Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Houseplants Published: July 31, 2013Last edits: November 16, 2020
- Hybrid hibiscus / Hibiscus hybridus
Botanical description
Hibiscus (lat. Hibiscus) is a tropical plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. In indoor floriculture it is known as Indoor Rose, Chinese Rose, Chinese Rose and others. In total, over 300 species of this plant are known, but not all are grown indoors. Depending on the type, the hibiscus flower can be herbaceous plants, trees or shrubs, it can shed foliage, or it can be evergreen; the shoots can be bare or covered with hairs. The flowers are large, terminal, white, red, pink, single-colored and multi-colored, with stripes and spots. I would like to note Chinese hibiscus, which not only has a positive effect on human health, but also on the condition of neighboring flowers. In addition, it is also a rather unpretentious plant. The basic rule of care is proper pruning at the right time, which is the key to active growth of the hibiscus plant.
Why is hibiscus called the flower of death and can you keep it at home?
Basically, it is Europeans who call it the flower of death. When the plant was brought to the Old World, many began to notice very strange coincidences associated with death and this flower. Therefore, certain signs associated with it even appeared.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the information: Nemesia - cultivation and care.
- Hibiscus is believed to destroy families.
- By his appearance you can understand what kind of atmosphere reigns between family members.
- If the flower withers or blooms prematurely, one of the inhabitants of the house will soon die.
But beyond its borders, hibiscus is very popular in many other countries. For example, in Argentina it is considered bad manners if there is not at least one variety of hibiscus in the garden. In Malaysia there is a huge park planted with this plant. It is very popular in America, especially in Hawaii.
In Asia, on the contrary, hibiscus is considered a plant with a special, positive energy that has a beneficial effect on people. In our country, people are not so superstitious and do not share the opinion of Europeans that this is the flower of death. Therefore, the Chinese rose is considered one of the most common indoor plants.
Briefly about cultivation
- Flowering: from early spring to autumn.
- Lighting: bright diffused light. In winter, the plant may require additional lighting.
- Temperature: during the period of active growth - about 20 ºC, in winter - 14-16 ºC, but not lower than 10 ºC.
- Watering: during the period of active growth - abundant, as soon as the top layer of the substrate dries, from September watering is gradually reduced and the soil is moistened two to three days after the top layer has dried.
- Air humidity: normal for residential premises, but in hot weather the plant should be sprayed with warm water.
- Feeding: during the period of active growth, once a month with nitrogen fertilizer; in the fall, potassium and phosphorus are added in half the recommended dosage. In winter, hibiscus is not fed.
- Dormant period: winter.
- Transplantation: in the spring, young hibiscus - annually, and old - once every three years, but the top layer of the substrate in the pot must be changed annually.
- Substrate: four parts turf soil, three sheet soil, one part humus soil and one part sand.
- Pruning: after transplantation, the shoots of the plant are shortened to 15 cm. The trimmings can be used for cuttings.
- Reproduction: seeds and cuttings.
- Pests: thrips, aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.
- Diseases: chlorosis, root disease, yellowing leaves and other problems due to improper care.
- Properties: hibiscus is a medicinal plant.
Read more about growing hibiscus below.
Wintering
Wintering of hibiscus can be different, based on the variety and type of crop. As a rule, shrubby and tree-like varieties overwinter in open ground in their usual form, while herbaceous varieties discard the above-ground part.
Autumn work
After flowering ends, shoots are pruned. In this case, they not only stimulate the growth of lateral stems, but also give the crown an optimal, healthy appearance. After pruning, make a high-quality layer of mulch around the flower. To do this, the soil is covered in a circle with a layer of sand or peat approximately 15 cm high, or covered with spruce branches.
Wintering
To preserve the plant during periods of severe frost, as well as to prevent rotting from the covering material, some gardeners build a small hut of spruce branches over the bush. Such structures allow the hibiscus to breathe, but at the same time it will be optimally warm inside the hut.
Caring for hibiscus at home
Lighting
Hibiscus needs bright light, but direct sunlight can leave burns on the leaves, so the best window for growing hibiscus at home is considered to be western or eastern. On the north side there may be little light, although this depends on its intensity. Growing in a south-facing room requires placing the hibiscus pot away from the window. On warm days, the plant can be taken outside or onto the balcony, but it is necessary to protect the hibiscus plant from drafts, precipitation and direct sun. In winter, additional lighting may be required. If there is not enough light, the hibiscus may simply not bloom.
Temperature
During the period of active growth, the temperature should be within 20 °C. In the fall, hibiscus at home is gradually accustomed to lower temperatures, and in winter they are kept at a temperature no higher than 16 °C. A decrease in temperature beyond +10 °C can lead to hibiscus leaves falling off.
Watering hibiscus
The water is allowed to settle for 24 hours before watering. The water should be soft and slightly warmer than the temperature in the room. In spring and summer, the hibiscus flower needs abundant watering, watered immediately after the top layer of soil dries. Starting in September, watering is reduced and watered a couple of days after the soil above dries. If water spills into the pan, it must be removed after half an hour.
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Spraying
Indoor hibiscus is not picky about air humidity, but spraying in the spring and summer will only have a positive effect on the growth of hibiscus. You need to spray with warm water. In autumn and winter you can spray from time to time.
Top dressing
Fertilize indoor hibiscus at home only after watering, so as not to burn the roots. For abundant flowering in spring and summer, hibiscus is fed with nitrogen fertilizers. With the arrival of autumn, the concentration of nitrogen fertilizers is reduced, and potassium and phosphorus are added at half the dose recommended on the package. Feeding is carried out once a month.
Trimming
Homemade hibiscus is pruned for three reasons - to send the plant to a period of rest, to give the plant the desired shape, to rejuvenate. Pruning stimulates the growth of new shoots, on which flowers will appear, since last year’s shoots will not produce flowers. The shoots are trimmed so that approximately 15 cm remain. Pruning is carried out after replanting or replacing part of the substrate in the pot. If you prune hibiscus at the end of spring, and then again in July, then flowering will occur at the end of autumn - beginning of winter. The hibiscus will need to be watered sparingly throughout the summer to keep it dormant until September. Trimmed shoots can be used for propagation.
Rest period
If there is a need to send a houseplant hibiscus to rest, then watering is gradually reduced to almost zero, wait until the leaves fall and prune, leaving eight-centimeter pieces of shoots. The pot is placed in a cool place and watered occasionally so that the soil does not dry out completely. In a few months, young shoots will appear. The pot is placed in a bright and warm place, watered, sprayed and the growing shoots are pinched from time to time for stronger branching.
Hibiscus transplant
Old plants need to be replanted every three years (in years without replanting, you can simply change a few centimeters of the substrate). It is better to replant young hibiscus annually. Expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the pot to ensure free drainage of excess water. The substrate is made up of humus, leaf, turf soil and sand (1: 3: 4: 1). You can add charcoal to the substrate.
Growing from seeds
Hibiscus can be easily propagated by seed at home. To plant hibiscus seeds, you need to prepare the seeds and soil mixture. The mixture is simple - sand and peat are mixed in equal parts. The seeds are soaked in an epin solution for half a day. Seeds are sown at the end of winter - beginning of spring. The container with the planted seeds is covered with glass and placed in a warm place (not lower than 25 °C). The glass is removed from time to time, ventilating the container and watering the seedlings. When the seedlings grow three or four leaves, they are planted in individual pots. With proper care, young hibiscus should bloom in the 3rd year.
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Propagation by cuttings
Hibiscus is easily propagated by cuttings. Cuttings can be taken from those that were cut when pruning the hibiscus. Cuttings with three nodes are suitable for rooting. You can root cuttings in water or in a mixture of sand and peat. The temperature should not fall below 25 °C. Cuttings must be pre-treated with a growth stimulator for faster rooting. In such conditions, cuttings take root within a month. When the roots appear, the plants are planted in individual pots with a substrate of sand, leaf, turf and humus soil (1: 1: 1: 2). You can add charcoal.
Reproduction methods
Bush large-flowered cultivars grow strongly over time, and the corollas become smaller. This is a signal that it is time to propagate garden hibiscus by division.
In the spring, as soon as the shoots hatch, the bush is dug up. The rhizome is cut into parts, each of which must contain at least one growth point, and planted in a permanent place.
You don’t have to take the entire bush out of the ground, but carefully separate a part with a shovel and immediately move it to another area.
Herbaceous hibiscus propagates by green cuttings. But this is a less reliable method, and you will also have to sacrifice the flowering of one of the shoots.
Annual species are propagated by seeds. In the middle zone - through seedlings; in the south it is possible to sow in the ground after the soil has warmed up.
Syrian hibiscus is propagated by:
- Species plants, many non-double varieties - by seeds. They can be planted in the ground before winter, and friendly shoots will appear in the spring. When they grow up, the seedlings are transferred to the school or immediately to a permanent place.
- Semi-lignified summer cuttings, or branches remaining after pruning, are rooted in water, a light substrate, or planted in slightly shaded beds protected from the wind.
- Well-placed lower branches are dug in.
- Air layering is done.
Diseases and pests
The hibiscus roots have dried up. Hibiscus does not tolerate cold soil, and this can cause the roots to dry out.
Dark pink spots of hibiscus on leaves. In hibiscus, such spots appear when there is excessive feeding and a simultaneous lack of light.
Hibiscus buds are falling off. There may be several reasons: insufficient watering, low temperature or lack of fertilizer.
Chlorosis of hibiscus leaves. Hibiscus needs iron, and a lack of it along with an excess of chlorine leads to chlorosis of the leaves. Water for irrigation must be settled and iron chelate must be added to it.
Hibiscus roots are sick. The humidity in the room is very low and the temperature is high - hibiscus is not picky about humidity, but too dry air can lead to root disease.
There are many leaves, but no flowers on the hibiscus. It is necessary to reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizing. Other reasons are lack of water in the spring, little light, high temperature during the dormant period.
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Hibiscus leaves are turning yellow. It’s quite difficult here: hibiscus turns yellow usually due to insufficient or excessive watering, with excess or lack of light, due to lack of nutrients, both at too low and too high air temperatures. Caring for hibiscus at home must be precise.
Hibiscus pests. Among pests, problems may arise with thrips and aphids. Also, spider mites and whiteflies will not mind eating hibiscus.
Kinds
Hybrid hibiscus / Hibiscus hybridus
This species is a perennial herbaceous plant. They are grown for their beautiful flowers, which amaze with their beauty and size. In warm regions it can be grown outside. Obtained by crossing three species - red hibiscus (Hibiscus coccineus), holly hibiscus (Hibiscus militaris) and pink hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos).
Chinese hibiscus / Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Popularly called Chinese rose or Chinese rose. This species is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 3 m in height in its natural environment. The leaves are elongated-ovate or oval in shape, dark green in color, the edge is serrated, the upper side of the leaf blade is glossy. It blooms for a very long time, almost 8-9 months, starting in March. Depending on the variety, of which there are about half a thousand, the flowers can be pink, yellow, red, orange and other colors. The flowers are semi-double or simple, up to 15 cm in diameter. This view is very decorative.
Hibiscus scizopetalus
This shrub has green, glossy leaves. The flowers are red-orange in color, grow up to 5 cm in diameter, the petals are bent and fringed.
Syrian hibiscus / Hibiscus syriacus
Distributed in India and China. Blooms with pink and red flowers.
