Hibiscus

[Kirsten]

Anyone else LOVE these things? http://z.about.com/d/landscaping/1/0/S/G/large_flowered_hibiscus.jpg

I used to have a gorgeous red one when I was little but sadly I don't even know what happened to it... well I got some seeds and just planted them yesterday, so hopefully something comes up :)

[Riz]

hey k..

i dont but i have the sharon rose ( hibsicus) growing for the past 4 years,,

looks nice the petals are huge :)

[Kirsten]

I think the hibiscus was probably the start of my plant obsession. I distinctly remember being like 5 years old and pitching this huge fit in the plant store and refusing to stop unless my parents bought that plant for me, because I'd seen it in Hawaii and loved it. It grew huge beautiful red blossoms for many years. Too bad they only open for a day or so :(

[Tania]

I like the red flower, will make a great impression in the garden but are you sure the plant will survive over winter outside?

[Kirsten]

It definitely won't do winter in my area (we go below zero) but I'm hoping to keep it inside. As of now the seeds are in a plastic take-out container full of soil acting as a temporary seed tray (trying to be eco-friendly and recycle) and with the clear cover on, it acts as a nice greenhouse if I put it in the window. (Current temperature here is about 70 degrees F, rainy :( )

Sadly I didn't wait long enough for my ornamental chili peppers to sprout and reused to the soil to plant my hibiscus seeds. Guess what showed up in my hibiscus pot today? FOUR chilis - and I'm not sure how to move them because I don't want to disturb the hibiscus. I'm figuring that since they haven't sprouted yet it won't be much of a problem, but we'll see...

[Kirsten]

Ooh I have a seedling! I'm so excited since they're supposed to take up to a month and it's not even two weeks yet :) I was terrified that they had fried yesterday, because I came home and it was literally 80 degrees in the room, plus my seeds had been sitting in a mostly sealed greenhouse in front of the window :eek:

[Tania]

May be exactly that hot weather made the seed to germinate so fast. I presume the plant its a big lover of sun and warm

[Kirsten]

Yeah it is :)

My silly little Hib can't seem to figure out how to make its way out of the seed coat... it keeps twisting one way or and then another trying to get out LOL - I can't decide whether to help it out or let it figure it out for itself!

[Kirsten]

A quick pic of my baby hib, who finally made its way out of its seed coat!

http://i36.tinypic.com/v8kdwz.jpg

[Riz]

^ i like your dedication towards it :)

[Kirsten]

It got moved out of the greenhouse today (I like to think of it as my plant NICU) and into its own pot. I figured it deserved its own home now that it has its first true leaf!

http://i34.tinypic.com/23vf4wo.jpg

[Kirsten]

I looked in the "greenhouse" today and found another sprout!!

I'll update with a picture of the first one tomorrow - it's doing quite well but right now I'm bogged down by a biochemistry exam first thing tomorrow morning... :eek:

[Kirsten]

Here's a quick pic of my first baby (I know it's messy in the background :eek: )

http://i35.tinypic.com/xkps10.jpg

[Riz]

its looking good :)

[Psypomp]

It's coming along nicely... don't forget to post updates!

I have two hibiscus plants in the garden that I bought from a greenhouse. They bloom late, and the flowers usually fall off a few days later. However, they have survived the past two winters outside, so I can't complain.

[felicity]

I've planted a hibiscus out front today, can't remember it's name but would have pink flowers, it's only just sprouting hopefully it'll flourish.