Updates!

Hey!
This post is to let everyone know that I just updated the pages hybrids list. Kapu Gardens welcomes two new hybrids that can be seen on our hybrids page. These new additions are just the beginning of what is to come this year!

Until next time!

Introducing...

Introducing Strawberry Guava Sunrise, which bloomed earlier this morning. It is a fast growing shrub. The flowers have a solid red eye in the shape of a star. The petals are a gentle pink that flows into a beautiful yellow.

 

 

The flower is truly a sight to behold, and it is durable. The flower fades in color as the day progresses, which is why I named it Strawberry Guava Sunrise; it's colors are most intense first thing in the morning. Towards the evening you might have something like this where the pink almost completely fades out and leaves only the veins pink.

 

 

This is the first of many keiki that I am cultivating. Check back again for more keiki that should be blooming soon!

Bad luck!

So as it would happen, the second of my hybrids to bloom was blown onto its side by some of the strong winds we've been having here in Hawaii. Unfortunately by the time I got to it, the bugs had their way with most of the petals of the flower.

 

 Even though most of the flower has been chewed away, I can tell that this flower is going to be beautiful keiki to keep around. The flower is a lot tougher than the last hybrid that bloomed and the shrubbery is very green and ornamental. The next bud is on its way and will open in just a few days. I will post a pic when I get the chance. For now here is a pic of the bud!

On a side note, I visited Ladybug Nursery in Waimanalo and took a look at some of the beautiful plants that they have to offer and spoke with their friendly staff. I saw many plants that I liked but remembering I am on a student budget, I didn't get anything. On my way out one of the workers gave me a hibiscus that had been miscategorized! That was so generous! I'm not sure what the flower is going to look like but the flower should bloom within a few days. Here's a pic!

Thanks for reading! I should be posting again soon. New blooms always await!

 

Plants Galore!!

This past weekend I decided to go to the Windward Orchid Society's orchid show at King Intermediate. That was a bad idea! I spent almost $200 on orchids alone. On the good side my orchid collection has increased exponentially, and I've definitely had to pick up some new tricks along the way. I even joined the Windward Orchid Society and was awarded another free orchid, how awesome is that?
Each individual orchid genera has it's own requirements. Thanks to the diversity of orchids I acquired from the show, Ive been studying up on a lot of them, and learning what each of them need to survive. I even plan to build a walk-in orchid shade house very soon. I expect to post pictures of the orchids I possess when they bloom, however long that may take.

Here's just a few of the orchids I got over the weekend..



 

Names and pics will be posted on the orchid page eventually. Thanks for reading and until next time...

Welcome to the family!

A few days ago my friends and I took a little road trip to the North side of O'ahu. While there, we happened to stop at the Hibiscus Lady nursery where I grabbed a brilliantly odd hybrid. Kauila, which was created by one of the interns that work at the nursery, is really unique.

Kauila



The Flower has a stunning maroon eye whch has an outline of a soft lavender, highly contrasting the flowers petals. The petals are a light shade of grey, often with yellow veins that streak through them. The slightly ruffeled petals end in an outline of a orange/yellow.

 

 

I have already begun to use this hybrid in my crosses and hope to see keiki from it soon!



Rain, Rain Go Away!

Hey!
Recently Hawaii's been hit with some bad weather. Between high speed winds, and heavy rain the garden has definitely taken a big hit. I lost a bunch of seedlings, and many of my younger hybrids suffered some damage. Luckily Hibiscus are persistant plants. They will recover and be twice as vogrous as before.

Unfortunately a few days ago, I noticed a small amount of snow scale on a few of my hybrids. Snow scale is a pest that is hard to deal with for a few reasons. This pest lives on the bark of the hibiscus and looks like a bunch of white specs. They survive by sucking nutrients from the plants stem, and multiply rather quickly. They can easily multiply and become a severe infestation. Snow scales are particularly problematic because of their hard outter shell. This prevents pesticides from reaching the scale itself, therefore pesticides like Bayer 3-in-1 are ineffective. Many people will recommend a horticulture oil. This solution is effective, but also has some flaws. Horticulture oil if not applied via sprayer, will need to be applied to the bark manually using a sort of brush. Multiple applications may also be necessary in order to control the scales. I personally use Bayer Tree & Shrub, which is a systematic insecticide. Systematic insecticides are diluted and applied directly to the roots of the plants via watering. I prefer this because the effects of the insecticide lasts for about a year, and it's also a slow realease fertilizer. The downside to using Bayer Tree & Shrub is that it can only be used on ornamental plants. If you plan to harvest anything from your plants, I suggest the horticulture oil.

Thanks for reading, hopefully this stuff is useful to somebody besides myself. The blog is still under major construction, but I hope to have it looking amazing very soon!!

~Pic of the day~



AL(0)HA!

Thanks for visiting! I started this blog in order to share my hobby with others. Hybridizing is a hobby that allows me to create beautiful and unique flowers. I currently hybridize out of the backyard of my house on the East side of O'ahu. I began crossing flowers after taking a Botany course for school. After completeing the course I found a new appreciation for plants and my new hobby was born. I hope to be famous for my flowers one day but for now im just working hard, and having fun!

Pic of the day