How To

How to Care for a Hibiscus

Contributor
By eHow Contributing Writer
(40 Ratings)

Hibiscus flowers summons memories of Mai Tais on lanais. Their exotic blooms and glossy leaves add a dramatic accent to temperate gardens. There are many different varieties of hibiscus including perennial, annual, evergreen and deciduous. These instructions are for the Chinese or Tropical Hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis).

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Organic Mulch
  • Cloud Cover
  • insecticidal soap
  • low nitrogen fertilizer (0-10-10)
  • high nitrogen fertilizer
  1. Step 1

    Water hibiscus when the soil is dry to the touch. The roots must remain constantly moist, but not wet. Well-drained soil is key.

  2. Step 2

    Fertilize hibiscus every 3 weeks with a low nitrogen fertilizer (0-10-10) applied at 1/2 the label recommendation during the spring and summer. Phosphorous and potassium, the last two numbers on the fertilizer label, encourage flower production and root growth.

  3. Step 3

    Tip prune hibiscus to keep the plants bushy and full of blooms. Pinch off the tips of branches to encourage multiple growth tips further down the stem. åÊåÊ

  4. Step 4

    Apply a layer of organic mulch under plants to prevent moisture loss and weed growth.

  5. Step 5

    Apply a high nitrogen fertilizer at 1/2 strength when leaf color fades. Yellow leaves indicate a hungry plant or under-watering. The foliage should be a deep glossy green. An application of a balanced slow release fertilizer in the spring will encourage new growth.åÊFoliar feeding is acceptable.

  6. Step 6

    Remove faded flowersåÊto keep plants looking tidy. Grooming also discourages insect pests by eliminating their hiding places.

  7. Step 7

    Protect hibiscus from cold weather. Move plants grown in containers to a protected area. Plants grown in the ground should be covered if temperatures are expected to drop below freezing.

  8. Step 8

    Apply an anti-transpirant to protect plants from excessive heat or cold. Cloud Cover is a product which prevents moisture loss through the foliage due to transpiration.

  9. Step 9

    Watch closely for insect pests. White fly, aphid, scale and mealy bug are notorious for dining on hibiscus. Use an insecticidal soap to treat unwanted pests.

Tips & Warnings
  • Where temperatures drop below 30 degrees, grow tropical hibiscus as an annual or plant in containers and bring indoors during the winter months.
  • Tropical hibiscus require excellent drainage. It's native soil is volcanic.
  • Hibiscus bloom during the spring and summer.
  • See "Related eHows" for planting and pruning tips.
  • The giant white fly is a recent pest in Southern California Gardens. Hang yellow sticky traps near plants and encourage beneficial insects to dine by planting fennel, dill and coreopsis nearby.
  • Spider mites are a problem on tropical hibiscus. Wash both sides of the foliage frequently throughout the year to prevent spider mite infestations.

Comments  

Flag This Comment

on 9/12/2008 A friend gave me some seeds from her Hibiscus Bushes one white and one pink. Her bushes are outside year round and she does nothing to them. What I want to know is can I start these seeds in pots inside through the winter and then plant outside in the spring? How many seeds to a pot and size of pot to use. thank You for any help. HLight59@yahoo.com

Post a Comment

Post a Comment
  • Have you done this? Click here to let us know.
I Did This

Related Ads

Home & Garden
Ruby Bayan,

Meet Ruby Bayan eHow's Home & Garden Expert.

Get Free Home & Garden Newsletters

Copyright © 1999-2009 eHow, Inc. Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the eHow Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.   en-US

eHow Home and Garden
eHow_eHow Home and Garden