The hibiscus (hibiscus) is widely recognized by its trumpet-like flower shape and beautiful corolla. Flowers are large, the width can reach 30 centimeters so that it attracts the attention of butterflies and hummingbirds to come to the garden. There are about 200 species of hibiscus, in various sizes, colors and resistance to cold weather. Flower colors vary, from white, red, pink, yellow, blue, purple or mauve, and some are a combination of two colors. Hibiscus can be used as a shrub or as a hedge, to make a bare wall more attractive, as a hedge to cover something unsightly, or to create a tropical atmosphere in a swimming pool area.
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Part 1 of 2: Preparing the Plants
Step 1. Choose the type of hibiscus to plant
Hibiscus flowers come in many variations in color and appearance. But more important than choosing the look, is finding one type of hibiscus that will thrive in your environment. In general, there are two types of hibiscus bushes, namely tropical (tropical) and hardy. Tropical hibiscus flowers thrive in warm climates where temperatures are above 50°F (10°C) year-round. Resistant hibiscus is a hybrid plant (bastar or the result of the marriage of 2 different types of plants) that has been developed to be able to grow in cold areas where temperatures may drop below freezing in winter.
- Tropical hibiscus (tropical) has more flowers, but the flowers will wither / die after 1-2 days. This type of hibiscus flower color consists of shades of pink, peach (same-color between orange and pink), and purple or mauve.
- Hibiscus hibiscus which has durability (hardy), is able to maintain the blooming of flowers longer than tropical hibiscus species. However, this type of hibiscus flower does not have many flowers and tends to be more 'bush'. In general, this type has red, white, and pink flowers.
Step 2. Decide how you will grow the hibiscus
Growing hibiscus seeds from seed can be fun, because you can be completely creative in creating new cultivars by crossing two existing hibiscus varieties. On the other hand, growing from seed requires more handling, and may not be successful. If you want to have fun and see the results as soon as possible, you should buy hibiscus flowers that have been planted in pots to be transferred to your garden / garden area.
- Growing hibiscus from cuttings is the least likely way to succeed, as the plant requires very specific conditions for it to grow. If you are not experienced in growing hibiscus, you should avoid planting by cuttings.
- You may not have many varieties to choose from if you buy ready-made potted plants, as nurseries usually only sell a few varieties of hibiscus seeds or grafts.
Step 3. Know the right time to plant
Since hibiscus is a heat-loving plant, it's best not to plant it until winter is really over. Wait until the outdoor temperature is consistently between 60-70°F (15.6−21, 1°C) before you consider growing hibiscus. If the temperature drops to 55°F (12.8°C), the plant will stop growing. Meanwhile, if it drops to 45°F (7.2°C) or colder, the plant will die. That's not quite right for hardy hibiscus flowers, but what is still an important caveat is the heat requirements of this plant.
If necessary, contact your local agricultural extensionist for specific suggestions on when to plant hibiscus in your area
Step 4. Choose the perfect location
Hibiscus is a type of plant that loves sunlight, but can't stand too much direct sunlight without getting burned. Choose a location in your garden that is exposed to about 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day, and receives reflected light from the surroundings for the rest of the time. Locations with such character are usually found in the west or south of your garden. If necessary, plant the hibiscus in a location that is in the shadow of a large tree. However, it will take space to grow, as these plants quickly take up two or three times their original size.
- Some types of hibiscus can live up to 40 years. This means that later you will be faced with a very large bush. So make sure you find a permanent location to start growing hibiscus.
- Try to find a location that has good drainage; puddles will drag your hibiscus off the ground. On the other hand, avoid locations where most of the soil is sand.
Step 5. Carry out tillage
Hibiscus plants require soil that is not arbitrary, so it's a good idea to take the time to cultivate the soil before planting. Check the pH of your garden/garden soil! Hibiscus prefers acidic soil, so if the soil pH is above 6.5 then it must be made more acidic (Note: pH 7-14 means it is alkaline). In addition, you will need to provide plenty of nutrients and fertilizer to supplement the soil. Mix the supplements into your garden compost a few weeks (or months, if you have time) before planting. You will also need to add fertilizer, which is low in phosphorus and high in potassium, to the soil mixture.
- If it turns out that the pH of the soil is too alkaline, add peat moss (peat soil derived from moss) to it to balance.
- Generally, low-phosphorus/high-potassium fertilizers are contained in a mixture of 10-4-12 or 9-3-13 (Note: a series of numbers indicates the nutrient content of compound fertilizers, for example 10-4-12 means that in every 100 kg there is 10%N; 4%P; 12%K, and the remaining 64% are other fillers).
Part 2 of 2: Growing Hibiscus
Step 1. Dig the required holes
Use a shovel, either a short or a long handle, to prepare the planting hole. Each hole (for single seedlings or hibiscus seeds) should be as deep as the root of the plant or twice, if not three times, as well as its width. Loose soil around the plant will allow for better drainage, and should not compact to the bottom. Plant each hibiscus plant at least 0.6-0.9 meters apart from each other.
Step 2. Plant your hibiscus
Slowly insert each hibiscus plant into the holes prepared for each plant. Be careful not to damage the root ball of the plant. Backfill the hole with soil to the level of the base of the stem. Covering the stem with soil will cause the plant to die slowly. Water the hibiscus flowers abundantly as soon as possible after planting to help reduce the risk of shock from transplanting.
Step 3. Water the hibiscus regularly
Try to keep the plant moist, but not drenched. Make sure that the soil is wet at all times, as drying soil will cause the plant to wilt and be adversely affected by excessive exposure to high heat.
Step 4. Control any nuisance pests
Adding a layer of mulch to the soil surface in the garden/park where you plant hibiscus flowers will certainly be very beneficial, because a layer of mulch can inhibit the growth of weeds while keeping the soil moist. Remove any visible weeds so your hibiscus plant doesn't have to scramble for space and nutrients from the soil. Tropical hibiscus flowers tend to have more problems with nuisance pests than hardy varieties. If you notice spots or rotting leaves, try using an insecticide to kill any disease or pest that is damaging the hibiscus.
Step 5. Do plant pruning
While it may seem contradictory or implausible, pruning actually helps promote new growth and allows more flowers to appear. There are several ways of pruning, but all of them work by cutting the branches above the trunk (where the branches or leaves grow) at an angle away from the center of the bush. This will send a signal to the plant to grow more branches at that location, outwards away from the center of the bush.
- If one or more parts of the hibiscus die, you'll need to do some pruning to fix it and cut off all the dead parts. This will also remove any unattractive parts of the plant, and have the potential to grow shoots from the cut parts.
- Never cut more than of the branch at a time, as this will damage the plant more than it will help it grow.
Step 6. Enjoy the beauty of the beautiful hibiscus flower
Hibiscus flowers will flower for several months, although each individual flower only lasts a few days. You can keep the flowers on the bush, but you can also cut them and use them as tea or cook them.
Tips
- Prune hibiscus plants in the spring period to encourage new growth and flower emergence. If necessary, remove dead or diseased plant parts.
- If you live in the US, you can find out the hardiness zone of the area where you live by looking at the map on the United States National Arboretum's website at https://www.usna.usda.gov/ Hardzone/ushzmap.html. A hardiness zone is a geographically defined vertical zoning (by the United States Department of Agriculture/USDA) with a specific category in which plants can live.
