I am so excited! I have been coaxing this plant along for a couple of months hoping it wouldn't blast its blooms. Well, it blasted most of them, but I think these five might make it open. Here is a picture of blooms that look like they will open at any time (don'tcha love the polka dots?).
And, another view...
You SUUURE your blooms don't have CHICKEN POX cuz that's exactly what I remember my girls looking like when they had 'em! ha ha But seriously....cool blooms and CONGRATS! I hope they don't....uh...."BLAST".
By the way...for us newbies....what's it mean when they "blast their blooms"?
Betsy
Thanks, Betsey.
They do look like chicken pox!
Blasting blooms are ones that for whatever reason dry up and fall off before they open. They are wicked and evil because they taunt us with their potential only to cruelly deny us our heart's desire - a genuine hoya bloom.
Gee, Ann. I had to wait 3 years for mine to bloom :( You have the magic touch!!!
Awesome, Ann!! And I do love those polka dots!! Remember to post as they open!! Karen
Cool! Dotted swiss Hoya blooms!! Congratulations!
Barb
Wow Ann, that is too kewl. I love the leaves on erythrina. Mine just sits there and looks good, but no flowas....yet!
Blessings,
Awanda
Here is a picture of one bloom fully open. I am so darned giddy!
Does it have a smell? Good? Bad? Nothin?
Ann, tell me everything! How long have you had it, where is it, south, east, etc. How much water! You are so lucky!! Nice work!
Heather
Congratulations MsKitty! Ü
How wonderful for you! Like my Sistah Awanda, I have beautiful foilage, but, no blooms yet. Ann, you must share your secret!!!
Those are really nice flowers.. but that foliage is gorgeous. Another one to add to the list.
Barb
Very purrrrty! Luv the foliage to. Another drooler.
:) Donna
Thanks for all the compliments!!! I am very proud!
Firstly, the erythrina came from Carol (so, of course, it was very healthy!) with one peduncle on it. Since I have had it, it has developed another peduncle which also has three blooms ready to open (picture below). It looks like another is forming, but it might be a leaf (either way, if it doesn't get mad and fall off I will be happy).
So, here is my methodology for getting this beauty to bloom (I will put this on plantfiles):
Growing in Eugene, OR
Plant is in a southeast facing window where it gets direct light in the early morning (when it’s not cloudy and raining) and bright, indirect light for most of the day. A box fan, sitting about six feet away, provides airflow. Eugene has good humidity year ‘round, and I mist the plant at least twice a day (the mist mixture has a drop of foliar fertilizer and a drop of Superthrive in it). Thus, the humidity where the plant is located stays at around 60-70%. During hotter months I find myself watering it around 3 times a week (but I always check to make sure that the soil is drier on the top couple of inches prior to watering), and during the cooler months I water it once a week (but I do check it every other day to make sure it doesn’t get too dry). I give it a very diluted fertilizer with each watering.
Below is a picture of the five blooms completely open (but I still haven't smelled anything yet. I will let you know as soon as I do!)
OOOOH! Just beautiful! Droooooling....slurp!
Aren't the blooms teenytiny for such a luscious leaf?...almost as if it is an afterthought. How lucky Ann....I had mine for 3 years before I noticed it HAD bloomed and I missed it!!!
Carol
It's really beautiful Ann and I too think the foliage is very cool.
Sandy
I am so glad you posted this thread as I have one rooting now that I recently got from Carol. I love those leaves too. They remind me of a suit my X used to have that was kind of a tweed material. Ha.
Marcy
I have 2 H.erythrina.... the plant that was in the south faceing window flowred...but the plant in the west window did not. I also found that the plant faceing west grew more leaves.
OK, I finally caught a whif of the bloom.
During the middle of the day is the only time I have smelled anything and it was so faint I barely noticed.
It smelled like mint!
