Hoping for hibiscus starts...

Hi all,
I'm fairly new to the gardening world and I'm just now really getting started on dividing my existing plants. I have an unknown (to me) hardy hibiscus that I'm planning on dividing soon. A poster on the Hibiscus forum here suggested it might be a "Lady Baltimore". It certainly looks like the photo she posted.
Anyway... I would really, really like to branch out and plant new varieties of hibiscus as I think they're just gorgeous!
Is there anyone here interested in trading for my hardy unknown or for postage? Here's a photo of the one I have.
Thanks in advance and please forgive me if I'm out of order in posting this.
LoraB.
zone 6

lora b you were not out of order. you did it just the way we all do. that is a beautiful flower. i already have the lady baltimore and i don't have any hibiscus to trade right now. but i will have later on red tx. star and white tx. star (i hope that is what they are........i started them from seeds i received in a trade) and flare red hibiscus. i can send cuttings a little later if you are interested. barb

Lorab,

What a gorgeous flower.

I would love to have one of these. Right now I could only do postage. But once my red tx star babies get larger I could send you a few of them.

Dee

why does that pic look more like an alamanda to me?

Bob,

I don't believe the Alamanda has holes in the bottom of the bloom petals. I think they open with a pretty solid cup in there.

On closer inspection, the bloom petals are not as slick as an alamanda.

Molly
:^)))

Lora,

I have some hibiscus seedlings I started about a year ago. I received the seeds in a trade and they did very well. Although they are small, they made it through our winter here, outside in pots.

Keep in mind, it is unknown if these plants will grow true to the parent plant or revert to some genes in the past. The sender assured me she had no other hibiscus' blooming in the area to cause cross pollination.

I would send you 2 of these. If you are sending cuttings that are not rooted, I would like 6 hardwood cuttings. I figure with my success rate of getting things to root out, I may be able to get 2 to do so.

Take a look here at the parent plant. Good in your zone. http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/48615/index.html

Let me know.
Molly
:^)))

Hi again,
My hibiscus doesn't have any stems yet. Each year in late winter, I cut the stalks back to the ground. And it's not yet begun to put up new growth. Should I have left the spent stalks up for the next year? The nursery here said to cut it back and that's what I've done. It's gorgeous every year, so I guess I've not hurt it.
Would y'all dig and divide now or wait until it's begun to show out of the ground?
Would I be sending you clumps or something else?
Sorry for all the questions. I would hate to send someone something and then be embarrassed later for screwing it up!

Lora

I am interested in the response you get to your question. As far as I know, the canes from last year are dead and will not sprout new growth the next year. That's why you cut them completely off. Instead, it will send up new stalks. Additionally, I'm not sure if you can "divide" a hibiscus. I always thought you had to root cuttings or grow from seed, so I'll be looking for that answer as well. I think you will have to wait for the cane to get "woody" before taking cuttings (meaning the GREEN stem will start to look like it has a brown WOOD branch instead of the soft green one.

I have 'Lady Baltimore' and 'LORD Baltimore' which is a solid red, super sized bloom! Definitely bigger than 'Lady".... They are just beginning to break ground this week. I could send you a cutting from it when the time is right.....

This is MY 'Lady Baltimore' for your comparison. I'm trying to find a pic of her mate.... LOL
Gail

Ah.... here it is!
'Lord Baltimore'

Gail,

You are correct inthat you do not divide the root ball of a hibiscus. Propagating is accomplished by taking seeds or by taking and rooting hardwood cuttings.

As for the growth on old branches, I grew some Blue Satin from seeds last year in Ft Lauderdale. When I moved up here they lost all their leaves and I planted the poor little sticks in late December or early January. We proceeded to have several frosts at night until the 3rd week in March. I thought they were dead sticks but I certainly didn't cut them back to the ground. I never would have found them again.

Well lo and behold about 3 weeks ago I start seeing green growing off the original stalk.

If it's a hardy hibiscus, I believe it means just that. Like a tree or bush of any other species, new growth/buds emerge in the spring from the old branches.

Molly
:^)))

All my hardy hibiscus come back from the ground only. I've tried leaving stalks up and I've NEVER had one to sprout a thing! LOL I thought calling them "hardy" only meant that they would come back.... period. Tropical hibiscus would not come back at all. Whether they have new grow on the canes or not may be dependent on the zone.... you're in 8b, I'm in 7a, and LoraB is in 6a !!! (my deepest sympathies, Lora...)
Gail

LOL. It's not so bad, Gail! Only for 8 months out of the year!

And I'm so glad y'all told me about the root ball of the hibiscus. I would have ruined it for sure.

I did try to leave the stalks up one year and nothing ever happened, so mid June or so I ended up cutting them back.

Can either of you tell me how to take cuttings and root them? I sowed some seeds that have sprouted but they are still very small.

Lora.

Doesn't seem to matter if you cut the old stems back or not, they are completely dead stalks, root is under the ground.

In spring when they start to grow, about 12"-18", I take cuttings, put in jars of water, under florescent lights, suspend cuttings with the leaves, so cutting is not touching the bottom of jar. Just about every cutting starts.

I have very old large bushes, so do cut into root and divide. Spring, cut back to approx. 4"-6" (3) different times, they will make many side shoots, so they bush out and do not grow real tall with only one stalk. Hope this helps and doesn't confuse you.

Gloria

I'd like to answer the question about cutting the stalks down. If your plant is a perennial hibiscus, you cut the stalks to the ground and it will emerge from the ground in late spring. The Blue Satin mentioned above is a "Rose of Sharon" which is more of a tree/shrub. Those you will not cut to the ground. I have many varietiey of hibiscus and all of them die to the ground for the winter. I've never taken cuttings from them. I will try that this year. A friend of my mother sells hibiscus. She said that she just removes growth from the outside of her mother plants and they grow fine. They always flower first year too. I have never tried it myself either.

Kathy

Kathy,

Thanks so much for the information on the Blue Satin and the other hibiscus. This clarifies for me.

I appreciate it.

Molly
:^)))

,
Thanks for the info.
Kathy, Could you please tell me how your mom's friend removes the outside growth from the mother? She doesn't dig up the entire thing, does she? or maybe just tease the outsides clear with a small pitchfork (or something like that)?

Gloria, I need clarifiaction, please. Are you saying you DO cut the root ball in half and divide that way?

Thanks,
Lora

Lora, I asked about dividing the hibiscus. She does just tease the outsides clear with a small pitchfork (or something like that)? The plants are way to big to dig the whole clump. She also takes cutting after they are up a bit like Gloria mentioned. That helps them get bushy too. She also roots the cuttings. I'm going have to try this so I have lots of Hibiscus to trade later. Good luck Lora.

Lora:

Mine are 4' wide under ground, just cut straight down into root at side, take couple shoots, with root. Doesn't seem to hurt the momma as she is busy growing new shoots in the spring.

Hibiscus.... I'm going to send Lora cuttings from my red 'Lord Baltimore' and I want to insure optimum success for her. It is just breaking ground (sprouts anywhere from 1" to 6" tall right now.... soft green sprouts...).

Did I understand correctly that when yours get 12"-18" tall you cut back to (a) promote bushiness, and (b) root these pruned pieces in water? The soft green part?

I am confused because I thought cuttings from woody stuff were to be taken from a woody piece in order to root....??

So what would you advise me to do as far as mailing her cuttings?

Thanks in advance!
Gail

Yes! And Thank you from me too!!!

Lora :-)

Ok, here goes......

I have never sent cuttings to anyone, I first root the green cuttings in jars of water, under florescent lights, suspend in the water by spreading the leaves across top of jar, so as cutting is not touching bottom. I plant in pots, they bloom all summer. Can be sent rooted, or plant in ground and send the next spring. You can try sending green cuttings, might root for them, I just have not tried it, as I always root first.

Hope this helps.

Thank you, Hibiscus! I would not mind rooting the pieces in water and then potting them up in something like a peat pot that could then be mailed. I guess that would be the safest route. I don't think green stem cuttings would survive being mailed. I wonder how long it takes for them to root enough for potting up? If that doesn't work, we can always try woody cuttings later on! Right? LOL
Gail

Seems a shame to waste the green cuttings when you are trimming to make momma bushy, so I root in water, takes a couple weeks, then pot, let them grow, will bloom if you fertilize. Can be sent with just shaking little soil from roots, wrap in moist paper towel, plastic bag. I have never sent anything potted, costs too much to send.

How will you start woody cuttings? I start woody rose cuttings outside under jars, in summer.

Glad to see all the answers with regard to rooting hardwood cuttings. I was beyond confused as to how. I'd read some where to put them in a VERY light soil and mist...needless to say it's NOT worked for me. So I will try the water method here on out. Anyone know if that works for plants like lavender and/or Rosemary?

Hi Yall,

Just a thought..........check out the propagation forum. This forum covers many different methods. Additionally,
you will most likely get more input from more sources over there.
http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/propagation/all/

Just a thought,
Molly
:^)))

I found a specific thread you might find helpful for many different plants started from cuttings:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/597232/#new

Matter of fact, Iam about to refresh my own methods by reading this.

Molly
:^)))

Yeah for Molly!!! Thank you!!
For some reason I'm not being able to access hyperlinks today - maybe it's my work computer...will have to check when I get home.

This message was edited May 9, 2006 3:32 PM

Chantell,

Try something just to see if it works.

Right click on the link above. Look down at " properties", highlight the address, right click on that then
copy and paste that into your browser address bar.

See if that can take you there.
Molly
:^)))

This message was edited May 9, 2006 3:40 PM

You go girl!!! I will most definately remember that trick!!

Chantell - It definately works for lavendar and rosemary. That's how I add to my herb garden. Just take a stem and stick it in water for a few weeks.

Molly, thanks for the links. I'm going to check them out now!

Lora

you are both very welcome,
Molly

Took the cuttings today! I've got 3 starts in water now, as you suggested, Hibiscus, with the leaves suspending the cutting so the bottom isn't touching. I'm rooting them in filtered water from my drinking pitcher. Couple of weeks, huh? We'll soon see how they do!

When I do woody cuttings, I usually use rooting hormone and stick them in moist soil in morning sun/afternoon shade, with one set of nodes at the bottom with hormone and one set of nodes at the top for growth. Sometimes I put a piece of plastic wrap across the top for a while but not always. They do better when I do, though.

Thanks for the reminder about the propagation forum, MollyMc! It helps to review that kind of stuff occasionally. You get in a routine of the forums you frequent and it's easy to forget just how much Dave's has to offer!

I think my confusion was in that I'd never thought you could root the fleshy green new growth of a hibiscus, only the woody stem. I did look on the propagation forum and didn't see anything about rooting "new growth" like that and that's why I asked Hibiscus to clarify. If there's something there about it, I must've missed it! (Which wouldn't be surprising for me... LOL) So now I'm off the check out that link!

Thanks, all!
Gail (trying to make a 'Lord Baltimore' baby for LoraB)

Wishing you luck! I have no problem rooting green cuttings in water.

Well, as some of my friends say (but makes no sense to me.... )
COOL BEANS! It's always nice to learn a new way to do things! Rooting woody cuttings sure takes longer than a couple of weeks!
Gail

Thanks, Gail!!
I'm still waiting for mine to "wake up"!

Lora

PS. We say Cool Beans all the time. I have no idea what it means either!

I have no idea either, but it roused visions/senses of flatulation and discomfort, even cold.

LOLOLOL
Molly

LMAO, Molly! I know what you mean!

Lora, I'm going to take a pic of the rooting babies when I get home and charge the camera battery, so you can see them! I'm rooting 3, and I'll send you 2 and keep one.
Gail

Hi all. I am just writing in to tell you that the reason they say not to cut down the old on a hardy hibiscus is because in the more northern zones ( like Ohio), it come up later than a lot of other plants, and you do not want to forget where it is, or where it is going to be. Good thing too, this year it came up early. I have about a 1 1/2 foot plant, last year, it was almost mid June before it came up. Must be the unusually warm temps.

Hope I did not step on anyone's toes. I am new here.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,
Welcome to DG! I've been a member for just under a year, but have SOOOO much to learn still.

My hibiscus is still dormant. I'm really beginning to be concerned about it. This year, I'm going to start a diary of all those dates so I can compare from year to year.

Lora B.

Welcome Kelly.

Mine are about 2" tall, just starting to come back, just broke the old grey stems down as they are very unsightly, but I do leave them there so as to know where the plants are each spring.

Much luck to anyone trying to get starts rooted.