Ok, I'm confused on these two roselle hibisucus

My friend raises those roselles with the green leaves and purplish stems. She gave me a plant this year, saying they always bloom in October. So I kept it in good shape in a pot and waited. Guess what? Nothing happened, still hasn't bloomed. Oh well. It looked like it had flower buds for quite a while, but maybe I was wrong and it wasn't buds. Maybe the strange weather this year affected it!

I am not about the weather condition in US, usually for us in tropical region, it is easy to bloom when the plants has enough sunlight and water.

I'm in south-central Texas, pretty sunny here normally. The only time sunshine may not have been enough was in the summer, when we had record-producing amounts of rain. I watered it often other times when rainfall wasn't that often. I brought it inside twice frecently when a freeze was possible (lowest we had was 32.7°F on one of those nights). It still has those "buds"...they really do look kind of like flowerbuds, but they have been there for weeks already. So I'm still waiting. Who knows? Maybe I'll have Roselle blooms yet...in December!

and i will add that mine has been blooming for quite some time (started just this year from seeds) but i am afraid it is never going to set seeds before it freezes. in a normal year we would already have had a freeze, even if it is just a quick dip. chia, i may have to depend on your every year to send seeds as i really liked seeing this plant.

I harvested seed this week. Most appeared to be fully formed. They are drying now.

The aphids loved these seed pods. At first I resisted treating for them as I intended to use the calyces. Finally gave up and doctored them.

podster, is this your first year to grow this plant? i am wondering if your plant had a typical year. maybe i got my seeds started too late and didn't get them in the ground soon enough and so i caused the delay in the seed making. but it seems that all of the calyxes are still nice and moist and suitable for eating. i haven't seen any aphids either.

Yes, my first year with this plant. I kept it potted so it didn't get large. It took a long time before I harvested the calyces. They could have been used in teas, etc. had I not treated for aphids.

mine are about 5 ft. tall and the purple stems and calyxes are just beautiful to look at. i love the way they shine. but the hib. cannabinus were the ones that amazed me. they are huge...maybe 15 ft. tall with trunks that are as big as a small tree.

Mamajack, don't worry about the seeds, I can send u seeds again when u need it.

Can somebody tell me how to do tea of the fruits on Roselle calyx?
Is it only to dry the calyx. And how to cook tea?
~Sylvia

U can dry it first or use fresh calyx to made tea. To made tea, clean calyx with hot water first, this is to get rid of green smell. Then put in the cup with hot water, wait for few minutes until the water turn dark color, then take away calyx. The tea is ready. U can add in sugar if u like.

Thank you Chia,
and thanks for picture of how to make juice too, I have save it in an document, and hope roselle will grow in Sweden next summer I shall have it inside my porsch there it is warmer and hope to get flower first year,
~Sylvia