seem to bloom. I threw one out today.
The fronds are all limp--as if it had rotten roots or something else wrong
That is why I don't like the hanging foliage.

Are the limp-hanging-down fronds normal to the true Christmas cactus--
If yes--then i will leave it alone. I will re-pot it as it is still in that little pot in my above
picture the first year you gave it to me.
Do you prefer clay pots? Plastic pots? I use both..as I am not likely to
over water things. Plastic, or ceramic pots are more attractive, though.

I will see what I do when the time comes....can't wait to see the bloom color!

Happy Thanksgiving to you! Gita

Yes, the "limp" hanging down is normal. Realize these "stems" are more narrow than the Thanksgiving Cactus and the Easter Cactus; so they are not as rigid and thus, "hang". I personally really like the hanging down affect. It umbrellas out from the center and skirts well below the bottom of my pot. It really looks nice and uniform all around. You probably need to put a few branches fanning out the other direction in the pot.
My Christmas Cactus is probably about 20 to 24 inches in diameter. So, it does spread nicely on its own.

I grow my Cactus in the pots I think will most complement the cactus bloom color etc. I have most in glazed pots, some in plastic and my Christmas Cactus in a clay pot. I put them all outside in shade through the summer and water them as I water everything else--no more no less. I almost never fertilize them--maybe, if I feel generous, once a year with liquid fertilizer like Miracle Grow. My poor house plants pretty much survive on their own. They may get a little too dry but never too wet. I am not one that hovers over my houseplants. I have too many other projects so don't worry over my houseplants.