Lazy Assist
>> Monday, August 27, 2018 –
seeds
You know I didn't get around to deadheading the hibiscus yet, but guess what? Mother Nature decided to help me out a little...
...and close those split seed pods back up!
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I didn't know this could happen, but apparently rain makes the pods close up:
It seems like during a rainstorm would be the perfect time to open up more and dump those seeds, so I wonder what the advantage to closing would be? Too much rain washes seeds far away?
It's probably just an inevitable consequence of the dried pod tissues soaking up water and expanding, reversing the drying out/shrinking process that split the pods open in the first place -- but I like to think the plants are actually making decisions.
Here they are again before the rain started:
So interesting!
(Photos are a bit blurry because it was dusk when I was finally able to get the camera outside)
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A lot of cones do that as well. I put several huge old cones outside earlier this summer and everytime I use the sprinkler in that area, they close up. Nice that Ma Nature helped you out!
I have a different type of hibiscus, it's similar to yours but more compact growing. I love the ones I have so much that I wouldn't mind having a small forest of them. I tried to plant seeds from one last year and they didn't survive and grow. I tested the seeds before planting to see if they
were fertile and not some type of weird hybrid, and almost all of the seeds sprouted in a damp paper towel in a baggie. I don't know what happened to them in the soil. I think there may be some type of Murphy's Law of plants--that only
seeds that you don't want to sprout and spread go forth and multiply like crazy.
Alan, you can get pumice at Rolling Ridge Nursery. I saw your blog in a link to a succulent website. Chris Kelley
www.cottagegardennet.wordpress.com