How to Care for Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a tropical shrub with large, brightly colored flowers. This plant likes warm temperatures and usually doesn’t survive frost – if you live in a cold climate, it’s a good idea to grow it in a pot. When grown outdoors, the brightly colored hibiscus flowers often attract hummingbirds and butterflies. You need to make sure the plant receives many hours of direct sunlight each day for it to bloom from spring through fall.

Table of Contents

Caring for hibiscus grown indoors

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Plant hibiscus in a pot with a light, loamy soil. Hibiscus plants are not very picky about soil, but they prefer loose soil such as loam and moss. You can use regular potting soil in a bag or mix your own good quality potting soil with 1 part garden loam, 1 part peat moss, and 1 part fine sand or bark. ^{[1] X Research Source}

A mixture of 1 part coarse peat, 1 part bark humus and one part rotting manure with some light gravel and vermiculite is also an excellent soil for hibiscus. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Make sure the pot has good drainage. Humus is inherently easy to drain, but an equally important factor is that the hibiscus pot should also have plenty of drainage holes. Plant water must drain out of the pot to prevent root rot. After watering the plant, you need to pay attention to watch the water flow out of the holes in the bottom of the pot to the tray below. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Wait for the roots to absorb the excess water, but be sure to empty the water if there is still water in the tray after 12 hours. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

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Keep the soil moist but not soggy. Hibiscus plants need a lot of water, especially during the hottest months when the plant blooms. You should check the humidity every day by touching the top layer of soil. If the soil is dry, the plant is in need of water. You don’t need to water if the soil is moist or slightly spongy. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Plant roots can rot if over-watered, so you should always test the soil before watering.

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Use warm water to water the plants. Never water a hibiscus plant with cold water. This plant likes water at a temperature of about 35 degrees Celsius. You can use a thermometer or dip your hand in the water to check the temperature before watering the plant. Avoid using water hotter than 35 degrees Celsius, as hibiscus plants also do not like very warm water. ^{[6] X Research Source}

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Place the plant in direct sunlight for several hours each day. Hibiscus will still grow where there is no direct sunlight, but they will not bloom if they do not receive direct sunlight for at least 1-2 hours a day. You should keep the plant in the window where the sun shines in, but remember to place it 2.5-5 cm away from the glass door, because hot glass can damage the leaves and flowers. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

When there is enough sun, hibiscus plants will bloom from spring until fall.

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Fertilize the plant weekly throughout the growing season. Hibiscus plants bloom from spring through fall, and weekly fertilizing will help keep them blooming. You can apply a slow-release fertilizer (like 20-20-20 or 10-10-10) or one formulated specifically for hibiscus plants. Look for fertilizers with trace elements such as iron and magnesium to promote buds and blooms. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

You can also make a dilute solution of a water-soluble fertilizer (half concentration or less) and apply a small amount to the plant each time you water it. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Avoid over-fertilizing, as too much phosphorus can kill the plant. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Growing hibiscus outdoors

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Plant when there is no longer a risk of frost. The ideal temperature for hibiscus to bloom is 24 degrees Celsius, although the plant can tolerate hotter or colder temperatures. You need to make sure that there will be no more frosts after planting. Plants may not recover if the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius ^{. [11] X Research Source}

Hibiscus cannot survive frost or freezing temperatures.

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Plant the plant in full sun. You can grow hibiscus outdoors in spring, summer, or fall in temperate climates. As a tropical plant, hibiscus prefers a warm and humid environment with 5-10 hours of direct sunlight per day. While hibiscus can survive in partial shade, it will be less lush and bloom much less often. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Make sure the soil is well drained before planting. Hibiscus needs well-drained soil to thrive, and poorly drained soil will rot the roots. To test the drainage in the soil, you can dig a hole about 30 cm wide, 30 cm deep and fill the hole with water. If the soil absorbs all the water within 10 minutes or so, the soil is well drained. If it takes an hour or more for the water to drain, the soil is poorly drained. ^{[13] X Research Source}

To improve drainage, you can mix in organic materials such as well-rotted manure, compost or mulch.
You don’t need to add anything if the soil is well drained. ^{[14] X Research Source}

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Dig a hole as deep as the plant’s root ball. Check the size of the roots, then dig a hole of equal depth. The soil pit should be at least 2 or 3 times as wide as the root pot. Gently remove the plant from the pot and place it in the hole you just dug. Fill with soil around the roots until the hole is half full. Water a lot and let the water drain, then cover the rest with soil. ^{[15] X Research Source}

Water thoroughly after planting.
Plant the hibiscus plants about 90cm – 180cm apart.

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Water the plant 3-4 times per week with warm water. Hibiscus plants need a lot of water and like moist but never soggy soil. You can test the moisture in the soil by touching the soil. If the soil is dry and loose, it means the plant needs to be watered. If the soil is soft and moist to the touch, you don’t need to water the plant that day. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Test the water before watering the plant. Hibiscus does not like cold water, so you should use warm water, but remember not hot.
Hibiscus plants need to be watered at least 2.5 cm per week. ^{[17] X Research Source}
This plant likes rain water, but you can also use tap water.

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Fertilize the plant every 2 weeks during the blooming season. Use a water-soluble or liquid fertilizer for optimal results. A 10-10-10 balanced fertilizer is appropriate. You should also choose an organic fertilizer that has trace elements such as potassium, iron and magnesium. Fertilize each stump every 2 weeks. ^{[18] X Research Sources}

Do not use chemical fertilizers to fertilize hibiscus plants.
If you can find a fertilizer that’s really low in phosphorus, like 10-4-12 or 9-3-13, use that.
Avoid over-fertilizing, as too much phosphorus can kill the plant. ^{[19] X Research Source}

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Check plants weekly for aphids, whiteflies, and red spider mites if present. These pests can become a problem for hibiscus plants. Check your plants weekly for signs of infection. If you find pests, you can use horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps to treat them. ^{[20] X Research Source}

Avoid insecticides containing imidacloprid, as this can make the infection worse for red spiders.

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Prune trees in the fall. Pruning will help keep the plant healthy and stimulate blooms. The tree should be pruned once in the fall, although you can still prune in the spring if necessary. Keep 3-4 main branches on each tree and trim off about 1/3 of the remaining branches. Remove all weak shoots and overgrown branches. ^{[21] X Research Source}

Steps

Caring for hibiscus grown indoors

Growing hibiscus outdoors

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