Proud Momma of my Garden Variety Hibiscus

I just noticed that a couple cuttings that have been sitting in water for months have tiny buds on them. These poor little chopstick looking things have no roots and just a couple of leaves each. I'm torn with what to do...let them try to flower or pinch off the buds and finally try and plant the cuttings. I have had no luck rooting cuttings in the past so that's why they are still in water today. Any advice?

d

Easy, all female are beautiful in any given way even doe it mite be sometimes HARD to see, LOL! you just have to look. So! where have you ever seen an ugly hibiscus.

Wilfred

guamsorbit, do the have any type of what seem to be white pores on the end of the suremerge stem, if so I would cut the buds off and plant them in a humid pot soil ( not wet ) and place them in a very bright place. Sadly, if you leave the buds on it, it would suck out the energy of the stem and it will dry out.

Wilfred

I haven't seen any ugly hibiscus although I've heard there are sometimes some bad looking seedlings. I guess its a blessing that those ones don't ever make it to the point of sale.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, nature does not make ugly thing, maybe weird sometimes but not ugly, but man does.

Wilfred

Actually, in nature.. the males are usually the more adorned ones.. as for the cuttings in water being stubborn about rooting.. definitely MALE! LOL

(ducking now before something comes flying out of the computer and hits me)

Lhasa Lover, Ha! Ha! Funny!, Funny! !!!LOL! We males are not stubborn, we're just a little competitive and as for males usually being the more adorned one in nature, maybe true but with humans, I wouldn't know, I usually tend look a females only. God! Females are such beautiful and mysterious being, you never know what they may come up with. ( BAM! ) surprise, and when you think you figure them out. ( BAM! ) Again! another surprise. just love you ladies.

Wilfred

Ok Wilfred, I do see white nubs on the stems so based on your recommendation I'm going to pinch off the buds and pot the cuttings up. Should I use rooting hormone first? I think where I lose cuttings is with watering after they are in the potting mix. How moist does the soil need to be? I either overwater and drown them or keep them too dry because I've never successfully rooted a hibiscus cutting and I keep hearing how easy it is...how weird that mine will produce leaves and buds but no roots! Oh wait, they are stubborn male cuttings...now it all makes sense :-)

thanks for your help,
d

Keep them moist dryer side, if to wet they just rot, spay mist occasionally if air is to dry, put them in bright light no direct sunlight since they don't have roots yet, don't let soil to fully dry out. you'll know when it ready for sunlight when you see some roots coming out of the pots drain holes. Anybody else willing to help with any information helping guamsorbit propagate the cutting is welcomed. Good luck with your cuttings.

Wilfred

Definitely good luck.. I hope it does well for you.

It is raining again.. I found another 3 gallon bucket to save water in! Yea! everything inside is watered.. EVERYTHING I own that can hold water is now full.. I am soaked and very happy! Have not had to water the yard in a week now... I can save some $$$$ too.. that is even better with no job and ZERO income. Plants are going to be sooo happy .. rain 3 times in a week..that is more than we have had in over a year!

Way to go LhasaLover, thats the spirit ! Oh! by the way make sure you cover your containers, you wouldn't what mosquito lavas in your fresh water.

Wilfred

Mosquito Dunks! Ordered a lifetime supply..

Tammie your hibbie is a beauty!!! I'd be proud to have it here. I love the hybrids but you can never get enough blooms. I planted some GV's just to see more blooms in the yard.

Robert

Well, I absolutely did not think it was possible for this plant to out do itself in blooming. That day covered with the 12 blooms was spectacular...but it had to proove me wrong. I was so startled today I almost ran into the gate as I was walking out front. This thing was COVERED with blooms today! It took me forever to count them all because I could not keep them straight. I am still not absolutely positive I got them all... 24! Yes.. 24 blooms today... two were red.. remember there are two plants in this pot ... but the red one does not bloom very often. They were EVERYWHERE! I have been watering the daylights out of the plant every day because the temps have been around 100 and this is the thank you I get. LOL I would never have beleived it if I had not seen it with my own eyes.