All about Hibiscus, wonderful plants

Hibiscus are small shrubs

The hibiscusWho does not know them? Shrubs whose flowers can make you dream … they are spectacular! With large petals, and very different colors, there are more and more cultivars. And it is that, they are very grateful plants that can bloom all year round in warm climates, or until autumn in cooler climates. They are very popular in gardens where we can find them bordering paths, or planted in groups of two or three in different parts of the area, thus creating a burst of color for much of the year.

For many, the big drawback is that their flowers last very little: 1-2 days. But these plants produce so much of them that the fact that they are kept open for such a short time is no longer important.

What is hibiscus?

Hibiscus are a genus of shrubs or small trees of which about 150 species have been described. All of them are native to hot regions, especially Southeast Asia. Its height varies from 50 centimeters to 4-5 metersand have alternate leaves, ovate or lanceolate, almost always with a serrated margin.

Its flowers are generally large; in fact, some exceed 15 centimeters in diameter. They are solitary, flared, and appear solitary or in groups. Depending on the variety, and especially the cultivar, they can have a crown of petals or two. And as for the color, it also varies a lot: there are yellow, pink, red, orange, and even bicolor flowers. They bloom in spring and summer.

Types of Hibiscus

The Hibiscus that are most used are:

moss hibiscus

There are many types of hibiscus

Image – Flickr / Andrew Cannizzaro

The moss hibiscus it is a perennial plant with an erect and pubescent stem native to North America. It reaches a height of between 1 and 2,5 meters. The leaves are 10-18 centimeters long by 4-8 centimeters wide. Its flowers are white, pink, red or purple with a reddish centerand measure about 14 centimeters in diameter. Supports up to -4ºC.

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Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

The hibiscus rosa sinensis is the most common

The Hibiscus rosa-sinensisknown as cayenne, poppy, hibiscus or China rose, is the most popular species. It is native to East Asia, and normally behaves like deciduous but if the climate is warm enough it is evergreen or semi-evergreen. It reaches a height of 2 to 5 meters, and has green leaves that turn yellow in autumn. The flowers are between 6 and 12 centimeters in diameter, and can be of different colors (yellow, red, pink, orange), with one or two petal crowns. It resists the cold up to -2ºC.

Hibiscus sabdariffa

The Hibiscus sabdariffa is a tropical plant

The Hibiscus sabdariffa it is an annual plant native to tropical Africa. It is known as Jamaica flower, Abyssinian rose, saril, Guinea red sorrel or rosella. It reaches a height of 1 to 3 meters, and has deeply lobed, dark green leaves. Produces red flowers, 4-5 centimeters in diameter. Resists up to -2ºC.

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Syrian hibiscus

The Hibiscus syriacus is a small tree

The Syrian hibiscus It is a deciduous shrub native to Asia, known as Syrian rose, altea, white pomegranate, arboreal marshmallow or Seville royal mallow. It reaches a height of 2 and 4 meters, and develops green leaves and big flowersup to 10 centimeters in diameter. These they can be of very different colors: pink, white, red, violet, etc. Resists up to -4ºC.

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Hibiscus tiliaceus

The Hibiscus tiliaceus is a plant with yellow flowers

Image – Wikimedia Commons Avishai Teacher

The Hibiscus tiliaceus It is an evergreen tree that grows in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and Australia. Its height is 4 to 10 meters, and it has simple green leaves, and flowers that start out orange and end up red at the end of the day. It does not resist frost.

What is?

These plants have several uses:

Ornamental

Without a doubt, it is the most widespread use. Hibiscus flowers are so showy that even if they stay open for a short time they are perfect for decorating a garden or terrace. In addition, these plants adapt very well to pots, so it is very interesting to have them even on a balcony.

Food

The species Hibiscus sabdariffa it is consumed as a vegetable. Herbal infusions and jams are also prepared. In Latin America they use their flowers to make what is known as agua de Jamaica; and in Egypt to make carcadé, an infusion.

Medicinal

Another very interesting use is medicinal. For this, the flowers of the Hibiscus sabdariffa to make an infusion. These have anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.

Perfumery

The seeds of moss hibiscus they are aromaticTherefore, they are used to make perfumes, extracting the oil.

Caring for potted hibiscus and in the garden

Hibiscus are easy to care for

To keep Hibiscus in perfect condition, a number of things must be taken into account:

Location

These plants they have to be put in a bright area. For example, indoors they must be kept in a room where there are windows through which sunlight enters; outdoors they can be had both in full sun and in semi-shade.

Earth

  • Flower pot: it is highly recommended to mix peat with a substrate such as perlite to improve drainage. If you don’t want to get too complicated, use a universal substrate, like this one.
  • the garden: they need the land to be rich, and well drained. They can grow in clay soils without problem, but if you have a very heavy or compact soil, fill the hole with universal substrate.

Irrigation

They are not plants that withstand drought. This means that we will have to water them about 3 times a week during the summer1 or 2 a week the rest of the year.

When it comes to rehydrating them, it is important not to wet the flowers if you have them, as they would spoil before their time.

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To get them to produce a lot of flowers during the season, it is highly recommended to fertilize them with a fertilizer that stimulates floweringfor example with a liquid fertilizer for flower plants (on sale here!). Now, if it is a plant that is going to be used for edible purposes, we recommend using natural fertilizers such as guano (for sale here!), manure, eggshells, etc.

Multiplication

Hibiscus multiply by cuttings or seeds in spring:

  • Cuttings: semi-woody branches with a length of about 30 centimeters are taken, and the base is impregnated with rooting hormones (for sale here!), preferably liquid but can be powder. Afterwards, they are planted in a small pot, about 8,5 centimeters in diameter, with substrate for seedlings or with previously watered vermiculite. And finally, what remains to be done is to place the pot in semi-shade, and try to keep the soil moist. This way it will take root in about 15-20 days.
  • Seeds: some species multiply better by seeds. These are planted in pots with, for example, universal substrate, and then left outside or indoors with light. They will germinate in about a month.

Transplant

If required, they will be transplanted in spring. In the event that they are in a pot, it is important that they be planted in a larger one when they have been in the “old” for about 3 years.

Pruning

Pruning is done after flowering. This consists of eliminating the branches that look bad; that is, the broken, sick or weak. Likewise, it can also be used to cut a little those that are growing too much.

Hibiscus pests

Cottony mealybug on a plant

Image – Wikimedia / Whitney Cranshaw

They are quite resistant plants in general. Now, they can have a series of pests and diseases throughout their life, which are:

  • Red spider: they are mites that feed on the cells of the leaves. As they produce cobwebs between the leaves, it is easy to distinguish this pest, which is fought with acaricides (for sale No products found.). Learn More.
  • Mealybugs: these are some parasites that we will find in the leaves and tender branches. They can look like a cotton ball, or be like limpets. In any case, they are easily removed with diatomaceous earth (for sale here!) or with water and mild soap. Learn more.
  • Aphids: they prefer flower buds, although they can also be seen on newer leaves. They are very small, about 0,5 centimeters, and green, yellow, or brown in color. They can be removed with water and neutral soap, potassium soap (on sale here!) or diatomaceous earth. Learn More.

Diseases

As for hibiscus diseases, we have to talk about: rust, botrytis and rot. The symptoms are:

  • Reddish, orange or grayish spots on leaves and / or flowers.
  • Appearance of a grayish or whitish »powder» on the trunk.
  • Premature leaf drop.

To treat it, systemic fungicides must be used (on sale here!), spraying the whole plant well. In addition, the risks have to be spaced.

Most common problems

Other very common problems in cultivation are:

  • Yellow sheets:
    • If they are the old ones: it could be that it is watering excessively. Check the soil’s moisture before watering again.
    • If they turn yellow quickly: If they are outside during a cold winter, then they must be protected. And if they are indoors, they are surely affecting the air currents.
    • If they also grow weak: it is possible that they lack nitrogen. It is solved by fertilizing them with a liquid fertilizer that is rich in nitrogen.
  • Flowers that do not open: they lack light. You have to take them to a brighter area.
  • Produces leaves, but not flowers: If it is spring-summer and your plant does not flower despite fertilizing it, it is possible that you are not using a suitable fertilizer or that you fertilize it frequently. To solve this problem, it is advisable to suspend the fertilizer for a couple of months, and then resume it using a fertilizer that stimulates flowering.
  • Hibiscus grows very slowly, or has stopped growing: lack of space. See if it has already occupied the entire pot, and in that case, plant it in a larger one.

Botton line

There are many types of hibiscus, such as Hibiscus mutabilis

Hibiscus changeable

Hibiscus are generally slow to medium growing plants. The specimens with a certain height – one meter or more – are not usually easily found in nurseries, and when they are, the price is high. That is why it is highly recommended acquire young plantswhich have a more affordable price, and watch them grow year after year while we enjoy their magnificent flowers.

Of course, to help them in their growth we can do the aforementioned: fertilize them in the flowering season (from spring to late summer or early fall). We will use, preferably, an organic fertilizer and we will use it following the manufacturer’s recommendations.

They do not usually have pest problems. In fact, they will have no problems unless growing conditions are not entirely favorable. For example: mealybugs will appear if not watered properly and fungi will appear if the humidity is excessive. You have to try to find the origin of the problem to be able to solve it at its roots, using, of course, a specific insecticide / fungicide product, but also modifying the crop so that the Hibiscus can recover well and be healthy from now on.

Some species resist mild frostsof short duration, so if you live in a cold climate it is convenient that you keep them indoors during the winter, in a room where a lot of natural light enters and away from drafts. They can grow just as well in full sun as in semi-shadeas long as we avoid the substrate from drying out, especially in summer. They can withstand drought somewhat, but they will not grow as well and will flourish less.

And you, do you have hibiscus at home?

All about Hibiscus, wonderful plants

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