Hibiscus Plant: Complete Guide on Growing Hibiscus

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Hibiscus plant
Hibiscus plant

Are you interested in learning How You can Grow Hibiscus Plant in the easiest and best way ever possible?

Would you like to have a Step-by-Step Guide that is perfect for beginners?

Here, in this article, we will teach you how to grow and take care of the Hibiscus Plant in the easiest way possible.

About Hibiscus

Hibiscus plants are beautiful tropical plants. They help to bring an exotic look to your garden. These plants are durable. They can grow up to 15 feet in height.

HIBISCUS PLANT

They develop very beautiful flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden. Hibiscus is a plant of the tropical region. Therefore you need to provide them a certain amount of care to make sure that they thrive and grow well in other environments.

My garden space is filled with this beautiful plant. With the right amount of care, a hibiscus plant rewards you with beautiful blooms. They look gorgeous when planted together.

You can even grow them in small garden spaces. They will always be the center of attraction. Since these beautiful plants can be difficult to care for, let me give you a few simple tips to get started with.


How to Plant and Care for Hibiscus

Type of Soil

  • Slightly acidic soil is suitable for hibiscus plantation. Check the PH of your garden soil. If the soil is not acidic, You can add peat moss. This will help to make the soil a little acidic.
  • Maintain a gap of 2 or 3 feet when planting hibiscus. These plants may appear small when you plant them. But they grow and expand really quick.
  • Plant these plants after the frost threat is over. This will ensure that they will survive the harsh winter.

Watering Hibiscus

Moist and well-drained soil is a must for hibiscus to thrive. Overwatering may cause the roots to rot. On the other hand, if the plants remain under-watered, the blooming process may stop.

Watering the hibiscus plant

Therefore the best way to ensure that the plant gets adequate water is simple. Use an irrigation system to allow the water to drain properly.

Location

Sunlight is necessary for the hibiscus plant to grow and thrive. A location that receives 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight is most suitable for plant growth.

These plants also show growth in partial sunlight. But it will affect the blooming process of the plant. For best growth, the plant must have full sun.

Temperature Requirements

Temperature ranging from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit is best for this plant to flourish. If the temperatures start coming near the 32 degrees Fahrenheit mark, Place the plants indoors. This is necessary to protect the plant from cold weather.

Pruning

Pruning is not necessary for the Hibiscus plants. But you can prune the plant to give it a better look. Early spring is the best time to prune the plant. Pruning helps to stimulate the budding process. Also, this will help the plant to thrive during summertime.

Pruning Hibiscus

If by chance you prune your hibiscus plants late in the season, no need to panic. Make sure not to trim the branches excessively. This may hinder the blooming process of the plant.

Fertilizing Hibiscus

Using liquid fertilizer is the best way to fertilize the hibiscus plant. Liquid fertilizer disperses evenly through the soil. Also, the plant can absorb nutrients easily from liquid fertilizers easily, You can fertilize the soil by adding 10-10-10.

Potassium is great for the growth and blooming of the hibiscus plant. Make minimum use of phos[horous. It can kill the hibiscus plant if applied in excess.

You can also add organic manure or compost for better growth.

Wintering Hibiscus

If the temperature in your living premises drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit in winter, then you will need to take some precautions to make sure that the hibiscus plant is safe.

Firstly, bring the plant to an indoor location where the temperature stays above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, It will also need a steady supply of freshwater and sunlight. though water only when the soil seems dry.

yellowish leafes

During winter, leaves of your plant may turn yellow. This is mainly because of overwatering your hibiscus plants. You should water them regularly throughout the season, but only when the soil is dry. If you water more than this, the leaves turn yellow. This is not good for the growth of the plant.

Sometime the leaves may fall from the plant. This indicates that the plant has entered into a dormant state. When you see this, place the hibiscus in a cool damp place for the rest of the winter.

Growing Hibiscus in Containers

Growing hibiscus in containers rather than in a garden has many advantages.

If you plant the hibiscus plant in a pot, you can easily move it and place it where it receives enough sunlight. This will definitely help during winter when there is a drop in temperature. Thus the plant will easily survive in harsh weather.

Hibiscus in containers

Ensure that the plant is potted in a container that drains well. In addition, stone pots tend to encourage hibiscus grows better in stone pots. Therefore use stone pots instead of clay pots.

Propagation

The propagation of a hibiscus plant starts with a hibiscus softwood cutting. This is a branch of an existing hibiscus plant that is yet to mature. The limb will still be a little soft, therefore trim it carefully.

The length of the cuttings should be four to six inches. Also, it should have leaves at the end of it. Place the cutting of the plant in well-drained soil so that it takes roots.

Cover the cutting in order to create a greenhouse effect. Until the plant takes root to keep the soil moist. Using this method, a new plant will form.

Propagating with a seed is also possible. But the external conditions have to be just right for propagation to take place.

Create a small hole in the soil with the tip of a pen. Now place the seeds in the holes. Cover the holes with soil and water gently. Seedlings should appear in about two to four weeks.


Common Problems with Hibiscus Plants

The leaves of these plants turn yellow. This usually occurs due to excess of watering during winter. To prevent this, reduce the amount of water supplied, especially during winter.

There is also a chance that the leaves of the plant could burn on extremely hot days. Though hibiscus is a tropical plant, you may have to move it to a shady location once in a while.

Mites, aphids, and whiteflies can attack the hibiscus plants. In such cases, use mild dish soap to clean the leaves.

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