Hibiscus Plant: “A Boon for you and your Garden”

Hibiscus plants are most widely known for their large and colorful flowers that adds exotic beauty in your home garden or indoor space. Besides this its medicinal property are also well recognized since a long time.

Let’s explore about hibiscus “a heavenly species” and learn how to grow and take care of them:

Introduction 

Hibiscus is indeed a beautiful plant with very attractive flowers. Common colors of hibiscus flower are red, pink, white, and yellow. All these blossoms are bright which will be decorative for your home or garden. The flowers and leaves of hibiscus can also be used as tea (hibiscus tea) and liquid extracts of the same can help to treat a variety of conditions (medicinal properties).

Advantages of Hibiscus Extracts

• Hibiscus is a great natural antioxidant.
• lower your blood pressure.
• Healthy for heart as it lowers cholesterol level.
• Great metabolism booster.
• Helps to keep your liver healthy.
• Hibiscus contains anti depressant properties & helps you to boost your mood.
• Helps in preventing kidney stones.

How to Choose Hibiscus

-2 types of hibiscus are found:
1. Tropical hibiscus
If you are planning for a great multi-color flowering container plants which could be grown outdoors (even in winter) and prefer full sunlight, then tropical hibiscus is the one for you. It is also called as little hibiscus trees sometimes.

2. Perennial hibiscus
-If you are planning for decorative plant with multi-color leaves and flowers that blooms in mid to late summer and is available in multiple size then perennial hibiscus is the one for you.

Hibiscus tree Requirement

Climate for hibiscus plants

Hibiscus does best in a warm or tropical climate. Temperature from 16 degree to 32 degree Celsius is better for flowering. If you plant in hot climate hibiscus foliage will stay green and lush the whole year.

Preparation of Soil

Hibiscus plants need well-drained soil. Loam and sandy loam soil tend to be the best. If the soil has a lot of sand or clay,  you should add plenty of organic fertilizer at planting times to optimize your hibiscus growth.

You can also use the coffee ground as fertilizers because it contains significant amount of calcium, nitrogen, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. These nutrients are very good for plant growth.

Pruning

If your plant has a straight main stem with a minimum height of two feet, then cut the top of the main trunk. The cut should be about 2-4 inches (5-10cm) above where you want the head of your plant to be.

Now cut away all lower side branches close to the main trunk, leaving only branches within 6 inches (15cm) from the top of the main stem. Again, cut back the remaining branches that will form the ball on the top of the 2-3 nodes which will grow out.

Keep on trimming off new growth as it appears on the main stem. Make the cut flush with the main stem so it will not regrow from that point.

As the top branches grow out, which will take 2-3 months depending on variety, pinch back the tips on the new growth, leaving 2 to 3 nodes on each branch. Trim off overlong or lopsided growth wherever it occurs to create around the well-shaped crown.

How to Grow Hibiscus

1. Select the right type of hibiscus at first i.e. between tropical hibiscus and perennial hibiscus (little hibiscus tree).

2. Plant hibiscus in full sun in either spring (perennial hibiscus) or in the late spring to early summer (tropical hibiscus).

We can grow hibiscus plant by two methods:

A) From stem cutting

• Cut a mature stem at a 45-degree angle and deep in soil direct “OR” deep the stem direct in the water which should be cut at 45 degrees.
• Soil should be well watered and well-drained. See above for preparation of appropriate soil.
• After two weeks roots will start to grow and we can plant them in a pot or the garden.

B) From seeds

• Should be sown indoors and transplanted outside after frost.
• Soak seeds in room temperature for 8 hours to speed germination.
• Sow hibiscus seeds 1/4 inch deep i.e. by 10-14 weeks before late spring frost.
• Keep the soil moist i.e. 70-75 degree Fahrenheit.
• Seedling will emerge in 14-21 days.

Notes

• Watering pattern:

a) 1st week: once every couple of days.

b) For whole 1st growing season after that: 2 times per week

c) For whole 2nd growing season: Once per week

d) Stick your finger in the soil to check and keep watering when top of the soil is dry.

• Do not overwater or do less watering

• If you find the leaves turning yellow; check the watering and fertilizer.
• Keep trimming from time to time (Pruning), so the plant will be bushy and give more flowers.

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REFERENCES

• bulksupplements.com (https://tinyurl.com/yyc5vgl2)
• https://www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/encyclopedia/perennials/learn-about-hibiscus/encyclopedia__Hibiscus-article.html#:~:text=Hibiscus%20may%20be%20grown%20from,Sowing%20Seed%20Indoors%3A&text=Soak%20seeds%20in%20room%20temperature,deep%20in%20seed%2Dstarting%20formula.
• https://www.miraclegro.com/en-us/library/rose-flower-gardening/how-grow-hibiscus#:~:text=All%20hibiscus%20plants%20grow%20best,more%20water%20than%20tropical%20hibiscus).