I bought my first tetraploid daylily this spring: Madeline Nettles Eyes.
I am new to daylilies in general, but it seems that the blooms on my few diploid plants have opened very soon after the buds started showing color.
The first bud on this tetraploid variety has been showing color since late Friday. In fact, the bud was swollen, and appeared to be ready to burst open. Instead, it's been stuck with only one petal half open.

Is this slowness of blooms opening something that's common with tetraploids, with this variety in particular, or might there be something wrong?
The plant was in a gallon pot when I bought it, and it's still growing in the pot. It seems to be growing well enough, but I was just curious about the long time the bud seems to be taking in opening.

Thanks.

Kat2014

Hi Kat,

It really depends on each individual plant on how long it takes for the bud to bloom. I don't find dips versus tets takes longer or less time, it just depends on the plant. Usually tetraploids have larger sized blooms (depending on if you have older or newer ones) and the bud will continue to grow until the size it needs to be before it opens.
I have some buds that I thought were going to be another week or so before blooming and 2 days later they opened and I have others that I think are going to open the next day that take a week.

Also, some buds have color to them almost the whole time they are a bud. For example, Buddy's Victoria Jade has purple buds and I have another (can't remember name) that has red buds. They are green to begin with but once they get a little bigger they get their color.

The one petal opening could be because it came loose too soon (maybe you touched or bumped it). If you are still having cooler weather then it may be slower opening. Some daylilies don't mind the coolness and will open up while others it may slow them down.


Here's a photo of one that isn't ready to open for a few more days but it got bumped (rather manhandled) and popped the bud tip open.



Hope this makes since and helps some.


Do you have a photo of it you could post?

Hi Michele,

Thank you for your detailed response to my question. It was most helpful!

Weather here in my area of MA has been mid fifties to low sixties at night and upper seventies to low eighties during the day. So, maybe it was too cool for Madeline. The rest of the week is forecast to be warmer and more humid, so perhaps that will help the bloom open up.

Attached are a couple pictures.



Thanks again.
Kat

Looking at the photo I would say it is a bud that is just trying to open too early for some reason. If you look at the petals you will notice that the color has not fully saturated them on the inside of the bud so it is a bud that is not fully mature yet.
I remember last year with the winter we had we would have a bud open half way one day and then the rest the next so when it was fully opened we had a bloom that had a half good part and the other half looked like the day before bloom (all mushy).

Michele,
One more point...
The first bud on my Madeline opened a little more, but this afternoon it was apparent that the flower was going by. So, it never did open fully.
You were right, though, about it being a case of the bud having opened prematurely. From what I could see of the bloom, it never got its dark maroon edging on the petals.

I cannot recall having bumped the plant, but I do have an idea of what might have happened. Where I live, we have high water pressure, and the only water sprinkler that will hold up to the pressure here is an impact (I think that's what it's called) sprinkler. It has a tripod base, and its head rotates as it sends out a strong jet of water. Chances are that the stream of water was hitting against the flower buds. I'll try to be more careful from now on, and will hand water the plants with a watering can having a sprinkler spout.

The second flower bud on the scape is now also beginning to crack open. Yikes! Here's hoping for better results.

Thank you again for your willingness to help a daylily newcomer.

Kat2014

Hoping you get a beautiful second flower!

I have experienced that some daylilies in pots aren't getting enough water and nourishment to open the flowers fully, and they do not have the bud count they should have. I do grow in pots some new ones that have come in the mail (not that I have a space problem (grin)). All American Girl (John Rice 2010 - 27 - 5.5) is about to bloom but the bud count is not up to speed.

By the way, unless I say differently, all pictures I post are my own.

Lovely.