Growing Hibiscus At Home And In The Garden

2024 Author: Sebastian Paterson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:47

What conditions are needed for a beautiful hibiscus plant

Hibiscus is one of the most popular ornamental plants in indoor floriculture and horticulture. These plants are great for home and office interiors, for creating picturesque compositions in landscape design.

In my opinion, the main advantage of hibiscus is its unpretentiousness. In addition to high decorative qualities, hibiscus flowers have valuable properties that are used in cosmetology and cooking. Hibiscus flower extracts are added to various cosmetics for hair and skin care. For example, flower extract is used in skin care products as a sunscreen because it absorbs ultraviolet radiation.

The hibiscus sabdarifa drink is very popular all over the world. Hibiscus is a tart sour drink of dark red, raspberry or purple color, containing vitamins (C, PP, etc.), polysaccharides, flavonoids, antioxidants, anthocyanins, various organic acids (15-30%) (citric, malic, etc.) … Hibiscus can be consumed hot and cold. Sugar, lemon, mint, rose hips, ginger, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices are added to the drink to taste. Numerous foreign studies have shown that with regular use, hibiscus drink lowers systolic blood pressure, lowers cholesterol levels, and has a hypotensive and diuretic effect.

In some countries, various dishes are prepared from hibiscus flowers, for example, salads are made from edible bracts of plants in the Pacific Islands.

On July 28, 1960, Chinese hibiscus was named the national flower of this country by the government of Malaysia (it is depicted on banknotes and coins). Also hibiscus is

the national symbol of Haiti. In India, hibiscus flowers are used to decorate wedding ceremonies. Plants of the genus Hibiscus belong to the Malvaceae family.

Hibiscus spread

Under natural conditions, hibiscus grows in Asia, America, Africa, Southern Europe, and the Middle East.

Usually, hibiscus are found in the form of evergreen (or deciduous) shrubs or small trees, the height of which can reach 2-3 m, and also in the form of herbaceous plants.

Hibiscus species

Scientists have counted about three hundred species of hibiscus. The most common species in indoor floriculture is Chinese hibiscus (or Chinese rose) (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). In countries with tropical and subtropical climates, this thermophilic plant is grown outdoors.

In Russia, the following types of hibiscus are grown in indoor floriculture and in gardens: Chinese hibiscus (H. rosa-sinensis), hybrid hibiscus (H. hybridus), Syrian hibiscus (H. syriacus), sabdarifa hibiscus (Sudanese rose or rosella) (H. sabdariffa) and others. Hibiscus sabdarifa can be grown from the seeds found in hibiscus hibiscus.

Description

Hibiscus has lustrous dark green or bright green leaves that can be solid or variegated with white, cream, pink, red streaks, spots, or streaks.

Flowers are single; simple or terry; funnel-shaped, with stamens accreted into an elongated tube; large (up to 15-20 cm in diameter, in garden forms - up to 25 cm); have different shapes and colors. According to various estimates, 400-500 forms and varieties of hibiscus are known. The flowers of these numerous forms, varieties and hybrids have different shades of petals - red, white, pink, raspberry, orange, yellow, lilac, violet, brown, purple, peach, salmon, etc. Probably, you can find flowers of almost any color, except blue and black. They can be monochromatic, or they can be decorated with decorative patterns in the form of borders, spots, strokes, streaks, etc.

Conditions of keeping Chinese hibiscus

Hibiscus is a fairly hardy plant. The main problem that growers encounter when growing hibiscus is the lack of flowers. It should be noted that with good care, hibiscus blooms profusely. To create favorable conditions, hibiscus needs good lighting, regular watering and spraying of the leaves, and periodic fertilization. The flowering period is from March to November. It happens that hibiscus blooms in winter, during the dormant period.

Illumination and temperature conditions

Hibiscus is a light, warm, moisture-loving plant. Therefore, it is best to place the plants in an area that is well lit by indirect sunlight. It should be noted that hibiscus is shade-tolerant, but it blooms less often in the shade. The optimum air temperature in the warm season is 18 … 25 ° С.

Our Chinese rose grows in a large ceramic flowerpot located near a south-facing window. The plant is protected from direct sunlight by a tulle curtain. In hibiscus flower buds are laid at a temperature of 12 … 17 ° C. Therefore, one of the main factors necessary for the flowering of a plant is to provide it with a special temperature regime during the dormant period. In late autumn, the hibiscus becomes dormant, and we move it to a dark corner, away from the radiator. The plant stands in this place from November to March. When young leaves appear on the branches, we return the hibiscus to its original place (this must be done before the buds appear).

Some growers artificially shift the flowering time of hibiscus, "changing" the period of its rest: until May the plant is in a dark room, it is rarely watered. In May, the hibiscus is pruned (and transplanted if necessary), in July it is pruned again. As a result, the plant begins to bloom in late autumn, and flowering continues throughout the winter.

Watering mode and air humidity

Hibiscus is a moisture-loving plant, so you need to water it regularly and spray the leaves. In the summer I spray the hibiscus twice a day (morning and evening), and in the spring and autumn, once. Of course, the frequency of spraying should depend on the conditions of the plant.

Watering also depends on the conditions in which the hibiscus is kept and on the season. Usually in winter I reduce watering (in December and January - limited watering). During the active growing season (especially during flowering) I water the plant more often and more abundantly than during the dormant period; if watering is insufficient, it will not bloom. Therefore, the soil in a flower pot should always be loose, moderately moist, waterlogging or overdrying can lead to shedding of leaves and buds.

Dust or dirt should be periodically removed from the leaves. I wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or soft sponge.

Soil, planting, transplanting

For planting and replanting hibiscus, I usually prefer to use a ready-made soil substrate for ornamental shrubs (loose, permeable with a high nutrient content). Much less often I prepare the potting mix myself. It should include: turf, leaf, pine land, humus (in approximately equal proportion), as well as sand and peat. You can add some charcoal.

The acidity of the soil for hibiscus can fluctuate in the pH range 5.5-7.8. The ideal soil acidity should be close to neutral (pH 6-7). Outside these ranges, the plant will have a harder time absorbing nutrients.

A flower pot for planting hibiscus must have drainage.

Young plants should be replanted once a year in the spring and mature plants as needed. When our hibiscus was a young plant, I transplanted it annually in the spring into a larger pot. Now that the plant growing in a very large pot has reached an impressive size, it would be difficult to transplant it into another pot, so I periodically add new soil, replacing the top layer.

Top dressing of hibiscus with fertilizers

In the spring-summer period (from about March to August) I feed hibiscus once every 10-15 days with water-soluble fertilizers for flowers and ornamental shrubs (alternating mineral and organic fertilizers). In the autumn-winter period, I stop fertilizing or reduce it to once a month (depending on the state of the plant).

The fertilizers used should contain the following elements: nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, etc.

In the spring, it is best to use fertilizers with a higher nitrogen content; in the summer, it is necessary to switch to fertilizers with a higher content of potassium and phosphorus.

Some growers recommend feeding hibiscus with a weak sugar solution (1/2 teaspoon per glass of water). I tried to apply this advice in practice, but did not notice any changes in the state of the hibiscus.

Shrub formation and anti-aging hibiscus pruning

In the spring, you can cut off last year's growth of hibiscus by 1/3 of the length in order to rejuvenate old bushes and form young branched bushes or a standard tree. Also, annual pruning is necessary to stimulate flowering. Cut cuttings can be rooted.

Reproduction of Chinese hibiscus

Hibiscus is propagated by cuttings, air layers, less often by seeds.

Hibiscus can be propagated by cuttings throughout the year, but the best time is February to April or July to September. Cut young apical cuttings about 15 cm long should be planted in small pots filled with a loose substrate - a mixture of peat and sand in equal proportions. Cuttings can also be rooted in water.

In order to accelerate root formation, the seedlings can be covered with a jar or film; regular ventilation and spraying are required. To get a branched bush, when the cuttings grow a little, their tops and side shoots must be pinched.

Cuttings take root within 1-2 months (depending on temperature, humidity and light). With good care, young plants can bloom in 10-12 months. After a year, they need to be transplanted into a larger pot.

Grafting hibiscus

Some growers in May-June plant several cuttings (usually no more than 4-5 pieces) of various varieties on one standard bush (in the crown) of non-double hibiscus. I don't really like this experiment, since, in my opinion, flowers of various shapes and shades do not look very natural on one bush.

Possible problems that gardeners may encounter when growing hibiscus are shown in the table.

Table. Possible problems, pests, diseases

No.	Problem	Causes	Solution to the problem
one.	Chlorosis - leaf discoloration (interveinal tissues are pale yellow, veins are green).	Low temperature, high soil moisture; an excess of phosphorus and calcium with a lack of iron.	Compliance with the temperature regime; limiting watering (add ferrous sulfate (ferrous sulfate) or ferrous chelate to the water).
2.	Falling buds, flower buds, drying and shedding of leaves.	A sharp change in the location or conditions of detention; irregular fertilization; low air humidity; insufficient illumination; low temperature; insufficient or excessive watering.	Compliance with temperature and illumination; regular moderate watering, spraying and fertilizing with fertilizers.
3.	Lack of flowers (flower buds are not laid).	During the rest period, the temperature is below 12 ° C or above 17 ° C; insufficient watering; excess nitrogen fertilizers.	Compliance with the temperature regime during the rest period; regular watering.
4.	Fungal diseases (sooty fungus; root rot).	Defeat is facilitated by: high humidity, hypothermia, insufficient illumination.	Remove the affected leaves, treat the plant with fungicides (fundazol, oxychom, glyocladin, etc.) in accordance with the instructions. Limited watering during the cold season.
five.	Pests: spider mites, aphids, felt insects, whiteflies, thrips, scale insects (attack weakened plants).	Defeat is promoted by: insufficient air humidity; lack of regular feeding.	If pests are found, carry out chemical treatment with actellik or an aqueous solution of laundry soap. Transplant the plant into new soil. For prevention - frequent spraying with water and regular fertilization.

In order to prevent diseases, restore immunity, stimulate root formation and flowering, I periodically spray the plant with a solution of Epin or Zircon.

Hibiscus in the garden

Once I decided to find out from my Sicilian friend the secrets of successfully growing hibiscus in the garden. To my questions about the peculiarities of caring for plants, he replied: "I do not care for them, they grow by themselves." From this we can conclude that the main problem that Russian flower growers face when cultivating hibiscus in gardens is the successful wintering of plants.

As a rule, Russian flower growers grow frost-resistant hibiscus in gardens, for example, various forms and varieties of hybrid hibiscus, which was bred by the breeder Fedor Nikolaevich Rusanov by crossing three types: bright red hibiscus, marsh hibiscus, armed hibiscus. But planting cold-resistant hibiscus to protect their roots from frost in winter and from overdrying in summer must be mulched with dry fallen leaves or grass. In addition, cover the plants for the winter. In the spring, you need to prune old branches, and the young shoots that have appeared can be pinched to form lush bushes.

For successful cultivation of hibiscus in the garden, it is best to choose a place well-lit by the sun's rays. Hybrid hibiscus is a moisture-loving, but drought-resistant plant. Hibiscus is not very picky about the soil, the main thing is that it is fertile, loose and well-drained.