21 Oct '09 3:35 am Yes, I know this is a dumb ques. but here goes, I am just curious. I recently acquired some hollyhocks seeds from an online source to try here. I don't know anyone else who has them and have no idea how they will trive in the the hot, humid tropics. So far they seem to be germinating nicely but what surprised me was how quickly they germinated. According to what I read on them it takes about 14 days for hollyhocks seeds to sprout but mine started sprouting in just 3 days, can it be the climate? can anyone else shed some light on this? to date the little seedlings are beginning to put out their second set of leaves and don't seem affected or anything, except for a few that got stem rot when I watered them too much.
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.
Cosmata
moosey
head gardener
Humidity?
23 Oct '09 8:00 am I'm not so sure what holly hocks 'do' in hot conditions. In my garden they behave (but we have almost zero humidity) for a while, but still the leaves get a rust fungus (I'm pretty sure it is a fungus) later in summer. But I'm slack and don't ensure they have anough air circulation. Or something! Hmm... Anyway, good luck, and others wiser than me (yes, there is at least ONE of you out there, hee hee!) will know.
I always suspect humidity causes huge gardening differences... Just a hunch! Cheers, M
Cosmata
valued member
24 Oct '09 2:58 am Salutations to the Head Gardner, yes I figured it must have something to do with climate too, but am not 100% sure. I will continue to watch them and see how they manage as time goes by. At present they are planted in reasonable sized containers along a side of the house where they get lots of afternoon sun but no rain at all so I have to water them by hand (this is mainly because I really do not have space in my open garden for such tall plants anymore, it is sadly overcrowded but I still can't say no to new additions (hangs head in shame)
Cosmata
jack two
nominate your own title
The new improved Jack Holloway v.2
Rust 'n hollyhocks
24 Oct '09 7:54 am I love them too, have often wanted to give them special attention - but have always just 'had' them, so I know very little, other than that rust is their main problem. I've only known them in gardens on the middle to cool end of temperate and have never seen them that I can recall in our warmer areas - hot temporate,and sub or full tropical. Good luck anyway and keep us posted!
Jack
Sea_Sonnet
helper
Hollyhocks
6 Nov '09 5:53 pm I have moved from cool temperate climate of western Victoria to a heavenly warm sub-tropical climate on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, and am establishing a cottage garden at the front door, and my tropical oasis in the back yard - we're on a 3,600sqm block of ground. Things seem to grow before your eyes here. I have a packet of hollyhock seeds in my hand, and am about to give them a go here - just as soon as the torrential rain abates. Everything rusts here
Wish me luck!!
Cosmata
valued member
Re; Hollyhocks
11 Nov '09 3:54 am Hi Sea Sonnet,
Well it seems we are in almost the same place. I will be interested in knowing how your hollyhocks fare. Mine so far seem to be rather perplexed (if such a thing is possible for a plant, lol) and a few more perished due to stem rot but some seem quite healthy. I have a set in full sun and I think it is too hot for them, on the other hand, I think I read that they are not shade plants so I am trying to discover a balance that may work for them. Let me know how u fare with yours, and what works and doesn't work for you and I will do the same here.
