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Hibiscus plants are tropical shrubs known for their large, colorful blooms. They enjoy warm temperatures and usually will not survive a frost -- if your climate is on the cool side, grow hibiscus plants indoors in containers. When grown outdoors, their eye-catching blossoms will attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Make sure your plants get several hours of direct sunlight each day to keep them blooming from spring until fall.
Steps
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Grow potted hibiscus plants in loamy, lightweight soil. Hibiscus plants aren’t that particular about their soil mix, but they prefer lightweight material such as loam and peat moss. A regular bag of potting soil will usually work just fine. You can create their ideal soil conditions by mixing 1 part garden loam, 1 part peat moss, and 1 part fine sand or bark. [1] X Research source- A mix of 1 part coarse peat, 1 part composted bark, and 1 part composted manure mixed with a little bit of leca and vermiculite is also a great soil mix for hibiscuses. [2] X Research source
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Make sure the planter or container drains well. Loamy soil provides good drainage, but it's also important to grow hibiscuses in containers or planters that have plenty of drainage holes. After a watering, the environment should drain completely to prevent root rot. Water your plant, then watch for the water to come out of the drainage holes. Let the water drain into the plastic tray underneath. [3] X Research source- Give the roots time to soak up the excess water, but if water is still in the tray after 12 hours, dump it out. [4] X Research source
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Keep the soil moist but never soggy. These plants need lots of water, especially during the warmest months when they’re blooming. Check the soil moisture each day by touching the top of the soil. If it feels dry, your plant needs to be watered. If it feels damp and slightly spongy, the soil is wet enough. [5] X Research source- Overwatering can cause root rot, so always touch the soil before watering.
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Give your hibiscus plants warm water. Never use cold water on hibiscus plants. They like their water to be around 95°F (35°C). Use a thermometer or touch the water with your hand before administering it to check the temperature. Avoid using water that's much hotter than 95°F (35°C), since they don't like overly warm water either. [6] X Research source -
Put them where they can get several hours of direct sunlight daily. Hibiscuses will grow without direct sunlight, but they won’t bloom without at least 1 to 2 hours of direct sunlight every day. Place your hibiscus plants in a sunny window. Keep the plants 1 in (2.5 cm) to 2 in (5.1 cm) away from the window glass, since the hot glass can damage their foliage and blooms. [7] X Research source- With the proper amount of sunlight, hibiscus plants will bloom from spring until fall.
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Fertilize them weekly during their growth period. Hibiscus plants flower from spring until fall, and weekly fertilizing will result in more abundant blooms. Apply a slow-release fertilizer (like 20-20-20 or 10-10-10) or a specially formulated hibiscus fertilizer around the base of the plant. Look for a fertilizer with trace elements like iron and magnesium, which support growth and blooming. [8] X Research source
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Plant hibiscuses after all danger of frost has passed. 75°F (24°C) is the ideal blooming temperature for hibiscus plants, although they can withstand warmer and cooler temperatures. There should be no danger of frost after planting your hibiscuses. If the temperature falls below 45°F (7°C), the plants may not recover. [11] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source- Hibiscuses cannot survive frost or freezing temperatures.
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Plant hibiscuses in an area that gets full sunlight. You can plant hibiscuses outside in spring, summer, or fall in temperate climates. They are tropical plants, so they prefer humidity, warm temperatures, and 8 to 10 hours of direct sunlight each day. The plants will still grow in partial shade, but they will be less healthy and bloom far less frequently in this environment. [12] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source -
Make sure the soil drains well before planting hibiscus plants. Hibiscuses need well-draining soil to thrive, and poor-draining soil will cause root rot. To test your soil's drainage, dig a hole that’s about 12 in (30 cm) wide and 12 in (30 cm) deep. Fill the hole with water. If the water drains in 10 minutes or less, your soil drains well. If it takes an hour or more to drain, the drainage is poor. [13] X Trustworthy Source Royal Horticultural Society Leading gardening charity in the U.K. providing resources for identifying, growing and caring for flowers and other plants Go to source- To improve drainage, mix in organic matter like well-rotted manure, compost, or peat moss.
- If the soil drains well, you don’t need to add anything else to it. [14] X Research source
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Dig a hole that is about the same depth as the root ball. Check the size of the plant's root ball, then dig a hole that's about the same depth. Make the hole at least 2 or 3 times wider than the root ball. Gently remove the plant from its container and place it in the hole. Add soil around the plant until the hole is half-filled. Water the hole well, let it drain, and then fill the rest of the hole with soil. [15] X Research source- Water the plants thoroughly after putting them in the ground.
- Plant hibiscuses 3 ft (91 cm) to 6 ft (180 cm) apart.
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Water the plants 3 to 4 times per week with warm water. Hibiscus plants need plenty of water and like their soil to be consistently moist, but never soggy. You can check the soil’s moisture by touching it. If it feels dry and crusty, your plants need to be watered. If the soil feels soft and damp to the touch, you don’t need to water your plants that day. [16] X Research source- Touch the water before pouring it on the plants. They don’t like cold water, so use water that feels warm but never hot to the touch.
- Hibiscuses need a minimum of 1 in (2.5 cm) of water every week. [17] X Research source
- These plants prefer rainwater, but will do fine with city water.
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Fertilize your hibiscuses every 2 weeks during the blooming period. Use a water-soluble or liquid fertilizer for best results. A balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer will work just fine. Choose an organic variety that contains trace elements like potassium, iron, and magnesium. Apply the fertilizer at the base of each plant every 2 weeks.- Don’t use chemical fertilizers on hibiscus plants.
- If you can find a fertilizer with a very low amount of phosphorus in it, like a 10-4-12 or 9-3-13, go with that.
- Avoid over-fertilizing since too much phosphorus can kill the plants. [18] X Research source
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Check the plants weekly for aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. These particular pests can be a problem for outdoor hibiscus plants. Check your plants weekly for signs of infestation. If you discover an infestation, apply a horticultural oil or insecticidal soap to the affected areas to get rid of the problem. [19] X Research source- Avoid insecticides that contain the ingredient imidacloprid since this ingredient can worsen spider mite infestations.
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Prune your hibiscus plants in the fall. Pruning will keep your plants looking healthy and stimulate blooms. Prune once per season, in the fall, although pruning can be done successfully in the spring if necessary. Keep 3 to 4 sturdy main branches on each plant. Cut away about a third of the remaining branches. Remove all weak growth and any branches that are growing sideways. [20] X Research source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionWhat causes yellowing leaves?Community AnswerThere are many potential causes. It may not be getting enough water, or there may be a fungus on the plant. You should also check the fertilizer levels.
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QuestionThe flowers on my hibiscus have reduced in size Can you tell me the possible reason for this?Community AnswerFirst flowers can grow huge due to high nutrients. But with more blossoms nutrients get divided, so all flowers which bloom after may be small. You can fertilize with a natural phosphorus to provide more nutrients.
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QuestionI planted a hibiscus plant this spring, and we are having extreme hot/dry conditions, which are unusual for our area. My plant looks very droopy by early afternoon. I don't want to over water it. How can I be sure I am caring for it correctly?john quCommunity AnswerFirst, water your plants plants more frequently. Also, If you have sandy soil, get some clay and mix it up with the dirt to improve ventilation.
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References
- ↑ https://gardens.si.edu/learn/educational-resources/plant-care-sheets/care-of-hibiscus-rosa-sinensis/
- ↑ https://gardens.si.edu/learn/educational-resources/plant-care-sheets/care-of-hibiscus-rosa-sinensis/
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/hibiscus
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/houseplants/hibiscus
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hibiscus/
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hibiscus/
- ↑ https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/hibiscus/
- ↑ https://www.socalhibiscussociety.org/fertilizing-your-hibiscus-in-winter/
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/manage-soil-nutrients/quick-guide-fertilizing-plants
- ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/manage-soil-nutrients/quick-guide-fertilizing-plants
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hibiscus/growing-guide
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hibiscus/growing-guide
- ↑ https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/hibiscus/growing-guide
- ↑ https://garden.org/plants/group/hibiscus/
- ↑ https://garden.org/plants/group/hibiscus/
- ↑ https://yardandgardenguide.org/2018/09/20/caring-for-hibiscus-and-how-to-winter-them-indoors/
- ↑ https://garden.org/plants/group/hibiscus/
- ↑ https://yardandgardenguide.org/2018/09/20/caring-for-hibiscus-and-how-to-winter-them-indoors/
- ↑ https://internationalhibiscussociety.org/homes/competitions/growing-hibiscus-in-pots
- ↑ https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/hibiscus-schizopetalus/
About This Article
Article Summary
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To care for a hibiscus plant, plant it in loose, loamy soil in a pot with good drainage. Place your hibiscus plant in a sunny spot that gets at least 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. Water the plant regularly with warm water so the soil is always moist, but not soggy. If any of the leaves start to turn yellow, cut back on how often you're watering it. Fertilize your hibiscus plant once every 1-2 weeks during the growing season with a slow-release fertilizer that has magnesium and iron in it; a 14-14-14 fertilizer will work exceptionally well. Prune the plant once in the spring by removing roughly 1/3 of the branches with pruning shears, focusing on weak, dead, or awkwardly growing branches. For more tips from our Gardening co-author, including how to grow a hibiscus plant outdoors, read on!
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Reader Success Stories
- "45-degrees and frost can damage or kill my plant. Mine is too big to move inside, so I make a tent of thick clear plastic sheeting from WalMart, staked with tomato stakes. Inside I clip old Christmas lights to warm it up on cold nights. It blooms all winter." ..." more
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"45-degrees and frost can damage or kill my plant. Mine is too big to move inside, so I make a tent of thick clear plastic sheeting from WalMart, staked with tomato stakes. Inside I clip old Christmas lights to warm it up on cold nights. It blooms all winter."
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"I didn't know about their preference for warm water and that made a huge difference––less yellowing leaves. Adding a little fertilizer with each watering provided the hibiscus with enough nutrients to create more blooms and kept their large bloom size."
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"My second year was accidentally successful, but after reading John's story, it opened new doors. Bringing the plant indoors in a sunny spot in autumn have me 2 months of huge blooms! Now to learn how to prune for indoor winter temps..."
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"Thank you all so much for posting all the care on plants that you do! It has helped me tremendously. All the plants you have on here, I have! Thanks again for all the info!"
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"Made me more aware of what I need to do to maintain my plants, i.e. watering, pruning, temperature for certain plants, feeding. Very good information."
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