Luna Pink Swirl (Hibiscus)

F1 hybrid. Large, eye-catching 6-8 in/15-20 cm flowers with dark eye and pink picotee pattern, on heat-loving plants that reach a garden height of 24-36 in/60-90 cm, spreading to 24 in/60 cm. Plants prefer full sun, showing some drought tolerance, perennial to zone 5. Makes a nice neat hedge with multiple blooms. Excellent for quart or gallon container sales. Pkt. contains 10 seeds.

HIBISCUS

Tender perennial - hardy to zone 5

Approx 2,400 - 2,800 seeds per oz/28 g

CULTURE: Both the Luna and Honeymoon hybrids should flower the first year from a Jan 15 - Feb. 1 sowing. Both varieties have scarified seed (rubbed seed), which speeds up germination from 20 days to 5 or 10 days. Use a well-drained soil-less medium with a pH of 5.5-6.3. Cover seed lightly with medium vermiculite and germinate at 70-75°F/21-24°C for 5-10 days in a seed flat, 200 cell plug tray or larger. Keep seedlings moist and air temperatures at 70-75°F/21-24°C until transplanting. Fertilize plants @ 200-250 ppm with a complete fertilizer. To speed up plant growth - begin forcing at the 4-9 true leaf stage. Growth retardants like B-9 or Alar @ 2,500 ppm are effective to keep plants from stretching. Extra day length (14-16 hour days) speeds up flowering. Under normal winter day-length in the northeast add 4 hours of light from 10 p.m. - 2 a.m. @10 foot candles or 1,000 lux. Plants require a minimum of 12 hours of light per day to initiate flowering. Transplant into gallon containers with clay or mineral soil mixed with soil-less media. The clay will prevent plants from becoming too wet (do not over water- this will reduce the natural flowering cycle). The extra weight of the clay will help provide wind tolerant containers.