Hibiscus planting and care in the open field in the Urals

Hibiscus is a tree, shrub or herb from the Malvaceae family. There are about 200 varieties of it, and therefore the cultivation of garden hibiscus is a very exciting activity for flower growers all over the world. One of the species (Sudanese rose) is used to make Karkade tea. Okra, okra - edible hibiscus, its cultivation is possible in the garden or on the balcony. A popular indoor flower, Chinese hibiscus, grows outdoors in countries with warm climates. In our latitudes, it is only suitable for container gardening: flowers are taken outside in summer and brought back when it gets colder. At home, tree-like hibiscus, or Syrian, is a deciduous shrub that has a pronounced dormant period and requires certain wintering conditions.

Garden species of hibiscus

Growing garden hibiscus on the site and caring for it is not a hassle, this plant allows you to decorate a shady corner with large, bright flowers. Breeders have bred several varieties that can be planted in central Russia, but they require winter shelter or digging out of the ground. There are frost-resistant species, but they are rarely found on the market.

For regions with a temperate climate, hibiscus are suitable:

• triple,
• Syrian,
• swamp,
• grassy,
• garden.

Syrian and garden hibiscus are often confused, because for the first there is another name - tree-like. In southern countries, he received the nickname - "flower of love." Usually it is a shrub about 1.5-2 meters in height, completely covered with large simple or double flowers, similar to mallow. The classic colors are white and lilac, but now there are others: pink, red, blue. Swamp hibiscus, or okra, okra, is a very decorative shrub with large flowers, usually pink or red in color. It is frost-resistant, withstands temperatures down to –30 ° C.

The herbaceous hibiscus grows up to 3 meters tall and is a frost-hardy shrub that blooms from August to September. Its stems are massive, erect, with large leaves resembling sunflower leaves. Flowers can be white, light pink, or red. Growing and caring for it is very simple. The plant is sun-loving, undemanding to the composition of the soil, therefore it is popular among flower growers. For the winter, it is cut to the root, and grows back in the spring. There are more than 1000 hybrids of herbaceous hibiscus. The trifoliate hibiscus, or northern, is a medicinal herbaceous annual plant with small light yellow flowers that open in the morning for several hours.

Garden hibiscus is a hybrid herbaceous perennial, resulting from the crossing of 3 species: red, pink and holly. Differs in decorative foliage and large spectacular flowers, the size of which can reach 40 cm. Care is simple.

There are several hybrids.

• Youth is a plant with light green leaves and purple tulip-shaped flowers.
• Late - a shrub with oval leaves and crimson flowers in the shape of a bell, grows up to 1 m.
• Pale pink - a plant up to 2 meters high, yellowish foliage, bright pink, tulip-shaped flowers.
• Pink-porcelain - medium-sized bush up to 1.5 m high, flowers are large, pink, with a white throat, in the form of bells. Bright green succulent leaves on long petioles.

Dissected petal hibiscus

Hibiscus for container gardening

The following species are used as a tub culture on the site.

1. Dissected hibiscus (Schizopetalus) - the petals of flowers of this species are strongly dissected and bent back. Outwardly, it resembles a domesticated Chinese. Flowering lasts from spring to autumn.
2. Chinese hibiscus is a shrub with flowers of various sizes and colors. Cultivation as a houseplant is common, but it can be taken out into the garden for the summer. Caring for a tub flower consists in abundant watering and feeding.

Growing these plants is not difficult, but there are some rules that need to be followed in order for hibiscus to grow healthy and strong.

Garden hibiscus care

Landing is carried out in an area with nutritious and breathable soil, protected from winds and bright sun. A shrub is planted in the spring, then by autumn the young plants will have time to take root. To grow garden hibiscus outdoors, you will need a deep planting hole, which must be filled with a thick layer of drainage - at least 15 cm - with sand and rotted compost. Garden soil mixed with sand and peat is laid out on this mixture.

Plants are placed in a pit so that the root collar is level with the soil, it is not necessary to deepen it - this can lead to decay. Then sprinkle with soil and watered abundantly. Planting and leaving before winter should be accompanied by soil mulching. Additionally, it is better to insulate the seedlings with spruce branches.

Further care for hibiscus garden consists in abundant watering, regular loosening of the soil, pruning and feeding. It is necessary to water the shrub as the soil dries out with warm, settled water; on hot days, more liquid will be required. Some types of hibiscus will drop their leaves when there is a lack of moisture. It is advisable to feed the shrub in the spring-summer period with a phosphorus-containing fertilizer once every 2 weeks.

Loosening the soil improves aeration and allows the root system to breathe. It is better to prune garden and tree-like hibiscus in spring or early summer - this has a beneficial effect on flowering, facilitates maintenance and helps to give the tree a beautiful shape. It is important to properly prepare young trees for the dormant period: before the onset of frost, garden hibiscus is pruned and watered abundantly, after which the soil around is mulched using dry foliage and sawdust. Young plants are wrapped or bent to the ground.For shelter, a frame and a special material, such as agrotex, are used.

Pruning hibiscus

Spring care of the plant consists of pruning the branches. This is a necessary procedure for both indoor and garden species. It is produced after a dormant period, when the bush has not yet had time to start growing. Correct shortening of the shoots has a positive effect on flowering, improves the branching and appearance of the shrub.

In some species, flower buds are laid only at the ends of new shoots, therefore, without pruning, the plant may stop blooming. Treelike and garden hibiscus is well formed, you can give it any shape, for example, turning it into a standard tree. Cuttings obtained during pruning are used for plant propagation.

Advice

Do not get rid of the hibiscus rhizome in early spring - these plants wake up late, and it is better to wait a while than uprooting the still living bush.

Propagation of hibiscus by cuttings

Garden and tree hibiscus propagates very simply: by seeds, cuttings, grafting. Cuttings begin in the summer, before flowering. For this, shoots with several internodes are cut from the bush, the ends are dusted with a root formation stimulator and planted in a greenhouse with peat soil. Rooting lasts about a month, when the shoots start to grow, they are transplanted into pots with a nutritious substrate and grow there until a bush is formed. After that, it is possible to plant plants in the open field.

Advice

Young plants do not have the frost resistance of adults, therefore they need to be covered for the winter or dug up, transplanted into pots and stored until spring in a cellar or in the dark on a glassed-in balcony.

The water method is also suitable for cuttings, but when it is used, most of the leaves are removed from the shoot, leaving 3-4, large ones are cut by a third to reduce evaporation. An activated carbon tablet is added to the water so that there is no decay. By cuttings, hibiscus usually reproduces successfully.

How to propagate hibiscus by seed

Growing from seeds is the easiest way to propagate these plants. Garden hibiscus obtained in this way blooms in the year of planting, and Syrian - only in the third year. It is better to start sowing in winter, from the end of January. The seeds need fresh, they do not need stratification. Planting is carried out in a mixture of peat and sand, before it, the seed must be soaked in a growth stimulator for a day.

Crops are watered and covered with a bag or placed in a greenhouse, placing it in a bright and warm place, where the temperature is not lower than +25 ° C. Before the emergence of friendly shoots, caring for seedlings consists of regular airing and spraying. Outdoor cultivation begins at the end of May, when the threat of frost has passed. Plants are planted in a permanent place, protected from drafts and the scorching sun.

Diseases and pests

The main pests of hibiscus are spider mites. They multiply rapidly in hot and dry conditions, covering the bush with white cobwebs. Yellow dots appear on the leaves, the buds do not open, but dry up and fall off. In case of severe damage to the plant, it is necessary to treat it with special preparations. There are also folk recipes for getting rid of this pest: spraying with an infusion of garlic, a solution of essential oils (10 drops per 1 liter of water) and others. Bushes are sometimes affected by aphids. These are rather large insects, visible to the naked eye. When they appear, insecticides are used.

Hibiscus can be sick with chlorosis, while the leaf plate turns yellow, only the central veins remain green. The disease most often occurs due to a lack of nutrients, especially iron. It is necessary to add additional organic fertilizers to the soil and spray it on the sheet with iron chelate. Lack of nutrition is also indicated by such signs as lack of flowering, frequent yellowing and falling of leaves, poor development of shoots.If the plant is not properly cared for, fungal diseases can occur caused by over-watering or low water temperatures.

So, hibiscus - can be trees, bushes or grasses. They prefer a sunny location, abundant watering and fertilizing with phosphorus fertilizers. In central Russia, some frost-resistant varieties can be grown in open ground, but most species require shelter for the winter with special material or spruce branches.

Perennial shrubs, such as hibiscus garden and tree-like (Syrian), throw off their foliage for the winter, but herbaceous species rarely retain the aboveground part, growing again from the rhizome every spring. Major illnesses are associated with care errors and nutritional deficiencies. Of the pests, mites and aphids are often affected. Plants reproduce well by seeds and cuttings.

Garden hibiscus comes from the Malvov family. A hibiscus plant in the garden can look like a shrub, a compact tree, it's up to you how it should fit into your site.

Hibiscus is native to Asia and South China. In nature, there are more than 300 varieties of this plant. Under natural conditions, its height can reach about three meters.

General information

In Hawaii, the garden hibiscus flower is popular. When different kinds of holidays and festivities take place on the islands, girls decorate their beautiful curly hair with them.

But in turn, in European countries, hibiscus is considered the flower of death. In houses where hibiscus garden grows, according to its external changes, they judged about future changes. If the plant begins to shed its leaves and withers away, it means that someone in the family will get sick.

If the buds appeared on the plant ahead of time, this portends an early death, one of the family members. Many stories have been invented that are associated with the appearance of a garden hibiscus flower on plots, they say that if you start it in an apartment, then scandals between husband and wife will begin.

But in the East, hibiscus is considered not a flower of death, but an energetic that fills everything around with life.

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Hibiscus species

Syrian hibiscus his homeland is the south of Transcaucasia. The second name is garden hibiscus. It looks like a rather compact shrub, about 3 meters high. Inflorescences are similar to saucers, flowering begins in the second half of summer to early autumn. Inflorescences are common, sometimes terry. The color is pink, white, red.

A frost-resistant plant, hibiscus can withstand up to - 25 degrees. But constant warm weather is necessary for good abundant flowering. Hibiscus prefers a sunny place, grows well in neutral soil.

Terry hibiscus or volatileChina is considered his homeland. Deciduous shrub, reaching a height of about three meters. The trunk of the plant has a straight, pointed end.

Inflorescences are light, sometimes turning into pink shades, double or sometimes ordinary flowers are found. The diameter of the inflorescence is about 10 cm. Pruning is necessary only if there are dry branches.

Herbaceous hibiscus, a plant with straight shoots, reaching a height of up to 3 meters. The leaves are large, similar to the foliage of a sunflower. The shade of the inflorescences is raspberry, pink, white. The plant is thermophilic, prefers sunny areas. Flowering begins in August and lasts until early September.

Hibiscus is unpretentious, frost-resistant and takes root well in all soils. This species must be cut under the base every fall. And in the new period, flowering will be only on new shoots.

Marsh hibiscus, perennial, grown both in the garden and indoors. It even competes with roses with its bright bloom. The inflorescences are large, the shade of pink turning into a rich red, and inside at the base it is covered with black blotches. Olive leaves, smooth. Withstands frosty weather down to -30 degrees.

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Hibiscus planting and care in the open field

Growing a hibiscus garden does not bring much trouble, but having done everything right, a successful result awaits you.

Watering for hibiscus needs regular, moderate, as the soil dries. In hot weather, water often, but do not allow moisture to stagnate.

For planting garden hibiscus in the open field, it is necessary to prepare loose soil, saturated with humus fertilizers and without moisture stagnation. A garden hibiscus flower requires constant loosening of the soil and removal of weeds around it.

During the period of active development from the first months of summer to autumn, hibiscus needs regular fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen and phosphorus. It should be fed several times a month, and potash fertilizers should be added closer to winter. Hibiscus inflorescences bloom for only one day.

You can also familiarize yourself with the indoor hibiscus plant and what kind of care it needs to provide at home by clicking on the link.

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Hibiscus garden care and seed propagation

Hibiscus cultivation from seeds begins from the end of January to the first month of spring. Before sowing, the seeds are placed in a saturated solution of manganese for 30 minutes, and then in a small amount of a growth stimulant and left for 24 hours.

After all the procedures done, the seeds must be sown in a container with peat and sand in equal proportions. Cover with foil and glass and maintain the temperature at about 26 degrees. Do not forget to open and ventilate the containers and water from the spray into the soil.

When the first three leaves begin to appear in the seedlings, they need to be planted in separate containers. It is necessary to ensure that the seedlings do not stretch, for this they need sufficient lighting. Seedlings are transplanted to the site in May. There is also a way to reproduce garden hibiscus by sowing itself.

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Propagation of hibiscus by cuttings

For propagation by cuttings, cuttings with three nodes are cut, the lower part is treated with a growth stimulator. Then they are transplanted into peat soil with a temperature of about 26 degrees, preferably in a greenhouse.

After the cuttings take root, they are planted and pinched, to create a shape in separate containers with prepared soil, peat, sod land, leaf and sand, everything is taken in equal parts.

And as soon as a compact bush grows, you can plant it on the site. With proper care, flowering will begin in the first year. You can also root the cuttings in water.

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Pruning garden hibiscus in spring

Hibiscus pruning is done mainly for the purpose of thinning and removing dry shoots from the shrub and giving the shrub the shape you want. To form a tree, a young plant is cut to the base of three buds, leaving only a well-stemmed body.

In the following times, pruning of garden hibiscus in the spring is necessary for the extreme shoots up to two buds, and the central trunk up to six buds. When the tree reaches the height you need, then you need to cut off excess branches and tops of the tree.

It is necessary to remove and thin out the shrub in early spring before saping begins. The better you prune old branches, the more and more abundant flowering will be for the season.

Pruning Syrian hibiscus implies different lengths of shoots, then your plant will look interesting enough and have a beautiful shape.

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Hibiscus diseases and pests

• If your plant does not receive moisture for a long time during a drought, then it may be susceptible to pests such as aphids and spider mites. To destroy them, it is better to treat the plant with insecticides.
• Among the diseases that affect hibiscus, the most common is chlorosis, the lower leaves begin to turn yellow and crumble, and new ones also grow yellowish. The reason for this is the lack of nitrogen fertilizers and iron in the soil. For this, it is watered with a liquid complex fertilizer with the addition of the necessary substances.
• If your plant refuses to bloom and has slowed down its growth, then there is a lack of phosphorus and boron in the soil, and if the shoots are inhibited in growth, there is a lack of nitrogen fertilizers, you should treat the plant with fertilizer with the addition of nitrogen, and then flowering will surely appear.

Fulfilling all the prescriptions correctly, your plant will develop and delight your garden plot with its active growth and abundant flowering.

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Garden hibiscus comes from the Malvov family. A hibiscus plant in the garden can look like a shrub, a compact tree, it's up to you how it should fit into your site.

Hibiscus is native to Asia and South China. In nature, there are more than 300 varieties of this plant. Under natural conditions, its height can reach about three meters.

Planting hibiscus

Having decided to grow a tree-like hibiscus on your site, you must first decide on the choice of a site for planting. The place should be protected from winds and well warmed up by the sun. Ideally, plant the plant under the protection of a fence or house wall.

Disembarkation for permanent residence is made only with the onset of constant heat. Since a young plant does not tolerate hypothermia, unlike an adult. Before planting, be sure to prepare the soil:

• Provide a drainage layer of expanded clay or charcoal
• Loosen the ground.
• Let it warm up throughout the day.

How to plant hibiscus

In principle, the planting technique is the same for both species of this plant. The only difference is that for the Syrian hibiscus it is necessary to prepare a hole twice the size of the plant's root system.

The pit must be prepared in advance. Garden hibiscus reacts very painfully to waterlogging, therefore, care must be taken to create a good drainage layer. Broken brick (red) works well for this purpose. A 15 centimeter layer of brick will be enough. The same layer of sand is poured onto it, and from above everything is covered with a layer of compost (also 15 cm). The compost, in turn, is sprinkled with a fifteen centimeter layer of sand. Thus, we get effective, and even nutritious drainage. It is also advisable to lighten the soil taken out of the hole by mixing it with sand and peat (two parts of the earth - one part of sand and four parts of peat). After such preparation, you can carefully place the plant in the ground, fill it with the prepared mixture. When planting, the root collar of a hibiscus should be only slightly covered with earth.

After planting, make a watering circle around the plant and water it. When the water is absorbed and the earth settles, add more mixture, leveling it with the general surface of the flower garden.

Fresh articles about garden and vegetable garden

Growing hibiscus

This is an unpretentious plant to care for, which grows in almost any climatic conditions, easily tolerates drought and is frost-hardy.

Any soil with a high acidity level is suitable for planting hibiscus. Organic fertilizers and rotted needles can be applied to the site.

Plant seedlings are planted in the spring, after the last frost has passed. Over the summer, they manage to take root and get stronger before the onset of cold weather.

Hybrid hibiscus grows well in a sunny area, protected from winds and drafts. This flower feels great in the neighborhood of roses.

Watering the hibiscus

Watering should be plentiful in the spring and summer months, moderately in winter. Try to achieve the perfect balance in watering, so that the soil in the pot is slightly damp, but not soggy or dry. Caring for hibiscus at home necessarily involves loosening the soil in a pot an hour after watering to avoid caking.

It is recommended to often spray the leaves of the Chinese rose, if the heat is strong, then twice a day. Hibiscus is also very fond of showers, under which the dust is washed from its leaves.

Pruning hibiscus

To get rid of deformed shoots - over time, some become bent, become short and acquire an irregular shape. This must be corrected: cut off the curved, in the place of which new ones will grow.

To shape the plant. The plant is not always able to grow lush "hair" on its own - instead, only old shoots grow. That's when pruning is required. Just do not forget that after this the flower spends all its strength on the growth of new shoots, therefore, either does not bloom at all, or blooms weakly.

To rejuvenate the plant. Over time, the flower has many old dried branches, which must be urgently disposed of.

To get rid of sick shoots. In this case, it is called "sanitary" pruning: they remove the affected parts of the plant, capturing healthy parts.

So that the plant grows well and pleases with abundant flowering. In some cases, the roots of the flower are pruned, but this is extremely rare - mainly when the root system has grown too much and it does not have enough space in the pot. In this case, you must act very carefully - you can damage the roots.

Hibiscus transplant

It is necessary to distinguish between the process of transplanting and transshipment of indoor plants. Transfer for any flowers is preferable, because with it the roots of the plant are preserved in the old earthen coma, are not damaged when the flower is removed from the pot and when it is placed in a new container. When transshipment, the plants adapt faster and are taken into growth. And transplanting involves completely changing the soil mixture, exposing the roots, which can lead to their damage.

We take expanded clay and pour it on the bottom of the pot, it will serve us as a good drainage and protect the plant from root rot in case of excess moisture.

Next, pour some soil into a new pot. With gentle swaying movements from side to side and light tapping on the walls of the flower pot, we take out the plant from the container where it grew before.

We take the earth and carefully fill in the main clod with roots, slightly pressing it into the pot for the stability of the plant. You can put a support in the form of a stick next to it and tie a hibiscus to it so that the flower does not tilt to one side or the other and grows straight. In addition, this will save the pot from instability and possible fall from the windowsill due to the tilt of the plant and the displacement due to this center of gravity.

Then you need to water the soil abundantly and cover the pot with foil for 2 days at the roots: this will help the hibiscus quickly recover from the stress it experienced during transplantation. Then remove the film and allow the flower to grow in the usual way, providing sunlight, fresh air and regular watering.

But freshly transplanted or transplanted plants should not be immediately exposed to bright sunlight, even if this is a natural need for this type of plant. For several days, the plant should stand away from the scorching sun, so as not to be exposed to even more stress and expenditure of energy and moisture.

Also, do not immediately feed the transplanted hibiscus with fertilizers. This can be done 1.5-2 weeks after transplanting, when the root system adapts to the new soil. And do not get carried away with nitrogen-containing dressings, because for hibiscus, fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus are better suited.

How to propagate hibiscus

This method is good for growing valuable varieties of hibiscus.

If you sowed hibiscus with seeds, don't worry if the plant doesn't bloom for a long time. Flowers will be tied only after a couple of years.

You can buy seeds in the store, or you can collect from your own hibiscus. Pollinate the flowers with a soft brush. You will see that the seeds are ripening. Their ripening period in a flower box is a month.

And now you are all set. We start growing from seeds.

Hibiscus from seed

Soak the seed for several hours in a solution diluted according to the instructions of "Epin", "Humate" or other stimulant.

Place them in a damp cloth and wrap them in a regular plastic bag. The temperature should be 25-30 C. After about 3 days, the seeds will begin to hatch.

Plant the seeds in moist soil. Soil for seeds is no different from soil for Chinese rose cuttings.

Sow the seeds to a depth of 5 mm, and cover the container with seeds with glass or foil to retain moisture.

Wait for seedlings to appear. They will hatch in a week or two.

Propagation of hibiscus by cuttings

First of all, you need to choose the right shoots. They should be young, well-developed, and the bark on them should be semi-lignified. For work, you need to prepare plastic cups with a volume of 0.3 liters, a peat tablet (diameter 4 cm), expanded clay for drainage, a root stimulator, a soil ripper, a plastic bag.

Next, you have to do the following:

• Sharpen and disinfect the knife.
• Cut the shoot obliquely. The length of the cut should be approximately 15 cm.
• The upper part of the branch must be shortened by making a straight cut. You need to cut off in such a way that 3-4 internodes remain on the handle.
• Remove the bottom sheets, and shorten the top ones, leaving half or a third.
• Put the prepared cuttings in a container with epin solution for several hours. In this case, the segments should not be completely immersed in the solution, but half. If there is no solution, you can use any former at the root by dipping the lower part of the segments into it.
• Disinfect 200-500 ml seedling cups.
• Prepare the soil. It should consist of garden soil, peat and sand, taken in equal proportions.
• Put a peat tablet in a glass, add soil and moisten it.
• Place the cuttings in cups by immersing them in the soil.

Pests and diseases of hibiscus

Non-infectious chlorosis. Nutrition imbalance - an overabundance of one or more elements, against the background of a lack of others. Thin branches, pale leaves, faded flowers, weak flowering indicate a lack of potassium in the plant's nutritional system. The appearance of spots on the leaves signals a lack of nitrogen or magnesium; sudden leaf fall or whitening of leaves - iron deficiency.

Infectious chlorosis. Infection of the Chinese rose with pests, microbes, viruses, fungal infection. General oppression of the plant, weak flowering, leaf fall, leaf curl, the appearance of traces of the vital activity of pests on the leaves and branches.

Sunburn. A sharp change in illumination when the plant changes its place of residence, excessive insolation at noon. Burns in the form of white spots on hibiscus leaves.

Hibiscus diseases

Rapid yellowing of leaves - pests, nutritional deficiencies, root rot or diseases, lack of moisture in the room.

Sudden leaf fall - low humidity in the room, lack of spraying, change in light regime, stressful conditions for the plant (a sharp increase or decrease in temperature, numerous drafts).

Sudden yellowing of leaves in combination with leaf fall - low humidity in the room, rotting of the root system, stressful changes in conditions of detention.

The appearance of leaves twisted into a tube is the defeat of the Chinese rose by pests.

Browning of the ends of the leaves is a lack of nutrition.

Withering of the plant as a whole - overdrying of the earthy coma, excessive temperature in the room, decrease in humidity

The plant sheds leaves, flowers and buds - lack of potassium, pest infestation, excessive temperature in the room.

Why does hibiscus turn yellow

Violation of the watering regime. Hibiscus aged more than four to five years needs a lot of irrigation water every day, as required by its root system. In between waterings, the soil in the flower pot should not be wet, but always slightly damp.An excess of moisture in the soil can lead to compaction of the soil and poor air permeability, which will lead to rotting of the root part and waterlogging of the soil surface.

Insufficient lighting. When a flower moves to a poorly lit room, it is necessary to use fluorescent lamps and illuminate it for an additional several hours a day for some time in order to prevent the plant from falling into a stressful state. When transferring hibiscus from home to the street, it is very important not to immediately place it in direct sunlight, but to do it gradually. First, it is necessary to shade the flower at midday and protect it from sunburn.

Violation of the temperature regime. The Chinese rose prefers to be kept in warm conditions with temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees Celsius. A decrease and an increase in temperature beyond these limits adversely affects the plant. It is also not recommended to allow cold drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations. In a cool room, you need to put a heater, and in a hot room, use spraying, and raise the humidity level.

Lack or excess of fertilizers. When fertilizing soil with indoor plants, you need to know exactly what nutrients are important for a given specimen. An excess or deficiency of certain substances can harm the indoor pet. For example, elements such as magnesium and potassium are very important for the development of hibiscus and should be present in increased amounts. But a large amount of nitrogen and phosphorus can cause discoloration of the leaves and lead to complete yellowing.

How to winter hibiscus

Herbaceous and tree-like hibiscus are prepared for wintering in the same way - they need to be cut off, watered abundantly (before the onset of frost). A few days after watering, the plants are spud, and for this they use ordinary soil with the addition of sand. Warming is also carried out in the second half of November.

To do this, the prepared plant is covered with sawdust or dry foliage - so that the height of the mound is about 15 cm.Young bushes need to be covered especially carefully, for which there are several ways:

• the whole bush is bent to the ground and covered with a special cloth (spunbond, lutrasil), and then also with plastic wrap;
• a strong frame is created around the bush, wrapped in several layers of covered material, and even spruce branches are used for better shelter.

Hibiscus belongs to the Malvov family. It looks like a compact tree or an evergreen shrub, in natural conditions its height can be more than three meters. The plant loves hot and humid climates and is native to South China and Asia. Garden varieties of hibiscus are frost-hardy and unpretentious, but growing them in the open field requires compliance with certain rules of care.

1 Varieties and description

Syrian hibiscus Diana

Garden hibiscus is distinguished by green ovoid leaves with pointed edges and funnel-shaped flowers of various shades (from white to purple).

There are about 200 varieties of hibiscus, but only a few are suitable for growing in the garden:

1. 1. Syrian hibiscus. It grows at a slow pace and blooms only in the fourth year of its life. Plants are distinguished by green leaves and flowers of various colors. The most famous varieties of this species are:

• Diana. The tree-like plant can reach a height of two meters, it is distinguished by snow-white petals with wavy edges.
• Pink Giant. The shrub has pink flowers with purple blotches at the base of the petals.
• Vayelith Ilar Double. The bush is distinguished by double purple-blue flowers with red blotches in the middle.

2. Trinity hibiscus. The plant is about one meter high, with a branched stem, lush petiolate foliage and small yellow flowers.The flowering period is quite long (about 30 days), flowers bloom in the morning for only a few hours.

3. Hybrid hibiscus. It was bred on the basis of marsh, bright red and holly hibiscus. Herbaceous perennial plants have large flowers. The most popular varieties include:

• Youth. The plant is about one and a half meters high, it is distinguished by weakly branched stems, yellow-green foliage and pink flowers with a white bottom in the form of tulips.
• Late. A compact shrub about one meter high with jagged oval-arrow-shaped leaves and crimson-pink flowers in the form of bells with a lilac shade.
• Porcelain pink. A shrub more than one meter high with branched yellow-green stems, deeply cut leaves and large bell-shaped light pink flowers with a white throat.

4. Swamp hibiscus. It is a perennial cold-resistant plant that can withstand frosts of thirty degrees. It is distinguished by smooth olive-colored leaves and large inflorescences of a pink-red saturated shade with black blotches at the base.

5. Herbaceous hibiscus. It is a thermophilic plant with three-meter straight shoots, large leaves and inflorescences of various shades (from white to crimson). Blooms from August to September. The most popular varieties:

• Copper King. A small bushy plant of a rounded shape, its height is just over one meter. Differs in openwork maple-shaped leaves and large pink flowers with a crimson-red heart.
• Old Yella. A meter-long bush with green pinnate maple-shaped leaves, in bright light they can have a purple hue. The flowers are large in size with wavy petals and a red core, be white or cream in color.

Hibiscus Chinese rose is suitable for indoor cultivation. The tree-like shrub can reach two meters in height, its dark leaves have serrated edges, and single buds, when opened, are similar in shape to a bowl. Flowers can be either simple or double, their color is varied (white, yellow, red or pink). One bud only blooms for two days, however, if you properly care for the Chinese rose, you can increase the duration of its flowering.

Hibiscus chinese rose

Garden jasmine shrub (chubushnik): features of planting and care in the open field

2 Planting and care

Growing hibiscus in a summer cottage will not be difficult. They plant it in a semi-confined place. Seedlings are planted in open ground in spring, when night frosts pass. The planting hole should be several times the size of the plant's roots. Drainage is laid out at the bottom of the pit (broken brick can be used), then a layer of sand, compost and again a layer of sand are poured.

The seedling is carefully placed in the planting hole and sprinkled with soil. It should consist of equal parts of sand, peat and turf. When planting, the seedlings are not deeply buried: their root collar should only be slightly sprinkled with earth. The planted plant is spud and watered.

Chinese rose (hibiscus): features of growing and care at home

2.1 Watering, mulching and fertilizing

Watering garden hibiscus is necessary after the topsoil dries. In the hot season, watering should be daily, and in the cool period, the number of procedures is reduced.

After watering, the soil should be loosened and weeds removed to provide air for the roots of the plant. To reduce the appearance of weeds and prevent moisture evaporation, the trunk circle is mulched with dry peat or sawdust.

In the summer, when there is an active growing season, hibiscus is fed once every two weeks. As a top dressing, fertilizers are used for flowering plants with a high content of phosphorus and nitrogen.

Features of growing nemesia from seeds and further care in the open field

2.2 Pruning and preparation for wintering

Pruning of street hibiscus is carried out in early spring, weak and damaged branches are removed. During the flowering period, faded buds are removed to activate the emergence of new ones.

For the winter, garden hibiscus is covered; for this, a frame is erected around the plant and Agrotex is pulled over it. In regions where the air temperature can drop below minus ten degrees Celsius, for example, in the Moscow region or in the Urals, hibiscus hibernate in cool rooms. To do this, they are dug up and placed in suitable containers, and in the spring they are again transplanted into open ground.

2.3 Reproduction

Reproduction of hibiscus garden by cuttings

Most often, garden hibiscus at home is propagated by seeds or cuttings. The grafting method consists of the following steps:

• A healthy shoot is cut from an adult plant with a sharp pruner and cut into ten-centimeter segments, each of them should have several internodes. The lower leaves are removed from the cutting, and the upper leaves are left.
• Before planting, the cuttings are treated with a growth stimulant, you can use Kornevin.
• The cuttings are planted in a container and covered with foil (the soil is prepared the same as for seed propagation).
• After rooting (this happens about a month later), the cuttings are transplanted into separate containers for growing.
• The cuttings are looked after until a strong bush is formed, then they are pinched and planted in open ground.

Seed propagation takes place as follows:

• Mature seeds are harvested from the plant; they should be brown. You can sow them from the beginning of winter until March.
• Before sowing, the seeds are kept for 40 minutes in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 100 ml of water).
• After processing, the seeds are sown in containers with soil consisting of an equal amount of peat and sand, and covered with plastic wrap.
• The film is removed daily to ventilate and moisten the planting material. The germination temperature should be within 26 degrees Celsius.
• When the first leaves appear, the seedlings dive into separate containers. At the end of spring, they are planted in open ground.

Hybrid varieties of hibiscus should not be propagated by seed, as they lose all maternal characteristics.

2.4 Pests and diseases

During the dry season, when the garden hibiscus will experience a lack of moisture, it can be attacked by spider mites. They settle on the underside of leaves and form a cobweb. You can get rid of them with the help of drugs such as Agrovertin or Fitoverm. You can fight spider mites and folk remedies: once a week, the plant is treated with water with the addition of any essential oils (5 drops per 1 liter of water).

The defeat of the plant by a spider mite

Hibiscus bushes can infect aphids. When this insect appears, sticky secretions appear on the foliage of the hibiscus, and over time it deforms. To get rid of the pest, the leaves are wiped with soapy water, and then the plant is treated according to the instructions with drugs such as Iskra or Aktara.

Aphids on hibiscus

Chlorosis is considered a common disease of hibiscus garden; as a result of its defeat, the leaves lose their color, turn yellow and fall off. Chlorosis is caused by a lack of iron and nitrogen in the soil. To eliminate the disease, the plant is fed with fertilizers, which include the necessary trace elements.

Chlorosis of hibiscus leaves

Hibiscus is a tree, shrub or herb from the Malvaceae family. There are about 200 varieties of it, and therefore the cultivation of garden hibiscus is a very exciting activity for flower growers all over the world. One of the species (Sudanese rose) is used to make Karkade tea.Okra, okra - edible hibiscus, its cultivation is possible in the garden or on the balcony. A popular indoor flower, Chinese hibiscus, grows outdoors in countries with warm climates. In our latitudes, it is only suitable for container gardening: flowers are taken outside in summer and brought back when it gets colder. At home, tree-like hibiscus, or Syrian, is also grown - a deciduous shrub that has a pronounced dormant period and requires certain wintering conditions.

Garden species of hibiscus

Growing garden hibiscus on the site and caring for it is not a hassle, this plant allows you to decorate a shady corner with large, bright flowers. Breeders have bred several varieties that can be planted in central Russia, but they require winter shelter or digging out of the ground. There are frost-hardy species, but they are rarely found commercially.

For regions with a temperate climate, hibiscus are suitable:

• triple,
• Syrian,
• swamp,
• grassy,
• garden.

Syrian and garden hibiscus are often confused, because for the first there is another name - tree-like. In southern countries, he received the nickname - "flower of love." Usually it is a shrub about 1.5-2 meters in height, completely covered with large simple or double flowers, similar to mallow. The classic colors are white and lilac, but now others are also bred: pink, red, blue. Swamp hibiscus, or okra, okra, is a very decorative shrub with large flowers, usually pink or red in color. It is frost-resistant, withstands temperatures down to –30 ° C.

The herbaceous hibiscus grows 3 meters tall and is a frost-hardy shrub that blooms from August to September. Its stems are massive, erect, with large leaves resembling sunflower leaves. Flowers can be white, light pink, or red. Growing and caring for it is very simple. The plant is sun-loving, undemanding to the composition of the soil, therefore it is popular among flower growers. For the winter, it is cut to the root, and grows back in the spring. There are more than 1000 hybrids of herbaceous hibiscus. The trifoliate hibiscus, or northern, is a medicinal herbaceous annual plant with small light yellow flowers that open in the morning for several hours.

Garden hibiscus is a hybrid herbaceous perennial, resulting from the crossing of 3 species: red, pink and holly. Differs in decorative foliage and large spectacular flowers, the size of which can reach 40 cm. Care is simple.

There are several hybrids.

• Youth is a plant with light green leaves and purple tulip-shaped flowers.
• Late - a shrub with oval leaves and crimson flowers in the shape of a bell, grows up to 1 m.
• Pale pink - a plant up to 2 meters high, yellowish foliage, bright pink, tulip-shaped flowers.
• Pink-porcelain - medium-sized bush up to 1.5 m high, flowers are large, pink, with a white throat, in the form of bells. Bright green succulent leaves on long petioles.

Dissected petal hibiscus

Hibiscus for container gardening

The following species are used as a tub culture on the site.

1. Dissected hibiscus (Schizopetalus) - the petals of flowers of this species are strongly dissected and bent back. Outwardly, it resembles a domesticated Chinese. Flowering lasts from spring to autumn.
2. Chinese hibiscus is a shrub with flowers of various sizes and colors. Cultivation as a houseplant is common, but it can be taken out into the garden for the summer. Caring for a tub flower consists in abundant watering and feeding.

Growing these plants is not difficult, but there are some rules that need to be followed in order for hibiscus to grow healthy and strong.

Garden hibiscus care

Landing is carried out in an area with nutritious and breathable soil, protected from winds and bright sun. A shrub is planted in the spring, then by autumn the young plants will have time to take root. To grow garden hibiscus outdoors, you will need a deep planting hole, which must be filled with a thick layer of drainage - at least 15 cm - with sand and rotted compost. Garden soil mixed with sand and peat is laid out on this mixture.

Plants are placed in a pit so that the root collar is level with the soil, it is not necessary to deepen it - this can lead to decay. Then sprinkle with soil and watered abundantly. Planting and leaving before winter should be accompanied by soil mulching. Additionally, it is better to insulate the seedlings with spruce branches.

Further care for hibiscus garden consists in abundant watering, regular loosening of the soil, pruning and feeding. It is necessary to water the shrub as the soil dries out with warm, settled water; on hot days, more liquid will be required. Some types of hibiscus will drop their leaves when there is a lack of moisture. It is advisable to feed the shrub in the spring-summer period with a phosphorus-containing fertilizer once every 2 weeks.

Loosening the soil improves aeration and allows the root system to breathe. It is better to prune garden and tree-like hibiscus in spring or early summer - this has a beneficial effect on flowering, facilitates maintenance and helps to give the tree a beautiful shape. It is important to properly prepare young trees for the dormant period: before the onset of frost, garden hibiscus is pruned and watered abundantly, after which the soil around is mulched using dry foliage and sawdust. Young plants are wrapped or bent to the ground. For shelter, a frame and a special material, such as agrotex, are used.

Pruning hibiscus

Spring care of the plant consists of pruning the branches. This is a necessary procedure for both indoor and garden species. It is produced after a dormant period, when the bush has not yet had time to start growing. Correct shortening of shoots has a positive effect on flowering, improves branching and appearance of the shrub.

In some species, flower buds are laid only at the ends of new shoots, therefore, without pruning, the plant may stop blooming. Treelike and garden hibiscus is well formed, you can give it any shape, for example, turning it into a standard tree. Cuttings obtained during pruning are used for plant propagation.

Advice

You should not get rid of the hibiscus rhizome in early spring - these plants wake up late, and it is better to wait a while than to uproot the still living bush.

Propagation of hibiscus by cuttings

Garden and tree hibiscus propagates very simply: by seeds, cuttings, grafting. Cuttings begin in the summer, before flowering. For this, shoots with several internodes are cut from the bush, the ends are dusted with a root formation stimulator and planted in a greenhouse with peat soil. Rooting lasts about a month, when the shoots start to grow, they are transplanted into pots with a nutritious substrate and grow there until a bush is formed. After that, it is possible to plant plants in the open field.

Advice

Young plants do not have the frost resistance of adults, therefore they need to be covered for the winter or dug up, transplanted into pots and stored until spring in a cellar or in the dark on a glassed-in balcony.

The water method is also suitable for cuttings, but when it is used, most of the leaves are removed from the shoot, leaving 3-4, large ones are cut by a third to reduce evaporation. An activated carbon tablet is added to the water so that there is no decay. By cuttings, hibiscus usually reproduces successfully.

How to propagate hibiscus by seed

Growing from seeds is the easiest way to propagate these plants. Garden hibiscus obtained in this way blooms in the year of planting, and Syrian - only in the third year.It is better to start sowing in winter, from the end of January. The seeds need fresh, they do not need stratification. Planting is carried out in a mixture of peat and sand, before it, the seed must be soaked in a growth stimulator for a day.

Crops are watered and covered with a bag or placed in a greenhouse, placing it in a bright and warm place, where the temperature is not lower than +25 ° C. Before the emergence of friendly shoots, caring for seedlings consists of regular airing and spraying. Outdoor cultivation begins at the end of May, when the threat of frost has passed. Plants are planted in a permanent place, protected from drafts and the scorching sun.

Diseases and pests

The main pests of hibiscus are spider mites. They multiply rapidly in hot and dry conditions, covering the bush with white cobwebs. Yellow dots appear on the leaves, the buds do not open, but dry up and fall off. In case of severe damage to the plant, it is necessary to treat it with special preparations. There are also folk recipes for getting rid of this pest: spraying with an infusion of garlic, a solution of essential oils (10 drops per 1 liter of water) and others. Bushes are sometimes affected by aphids. These are rather large insects, visible to the naked eye. When they appear, insecticides are used.

Hibiscus can suffer from chlorosis, while the leaf plate turns yellow, only the central veins remain green. The disease most often occurs due to a lack of nutrients, especially iron. It is necessary to add additional organic fertilizers to the soil and spray it on the sheet with iron chelate. Lack of nutrition is also indicated by such signs as lack of flowering, frequent yellowing and falling of leaves, poor development of shoots. If the care of the plant is not correct, fungal diseases can occur caused by excessive watering or low water temperatures.

So, hibiscus - can be trees, bushes or grasses. They prefer a sunny location, abundant watering and fertilizing with phosphorus fertilizers. In central Russia, some frost-resistant varieties can be grown in open ground, but most species require shelter for the winter with special material or spruce branches.

Perennial shrubs, such as hibiscus garden and tree-like (Syrian), throw off their foliage for the winter, but herbaceous species rarely retain the aboveground part, growing again from the rhizome every spring. Major illnesses are associated with care errors and nutritional deficiencies. Of the pests, mites and aphids are often affected. Plants reproduce well by seeds and cuttings.

Garden hibiscus comes from the Malvov family. A hibiscus plant in the garden can look like a shrub, a compact tree, it's up to you how it should fit into your site.

Hibiscus is native to Asia and South China. In nature, there are more than 300 varieties of this plant. Under natural conditions, its height can reach about three meters.

General information

In Hawaii, the garden hibiscus flower is popular. When various kinds of holidays and festivities take place on the islands, girls decorate their beautiful curly hair with them.

But in turn, in European countries, hibiscus is considered the flower of death. In houses where hibiscus garden grows, according to its external changes, they judged about future changes. If the plant begins to shed its leaves and withers away, it means that someone in the family will get sick.

If buds appeared on the plant ahead of time, this portends an early death, one of the family members. Many stories have been invented that are associated with the appearance of a garden hibiscus flower on the plots, they say that if you start it in an apartment, then scandals between husband and wife will begin.

But in the East, hibiscus is considered not a flower of death, but an energetic that fills everything around with life.

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Hibiscus species

Syrian hibiscus his homeland is the south of Transcaucasia. The second name is garden hibiscus.It looks like a rather compact shrub, about 3 meters high. Inflorescences are similar to saucers, flowering begins in the second half of summer to early autumn. Inflorescences are common, sometimes terry. The color is pink, white, red.

A frost-resistant plant, hibiscus can withstand up to - 25 degrees. But constant warm weather is necessary for good abundant flowering. Hibiscus prefers a sunny place, grows well in neutral soil.

Terry hibiscus or volatile, China is considered its homeland. Deciduous shrub, reaching a height of about three meters. The trunk of the plant has a straight, pointed end.

Inflorescences are light, sometimes turning into pink shades, double or sometimes ordinary flowers are found. The diameter of the inflorescence is about 10 cm. Pruning is necessary only if there are dry branches.

Herbaceous hibiscus, a plant with straight shoots, reaching a height of up to 3 meters. The leaves are large, similar to the foliage of a sunflower. The shade of the inflorescences is raspberry, pink, white. The plant is thermophilic, prefers sunny areas. Flowering begins in August and lasts until early September.

Hibiscus is unpretentious, frost-resistant and takes root well in all soils. This species must be cut under the base every fall. And in the new period, flowering will be only on new shoots.

Marsh hibiscus, perennial, grown both in the garden and indoors. It even competes with roses with its bright bloom. The inflorescences are large, the shade of pink turning into rich red, and inside at the base it is covered with black blotches. Olive leaves, smooth. Withstands frosty weather down to -30 degrees.

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Hibiscus planting and care in the open field

Growing a hibiscus garden does not bring much trouble, but having done everything right, a successful result awaits you.

Watering for hibiscus needs regular, moderate, as the soil dries. In hot weather, water often, but do not allow moisture to stagnate.

For planting garden hibiscus in the open field, it is necessary to prepare loose soil, saturated with humus fertilizers and without moisture stagnation. The garden hibiscus flower requires constant loosening of the soil and removal of weeds around it.

During the period of active development from the first months of summer to autumn, hibiscus needs regular fertilization with a high content of nitrogen and phosphorus. It should be fed several times a month, and potash fertilizers should be added closer to winter. Hibiscus inflorescences bloom for only one day.

You can also familiarize yourself with the indoor hibiscus plant and what kind of care it needs to provide at home by clicking on the link.

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Hibiscus garden care and seed propagation

Hibiscus cultivation from seeds begins from the end of January to the first month of spring. Before sowing, the seeds are placed in a saturated solution of manganese for 30 minutes, and then in a small amount of a growth stimulant and left for 24 hours.

After all the procedures done, the seeds must be sown in a container with peat and sand in equal proportions. Cover with foil and glass and maintain the temperature at about 26 degrees. Do not forget to open and ventilate the containers and water from the spray into the soil.

When the first three leaves begin to appear in the seedlings, they need to be planted in separate containers. It is necessary to ensure that the seedlings do not stretch, for this they need sufficient lighting. Seedlings are transplanted to the site in May. There is also a method of reproduction in garden hibiscus by sowing itself.

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Propagation of hibiscus by cuttings

For propagation by cuttings, cuttings with three nodes are cut, the lower part is treated with a growth stimulator. Then they are transplanted into peat soil with a temperature of about 26 degrees, preferably in a greenhouse.

After the cuttings take root, they are planted and pinched, to create a form in separate containers with prepared soil, peat, sod land, leaf and sand, everything is taken in equal parts.

And as soon as a compact bush grows, you can plant it on the site. Provided proper care, flowering will begin in the first year. You can also root the cuttings in water.

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Pruning garden hibiscus in spring

Hibiscus pruning is done primarily for the purpose of thinning and removing dry shoots from the shrub and giving the shrub the shape you want. To form a tree, a young plant is cut to the base of three buds, leaving only a well-stemmed body.

In the following times, pruning of garden hibiscus in the spring is necessary for the extreme shoots up to two buds, and the central trunk up to six buds. When the tree reaches the height you need, then you need to cut off excess branches and tops of the tree.

It is necessary to remove and thin out the shrub in early spring before saping begins. The better you prune old branches, the more and more abundant flowering will be for the season.

Pruning Syrian hibiscus implies different lengths of shoots, then your plant will look interesting enough and have a beautiful shape.

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Hibiscus diseases and pests

• If your plant does not receive moisture for a long time during a drought, then it may be susceptible to pests such as aphids and spider mites. To destroy them, it is better to treat the plant with insecticides.
• Among the diseases that affect hibiscus, the most common is chlorosis, the lower leaves begin to turn yellow and crumble, and new ones also grow yellowish. The reason for this is the lack of nitrogen fertilizers and iron in the soil. For this, it is watered with a liquid complex fertilizer with the addition of the necessary substances.
• If your plant refuses to bloom and has slowed down its growth, then there is a lack of phosphorus and boron in the soil, and if the shoots are inhibited in growth, there is a lack of nitrogen fertilizers, you should treat the plant with fertilizer with the addition of nitrogen, and then flowering will surely appear.

Fulfilling all the prescriptions correctly, your plant will develop and delight your garden plot with its active growth and abundant flowering.

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Hibiscus, still known in our country under the name of the Chinese rose, has long since changed its status as a purely indoor plant for the title of one of the most fashionable flowering crops for garden design. Hibiscus seedlings are sold almost as widely today as various varieties of roses. At the same time, species hibiscus are actively being replaced by hybrid ones, capable of wintering in open soil even in the middle lane. It is not so easy to grow garden hibiscus, but all efforts in care, and in choosing a suitable location, and in shelter will pay off with a unique spectacle of huge phonographs - flowers on a lush crown.

Chinese hibiscus, or Chinese rose

Hardy and not very hardy hibiscus

Hibiscus in the middle lane is grown as:

• perennial for open soil with shelter;
• annual plant;
• perennial in tub form or with a dig for the winter, which, with the arrival of cold weather, is removed to bright, cool rooms.

In the last two roles, you can grow and hibiscus chinese, or Chinese rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), and Syrian hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus), andmarsh hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos), and herbaceous hibiscus trifoliate, northern hibiscus (Hibiscus trionum).

In the open field, only two types hibernate without problems - hybrid hibiscus and some varieties Syrian hibiscus, which is often called garden hibiscus. At the same time, Syrian hibiscus are not always tree-like shrubs, and hybrid ones are herbaceous perennials. The difference between them today is erased, since the winter-hardy Syrian species also lend themselves to hybridization and are obtained selectively.Therefore, it is legitimate to assert that only hybrids can winter in the middle lane in the soil, but the origin and specific species name is not as important as the form of growth - shrub or herbaceous. When buying, it is wiser to focus on the nature of growth. Powerful root tubers of hybrid hibiscus are preserved under minimal cover even in very severe frost, aerial parts - only in arboreal and shrub forms when sheltered.

Trifoliate hibiscus is often attributed to fairly frost-resistant species, but it can only be planted if you purchase adult plants already adapted to your region.

What to look for when buying a hibiscus for your garden?

In order not to be mistaken with the choice of hibiscus, be sure to evaluate the range of local nurseries and garden centers, contact experienced gardeners, and do not buy plants from catalogs (especially foreign ones): for the ability of hibiscus to endure the winter, acclimatization and adaptation of mother plants is critically important. Simply belonging to hybrids will not give any guarantee. Therefore, choose trusted, reputable sellers. Since the various varieties of this plant, suitable for growing in your area, usually cover the entire palette, it is enough to choose the right color and boldly get a new soloist for garden compositions. When buying, specify the form of growth, the usual conditions for the plant.

Hibiscus for growing in open soil is best purchased with an open root system rather than in containers. The roots must be very strong and well developed, dense and firm. At the same time, make sure that the seedlings are 2-3 years old or older: the older the hibiscus is, the more frost resistance it will show.

Chinese hibiscus, or Chinese rose (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Choosing a location that is comfortable for your garden hibiscus

Growing conditions for all hibiscus are similar. This is the only plant that has the same lighting and soil requirements for those growing in the ground as well as for tub and potted hibiscus.

Hibiscus are among the most sun-loving garden plants. And in regions with harsh winters, good lighting for them is a critical parameter. For hibiscus, sunny and warmest areas are suitable, protected from wind and drafts, which are especially dangerous for plants in early spring. Kadkochnye hibiscus during the entire flowering period do not tolerate rearrangements from place to place and do not even like turning.

But the soil is very easy to pick up. Hibiscus grows well in any loose, high-quality garden soil, as long as the risk of moisture stagnation is minimal. Drained soils with a good level of organic matter, improved before planting and nutritious, universal soil mixtures for tubers - that's all they need.

Syrian hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus)

Planting a garden hibiscus

The optimal strategy for growing this plant is to plant the hibiscus in the soil in the spring. So young plants have time to adapt and fully overwinter with a simple shelter, do not require too many worries. That is why it is no coincidence that hibiscus seedlings are most abundant in garden centers and on the market in the spring, along with fruit trees. It will be possible to cover such hibiscus in the same way as adult plants - in the fall, spud with dry leaves and spruce branches.

But if you bought hibiscus in the fall, don't despair. A reliable shelter will help young bushes to survive the conditions of the middle lane. Just mulch the soil with a thick layer of vegetable mulch, sprinkle them with leaves and tie them with burlap and spruce branches in 3 layers, or arrange an air-dry shelter on the principle of sheltering roses, wisteria or clematis - and the hibiscus will successfully withstand the first winter.

In open soil, garden hibiscus is planted in large planting pits, at the bottom of which it is better to lay at least minimal drainage.The removed soil is improved with a portion of bone meal or superphosphate, compost, and humus is placed on the bottom of the hole. The hibiscus is planted while maintaining its usual level of deepening.

Kadkovy hibiscus are transplanted every spring, before the start of active growth. Most hibiscus plants require very large containers of 30 liters or more.

Hibiscus Syrian variety 'Blue Satin'

Caring for garden hibiscus according to strict rules

Hibiscus loves stable humidity, but it also tolerates drought well. True, the latter affect flowering. They do not threaten the plant itself, but they necessarily manifest themselves in dropping part of the buds. To succeed in growing it, you need to provide the hibiscus with supporting watering. Fortunately, knowing when to water your plant is critical. Hibiscus itself signals a lack of moisture by drooping leaves. But it is better not to wait for them to wither, and at the first signs of drought, just water the bushes in the same way as the most capricious perennials. Kadkovy hibiscus watering needs systemic, frequent, maintaining light moisture, in summer - daily. Any hibiscus will not refuse from spraying.

Hibiscus loves mulching, which helps to retain moisture and acts as a protection against extreme heat. The best materials are straw and peat with humus.

Hibiscus is sensitive to feeding and its composition. The plant does not tolerate a lack of nitrogen and iron, but an excess of the latter can become a traumatic factor for it. It is best for hibiscus to use special mixtures of fertilizers and micronutrients for flowering plants, containing an increased amount of phosphorus. For hibiscus in open soil, 2-3 fertilizing is carried out - in early spring and at the budding stage (you can add another one 2-3 weeks after the start of flowering). There is also an alternative - the second and third feeding is changed to monthly or more frequent watering with fertilizers for potted plants, but this is a risky option. The tub plants are fed every two weeks using flowering fertilizer or a mixture with a high phosphorus content.

Every 2-3 years, it is better for the plant to carry out a fairly strong crown formation, while pruning should be annual. Garden hibiscus blooms on the shoots of the current year and for abundant flowering, young growth must be stimulated. Moreover, the plant tolerates pruning without trauma. The procedure is carried out at least slightly shortening the tips of the shoots before the start of active growth, in early spring (after removing the shelter). Both thermophilic tubular hibiscus, both Syrian and hybrid are not afraid of topiary pruning and they can be grown in a strict form, driven out on a trunk. The tub hibiscus is trimmed in the same way, once a year, but if desired, they can be formed more often. The best time to cut them is the beginning of spring or autumn.

Yellow hibiscus on a stem

The most important thing is wintering

The wintering strategy of garden hibiscus depends on their winter hardiness:

1. Herbaceous hybrid and bushy Syrian hibiscus do not need strong shelter; with age, they can be covered at all with only a minimal hitch or not at all.
2. Low-hardy old Syrian hibiscus and capricious varieties not from your region in the garden can winter only at a very mature age and with strong shelter, but it is better to grow them as annual plants or take them indoors for the winter.
3. Do the same if you are not sure about the frost resistance and origin of the plant (or have acquired a very beautiful, but initially capricious variety). It is better to dig the hibiscus together with a large earthen clod, move it to a container and store it in a cold, but frost-free and bright room.
4. Tubular and indoor hibiscus are taken into the house with a short adaptation period as soon as the threat of night frosts appears.They are best grown during the cold season as indoor plants or placed in a frost-free room with access to light.

The preparation of herbaceous hibiscus differs from the preparation of bushy and tree-like plants: they are cut to a height of about 10-15 cm above the soil level and spudded to the full height with foliage or mulched with dry light soil. This will be enough for wintering.

A distinctive feature of tree and bush hibiscus is the ability to become more and more frost-resistant with age. With good care and cultivation without transplants, hibiscus after a few years will become completely winter-hardy, and old bushes will not suffer at all from even the most severe frosts. But keeping plants to maturity is difficult and requires constant vigilance. Hibiscuses are especially sensitive in the first year after planting, but even before the 4-5-year return, you should not take risks and leave them without shelter.

On a note. Hibiscuses, especially hybrid ones, produce leaf buds and show signs of growth very late, most often only in May, and sometimes wait for summer. The absence of leaves should not be taken as a signal that the plant did not survive the winter: do not worry until June, and only then draw conclusions. Moreover, the younger the plant, the later it will wake up.

Syrian hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus)

In the middle lane, hibiscus for the winter needs to be covered at least minimally - spud with dry leaves to preserve at least the lower parts of the shoots. Young hibiscus, as well as all bushes in which you want to prevent freezing of aerial shoots, wrap more carefully for the winter:

1. Mulch the soil around the plant with plant materials, and spud the stems as high as possible with dry leaves.
2. Wrap the hibiscus with spruce branches, tying it with twine (or better yet, reinforcing it with burlap), creating several layers of shelter. Do not use nonwovens: they will increase the risk of fading, so it is better to opt for plain burlap.

Most adult frost-resistant Syrian hibiscus capable of growing in open soil in regions with severe winters without shelter for the winter successfully survive, preserving only the rhizome and renewal buds. But they are not afraid of the dying off of the aboveground part: hibiscus blooms on new shoots, it recovers well and the foliage grows again. Due to their rapid growth, the bushes bloom no worse than plants that retain all aerial parts during the winter, although they do not reach the size and beauty of covered hibiscus. But if you have the opportunity (and desire) to completely cover even the most adult hibiscus for the winter and thus preserve the aerial parts of the plant at least partially by next year, use it without fail.

Do not rush to huddle and cover: small frosts are not terrible for hibiscus, moreover, the plant must be allowed to harden itself a little before wrapping. November is considered the ideal time to hide hibiscus, but it is better to navigate by temperature: they cover the plant when stable frosts of -5-10 degrees are established. It is better to create a shelter at intervals, in several passes - first mulching, then hilling, and only then - spruce branches. And even huts from it can be created in 1-2 passes.

Diseases and pests of garden hibiscus

Hibiscus, despite its exotic status, copes well with typical threats and rarely gets sick. Problems in its development are often associated not with diseases, but with improper feeding and care in general. So, for example, leaf fall, especially active at the bottom of the crown, occurs due to salinization of the soil, and the absence of flowering is only due to an excess of nitrogen. Fungal infections are not scary to hibiscus, but soil depletion, waterlogging, active drafts, and the absence of mulch are a critical factor.

Pests threaten hibiscus in the garden only in the vicinity of infected plants.Aphids, thrips, whiteflies are especially fond of tub and potted hibiscus, and spider mites are very common. It is better to fight any insects immediately with insecticides. True, one should not forget about the correction of the care that caused the vulnerability - in particular, measures to humidify the air.

The bark of a hibiscus, covered with spruce branches without burlap for the winter, can attract rodents, in particular, field mice. To avoid an unpleasant visit and damage to the plant, set traps or spread some rodent preparations around the hillock. If you used burlap in addition to spruce branches, then such measures will not be needed.

Syrian hibiscus, cultivar 'Oiseau Bleu'

Reproduction of hibiscus

You can get a new plant both by cuttings, and by layering, and by dividing bushes, and even by seeds. Success in the reproduction of hibiscus depends primarily on the correct choice of the mother plant: you should not try to remove plants from indoor hibiscus for the garden. If you want a frost-resistant specimen, make sure that the mother plant not only tolerates winters well in your area under cover, but has also adapted so much that it does not require full cover with spruce branches. Use adult, well-adapted hibiscus for reproduction.

The easiest way to propagate hibiscus is cuttings that can be cut throughout the summer. Young growth is used for reproduction. Cuttings with 2 or 3 internodes are cut and immediately treated with preparations that stimulate growth and rooting. Hibiscus cuttings root well in the heat, at a temperature of about 22-25 degrees in any sandy-peat soil mixture. Moreover, the whole process takes no more than a month. Immediately after rooting, the cuttings must be transferred to individual containers with fertile soil and grown, watering only with warm water. Grow for at least 2 years (and preferably all 2-3) cuttings hibiscus as container crops, with cold wintering indoors and as long as possible growing in the garden. And only then transfer them to open soil.

From seeds, perennial hibiscus are grown only through seedlings, while sowing should be very early - from January to the first half of March. They require etching in a growth stimulator, loose soil mixture, high temperatures of about 25-26 degrees Celsius and cover with glass or film. Seedlings should not be touched until 2-3 full-fledged leaves are released, after which they need to be cut into small individual pots. For the first 2-3 years, it is better to grow hibiscus as container plants, and they will bloom only by the fourth year. Syrian and trifoliate hibiscus, when grown as an annual, are sown directly into the soil in May. They will bloom by autumn.

Separate and separate the lateral strokes only in the herbaceous hibiscus. The procedure is carried out on bushes over 5-6 years old in the spring.