I first saw a Hibiscus plant when I went to Hawaii. These flowers intrigued me with their colorful petals and usefulness. They are not only used extensively in landscaping, but also in the making of jams, teas, and even paper. If you have a Hibiscus in your yard or home, then these 5 tips on caring for Hibiscus plants might be useful.
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Warmth
Hibiscus plants thrive in a warm climate, which means they need to be placed away from drafty areas when kept indoors. The only way you will be able to get one of these plants to survive outside is if you live in an area where it is warm year around.
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Light
At least 3 to 4 hours of direct sunlight is necessary for gorgeous blooms to form on these magnificent plants. Indoor plants prefer to be placed in a window that is either West or South facing. As the amount of daylight becomes less, it might be a good idea to provide some additional light for your plant. Fluorescent bulbs work great for this extra bit of light.
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Water
When it comes to water, Hibiscus plants like to get wet, but they don’t want their roots to be swimming in water. Give them a good drink and then let the plant dry out between watering. Any excess water left in the bottom of the planter can cause the roots to begin rotting. Also, use warm water during the winter time.
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Food
Weekly fertilizing will provide your Hibiscus plant with the food necessary for lots of blooms. Use a water-soluble fertilizer that is low in phosphorus, since too much of this chemical will cause fewer flowers to be produced.
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Soil
The soil for a Hibiscus plant should be rather loamy. Take some potting soil and mix in leaf compost. Another option is to use composted cow manure, composted bark, some coarse peat moss, and a little bit of vermiculite. Use about a third of the manure, bark, and moss, with just a very small amount of vermiculite added in.
These flowers always remind me of Hawaii and the fantastic vacation I had there. I sometimes wonder if I ever would have come across this plant if I’d never gone to Hawaii. I can’t imagine not having this beautiful flower among my ever-growing plant collection. What attracted you to Hibiscus plants? Do you find them easy to grow?
Top Photo Credit: Ray Horwath
