The hibiscus should convince in your own garden with its wonderful flowers. Proper care should be taken to ensure that this is successful.
The hibiscus (Hibiscus) has no special requirements when it comes to its care. However, to ensure optimal youth development and flowering, you should pay attention to a few things. We explain how best to care for your hibiscus.
Water and fertilize hibiscus
The hibiscus needs sufficient water, especially when young, so that it can grow well. Therefore, water it regularly so that the soil is always kept moist. However, make sure to avoid waterlogging - your hibiscus does not like this at all! By avoiding waterlogging, you also prevent rot on the main shoot and roots. In spring, the hibiscus can be regularly supplied with primarily organic fertilizers such as our Plantura organic flower fertilizer. This promotes soil life, provides long-term nutrients and is also environmentally friendly. Regular fertilizing will pay off in lush blooms.
The most important things about proper hibiscus care in brief:
- Water generously ( although avoid waterlogging!)
- Keep Soil Moist
- Regular fertilization before flowering
How to cut the hibiscus
There are several ways to cut the hibiscus. A distinction is made between maintenance, rejuvenation and care cuts. The best time to cut the hibiscus is between the beginning and middle of February, i.e. before the start of the actual vegetation phase. Above all, the lower shoot tips are cut off in order to obtain a denser growth pattern in the crown. The upper shoots are also shortened by a few centimeters to get better branching. You can find more precise tips and tricks for cutting hibiscus in our special article on the subject here.
Successfully wintering the hibiscus
The garden hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus) is quite hardy and makes it under certain conditionsConditions to overwinter even outdoors. This makes it the only species capable of doing so in our latitudes. If you have planted your garden hibiscus in a bucket, you can place it in a warm place as a precaution when extremely cold conditions are announced. If your garden hibiscus is planted in a bed, you can protect it from excessive ground frost with a generous layer of bark mulch around the main shoot.
Tip: Only plant your garden hibiscus out of the tub and into the bed after a year. The adaptation phase allows the hibiscus to become robust and increases the chance that it will survive cold winters. The rose hibiscus, on the other hand, can only be planted in tubs, as it cannot withstand temperatures below 10°C for long periods.
The most important things about overwintering hibiscus in brief:
- The garden hibiscus can overwinter outdoors
- Support it with a thick layer of bark mulch at the base
- A one-year period of getting used to it in a bucket doesn't hurt
Read more about overwintering hibiscus in this article.
Protect hibiscus from pests and diseases
The hibiscus is often attacked by aphids, especially as a houseplant. These attack the leaves and suck the phloem (plant sap) there. They secrete a sugary secretion from their abdominal glands that sticks together the entire leaf surface. If the infestation is severe, the leaves will turn yellow and die. Regular rinsing or treatment with organic pesticides helps against aphids.
The spider mite is another common pest that leaves small webs on the underside of leaves. The damage is similar to that of aphids. Spider mites can be easily combated with organic pesticides.
Non-animal pathogens, such as the leaf spot fungus, can also attack the hibiscus. You can recognize the affected areas by their brown discoloration. Remove affected leaves, no further treatment is necessary.
The most important things about pests and diseases of hibiscus in brief:
- Aphids and spider mites are common pests
- Flushing Control
- Remove regularly infested and dead plant parts