Am I Taking Good Care Of My Hibiscus?

Is your hibiscus planted somewhere where it can get at least 6 hours of bright sunlight every day?

Is your hibiscus planted in well-drained soil with lots of organic matter?

Is your hibiscus protected from strong winds?

Are you watering your plant deeply and thoroughly?

Do you fertilize your hibiscus well during the growing season and not at all during dormancy?

Are you removing spent flowers and dead stems from the shrub?

Are you keeping pests away from your hibiscus?

Hibiscus are shrubs that love sunlight and will bloom only if they had enough light. They will tolerate partial shade to some extent. If you're growing your hibiscus in a container, move it in a place with at least six hours of sunlight.

Hibiscus loves fertile soil that drains well. If you're growing one in a container, you can change the soil in the container, and if you're growing it outside amend the soil with compost to increase organic content in it.

You should protect your hibiscus from strong winds because it's long stems can break easily. If you are growing hibiscus in a container, just move it somewhere shielded from the winds.

When hibiscus is in its blooming stage, they require large amounts of water. Your hibiscus will need daily watering in warm weather. But once the weather cools, your hibiscus needs far less water, and too much water can kill it. In the winter, water your hibiscus only when the soil is dry to the touch. Mulch around the plant to retain moisture and to protect the roots.

A growing hibiscus plant needs lots of nutrients to bloom well. In the summer, use a high potassium fertilizer. You can either use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week or a slow-release fertilizer once a month. You can also add a high potassium compost to the soil. In the winter, you don’t need to fertilize at all.

To encourage re-bloom, remove old flowers before they form seed heads or prune plants back by one third after a flush of bloom is finished. In early spring, remove dead stems from an established plant.

Good job! You are taking good care of your hibiscus.

Hibiscuses are hardy plants but they can be damaged by some pests. Pay special attention to Japanese beetles, aphids, and whiteflies.