How to Care for a Hibiscus
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The hibiscus is a beautiful plant, often grown as an ornamental to brighten up the garden. They are attractive and the right plant is easy to care for but how should you go about it? This article will provide some tips on how best to care for your hibiscus plant.
What is the hibiscus?
The hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. They are known as the rose mallow and are found in hundreds of different varieties from around the world including temperate, sub-tropical and tropical areas. Two of the most common varieties seen in gardens are Hibiscus syriacus and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
Hardy Hibiscus vs. Tropical Hibiscus
The first thing to understand about these plants is that there are two categories – hardy and tropical hibiscus. Where you live will impact which one you can have and where you can keep it.
Hardy hibiscus is a plant that can stand colder temperatures and survive off of rainfall alone. They can survive at temperatures above 0 C (32 F). If there’s a particularly cold spell due it can be worth moving them indoors or mulching them to offer protection.
On the other hand, tropical hibiscus needs warmth to grow and thrive so they’re typically grown as houseplants for these areas. The tropical version of the hibiscus should be kept inside in warm temperatures of 65 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18 degrees Celsius) or higher.
A greenhouse is another option for a tropical hibiscus to get the warmth it needs. But, as long as you are able to provide this level of care – how hardy your plant will be depends on how much sun and water they receive.
Tropical plants have single or double blooms in peach, salmon, orange or yellow. Hardy hibiscus flower with a single bloom and colours such as red, pink or white. Some are as large as dinner plates.
How to Plant and Care for Hibiscus
The first thing you should do is make sure that the plant has enough space as it grows up – this will help prevent problems like bowing branches, which can lead to injury or death of your plant. The hibiscus produces flowers in warm weather so the plant is typically grown in the summer months.
Growing Hibiscus in Containers
Becuase they can need a little help in winter, many people choose to keep hibiscus in a container. Pick one that’s a cozy fit for the plant so that the root ball is almost a little pot bound. If you upgrade, only go to a pot that’s a little bigger. Whatever type of container you go for, many sure it has good drainage.
Type of Soil
The best type of soil for a hardy hibiscus is a potting soil that has been well amended with compost. This will help the roots stay healthy and prevent them from rotting when there is a cold snap in the wintertime.
How Often Hibiscus Should Be Fertilised?
Hibiscus need extra fertiliser when flowering so something like a diluted liquid fertiliser onece a week or a slow release fertiliser once a month will work. You can add high potassium compost to the soil. Don’t worry about fertilising during winter.
Watering Hibiscus
It is important to water the plant enough in order for it not to dry out – this will help prevent wilting of leaves or yellowing. But, how often you need to water depends on how hardy your plant is and how hot it gets where you live.
For hardy hibiscus, a watering schedule might look like this:
- Sunny Day – water the plant thoroughly
- Rainy or Cloudy Day – water it a little bit less than how much you would on a sunny day.
- Cold, Cooler Weather – in colder weather, allow the rain to do most of the work and avoid overwatering as this can kill the plant
If your plant is tropical and living inside the house or in a greenhouse – how much to water depends on how hot it has been where you live but for most people watering twice per week will work best (or when soil becomes dry).
You should also give it extra water when in the blooming stage, usually every day in warm weather.
Optimal Lighting
These plants need about six hours of direct sunlight per day or they can wilt.
You can place them in full sun positions or in a location that gets at least six hours of sun.
Likewise, if they are indoors, remember that six hours of sunlight as a guide and pick a spot that will get around this.
Temperature Requirements
Outside, hardy hibiscus can handle temperatures from freezing to below -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, it is important that the plant not be planted in direct contact with the ground as this can cause frost heaving which will damage roots and lead to the death of your hardy hibiscus during the winter months.
If you live in a place where freezes are likely at least once per year, a good option is to plant the hibiscus in containers and bring them inside when it gets cold.
Pruning Hibiscus
A hibiscus should be pruned when the plant is dormant – typically during spring. You can tell that it’s time to cut off old branches by looking at how many new leaves are growing in and how strong they’re being held up. Remove about 1/3 of the branches, especially any that look weak or at awkward angles. Then leave at least 3-4 main branches for the spring growth to appear on.
If you notice that your hibiscus is dropping its flowers but still looks healthy – don’t worry! This might be due to how much sunlight the plant receives or if it needs water. The sun can fade colors so make sure to give your plant plenty of light and water often.
If the plant dies off to the ground after a hard frost, don’t worry. Cut them to a height of 4-5 inches (10-13 cm) and wait for spring to see fresh growth.
Wintering Hibiscus
For hardy, outdoor plants – how you overwinter your hibiscus depends on how much frost there will be where it’s planted. If there are no freezes at all or just light ones, you can keep the plant outside as long as it has been mulched to protect from frost.
If there are going to be more heavy freezes, then what is generally recommended is bringing your hibiscus inside before Thanksgiving and keeping them in a cool (around 50 degrees Fahrenheit) location with good light and water until warmer weather arrives again.
If you are going to be bringing your hardy hibiscus inside for winter, it’s important that the plant not be in a location where there is a lot of humidity or condensation. This could cause the leaves to develop a fungus which will kill them.
The best place to overwinter these plants would typically be near a window that gets a lot of light and not in a location where there is the chance for condensation.
Common Problems That Hibiscus Plants Have
There are some problems which can occur with hibiscuses, but most are issues related to how well they’re cared for such as over or under watering.
The best thing to do is to make sure you’re following the guidelines for how often to water and how much fertiliser they need.
You also want to watch out for wilted leaves or yellowing. If you notice that your hibiscus needs more sun, fertilizer or less watering – then it’s time for a little maintenance! So be mindful of how hardy your plant is and how much care it needs.
In terms of pests, spider mites infestations, aphids and whiteflies are the most common problems. A simple insecticidal soap or other product should help to solve the problem.
A beautiful and interesting flower
The hibiscus is a beautiful and interesting flower for your garden that takes a little basic care but if you get the hardy version, can cope with most of the conditions here in the UK or in many of the growing zones elsewhere.
