Hibiscus Plants Care in Your Home Garden

The genus Hibiscus is a very good example of flowering plants that are popular among people. Almost all of the hundreds of hibiscus species are tropical or subtropical trees and shrubs or perennial or annual plants. Pink marshmallows (North America includes 35 native hibiscus species).

The type of hibiscus most commonly used in landscaping and purchased in garden centers is hibiscus rosa-sinensis. A tropical, but growable indoors in containers, or as an outdoor annual species of China.

Large, striking, trumpet-shaped hibiscus flower loved by most of us comes in a variety of vibrant colors. Each flower lasts only one day, but the plant has a long flowering period. The flowers of various hibiscus species are really huge, up to 30 cm in diameter.

Fast hibiscus facts

• Botanical name: Hibiscus spp.
• Height: 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to 3.0 m)
• Spread: 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 m)
• Sun exposure: Full sun
• Soil requirements: acid, moist, rich
• Hardiness zones: 9 to 11
• When to plant: Spring
• Growing hibiscus in containers

You can easily grow a hibiscus plant in a container to make use of limited outdoor space, grow it as a houseplant or move it flexibly around the garden.Hibiscus is mostly large so, get a large container. It should be well drained and placed in a sunny window, especially if you want to see these beautiful flowers.

Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus, you can provide outdoor plants with some afternoon shade if it gets too hot. Again, containers make things easier.

Hibiscus plants prefer a good fit when growing in a container. This means that it should be rooted easily in the container. If you decide to transplant a hibiscus, just give it a little more space.No matter what, your soil must have proper drainage.

Hibiscus growing temperatures

Tropical hibiscus species are extremely sensitive to cold and do not tolerate winter in many places. Daytime temperatures should be 65 to 75 F (18-24 C) and should not be lower than 55 F (13 C).

If you live in a non-tropical area and don't want to bring your hibiscus indoors, choose a resistant variety.Hardy HIBISCUS can be grown in USDA Zones 5 to 9 where they die back to the ground in winter. One good choice is Hibiscus syriacus (known as rose of sharon). Compared to other species, it grows more like a bush than a tree.

Water the Hibiscus

A hibiscus tree or bush needs moist soil. On the other hand, hibiscus does not tolerate wet soil or stagnant water. Make sure it grows in a place or container with excellent drainage and the soil is always moist.

When hibiscus are in the flowering phase, they need large amounts of water. Your hibiscus needs to be watered daily in warm weather. But when the weather gets colder, your hibiscus needs much less water, and too much water can kill it. In winter, water the hibiscus only when the soil is dry.

Fertilizing Hibiscus

Hibiscus needs a lot of nutrients to bloom well.

Start with high-quality, fertile, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Hibiscus plants are heavy feeders and consume a lot of nutrients. Even with good soil, they benefit from the regular application of fertilizers. In the summer, use a fertilizer with a high potassium content. You can either use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week, a slow-release fertilizer once a month, or add a potassium-rich compost to the soil. You don't need to fertilize in the winter at all.

For homemade hibiscus, use half strength every month, and less in winter.

How to Keep the Hibiscus Blooming

Hibiscus needs nutritious soil, strong sunlight and warm temperatures to flourish. If you meet these conditions, it will bloom abundantly. You can also try a bloom booster fertilizer, but this is usually not necessary.

Prune hibiscus plants regularly to maintain their shape and size and encourage healthy growth that will produce more flowers.

Is hibiscus an annual or perennial plant?

Whether the hibiscus is perennial or annual depends on the type and place of cultivation. Tropical species can be grown outdoors in frost-free areas as perennials and in colder climates as annuals. Hardy hibiscus grows as a perennial in cold climates, too.

Common problems with hibiscus

There are several insects that feed on hibiscus plants.Aphids, Japanese stinkbugs, thrips, mealybugs, whiteflies and mealybugs are among the most common. Common diseases include armillaria root rot, botrytis blight, leaf spot and hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus.

Is hibiscus poisonous to dogs?

Most hibiscus are non-toxic to dogs, so you don't have to worry about them munching on your plants. However, the rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) is a poisonous species that causes gastrointestinal upset, so be careful when growing a hardy hibiscus. Signs of poisoning are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The same goes for cats. If you are not sure what kind of hibiscus you have, assume that it could harm your four-legged friends.


Hibiscus flowers are eye-catching and attractive. They give a tropical ambiance to terraces, gardens and interior spaces. To grow hibiscus, know whether you have a hardy or tropical species and ensure the ideal conditions for flowering years.