Growing Hibiscus

Hardy hibiscus plants are surprisingly easy to grow as long as you provide them with well-drained soil and a spot in full sunlight. The secret to success is to water enough to keep the soil evenly moist.

Where is the best place to plant hibiscus?

Location and Light Hardy Hibiscus does best in full sun. They will grow in partial shade, but growth and flowering will suffer. If you live in areas with very hot summers, during the hottest part of the day, Hibiscus may need shade. Hibiscus should be planted along, or in the back of perennial flower beds.

Do hibiscus come back every year?

Do hibiscus plants come back every year? Yes, cold hardy hibiscus plants will go dormant and come back in the spring every year in the right growing zone. Tropical varieties will stay evergreen in warm climates, but are otherwise grown as annuals, or kept as houseplants.

Do hibiscus grow better in pots or ground?

There are good reasons to keep them potted, such as being able to move them around, but we have also found that hibiscus do very well when planted in the ground in warm climates.

How do I winterize my hibiscus?

Use a winter mulch and apply it near your hardy Hibiscus plant's roots to act as an insulating sheet. You can use organic materials such as compost and pine straw to have the same warming effect on your plant. Remember that it is normal for your plant to form buds and drop them during this stressful season.

Do you deadhead hibiscus?

Although deadheading isn't a necessary aspect of any tropical hibiscus plant care, removing faded flowers will help maintain the plant's beauty, improve its appearance, develop more blooms, and divert the plant's energy into creating more blooms.

Can I leave my hibiscus outside in winter?

Keeping Hibiscus Inside Over Winter (That said, if you have a hardy hibiscus, which is sold in the perennials section of your local garden center, that plant can stay outdoors over winter. It will go dormant this fall, rest over winter, and produce new growth in late spring with flowers following in summer).

Do I need to cut my hibiscus back for winter?

Cut the perennial hibiscus back in late winter or early spring. Leave 6 inches of stem intact to mark its location and protect this late to emerge plant from accidental digging.

Can you keep a hibiscus alive over the winter?

Hibiscus overwinter best indoors if provided with bright light and warm temperatures. Provide consistent moisture, but do not allow the plant to stand in water, which is a good practice for all houseplants.

How long do potted hibiscus live?

Hibiscuses may live up to ten years when using fourteen inch pots. Make sure not to over-water, try to keep your plant on the dry side. There plants like humid weather, so it is beneficial to mist the leaves daily, or use a humidifier.

What is the best month to plant hibiscus?

Plant perennial hibiscus plants in the spring so that they have an entire growing season to establish a good root system. A perennial hibiscus planted in the fall might not return as reliably the next spring as one planted earlier in the year.

Do hibiscus plants like coffee grounds?

Yes! No matter how strange this may sound, hibiscus benefits from coffee grounds. Coffee grounds provide nitrogen and potassium to hibiscus plants that help as fertilizers. First, dry the coffee powder for 2-3 days and then sprinkle it on the soil, trunk, and the upper part of the hibiscus.

What is the lowest temperature a hibiscus can tolerate?

Hibiscuses like temperatures between 60-85°F. If temperatures are below 50°F, most growth and blooming will stop and flower size will be smaller and deformed. A freeze will cause the plant to die so be sure to move your plant indoors before the first fall frost.

Should hibiscus be cut back in fall?

For the most part, hibiscus plants can be lightly pruned in late summer or early fall, but no hibiscus pruning should be done during late fall or winter. One of the downsides to waiting later in the season to prune is that plants may not develop as many branches and they will put out fewer blooms.

Can you cut hibiscus and replant?

Both hardy and tropical hibiscus are propagated from cuttings. Hibiscus cuttings are normally the preferred way of propagating hibiscus because a cutting will grow to be an exact copy of the parent plant.

Do you cut hibiscus down to the ground?

Hibiscus cut back to the ground will not flower until later in the summer. To get earlier flowers, cut back part of the plant to the ground but leave a few longer stems to get earlier blooms.

How many times a year do hibiscus bloom?

The hibiscus flower only lasts a day, although many new hybrids have been bred which now last longer, even up to three days. Try not to think of this as a bad thing, many plants bloom only once a year for two or three weeks and then you have to wait a whole year for a repeat performance.

What to do with hibiscus after it blooms?

Ideally you want to dead head as soon as the last flower on the stem.

Is hibiscus poisonous to dogs?

In most cases, hibiscus is non-toxic for pets, but the Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a type of hibiscus that can be harmful to your furry friend. If a dog ingests a significant amount of this hibiscus' flower, they can experience nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Do hibiscus grow well in pots?

Hibiscus do well in most types of planters. Plastic is a good option since it is lightweight, and the plant will likely grow to be rather big, so it may be easier to move the plant if it calls a plastic container home. Although, if you prefer the aesthetic of terracotta and ceramic, that works well for Hibiscus, too.