Hibiscus Coccineus: Water Loving Beauty 6 Major Care Tips

hibiscus Care

This beautiful perennial plant with bright scarlet or white “alba” flowers that is perfect for the middle climate gardens, not picky when it comes to the area. The common name is Texas Star Hibiscus or scarlet hibiscus. Just like all the other hibiscus family plants it attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and blooms in summer June through October.

How to take proper care about hibiscus:

  • Prepare a well drained planting bed in the sunny spot. If the area is rainy make sure the ground has sand in it for the better drainage.
  • Cover the bed with a layer of mulch for the better drainage and to keep the weeds away as well.
  • Apply a fertilizer once a month during the active months’ spring through summer. Use the lower limit mentioned on the fertilizer instructions.
  • Provide weekly moisturizing as the shrub needs about 2 inches per week. Use more water during the dry periods and less during the rainy ones.
  • You can opt for cutting the plant to the ground and mulching the crown in winter. Use about 5 inches of mulch, the plant will grow intensely in spring in summer. Pot it and bring it back in the house if you want to save the trunk.
  • Aphids are the main hibiscus enemy, wash them from the leaves and apply a mild insecticide. Check the label to make sure it is a hibiscus friendly one.
  • We put the tips in order so you can easily remember those. Following these simple steps your hibiscus coccineus will grow into a beautiful plant. The shrub is very popular and is loved by many gardeners around the world.
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Hibiscus Propagation

Propagating hibiscus is not hard; the most common way is to use the cutting from the soft fresh growth. This way you can make sure that the plant will look the same way as the parent plant. Plant it in the damp ground in the half shade, the plant should root in about eight weeks. In order to avoid failure try to use a few cuttings at the same time to make sure you will definitely have one of the plants rooted.

If you think about using the seeds make sure they are matured, do not used the ones that have been cut while still green. The seedpods must be brown this way you know they are ready. Germinate the seeds in the soilless mix for about three months and plant them in the early spring when you already have a formed seedling.

Various plans are out for sale as well no matter in what form you will want to plant it you will have a beautiful eye candy that can be used as a garden centerpiece.