For someone who wants to have a beautiful plant at home, but still does not know how to take care of indoor flowers, hibiscus is ideal. Despite its beauty, this plant is very unpretentious. It can easily withstand low light, and sudden temperature changes, and insidious drafts. It will not be lost even if you miss watering time. It is thanks to this unpretentiousness that hibiscus is often placed in offices, living rooms, in the halls and corridors of various institutions.
Hibiscus is called the "Chinese rose", and this name conveys the beauty of this plant as accurately as possible. However, in order for hibiscus not only to live, but also to delight you with its bright flowering, you need to remember a few tips.
Caring for indoor hibiscus at home
Location and lighting
The first thing that a novice florist needs to learn is the light-loving hibiscus plant. Place it by a window or any other well-lit place. Also do not forget that hibiscus grows very quickly and grows quite large. In a small room, there may be problems with its placement: this flower does not like crampedness. The pot in which the hibiscus will live also plays an important role: the tighter the pot, the slower it will grow.
Temperature
The optimum temperature for a Chinese rose in the summer is 20-22 degrees. In winter, the temperature should be lowered to 14-16 degrees. Lowering the temperature in winter will have a positive effect on the future flowering of hibiscus. If you do not have the opportunity to keep the flower in low temperature conditions, do not be discouraged - the Chinese rose can grow in winter and at room temperature.
Air humidity
Hibiscus needs frequent spraying, as the flower loves high humidity. If you keep hibiscus in a room with dry air, then there is a high probability that the flowers will not be able to fully open. Spraying should be carried out as carefully as possible - water should not get on the flowers, otherwise the buds will be covered with spots and fall off.
To increase the humidity, you can use a pallet with expanded clay or pebbles filled with water. But remember, the bottom of the pot must not touch the water!
Watering
Hibiscus loves moisture. Water it abundantly so that the soil in the pot is completely saturated with water. But you shouldn't water the Chinese rose too often - the top layer of the earth should have time to dry out. In autumn and winter, watering should be moderate, after about 2-3 days, half after the top layer dries out. For watering, it is best to use constant soft water at room temperature.
The soil
The soil for growing hibiscus should be nutritious and light, it should be close to neutral (pH about 6). The ideal soil composition would be a mixture of turf, leaf, humus earth and sand in a ratio of 4: 3: 1: 1. Pieces of charcoal can be added to the composition of the earth. A simplified soil composition is also suitable: turf, humus soil and sand in proportions of 2: 1: 1.
Do not forget to take care of good drainage, the flower does not tolerate stagnant water in the pot!
Top dressing and fertilizers
Top dressing plays an important role in the care of indoor hibiscus. It is very important not to overdo it with fertilizers. In the spring, when the hibiscus is preparing to grow, it is worth feeding it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. For the rest of the fertilizers, the optimal time will be summer, when the flower grows most actively. But it is better to refuse nitrogen-containing fertilizers - hibiscus does not like them too much.
Transfer
Young plants need to be replanted every year. To do this, mix in a pre-prepared pot or tub 2 parts of garden soil, 1 part of sand and 1 part of peat. If you are replanting a large plant, then the mixture should be prepared heavier.
From the age of three, the need for an annual transplant disappears: an adult plant must be transplanted every 2-3 years.
Pruning
There is a categorical answer to this question - yes, we do! Formative pruning must be done annually, only under this condition will the Chinese rose delight you with its flowering. Each time after flowering, the tips of the shoots must be pruned, then the lateral shoots will grow, on which, in turn, buds will form. Keep in mind that hibiscus flowers only appear on young shoots, so every shoot that is not cut in time is another flower that you will not count for the next year.
In early spring, it is very useful to pinch all the shoots - including the young ones. Although you can prune indoor hibiscus throughout the year, it does not harm it at all.
Shoots that grow parallel to the main trunk (they are called "tops") must be cut off. Just like those of the branches that grow inside the crown. Don't worry about the flower, regular pruning is good for it, ensuring healthy growth and abundant flowering.
Reproduction of indoor hibiscus
Indoor hibiscus propagates both by seeds and cuttings. However, there is too much trouble with seeds for a novice grower - this method is quite laborious and is more suitable for those who are engaged in the selection of indoor hibiscus. And propagation by cuttings has several indisputable advantages. Firstly, this method retains all the varietal characteristics inherent in the parent plant. And secondly (which is especially important for an amateur grower), with this method, the plant begins to bloom in the first year.
Seed propagation
Seeds are best sown from late January to mid-March. Before planting seeds in the ground, they should be soaked for 12 hours in Epin. You need to plant seeds in a mixture of peat and sand. After planting, the pot is covered with glass or foil to create greenhouse conditions. It is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature within 25-27 degrees. Also, do not forget to periodically ventilate the pot and spray the soil with seeds.
When young sprouts have 2-3 leaves, they can be transplanted into a separate pot. Hibiscus grown from seed will only flower for 2-3 years.
Propagation by cuttings
Young cuttings are best suited for propagation. Place them in water or soil to root. In the first case, you will need a vessel, preferably made of dark glass, filled with water. Place a stalk in it and cover with a "cap" - for example, a glass jar. This is necessary to increase the moisture content. Cuttings will take root in about 25-30 days. When the roots appear, the cutting will need to be transplanted into an earthen mixture containing a large amount of peat. It is advisable to add sphagnum moss there - this is especially useful for a young plant.
When rooting directly into the soil, you need a mixture of coarse sand and peat. But do not forget that before this, all leaves must be removed from the cutting, except for the top two.
Growing difficulties
- Buds appear, but do not open and soon fall off - insufficient watering; drying out of the soil; lack of nutrients in the soil; low room temperature.
- Lower leaves fall, new leaves grow yellow - increased content of calcium and chlorine in the soil; lack of iron and nitrogen; too dry indoor air; abundant watering with cold water; low temperature.
- Lack of flowers with too lush crown - an excess of fertilizers containing nitrogen; the flower does not have enough light, the temperature is too high in winter.
- Pinkish spots appear on the leaves - lack of light; oversupply of fertilizers.
- Leaves shriveled and become lethargic - lack of moisture.
- The roots dry out - the soil temperature is too low.
- The leaves dry up - the air in the room is too dry; high temperature in winter.
Diseases and pests
The greatest danger to indoor hibiscus is the scale insect and spider mite. To get rid of these pests, you must first wash the leaves with soapy water, and then spray them with actellic solution.
A beautiful plant, I like it very much. I grow with double red flowers. It blooms constantly with good feeding.
and what do you feed?
Tell me what to do with a flower that grew from one branch, it did not grow in width, but only in length. Now his height is 145. And he constantly blooms and grows
Wait until it stops blooming and be sure to cut off the top of the head, the side shoots will go, and root the top!
Tell me what to do with an adult plant? The plant was rescued from drought, pruned, and very rarely tended. Now the care is regular. Three new branches have grown, but all to the sides, and the central trunk still sticks up with a dried tip of 15 centimeters from the ground. Is it possible to make the plant grow evenly?
Thank.
Tell me I have a little hibiscus,
Not yet grown. When I bought it, it began to bloom, but alas, the flower fell. Is it because it is young?
I take good care of it, water it well every day, spray it, etc. but this is my first flower.
If the flower is still alive, stop watering it every day)
And how much is it worth? And in which stores can you buy it?
I bought in a greenhouse for 250 rubles, and in flower shops from 500 rubles. Another good option is to search for ads. The main thing is to carefully examine the flower before buying so that you do not bring any pests home with the flower.
Hello. Gave yesterday 2 different small hibiscus in a 200 gram pot. Trunks are 15cm long. Peach and cherry color. Tell me how to separate them so as not to severely damage the roots? Or maybe they could be transplanted together? I am afraid that they will "strangle" each other when they grow up :(
Hello!
Advise again (for the gifted).
I have a indoor variety of Hibiscus (small), growing on a window for 9 years. Blooms in bright red, and continuously. Repeatedly tried to take material from him. I planted it repeatedly in a "glass", under a "flask", but did not achieve positive results. In a glass, the chipped branch dries up, and “under the flask” it becomes covered with a gray bloom ”. I cannot achieve rooting.
Cut a 10-12 cm shoot, put it in the water, in a lighted place, white roots will appear, it's time to plant it in the ground. I've already sold my shoots for a long time, I haven't encountered your problems in reproduction, maybe it's water? .There is a drug "Kornevin" for the formation of roots, it is sold in all flower shops, butthis plant, I think, does not take root well for anything.
I feed with water (unsalted) from boiled vegetables (beets, carrots, potatoes) - drain, cool, use. It blooms all year round.
I cut off a stalk (twig) of 15-20 centimeters. You can put 5 pieces in one 0.7 liter can. Then I pour 3-4 cm water and throw in 2 tablets of activated charcoal so that the water does not grow moldy. I put it on the window until the roots appear and then transplant into the ground. Cut in early spring and bloom in summer.
Hello. Even if every single leaf dries up and falls off, do not throw away the twig anyway, let it stand to the last and it will sprout roots and leaves. Without any flask. I've done this more than once. Good luck.
Hello! I have exactly the same question, hibiscus has been blooming for many years, but it has not been possible to reproduce. How to do it correctly, maybe what features of reproduction are there? and there were twigs in the water, and in a pot immediately under the flask, he did not want to multiply into any.
add activated carbon to the water
Good afternoon, I cut a hibiscus tree, it was a pity to throw out the cuttings, stuck it in the ground, covered it with a plastic glass and gave birth, after about a month everything !!! disappeared, let the leaves go. Yes, on the cuttings themselves, the leaves were completely cut off
Watered, all sprouted
good day.
grandmother was presented with a large beautiful hibiscus on September 30th, a month later the batteries were flooded, and the bush dried up and lost its leaves in just a couple of weeks.
Yesterday they took it away, thought they were dying from heat and dryness, when they saw it, they found a web. processed, there is a terrible bush with a heel of sheets.
Is there anything else you can help him with? feed, spray, create some conditions? so sorry for him 🙁
thank.
What land to buy for replanting?
Hello! My flower leaves jelly and does not grow. Added cow fertilizer on top.
Can you please tell me if it is possible to deepen the plant during transplantation?
Hello, all the leaves have withered / wilted (this happens when the soil dries up), but the ground is moist, the leaves are green, they have not turned yellow. I don’t know what happened to him. He stood on the south side by the window. It happened a couple of days after the last abundant watering. There are 2 buds, did not drop. I put it in a corner away from the direct sun, and it’s still wilted. Can you tell me what could be the reason?
The same situation arises when I take out a young hibiscus on the balcony (not under direct sunlight, but in the shade). Moreover, only one recently planted shoot reacts like that, I think it's just stuffy there. He feels great in the apartment, the leaves immediately become and no watering or spraying helps him, apparently he wants more shade and less stuffiness
Why do flower buds fall? It's a pity, the third bud has already disappeared ...
The hibiscus, however, like the Christmas tree, cannot be turned relative to the light source - it drops buds. I grow very well when the plastic blinds on the window are open on the floor. Scattered sun and grows beautifully.
good day! in me all the leaves are obsipal, they gave 3 tizhnі back. What are you doing and why is that so?
Hibiscus was presented but it does not bloom. The plant has been with me for a year. What to do?
I live in such a climatic zone that it is always dark in winter and light in summer, and I work a lot. Of all the flowers, yucca and hibiscus have taken root. Now there are 6 of them. And a lot of cuttings were distributed. I take care of it as much as possible, sometimes I forget to water, sometimes I prune it late, sometimes the cat will eat the leaves or gnaw on the trunks. But they grow and delight with abundant flowering. I think it is not a very whimsical plant, it easily takes root or is removed from seeds, it grows easily and blooms beautifully without problems)
Hello!!! my hibiscus is dying, every day the leaves are served, they are yellow, the branches are almost bare already, please help
Help me too, my hibiscus is dying too!