Hibiscus Care

The showy hibiscus flower belongs to the genus of flowering plants in the family Malvaceae. They grow in most places that have a tropical, subtropical and temperate environment. Small to large-sized flowers bloom on woody shrubs or small trees and make a pretty picture for most landscapes.

Caring for Hibiscus Plants

With over 200 species, and new ones being regularly introduced, there is no dearth of hibiscus plants one can choose and grow. One can grow them in pots or ground, or both. With different varieties, one can have a small plant, a bushier one or a small tree too. Small trees can be trained to grow in pots, and placed indoors. The conspicuous flowers can be large or small, trumpet-shaped, with five or more single or double petals, in wide-ranging colors of white, pink, orange, yellow, red, purple, burgundy, fuchsia, etc. The petal's edge have a fur-like appearance. Given below are a few tips to take care of the plant in different conditions.

Hardy Hibiscus: Hardy hibiscus are different from tropical ones. Tropical ones grow in warm temperate climates and cannot sustain itself through winters without getting damaged, whereas hardy hibiscus has been cultivated from wild native winter-hardy hibiscus flowers, making them suitable for zone 4. Hardy hibiscus should be planted during early spring or summers in fertile and well-drained soil with a pH between 6.5 to 7.0. Fertilize during their growing periods with fertilizers that are low on nitrogen.

Indoor Hibiscus: For indoor container growing, choose pots that are at least 10-14 inches in diameter, with adequate number of holes in the bottom for drainage. Although, hibiscus love moisture, bound plants can become susceptible to root rot. The soil chosen for indoor hibiscus should be rich in organic compost with part gravel for easy facilitation of drainage. Indoor plants like hibiscus need plenty of sunlight. Hence, it becomes very essential to make sure they are positioned eastwards, or close to a well-lit area. Liquid fertilizer once in a month works best for them, except in winters.

Outdoor Hibiscus: For the flower colors to come true, hibiscus needs plenty of full sun. Plants that grow in shade bear smaller dull colored flowers. For hibiscus growing outdoors maintain the soil pH balance between 6.5 to 7.0. Ensure the soil is enriched with bone or fish with water drainers like perlite, coconut coir, peat moss added to it. Outdoor hibiscus need to be watered as per the climate, a higher frequency in summers and lesser in winters. When buds begin to appear, use potassium and phosphorus based fertilizers for prolonging flower blooms.

Care During Winters: Being tropical in nature, even the hardy hibiscus, find it difficult to survive in temperatures below 32 ºF. If you live in such a zone, it is advisable to grow them in pots, as they can be moved in and around a heat and light source. Winter care is imperative to the next season's growth. Mulching around trees or shrubs will keep the soil and roots warm, and prevent them from freezing. Frozen roots result in blackening of leaves and stems. For plants growing outdoors, cover them with specialized frost plant cloth. Fertilizing a hibiscus in winters should be completely avoided.

Prune the plants only in spring. Most hibiscus tend to get dense in the center, so prune to increase air and light flow between the branches. Besides this, hibiscus pruning is done to develop a strong structure, and make it more bushier. This easy plant with happy looking flowers, will bring lots of joy your way with its bloom, just make sure you appreciate them by taking care of your plant.