Cultivation and care of hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

One of the most common plants that have a double function of decoration indoors and outdoors is the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Their common names include hibiscus, China rose, cardinals, kiss flower, and pacific. It is a shrubby plant with multi-purpose flowers. It is widely used for decoration and grown in nurseries. It is used for indoors and outdoors and in each case different cultivation and care techniques are needed.

We are going to deal with everything related to Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and the care it requires. Do you want to know about it?

Key features

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis varieties

It is a plant native to China and belongs to the Malvaceae family. It is a cosmopolitan plant that can be found in gardens almost everywhere in the world.. The only limiting thing is that the climate is somewhat warmer with mild winters. In those places with a much colder climate it is used indoors.

Its leaf is perennial and in good condition it can reach up to 3 meters in height. The shape of the leaves can vary depending on the species. They are arranged alternately and you can see dark green leaves but with a totally shiny appearance. These characteristics give it a great decorative advantage and that without mentioning its flowers.

The flowers they have are large and trumpet-shaped. The number of petals varies but the most common are single or double. The appearance of the flowers and the set of the leaves has been experimented with various combinations for decoration in gardening.

These plants have a capsule-shaped fruit that contains several seeds. We can find this plant in almost any nursery or florist. As we have said before, the climate is the limiting factor in its distribution area. If it is more temperate or warm in general, we can buy this plant without any problem throughout the year. On the contrary, if the climate is characteristic of colder winter, it can only be had indoors, since they do not resist frost well. In these cases, they can only be had outdoors in the months of May to October.

Requirements of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Colorful flowers Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

To have them indoors, what is necessary is to have a pot that is between 12 and 16 cm in diameter. It is not too big but it does allow the roots to develop properly. You don’t have to worry about space as they don’t take up much. They are compact plants and the dark green foliage with the large number of flowers that they have during their warm season, will help to beautify any corner of the house.

If, on the other hand, we want to have it as an outdoor plant, we will need a little more space, because the plant acquires a larger size. Usually the most common specimens that are usually sold in florists and nurseries reach 40 centimeters. In the case of being in the garden, they will have a more regrowth bushy bearing. The branches get longer and the foliage does not have that deep dark green color. The only problem with having them outdoors is that their flowers are scarcer. The reason why the color, compaction and foliage change is because when the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis grown as a houseplant a dwarf is used in their care. This means that all its development varies and is modified to the pot format.

Growing specimens in the shape of a tree is also quite elegant and attractive to beautify entrances to houses or even some patios. If we place them in these areas to decorate, it is better not to put them in areas where the wind acts frequently or the glasses will break. Faced with this situation, heor ideal is to place a tutor to help them stand firm.

Necessary care as a houseplant

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in flowerpot

If we want to have the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis As an indoor plant we must know that it has a short rest in winter. The rest of the year it will continue to grow and in the warmer months it will have an extraordinary flowering.

As soon as you buy it, you can leave it in its pot for almost a whole year. The maintenance it needs is a little compost and some phytosanitary treatment, if it needs it. The fertilizer used is the universal liquid that is added only when we water it. In the warmer months of the year you will need lower doses but more frequent (more or less once a week) and in winter it will have to be paid approximately every 1 days, but with higher doses.

It is not necessary to transplant it into a larger pot until after the first year. The time when we will transplant it will be in spring. This is done because the temperatures are higher and they do not have to adapt to the cold of winter. It is easier for it to grow larger and flower in the warm season than in the cold.

We must place it in the area of ​​the brightest room. If we don’t give it the light it requires, its flowering will be much reduced. It is possible that if the humidity is not kept well it will be attacked by aphids o White fly. We just have to use insecticides.

Necessary care as an outdoor plant

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis pots

In the garden we can get this plant to have a bushy bearing. It can be sown alone or with a companion. It is perfect for creating some walls or hedges if they are planted aligned and you prune them frequently to give them shape.

We must bear in mind that to sow them abroad we have had to buy the suitable specimen for it. The interior specimens have the dwarf that modifies all its characteristics. It needs a location in full sun and with enough space so that it can develop as much as possible in height.

If we know that in our garden there are frequent frosts, it is better not to plant it. It needs fresh and fertile soils to be able to develop well. Irrigation will be necessary to keep it moist enough so as not to flood it. It is necessary to add a balanced fertilizer of microelements so that it does not have chlorosis if the soil is more alkaline.

I hope that with this information you can learn more about Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivation and care of hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

One thought on “Cultivation and care of hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading