my h. Red Buttons

I posted these pics of my Red Buttons in the August Bloom thread and looking at other pics of Red Buttons there was some question as to whether or not I indeed had Red Buttons. I didn't know what to do as I had gotten this in a group trade a year and half ago from David Liddle. I certainately didn't want to say Mr Liddle gave me the wrong thing! So I decided to just ask him. I sent him an e-mail earlier today and I got a response just a minute ago - quick! Here is his reponse and one of the two pics I sent him.



Hello Patricia
the Hoya cultivar red buttons blooms for us as a dark corolla with a red corona and if I did not know otherwise I would say that your plant was not red buttons. I discovered that a trait of this plant to revert to the standard H. pubicalyx colours in a US nursery site which is very off putting. Have a look at the plant in this link and you will see the two different flower colours on one plant http://www.gardinonursery.com/product_info.php?products_id=886 I am not sure what does it as this does not happen here but maybe light structure or something is the cause. Your plant looks like red buttons so I think your growing conditions are the cause of the colour change so try varying one of your conditions, maybe reduced watering, and see if the colour changes.

I really can't think of anything else except increasing the infrared light available to the plant.

regards
David
-----Original Message-----
From: Patricia D. Doyle [mailto:Patricia.Doyle@simsmm.com]
Sent: Thursday, 4 September 2008 3:32 AM
To: David Liddle
Subject: Hoya ID


Hi,

I purchased the hoya Red Buttons in a group trade with Ann Strahm back in 2007 I believe. Well, she finally bloomed for me. Can you verify that this is indeed Red Buttons? The pictures I have seen of other’s that have this plant do not look like this. Thank you for your time and I must say that I am very pleased with everything that I have gotten from you. If she is labeled wrong, it is no big deal, I would just like to know the proper name.

Thank you,

Patricia Dawn Doyle
Sims Metal Management

pic #2

How nice is that ... he answered your e-mail so quickly! Great to know that you do have H. pubicalyx red buttons! It sure is a pretty one!

I don't have the red buttons but I know my carnosa krimson princess plants - one is in very bright sunlight and the other in bright shade. On the one that gets a lot of light, the blooms are a lot lighter in color.

Hi Lin,
When my RB did bloom I was disappointed that it wasn't dark red like a lot of pics I had seen. So when I saw other pics on here I really wondered if I had the right one. It will be neat and a challenge now to see if I can get it darker.