How to Grow a Tropical Hibiscus
The tropical hibiscus is a magnificent plant, rarely surpassed in beauty. Its glossy flowers, dark green foliage and non-stop flowers in pinks, yellows, oranges, white, lavender and scarlet are showstoppers. In USDA plant hardiness zones 9-11 (e.g., central and south Florida), they bloom from late spring to early winter. This hibiscus, the Chinese or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, is a member of the mallow family just like cotton, okra and hollyhock. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- General purpose fertilizer such as 15-5-10
- Soil prepped by digging in two to three inches of compost, peat moss or manure
- Containers if you will not be putting your plants in the ground.
Instructions
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Growing the Tropical Hibiscus
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Decide where you will plant your tropical hibiscus. If you live in a climate that freezes, keep it in a container because it will be injured by any temperatures below the mid to upper 20s (degrees Fahrenheit). If you put your plants in pots, you will have to carry all of them inside to safety when the temperature drops.
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If you plan to keep your plants in containers, examine the rootball when you get it home from the nursery. If the hibiscus is pot-bound, shift it into a container about one-third larger than the one in which it is growing. If it is not going into a pot, wait to re-pot. The hibiscus does better if it is not allowed too much room.
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Fertilize your plants occasionally to keep them growing and blooming. If you use a slow-release fertilizer, you only need to make one application to the plant in the spring.
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Water regularly. The hibisicus needs an even supply of water to prevent wilting. If you have your plants in containers, you may need to water daily during the hot days of summer.
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Keep your hibiscus in at least four to six hours of sun daily. Total sun is the first preference.
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Prune lightly to control or shape your bushes.
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Don't worry if the bush gets a few yellow leaves. If it gets a yellowish look, you need to fertilize. If it looks wilted, it needs water. If allowed to wilt severely, it could lose leaves quickly.
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Fight pests naturally. A new pest is the pink hibiscus mealybug. The Department of Agriculture has released parasitic wasps to provide a natural control for this pest and recommends not spraying if your plant becomes infested.
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Tips & Warnings
You can lose your tropical hibiscus to pests, dry soil, low light or extremely high temperatures. With good care, you should not need to worry about these problems.
