How To Care For Your Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a flowering indoor plant, with large round colorful flowers. They can bloom nearly all year round. It is native to the tropics.
Size and growth rate
This plant comes in varying sizes. The normal height is from 6 inches to 1 foot, but they often grow to as much as 5 feet if not cut back. They grow quickly with good care and need yearly pruning to keep their shape.
Flowering and Fragrance
Flowers appear where the leaves branch at the top of the stem and bloom for 1 to 3 days, depending on the plant variety. They are not fragrant.
Hibiscus Tea: The flowers can be picked from the plant, pulled apart and made into tea by adding boiled water over the fresh petals. Let them steep and remove the petals. Add freshly squeezed lemon and see how the color changes to a beautiful pink.
Light and Temperature
Hibiscus like the sun and can spend the summer outdoors where the temperatures stay about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. The Hibiscus likes winter temperatures at 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit when it remains dormant.
Watering and Feeding
Water regularly and generously in the growing season as it does not like to dry out. Mist during daylight hours is also helpful but not necessary. Fertilize regularly during its growing season.
Soil and Transplanting
Use humus-rich nutritious potting soil. The best time for transplanting is in early spring, but if pot-bound can be transplanted at any time.
Pruning
To keep your hibiscus looking full and compact, pruning it in early spring will cause new branches to shoot out. The plant will fill in and be more compact.
Propagation
Prepare cuttings by removing to top shoots (3-5 inches long) in spring. Put them in potting soil and cover them with a plastic bag with air holes in it. In 3-5 weeks they will develop roots, but until then, do not use fertilizer. The new shoots should be pinched back to ensure compact growth. If you want to make your plant into a hibiscus tree, wait until the main stem has reached the desired height, then pinch the tip out of the plant. Remove lower branches to keep the ‘trunk’ looking as it should.
Environment
Hibiscus cannot withstand extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
A YEAR WITH YOUR HIBISCUS
February
Transplant your Hibiscus to a larger tub or pot. Use a good commercial potting soil and gradually increase the amount of water you give your plant, but keep it in a cool spot if you let it lie dormant in the winter.
March-April
Hibiscus like the temperature to be between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Water frequently and add liquid fertilizer. From now on, leaves and buds will develop rapidly. You may like to force some blooms by letting the plant dry out a little between watering.
May-October
The Hibiscus does not like heat from radiators or forced air. Misting will help this. If it is outside, it will not require misting. Add liquid fertilizer every time you water it. Remove spent blooms and clip back leggy growth.
November
Reduce water and fertilizer gradually and lower the temperature so that your Hibiscus can prepare for its winter rest (unless you want it to keep growing). Give it as much light as possible and keep watering and feeding, though more moderately than in summer.
December-January
The winter months give your plant time to rest, and the temperature should be lower.
CULTIVATE YOUR HIBISCUS IN TWO WAYS
Let it go dormant over the winter months:
The traditional method is to give the plant less food and water in October and November. Then you cut the plant back and put it in a cool spot. This method yields a profusion of blooms during the plant’s growth period and none while it is dormant.
Let it grow all year:
To keep it going all year, mist it regularly. Also, regular watering, feeding, and giving your plant as much light as possible. Keep the plant trimmed and looking healthy by removing dead branches.
Insect Pests and Growing Problems
Aphids: Often to be found at the tips of shoots and on the buds. Shiny residue on leaves is a sign there are aphids present. They cause uneven curling of leaves or lack of growth. Check your Hibiscus every time you water it. Spray with insecticide.
Spider Mites: Tiny insects that latch onto the underside of leaves. The leaves develop white or brown spots and finally, they wither and drop off. You can fight spider mites by removing infested leaves and spraying your Hibiscus with a pyrethrin spray.
Yellow Leaves: Caused by lack of water, or root damage. They may also be the result of over-feeding.
Bud drop: Due to drafts and extreme differences in night and day temperatures, or insufficient light.
Thickened, hard leaves with malformed ribs: Not enough warmth.
