How to prune hibiscus, which is known to many as the “Chinese rose,” is a pressing question among gardeners. This plant is easily recognized by its beautiful flowers. But, unfortunately, the hibiscus may stop blooming buds.
To resume lush flowering, the plant must be pruned. How to prune a Chinese rose? This article will tell you about all the nuances of this procedure.
Hibiscus belongs to the mallow family. It is widespread, for example, in the tropics and subtropics. It can be seen in Egypt, Thailand, China.
Hibiscus blossom
The hibiscus stem is bare. There are alternate leaves on the petioles. Flowers can be of any color (except black and blue).
Their size varies from 5 to 30 cm. The fruit of this plant is a capsule.
It has 5 doors. The box contains a large number of seeds
More than 20 years is the lifespan of a hibiscus. It can grow up to three meters.
Hibiscus is grown as an ornamental plant. The most common in our country is the so-called “Chinese rose”. This . Gardens, greenhouses and rooms are decorated with it. "Chinese rose" loves light, warmth and a lot of space.
So, that is why it is popular among gardeners.
How to prune hibiscus?
How to prune a Chinese rose? Before you start pruning, you need to understand why it is necessary.
This event is necessary for the following reasons:
- Thanks to this procedure, the hibiscus will have more shoots, which means the number of flowers on it will increase. Because they only appear at the ends of branches.
- Pruning stimulates plant growth.
- It will help save damaged or dying hibiscus.
- This event gives the plant the shape the gardener needs.
- If the roots of the flower have grown very large, then they can also be carefully trimmed. But this procedure is rarely performed.
Thus, pruning is a mandatory item in the annual care system for this plant.
Answering the question of how to prune hibiscus and why to do it, you need to replace that this procedure is required for the health and sanitization of the flower. Like most crops, hibiscus is prone to some diseases. Excessive bush density impairs ventilation inside the crown and access to sunlight.
For this reason, shoots that thicken the crown and grow inside the bush must be removed. In addition, we recommend spring sanitation and autumn pruning of hibiscus. During this period, weak, thin, damaged branches are removed.
In the spring you need to inspect the plant during the period of swelling of the buds. If some branches look dry and do not have living buds, it is also better to remove them. Such shoots pose the greatest danger due to the fact that pests often inhabit them.
You can check whether the shoot needs to be trimmed by breaking off a small piece. If the cut inside is green and juicy, everything is fine with the hibiscus branch. If the fracture site is brown or gray, completely dry, and there is no feeling of flexibility, these areas should definitely be cut off.
We would like to note that all work must be carried out with sharp, clean, pre-disinfected instruments. To do this, we recommend wiping the pruning shears with a solution of manganese, alcohol or bleach before and after pruning. This is especially important if you need to work with dry or diseased branches.
How to prune an indoor “rose” correctly?
How to prune a Chinese rose at home? This procedure is carried out using ordinary scissors. The flower is not afraid of it, so you can safely experiment.
You need to decide on the shape and size of the future plant. After all, one person likes a “rose” in the form of a tree, while another likes a bush hibiscus.
Pruning indoor hibiscus - crown formation
How to trim an indoor Chinese rose? So, to get a tree, you need:
Tie the central shoot to the support so that the trunk straightens.
Remove the lateral shoots of the second generation. This will help the trunk thicken. The cuts are made 0.5 cm upward from the node at an angle of 45°.
Shorten the crown by several buds, forming the crown of the future tree.
Then it is necessary to remove the central shoot. A few buds located below should be left. Side branches will develop from them.
When the upper crown is formed, it is necessary to remove the shoots and branches that appear parallel to the trunk and grow deep into the crown. This procedure must be performed in order to form a beautiful plant and not waste nutrients on parts it does not need.
After flowering, the hibiscus is also pruned. This is usually done in the fall or February. Later pruning may result in the plant not blooming in the summer.
When replanting a flower in the spring, it is advisable to trim all its branches so that they become 15 cm long from the root. The crown must be trimmed to the point where the last lateral branches grow.
How to prune indoor hibiscus so it blooms? It is important not to remove more than 30% of the plant crown at one time. Otherwise, it will spend a lot of energy on restoration and healing of wounds. Also, it is important to moisten the flower well after finishing the work, and after 2 weeks add fertilizer.
It is better to use mineral fertilizers with a lot of potassium. This element not only improves the plant’s immunity, but, together with phosphorus and boron, is responsible for abundant and long-lasting flowering.
Also, hibiscus has one important feature. Buds form only on the upper parts of young shoots. For this reason, indoor hibiscus needs regular pruning or pinching. This stimulates the plant to bush and produce new shoots on which flowers will appear.
Quite often, healthy, overgrown indoor Chinese roses stop blooming precisely because of lack of pruning.
We would like to add that the lack of flowering of hibiscus can be caused by insufficient lighting, poor soil or improper feeding regime.
Also, hibiscus will not bloom in an overly spacious pot. After all, then the plant will begin to spend energy on developing the rhizome and filling the available space. Another factor is hard chlorinated water for irrigation. It is necessary to use settled filtered or melted moisture.
Pruning garden hibiscus
The main procedure is performed in February, until sap flow begins. September - . This activity is carried out using a knife, garden shears, a lopper and a hand saw.
It is necessary to use only sharp tools so as not to harm the plant. They need to be disinfected using a special gardening product.
There are several types of pruning:
- topping,
- selective,
- full,
- corrective,
- strong.
Chinese rose - pruning and shaping the bush
The first type is the most gentle pruning. It involves cutting off the tops of branches above the topmost node to stimulate growth. First of all, this procedure is applied to young hibiscus, as they do not need more serious pruning.
The second type is necessary to maintain the shape and size of the plant. Only the necessary places are subjected to selective pruning.
The cut is made slightly above the node, located 1/3 from the top of the branch.
Full pruning involves shortening each branch to 2 - 3 buds. This procedure is carried out at the beginning of the season. Its goal is abundant flowering of the plant.
The fourth type involves pruning diseased areas of hibiscus. The branch must be cut before living green wood appears.
Heavy pruning is used when the plant is almost dead. You need to leave only those parts of the branches whose wood is healthy.
So, knowing the features of these 5 types of pruning will help you properly care for your garden hibiscus.
Plant propagation by cuttings
The question of how to propagate hibiscus is of particular interest to novice gardeners. The twigs that are left after the spring pruning of indoor “roses” are suitable for this.
In this case, it is necessary to adhere to the following technology:
- Take a semi-lignified cutting of a plant about 15 cm long with 4 internodes. The cut from below should be oblique and straight from above.
- Remove the bottom 2 leaves and cut the rest by ½.
- Place the bottom of the cutting for 2 - 3 hours in the Epin solution or dip it in the root former.
- Pour loose soil into seedling containers. To do this, you can mix an equal amount of garden soil, sand and peat. It is advisable to add a little bone meal to the soil.
- Water the ground.
- Plant a plant.
Place a transparent plastic bag on top of it to maintain temperature and water balance.
You need to make sure that there is no excess moisture on the bag. During rooting, the temperature should be above +24 °C. In a month, the hibiscus will produce its own roots.
You can try another rooting method. To do this, place the cutting in water with activated carbon, poured into an opaque container.
After a 0.5 cm root appears, the future plant should be transplanted into a pot.
Hibiscus can, of course, be grown from seeds. Then he will delight his owner with the first flowers only in the fourth year of life. A plant grown from a cutting will bloom next summer.
Using the theoretical knowledge gained from this article for practical purposes will help decorate your flower collection with beautiful hibiscus.
It depends on the type of hibiscus and your region! What do you understand by garden hibiscus?
If you have a Syrian hibiscus growing in the form of a bush, with woody shoots, then there is no need to prune it. Flowers up to 10 cm in diameter. Frost resistance from - 15 to - 27 depending on the variety. Cover with a couple of layers of covering material. In spring it wakes up and releases its leaves late, so we don’t rush to draw conclusions, then we cut off everything frozen. In very cold winters it can freeze even with shelter. It still blooms on the shoots of the current year, so just freezing of the shoots is not a problem. My Syrian hibiscus looks like this:
If you have a hibiscus with herbaceous shoots: swamp hibiscus, armed hibiscus, or hybrid herbaceous hibiscus obtained from crossing swamp hibiscus with armed hibiscus, then only the root overwinters, and the above-ground part dies. It also wakes up late, so you need to mark the place where it grows so as not to trample it later. In cold regions they cover with earth. Flowers up to 25 cm in diameter. I have a hybrid swamp like this:
Middle lane. Samara.
Much depends on the region you live in and the type of hibiscus.
Hibiscus are not the most frost-hardy plants.
It is better to leave it as is, cover it, taking into account your climatic conditions,
and in the spring decide on pruning based on realities.
For the winter, hibiscus must be pruned and hilled, like roses. Leave the cut trunks 30 - 40 cm above the ground surface. This is done so as not to lose the hibiscus in the spring, because... it produces new shoots very late in the spring.
Read also:
Hibiscus is the most common indoor plant; it is also called the Chinese rose. Such a flower needs proper care; the main stage is pruning or forming the crown of the plant. With proper care, the life of the bush reaches twenty years. Let's look at the basic rules for pruning a plant, why it needs to be done, and in what period.
Indoor hibiscus needs pruning; for this plant this procedure is mandatory. Let's find out the reasons why this procedure should be carried out.
After some time, the shoots may become deformed, uneven or short. To solve this problem, old shoots are cut off, and new shoots of the correct shape grow in their place.
Instead of lushness, only old shoots grow on the bush, as a result the plant has scanty greenery. After pruning, the bush begins to develop in full force, produces many new green shoots, and becomes lush.
But flowering occurs weakly or may not occur at all, since at first the plant spends all its energy on renewing its greenery. Thus, the flower will have a beautiful lush shape.
This procedure is carried out for the purpose of rejuvenation; after time, dry shoots appear on the plant, they must be cut off so that new shoots appear.
Pruning may be of a sanitary nature; in this case, it is necessary to get rid of the affected shoots, while removing some of the healthy part.
In order for the bush to develop well and flower abundantly, pruning is also performed.
Sometimes the roots of a flower are cut off; this procedure is performed very rarely, in cases where they have grown too much and do not fit in the pot. This must be done with special care so as not to damage the main branches of the roots.
Correct formation of the hibiscus crown
There are two types of hibiscus crowns that can be formed: a lush or horizontal shape.
A lush crown is formed much more often than a horizontal one. The shape is chosen independently, whichever one likes best or suits the design of the room. The main advantage of hibiscus is that it can be grown as a lush bush or tall flowering tree.
Pruning is performed using ordinary scissors; the branches of the plant are thin, so the procedure will not be difficult.
Garden herbaceous hibiscus
Cut off shoots located parallel to the main branches, as well as all dried elements.
To give the plant fullness, the area above the leaf facing outwards is cut off by 1/3. Pruning is carried out annually, in the spring. This procedure is also performed in the fall, after active flowering. In the absence of such a procedure, the plant will stop blooming, since flowers appear only on the shoots of a young species.
It is better not to prune in the summer, as the bush will not produce flowers.
How to pinch indoor hibiscus?
Young shoots must be pinched; the procedure is performed in early spring. This is done with each young shoot.
Basic rules for pruning procedures
The shoot, located in the center, is tied to a support; it can be a bamboo stick or another solid object suitable for this role.
All lateral shoots are cut off, leaving up to 5 leaves. Thus, the trunk of the bush will thicken.
During this period, active nitrogen fertilizing is carried out, and when the plant reaches the required height, the crown is pinched, leaving about 6 healthy shoots. They will serve as a crown, which must be periodically trimmed to obtain new branches.
It is mandatory to trim shoots that are parallel to the main trunk and branches growing in the inner part of the crown.
Almost all plants need pruning, including hibiscus; this procedure can renew, improve the appearance, and maintain the health of the bush.
Indoor hibiscus pruning is done in autumn and spring, after the bush stops blooming, this is done using ordinary scissors. In this case, you can create a lush or horizontal crown. By pinching young shoots, they begin to develop faster and more actively, and more flowers appear.
The popular indoor flower hibiscus, which decorates apartments and offices, is successfully grown in open ground. Certain types of Asian rose, with proper care, tolerate winters in temperate climates. middle zone.
The plant belongs to the mallow family and is represented by a huge variety of species (about 300). Natural habitat is the tropical zone of America, Africa and Asia. In nature, the genus Hibiscus occurs in the form of shrubs and trees. Some subspecies are perennial or annual herbs.
Hibiscus classification
From a cultivation point of view, two groups are considered:
- indoor plants - a prominent representative is the Chinese rose;
- garden forms - the most common is the Syrian hibiscus.
Hibiscus found in the wild in temperate climates are:
- trifoliate (northern) - a herbaceous annual whose leaves are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of diaphoretics;
- hemp (kenaf) - grown as an agricultural crop for the production of fiber and technical oils.
Hybrid forms attract attention with their large petals and variety of colors. Flowers are used to prepare drinks with a pronounced antispasmodic effect. Hibiscus tea has amazing properties - a hot drink increases blood pressure, a cold drink has hypotensive properties.
Garden forms of hibiscus
In the territory of the former USSR, only two types of hibiscus are common in nature:
- Hibiscus syriacus (Syrian) - southern slope of the Greater Caucasus Range;
- Hibiscus trionum (northern, trifoliate) - Far East of the Russian Federation, Crimea.
Wintering species such as Syrian or tree hibiscus are suitable for growing in garden conditions.
The coat of arms of Korea depicts a beautiful flower - a hibiscus (mugunghwa), which is a symbol of the state. The graceful plant is sung in a hymn - in poetic form, Koreans thank the magical flower for giving the country of rivers and mountains pristine beauty.
Hibiscus tree or Syrian
Tree hibiscus blooms for six months or more, but each flower lasts only a day (hybrid species - 2-3 days). New buds immediately bloom to replace the withered petals. The plant blooms in early July and renews its flower stalks until mid-autumn.
From a botanical point of view, the Syrian rose is a deciduous shrub. In the temperate climate of the middle zone, the height of the bush does not exceed 2 m, although in natural conditions tree-like forms reach 5 m. Large (up to 10 cm) oval or ovoid leaves have a bright green color. The flowers are arranged singly, very large, reaching up to 27-30 cm in diameter. Double or simple inflorescences cover almost the entire spectrum of shades, and can be two- or three-colored.
Planting and growing garden forms
Tree hibiscus can be propagated by any means - from sowing seeds to directly dividing the bush. When starting to get acquainted with the plant, purchase ready-made seedlings from a well-established nursery. This way you will protect yourself from negative consequences associated with possible diseases and the presence of pest larvae.
Planting hibiscus by dividing the bush
- choose a bright, draft-free place;
- use well-loosened fertile soil;
- At the bottom of the pit, lay drainage at least 10 cm thick (sand, washed crushed stone, gravel);
- straighten the roots and fill the hole with soil so that the root collar is at soil level.
To prevent aphids, plant lavender bushes near the hibiscus.
The plant is moisture-loving, but it cannot be flooded. Ample weekly watering is recommended, and in dry weather - 2-3 times a week.
Growing hibiscus from seeds
From seeds you can also grow a full-fledged specimen of the tree-like form of the Asian beauty, but you should prepare for the fact that this process will take a lot of time. Seeds are sown in winter - in January-February:
- prepare a bowl with peat-sand soil mixture;
- pre-soak the seeds in any stimulant for a day;
- Cover the container with polyethylene or glass.
Seeds are planted to a depth of 0.7-1 cm. The first shoots appear in 2-3 weeks, subject to the temperature regime (+25-27°C), regular ventilation and moisture. As soon as the first pair of true leaves appear, transplant the seedlings into separate pots.
In May, transfer the seedlings to the ground. In warm climates, hibiscus obtained from seeds can begin flowering 2-3 years after planting, in temperate climates - 3-4 years.
Propagation by seeds has its positive and negative sides. A plant grown from seeds has stable reactions to sudden weather fluctuations and is immune to disease. Varietal characteristics are at risk - the new plant most often will not have complete resemblance to the ancestor.
Hibiscus cuttings
Cuttings are a simple and inexpensive method of propagation. Hibiscus grown from green cuttings fully matches the hybrid form of the donor.
In the spring (during the formation of buds) or at the end of September (when the growth of annual shoots ends), cuttings up to 15-20 cm long are cut.
4-6 buds are left at the bottom and the sprout is placed in a mixture of peat and sand (the ratio is equal). Root formation lasts about 3 weeks, then the plant is planted in a pot.
It is better for a young seedling to overwinter the first year in a warm room, especially if it is an autumn cutting. Hibiscus are transplanted to a permanent location in the spring.
Caring for garden hibiscus for the winter
Over the summer, the new resident of your garden will gain strength and will be able to spend the winter comfortably.
How garden hibiscus overwinters
How to insulate hibiscus for the winter:
- after flowering, prune the plant;
- water generously at the root;
- after a week, cover the bush with light turf soil with added sand;
- With the onset of the first frosts, insulate completely.
We insulate hibiscus plantings before winter
Insulation is carried out in several ways:
- Young plants are bent to the ground, sprinkled with sawdust, leaves or special covering material. A plastic film is laid on top, which is pressed to the ground with pegs or stones.
- Standard forms remain in a vertical position. A wooden or wire frame is installed around the tree and wrapped with covering material. Spruce branches or straw are tied on top of the shelter.
In winter, rodents love to climb into such warm houses. To prevent damage to the plant, place ears of grain soaked in poison inside the hut, or place mousetraps.
Galina Yurchenko, expert
During the winter, carefully monitor temperature fluctuations - during early spring thaws, hibiscus must be ventilated.
Reanimation of hibiscus in spring
The plant has a hard time coming out after wintering, but there is one secret that will help quickly bring it back to life:
- in the first warm days, remove the insulation from the hibiscus and cover the flower with a light greenhouse;
- in the middle of the day, ventilate the bush for 15 minutes at intervals of 1-2 hours;
- remove the film gradually as the shoots grow.
In two to three weeks, your Hawaiian beauty will gain strength and reward you with lush blooms.
Pruning and shaping hibiscus
There is a point of view according to which it is not recommended to prune hibiscus in the first years after planting. This is incorrect because flowers appear only on young shoots. The more often old branches are removed, the more the bush gives to young shoots. To enhance flowering, regular annual pruning is performed before sap flow begins.
Decorative pruning is carried out with the aim of forming a bush. In the photo, the hibiscus flower looks like a small multi-colored tree. The procedure for forming a braided stem:
- plant three varieties of plants in one pot;
- when the seedlings take root, intertwine the shoots with a pigtail;
- secure the weave with a bandage or fabric strips in several places;
- continue weaving to the desired height.
Syrian tree hibiscus is widely used in the design of personal plots. Shrubs are planted in tapeworms or in groups, next to bright annuals or against the backdrop of an emerald lawn.
Where does your eastern miracle grow? Share your observations with readers and surprise your neighbors by learning new secrets with us.
Yulia Petrichenko
Amateur gardener, 18 years of experience
About Me: I will share the secrets of a rich harvest and teach you how to create garden compositions.
Garden tree hibiscus: how a flower overwinters in the garden, photo - print version
Any plant has secrets and pruning features. Is no exception indoor plant hibiscus (Chinese rose). Unpretentious, but beautiful, calmly withstanding sudden changes in climatic conditions, drafts, lack of moisture, lighting, the plant is popular both among professional gardeners and among amateurs due to these qualities. How to properly prune a Chinese rose so that it becomes beautiful, lush, and delights the owner with large flowers and a healthy appearance?
Chinese rose
What time of year is best to prune?
The Chinese rose wakes up quite early: already in February new shoots are visible, some are trying to bloom, although the flower is unlikely to have enough strength for this. As soon as the activity of new shoots becomes visually noticeable, the hibiscus must be replanted. If it has reached a large size, it must be replanted once every 2 years. When to prune a domestic Chinese rose so as not to harm it?
Tall Chinese rose
The Chinese rose is one of the few plants that can be replanted and pruned at the same time. Not all plants love this and can tolerate it normally. For a domestic hibiscus rose, replanting, even if the plant is placed in the same pot, can be combined with the process of pruning the roots, because within a year the root system of the flower completely fills the pot. This must be done carefully so as not to damage the central root system. Trimming the roots leads to weakening of the plant, so you need to cut off its upper part so that it recovers faster and begins to grow.
It is better to prune hibiscus in February (although it is possible to do this throughout the spring-summer season) or in the fall, when the flowering period ends.
little flower
Pruning goals
A domestic hibiscus rose must be pruned for a number of reasons:
- Bloom.
How to prepare garden hibiscus for winter (with photo)
In order for the Chinese rose to bloom in the spring, it is imperative to cut off the old shoots in February, since hibiscus blooms only on young shoots.
- Shift in flowering time. The procedure will allow you to slightly delay the flowering time, which will lead to the appearance of more lush flowers in the future.
- Shaping. Thanks to proper pruning, a Chinese rose can be given the shape of a standard tree reaching a height of 2 m, preventing low-lying branches from appearing on the trunk, or the shape of a small lush bush.
If pruning is done correctly, all these goals are easy to achieve.
What needs to be trimmed
How to prune a Chinese rose to make it lush? First of all, dry, old branches (“tops”) parallel to the main trunk are removed from a Chinese rose with a sharp knife (secateurs). The remaining branches are pruned, paying attention to the buds. It is better to leave a part of the branch on which the new bud is located on the outside of the branch, that is, directed to the side, so that the bush does not become too dense: indoor roses grow quickly. Then the remaining branches are inspected. Good, but short branches, only lightly pinch, removing only the top. For longer branches, the larger top is cut off (video).
Pruning rules
Depending on the desired shape of the home hibiscus rose, there are pruning features:
- to form a standard tree, the lower branches of the trunk are removed, the upper branches are pruned only with faded branches, and then, when the desired height is reached, with the apical branches to stop their growth (photo);
- To form a small lush bush, pruning is done for the entire crown, and the basal shoots are removed entirely.
After pruning, from the many buds that have appeared that have fallen asleep in the winter, first 2 leaves will begin to grow, then they will develop into a small twig, which will most likely bloom in May.
Trimming location
Information: when the hibiscus fades, you need to remove not only the flower, but also part of the stem along with the internode with leaves closest to the flower. This is done throughout the flowering season with each flower, because a new flower will not appear on the old branch.
Can pruning harm hibiscus?
Is it possible to prune a Chinese rose too much? Will it hurt her?
Don't be afraid to prune your hibiscus. It overgrows easily. If the hibiscus is old or has broken branches, cut it back to a stump and it will begin to grow again.
The rose quickly grows a trunk, which looks beautiful. If pruning is not carried out, the plant will continue to grow, the trunk will be thin, and the hibiscus will not bloom.
What to do after pruning
After pruning, the hibiscus must be carefully watered and placed in a bright place, avoiding direct sunlight. Spraying is possible, but not necessary, but the rose loves it, and when the processes of restoration and growth begin after pruning, it will be very useful.
If you do everything correctly, then in a couple of weeks the hibiscus will turn green with new leaves, and in a couple of months it will delight you with its flowering.
If you want your Chinese rose to become a beautiful, healthy plant with a lot of flowers, you need to trim it on time and according to all the rules, and care for it with love.
Hibiscus or Chinese rose (Hibiscus rosa-chinensis), a common houseplant with large, beautiful funnel-shaped flowers. Many decorative varieties with different colors will take root well at home. If you follow simple rules for caring for hibiscus, the rose will begin to bloom pretty soon.
Necessary conditions for keeping hibiscus or how to care for a flower, description and photo... A flower with the beautiful name “Hibiscus”, in addition to beauty, will thank you for care and attention, effectively purify the air and have a beneficial effect on indoor flowers growing next to it!
Hibiscus flowers of all colors of the rainbow, leaves of emerald, bright color. But the flower pleases us only for one day and, having opened, fades and falls... The buds appear one by one, replacing each other and several at a time. If you care for and love hibiscus, you can admire the blooms all year round!!!
Flowering hibiscus increases the number of days, depending on the variety and density of the petals. It has been noticed that in cool weather the buds will last longer, in hot weather a day and no more!
Basics of care and maintenance of hibiscus...
- Temperature conditions.
Hibiscus is a heat-loving plant and feels very comfortable at temperatures from 18 to 22°C, but blooms well and for a long time mainly at 14-15°C. Therefore, if after a hot summer it is possible to place a bush in a cooler but brighter room, then it will not be slow to respond to this with its flowering. In the summer, it is very good to take the hibiscus out into the fresh air, ideally onto a veranda or balcony, only avoiding drafts.
- Lighting for hibiscus.
Prefers sun rays from the south side. In hot weather, the plant should be moved away from the glass or shaded. The best option is a high stand in front of the window. Home hibiscus will immediately respond to insufficient light by “falling leaves” or dropping buds.
- Watering and humidity.
Chinese rose is very dependent on timely watering and regular spraying. Water for irrigation must always be at room temperature, settled, and always in an open glass container with a wide neck. If the room is very hot, then you need to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the ground - cover it with small expanded clay or moss.
The most important thing for rose leaves is constant spraying with a spray bottle or regular operation of a humidifier in the room. Hibiscus flowers cannot be sprayed. During the heating season, you can place containers of water on hot radiators.
Hibiscus loves to “shower” in the bathroom. Use warm water to thoroughly wash off the dust from the leaves, just to avoid over-moistening the earthen ball, wrap the pot in a plastic bag and tie it.
How to overcome difficulties in growing hibiscus
Hibiscus is “not capricious” in home care, and if you make mistakes, they are easy to correct, the flower will immediately respond to the changes. At first it was very frustrating that the rose was losing its leaves. But our long life together has taught me to spray the leaves more often as soon as they look a little droopy. After prolonged flowering, hibiscus sheds old leaves, but at the same time immediately grows new ones.
Yellowed leaves of the Chinese rose indicate that the water for irrigation needs to be more carefully filtered and settled to reduce the chlorine content. If there is a brown border on the yellowed leaves, it means there is too much nitrogen in the fertilizer; stop feeding the flower for a while.
With a sharp change in conditions, the hibiscus can completely shed not only its buds, but also its leaves, taking on a depressingly “naked” appearance, but soon new leaves will appear on it.
How to “make” hibiscus bloom?
Many people wonder why it doesn’t bloom and how to properly care for hibiscus... It’s all simple here! Change the soil to fresh soil, cut off old branches and place the plant in the sunniest place. In this way, you will achieve stimulation of young shoots and buds on which flowering will occur.
Only young shoots bloom on hibiscus, so don’t be afraid to prune, leaving a few buds. If you don’t cut off the old branches a couple of times, the flowers become fewer and later disappear altogether.
And one more important point: if your house is hot in the summer, and the heating season does not start for a long time in the fall, or the hibiscus is in a cool room, then very soon it will form buds and throw out beautiful flowers. Conversely, if the hibiscus was too hot in winter, then there is a high probability that it will begin to bloom in the spring.
Another little secret: when replanting a flower again, take a wooden sliver up to 10 cm long and insert it into the ground in a pot, a short distance from the hibiscus trunk. It may not seem serious, but this “grandmother’s method” helps hibiscus bloom for a long time: every morning a new flower blooms, falls off in the evening, and the next morning the next bud blooms.
Forming your own flower - pruning hibiscus
The advantage of hibiscus is that when pruning a flower, we choose whether to grow a lush bush or a small tree. She began to grow her Chinese rose on a narrow windowsill, and then, having moved to a private house, the rose instantly turned into a spreading bush in front of the window.
Every spring, hibiscus undergoes formative pruning - until the plant begins to grow, or in the fall - after flowering has ended. Long shoots are shortened to encourage branching. If you prune the bush too late, for example in May, you may not wait for flowering at all in the summer. At other times, you need to make sure that there are no buds on the pruned shoots.
For pruning, it is more convenient to use scissors; hibiscus branches are too thin for using pruning shears. Lignified shoots that grow parallel to the main branches are pruned; it is also necessary to cut off all dried branches.
To form a bush, each shoot is cut 1/3 above the leaf facing outward.
When pruning, I shape the bush so that it is spreading but not tall, because it “winters” on the second floor, in a room with a low ceiling.
Shape your flower so that it fits comfortably into your interior. Don’t be afraid to overdo it; with proper care, hibiscus very quickly grows new shoots, and the leaves become thicker and larger.
Hibiscus soil, replanting and fertilizing
Usually the flower is sold in compact form, where they are treated with special preparations that slow down growth, but at home, especially after transplanting into new soil, hibiscus begins to grow actively.
In the spring, simultaneously with pruning, hibiscus are replanted or transferred to fresh substrate; young plants annually, adults - as needed. For large specimens, the top layer of soil is changed annually. Transshipment while preserving the earthen coma is carried out at any time of the year.
Any nutrient substrate is suitable for transplanting hibiscus. I usually take two-thirds of the garden soil, but not black soil, and add universal soil for indoor crops. You can add turf or humus soil. Since the Chinese rose needs good watering, to avoid stagnation of water, good drainage from expanded clay at the bottom of the pot is necessary.
With each transplant you need to take a larger pot, but not much. In a pot that is too large, the rose will begin to grow, but will stop blooming. For a large specimen, you just need to change the top layer of soil.
When replanting, as long as the size of the earthen ball allows, I shake off the old soil from the roots, especially if it is too wet. You don’t have to completely remove the soil from the roots and you don’t have to cut the roots themselves if there is no suspicion of their rotting.
Fertilizing plays an important role in caring for home hibiscus
The new substrate into which the hibiscus was transplanted already contains a large amount of nutrients, so fertilizing after transplantation should be done after a couple of months. I usually replant my flower in April and feed it from September to March. Hibiscus is suitable for any universal fertilizer for houseplants, with a low nitrogen content, in liquid form or in the form of sticks.
To keep the hibiscus leaves shiny and the plant not to be attacked by spider mites, I spray the rose with an infusion of onion peels several times a year. It’s not difficult to prepare an infusion: fill a three-liter jar halfway with husks, compact it, pour boiling water almost to the top, let it brew, strain.
Reproduction of hibiscus - beauty must be increased
Chinese roses are propagated by cuttings. You can use the same shoots that remain after pruning, choosing the strongest and most woody ones.
Place the cuttings in water, put two tablets of activated carbon in a container with water, or add a rooting stimulant. Wait for small white roots to appear and plant in a small pot with plain soil.
Be sure to cover with a cut plastic bottle, in which several holes are made for ventilation, this will provide the necessary air humidity. It is necessary to water frequently for the plant to grow well and quickly. When the cutting begins to produce many new leaves, the mini-greenhouse can be removed.
If you are willing to spend some time daily monitoring the moisture in the soil in the pot, seeing if the leaves are drooping, and spraying the beautiful crown of your hibiscus with a spray bottle, then thanks to caring for your home flower, you will be able to admire its magnificent blooms several times a year.
Hibiscus is the most common indoor plant; it is also called the Chinese rose. Such a flower needs proper care; the main stage is pruning or forming the crown of the plant. With proper care, the life of the bush reaches twenty years. Let's look at the basic rules for pruning a plant, why it needs to be done, and in what period.
Why do you prune hibiscus?
Indoor hibiscus needs pruning; for this plant this procedure is mandatory. Let's find out the reasons why this procedure should be carried out.
After some time, the shoots may become deformed, uneven or short. To solve this problem, old shoots are cut off, and new shoots of the correct shape grow in their place.
Instead of lushness, only old shoots grow on the bush, as a result the plant has scanty greenery. After pruning, the bush begins to develop in full force, produces many new green shoots, and becomes lush. But flowering occurs weakly or may not occur at all, since at first the plant spends all its energy on renewing its greenery. Thus, the flower will have a beautiful lush shape.
This procedure is carried out for the purpose of rejuvenation; after time, dry shoots appear on the plant, they must be cut off so that new shoots appear.
Pruning may be of a sanitary nature; in this case, it is necessary to get rid of the affected shoots, while removing some of the healthy part.
In order for the bush to develop well and flower abundantly, pruning is also performed.
Sometimes the roots of a flower are cut off; this procedure is performed very rarely, in cases where they have grown too much and do not fit in the pot. This must be done with special care so as not to damage the main branches of the roots.
There are two types of hibiscus crowns that can be formed: a lush or horizontal shape.
A lush crown is formed much more often than a horizontal one. The shape is chosen independently, whichever one likes best or suits the design of the room. The main advantage of hibiscus is that it can be grown as a lush bush or tall flowering tree.
Pruning is performed using ordinary scissors; the branches of the plant are thin, so the procedure will not be difficult. Cut off shoots located parallel to the main branches, as well as all dried elements.
To give the plant fullness, the area above the leaf facing outwards is cut off by 1/3. Pruning is carried out annually, in the spring. This procedure is also performed in the fall, after active flowering. In the absence of such a procedure, the plant will stop blooming, since flowers appear only on the shoots of a young species.
It is better not to prune in the summer, as the bush will not produce flowers.
How to pinch indoor hibiscus?
Young shoots must be pinched; the procedure is performed in early spring. This is done with each young shoot.
Basic rules for pruning procedures
The shoot, located in the center, is tied to a support; it can be a bamboo stick or another solid object suitable for this role.
All lateral shoots are cut off, leaving up to 5 leaves. Thus, the trunk of the bush will thicken.
During this period, active nitrogen fertilizing is carried out, and when the plant reaches the required height, the crown is pinched, leaving about 6 healthy shoots. They will serve as a crown, which must be periodically trimmed to obtain new branches.
It is mandatory to trim shoots that are parallel to the main trunk and branches growing in the inner part of the crown.
Almost all plants need pruning, including hibiscus; this procedure can renew, improve the appearance, and maintain the health of the bush.
Indoor hibiscus pruning is done in autumn and spring, after the bush stops blooming, this is done using ordinary scissors. In this case, you can create a lush or horizontal crown. By pinching young shoots, they begin to develop faster and more actively, and more flowers appear.
Hibiscus is a common houseplant. In order for a flower to become a worthy decoration of your home, it needs to be properly cared for. One of the important stages is the formation of the crown. In this case, pruning of indoor hibiscus should be carried out on time and in the proper manner.
Pruning and crown formation is carried out annually in the spring. The flower also needs pruning in the fall, after flowering. Otherwise, the side branches will not grow, which means there will be no new flowers. The more often you prune, the thicker the crown will be, and the more hibiscus will bloom. But in the summer it is not recommended to engage in crown formation.
So, why do you need to prune indoor hibiscus? There are several reasons why this procedure is performed:
- Over time, some new branches may become deformed and spoil the overall appearance. To avoid this, you need to shape the flower yourself, and not allow it to grow the way it wants.
- If only old shoots grow on a bush, it will have a sparse crown. Pruning old branches allows new shoots to emerge. True, during this period the hibiscus may not bloom, because all its energy will be spent on renewing the greenery. But after some time the plant will have a lush crown and beautiful flowers.
- Pruning indoor hibiscus leads to rejuvenation of the plant.
- The plant also needs to be pruned for sanitary purposes to remove damaged shoots.
- Trimmed hibiscus blooms more abundantly and develops better.
Sometimes hibiscus needs not only crown formation, but also root pruning. But this must be done very carefully and only in case of emergency, when the roots do not fit into the pot.
Features of crown formation
How to prune hibiscus correctly to give the correct shape? There are two ways to form a crown: in the first case, we get a spreading crown, in the second, a horizontal one. The formation of hibiscus allows you to have a lush crown and a flowering slender tree. How to make a shaping haircut? You can choose the shape based on personal preferences or in accordance with the design of the room.
The procedure is carried out with ordinary scissors, since the hibiscus branches are thin. When forming the crown, shoots growing parallel to the branches are cut off. When the central branch is cut off, then the lateral shoots develop into full-fledged stems. Only the buds located at the bottom can be left, and the central part is removed. If you want to make the crown lush, then select an area located one third above the leaf that faces outward and cut it off.
In order for new buds to form and the number of young shoots to increase, when shoots appear, starting from the third generation, several buds are cut off, shortening the branches. Pruning is carried out both in spring and in autumn after abundant flowering. The plant tolerates all types of pruning well, so you can bring all your ideas to life.
How to prune hibiscus? The standard is popular. This appearance makes the hibiscus even more spectacular. Forming a standard at home with your own hands is not an easy task. But if you follow all the instructions and carry out competent care at home, then getting an exquisite standard tree with a straight trunk and a spherical crown is quite possible. Some professionals can create hibiscus bonsai - cute miniature trees.
How to pinch hibiscus
Pinching young shoots will benefit the plant. It is advisable to carry out the procedure in early spring. First, the central shoot should be tied to a bamboo stick or some other solid object that will serve as a support. Next, let's work on thickening the trunk. To do this, we cut off all the shoots that grow on the side to the remaining 5 leaves.
The time has come for active fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers. When the plant reaches the planned height, we pinch the top, leaving six leaves - this is how we form the crown. To get new branches, it needs to be pruned regularly. You should definitely get rid of young branches that are located parallel to the main bush.
Video “Transplanting and pruning hibiscus”
From this video you will learn how to transplant and prune hibiscus in spring.