Morning Coffee With Nadeen Pickard

Preparing For Old Man Winter

Summer’s brief passage has come to an end here in Manitoba and so the hibiscus must be brought inside. However, certain preparations should be made to prevent the transfer of pests (both in the soil and on the plants) to the in doors. As well, if the move is made too suddenly you will find your hibiscus will shock and pout. This will cause many leaves to turn yellow and buds to drop.

I start preparing my plants well before the first frost by beginning weekly doses of a 10% bleach and water application to the soil. Each pot is drenched thoroughly with this solution until the liquid is draining freely from the bottom. This is never applied to soil that is dry but always to soil that is already moist.

Along with this regime I spray the plants with a strong shower of water making sure that not only the top of the leaves but every inch of the plant receives a good strong blast. This should help to remove most pests and if desired one could also add a systemic pesticide to aid in this. The showers continue on a daily basis right up to the time when the plants move indoors permanently.

As the days shorten and the nights grow cooler I start bringing the plants in for the night and put them out again in the morning once the temperatures reach a comfortable level. As time progresses the plants are brought inside earlier in the evening and put out later in the morning. This way they are inside for longer and longer periods until the time comes when it is no longer comfortable for them outdoors at all. Mother Nature being a fickle lady, there are times when this plan doesn’t work as well as it should. This year it was necessary to bring the plants in suddenly and without properly adjusting them to the indoor climate. Temperatures dropped with little warning and frost warnings demanded immediate action. Thankfully the hibiscus were not affected as strongly as I feared and while some did go through a small shock, they have recovered and are happily adjusted.

Even after the short cold snap and once temperatures had returned to a suitable level, I kept the plants inside. They had been inside and were adjusting to their new homes so, as tempting as it was, I felt it better for them to remain rather than risk another sudden move again.

A note should be made here that the plants were situated on the deck without benefit of any protection that a warm greenhouse would provide during short intervals of sudden temperature drops.

Johnson’s Hybridization Centennial

I’m beginning to see the results of my hybridizing efforts in that I’ve had about 100 seedlings bloom from some 2,000 I am presently growing, more than half of which are quite small. All that have bloomed can be seen in “Hybridizer’s Corner” on our web site, and by the time you read this there will likely be considerably more than the 100 that have already bloomed as of this writing.

My first impression is surprise at the quality of the results. I had expected a large percentage to be unattractive blooms without redeeming qualities, worthy only as compost. However, I would judge that less than 2% or 3%, fall in this category, and the vast majority are blooms that are beautiful in their own right. This doesn’t mean they are keepers in the sense that they are better than what presently exists, but they are easily beautiful enough to be appreciated by most anyone who likes flowers and in that sense many are quite impressive.  

At first I thought precious few would seem to fall in the category of the best of the best, and some of those that are spectacular have weaknesses. A few of the most impressively colored blooms didn’t make the grade either due to heavy reflexing or unacceptable texture. However, in reviewing these first 100 blooms, I’d say some 10 to 15% are keepers is the sense that they qualify for further evaluation as potential contenders to stand alongside some of the better cvs. Maybe one or two will make it.

It is hard to pick and choose among them, and this selection is based solely on the bloom itself as I haven’t yet trial grown the grafted plants. Knowing that most have parents with superior traits, I suspect a sizable percentage of these keepers are likely to have good growth habits, but that remains to be seen.  

Below are what I judge to be my top five. These are working names and subject to change. Keep in mind that I’m a “bigger is better” fan and when I mention being good bloomers, this is with respect to other large flowered cvs. OK! I fudged – there are seven listed below.

Cross No. 119-4  First Bloomed 01/03/14
Working Name - Impossible Dream
Georgia’s Pearl x Fourth Of July

This 7.5 to 8”, 2 day bloom is clearly very distinctive with it’s moody colors of gray, lavender and a touch of pink, which are brightest shortly after opening and eventually fade to mostly grays with a white rim. Its sole fault is a tendency to recurve somewhat shortly after opening but later flattens out. Moreover, it is a good bloomer.

The name reflects my dream of participating in the development of a unified democratic cyber hibiscus community working in unison, which to date has proven to be an impossible task.

Cross No. 048-4 – First Bloomed
01/05/23
Working Name - Kevin Johnson
Georgia’s Pearl x California Dreamin'

This 8 - 9”, 2 day bloom, to me is an extraordinary combination of colors, contrast and patterns which are all the more impressive because of the very heavy ruffles and tufting giving it an ultimate fancy look. It’s an excellent bloomer, but its weakness is a tendency for unequal petal spacing. When it’s form is perfect, it is a max impressive bloom.

I’m considering naming it after my son who among other things is a surf instructor as those extremely heavy ruffles remind me of waves and his passion.  

Cross No. 114-1 – First Bloomed 01/06/27
Working Name - Ember Glow
Rosalind x Fourth Of July

This is an another 8 – 9” bloom which lasts up to 3 days or perhaps more in cooler climates. It’s a full double which opens with colors of orange and yellow with a pink center and fades to mostly yellow with pink center on the second and following days. It has no obvious faults and is a good bloomer as well. The name is reminiscent of its colors.

Cross No. 089-3 – First Bloomed 01/06/26
Working Name - Autumn Sun
Georgia’s Pearl x Sunny Moon

Yet another 8 to 9” bloom, this one only remains open one day. It has no obvious faults other than the fact the basic burnt orange color is somewhat subdued. It is, nevertheless, very nice with the contrasting eye and veins. Moreover, as the day wears on this bloom develops two subtle contrasting ribbons of orange color on the outer edge, a darker one followed by a lighter rim on the outermost edge. This provides added charm to this already impressive bloom.

Cross No. 159-1 – First Bloomed 01/07/28
Working Name - Mystic Voltage
Mystic Pink x High Voltage

Again an 8 to 9”, one day bloom. Other than the fact that it might not be terribly distinctive, it is a superb flower with excellent form. I like the different color zones and veins enveloped in a white margin. For the moment I’ve tentatively named it after its renowned parents.

Cross No. 208-6 – First Bloomed 01/08/23
Working Name - Tahitian Sun
Herm Geller x Georgia’s Pearl

This is perhaps a common but unusually bright color in an uncommonly large size of 9”. It has average texture and that characteristic Herm Geller slight recurve in early hours after which it flattens out. In the biggest of the beautiful yellows, this one should prove a top contender.

Cross No. 049-3 – First Bloomed 01/06/23
Working Name - Kristi My Darling
Georgia’s Pearl x Rainbow Christie

This one has bloomed a full 9”, lasts one day and boasts a spectacular combination of colors, veins and contrast. Beauty is of course in the eye of the beholder, but this one fits the bill in those categories which I feel make for the most impressive of blooms, texture not withstanding, which is its weakness and the reason it is listed last and almost not included.  

However, in this respect it has been improving with each bloom. It now holds its form, although the perimeter easily deforms with the slightest breeze. If it holds or improves, I’ve thought of naming this one after my dearest daughter – I only have one.

IHS GOVERNING BOARD

TAHITI RED AND BURNISHED GOLD
PHOTOGRAPHED BY DICK JOHNSON

THIS MATERIAL IS FROM THE FILES OF

BOB RIVERS-SMITH – NEW ZEALAND

THIS MATERIAL IS FROM THE FILES OF
BOB RIVERS-SMITH – NEW ZEALAND

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