How to Grow Hibiscus plant from Cutting

Hibiscus is a red bright tropical flowering plant that people grow for an appealing look.

This is a fast-growing tropical plant that grows in pots as well as in the garden. 

Depending on the space it spread its stem. It ideally grows about 24 inches every year and in ideal condition grows up to 15 feet tall.

This tropical plant features trumpet-shaped red bright color flowers that are 3 to 8 inches in diameter.

You can grow hibiscus plants in pots or in the garden to enjoy its beautiful flowers.

Here, we’ll see how to grow hibiscus plants from cutting and what are the ideal conditions to grow hibiscus plants at home. 

Hibiscus Plant

How to Grow Hibiscus Plants at Home

Hibiscus plants can be grown from seeds as well as from stem cutting. Mostly, gardeners use stem cutting to propagate new hibiscus plants.

This is because growing from seeds takes time, and in the first year of planting it won’t bloom. Also, growing from seeds sometimes does not yield a plant similar to its parent plant. 

This is because many cultivars are developed for better color and to avoid pests and diseases. These cultivars’ seeds are infertile to grow new plants.  

Fortunately, you can grow extract plants by taking their stem cutting, which gets easily established and bloom in the first year of planting.

How to Grow Hibiscus Plant from Cutting

Hibiscus is one of the best flowering plants for pots. Propagation from stem cutting is simple but you have to do the steps right.

• Take a sharp gardening shear and cut a green stem from a hibiscus plant. The stem cutting should not be too hard. Using a softwood cutting will result in growing plants.
• Do not try to break the stem to collect stem cutting. This will tear cutting tissue putting damage on it. Just a simple cut on the green cutting.
• Make sure the cutting should be at least six inches tall and have a few sets of leaves without any flowers.
• Remove leaves from the bottom half of the cutting, so it has no way to promote new roots.
• Dip the bottom end of the cutting in root hormones for fast growth. (optional)
• Plant the stem cutting in the potting mix soil. It should be well-drained soil with a composition of sand or perlite.
• Also, the pot or container must have adequate drainage holes in the bottom to flow excessive water.
• After planting the cutting, water it to make the soil moist.
• Cover the whole plant with a plastic bag and make some holes in it for ventilation, this bag helps to retain moisture. Use a large plastic cover, so it does not bend cutting.
• Place the pot in indirect light until it gets established. The plant usually takes about 15 to 20 days to get settled in new soil.
• You will get to know your plant is established when it starts producing new leaves.

READ: How to Grow Hibiscus from Cutting without using Rooting Hormone

When to Grow 

Plant Hibiscus in early spring or just after the frost gets over. You can plant them from spring to summer, but planting them earlier will guarantee their establishment before growing, and you might see some bloom on the plant.

Also, planting them during fall to frost is not recommended, the plant hardly shows any growth during this period. It won’t able be to survive during winter. You have to protect them from the cold season.

How to Care for the Hibiscus Plant

When the plant gets established it is very important to provide ideal conditions for continuous growth or good bloom. Below are ideal conditions where hibiscus thrives in abundance.

Light

Hibiscus is a tropical plant no doubt, they are sun-loving plants. However, they do not do best in extremely hot or warm conditions. If you live in the northern region, plant them in full sun.

In the southern region, it is better to plant them where it is partial shade. Due to the hot climate, especially during summer, the plant gets leaf spots, plant them where they receive early morning sunlight and afternoon shade. 

Early morning sun will help the plant to raise and have a fresh start whereas during mid-afternoon sun get too intense which may cause damage to the plant. 

Soil

Hibiscus plant prefers rich, fertile soil. If you bought a small plant from a nursery, its soil has some organic matter. But, when planting a new plant, make sure to use a good amount of organic matter like a banana pill, eggshell, diluted fish emulsion, etc.

Also, the soil should be well-drained. Mix sand or perlite with the soil for good drainage, this will create a tiny vacuum in the soil which makes water flow easier.

Water

• Hibiscus plants need a good amount of water regularly. To grow bright, beautiful flowers, water them daily. 
• In the summer or hot conditions, they might need to water twice a day. This plant likes moist soil or to keep its roots cool. You can also, spread a thick layer of mulch around the plant to retain moisture in the soil.
• Spreading mulch around the plant will prevent water from evaporating in hot conditions and keep the soil moist which means you do not need to water them more frequently.
• Hibiscus is a tropical plant that likes moist soil, but they do not like to stand in water for too long. Avoid overwatering, which makes soggy soil.
• Soggy soil will cause leaf fall and root rot which will kill plants. Water only when the plants’ upper layer looks dry. 
• Overwatering is usually not a problem for garden plants with good drainage, as the water usually goes deep in the ground making roots free from water.
• But, when planted in a pot it can easily get susceptible to root rot.

Temperature and humidity

This tropical flower prefers hot and warm conditions. They ideally like to grow in full sunlight. The plant prefers an average temperature between 55 to 70 Fahrenheit. But, the plant can be killed when the temperature drop below 55 Fahrenheit. In this case, you should plan to bring your plant inside.

Fertilizer

Blooming plants usually need fertilizer for good growth. When you buy a potted plant from a nursery it already has slow-release fertilizer added, so you do not need to feed fertilizer. 

You can fertilize them in early spring or early year for good blooming. Use organic matter, or if you want to use the conventional method then use a water-soluble fertilizer.

Feeding too much fertilizer to the plant does not yield more bloom but rather rapid growth of foliage. This leads to overgrown leaves with fewer flowers.

Pruning

Pruning encourages the production of flowers in the plant. You can prune hibiscus during fall or in the early spring season to get them ready for the growing season.

Pruning during the spring or summer often cuts growing buds so, avoid cutting them back. However, its bloom lasts for only one day, you can cut the back stem a few inches to encourage new growth after cutting off a flower from the plant.

Deadheading is occasionally good for the plant, it makes the plant look neat and appealing. 

When you see any dead leaves or flowers in the plant it’s better to cut them off. These dry parts may look dead, but they keep sucking energy from the plant. Deadheading them will redirect energy to grow new parts. 

How to Overwinter Hibiscus Plant

• If you live in the northern region it is important to overwinter the Hibiscus plant in the winter.
• In the winter, hibiscus has less water as they are going in dormant. If the outside temperature is consistently below 55 Fahrenheit, bring my potted hibiscus plant indoors. 
• Place the pot in light inside the house where they do not get direct wind. 
• If you see any growing bud on the plant, cut off it immediately. You do not want to waste the plant’s energy to grow and bloom in this season. 
• When the plant is dormant, cut back its stem and water once a week to moist soil. 
• If you have planted them in the garden, divide the plant with its root balls. Plant this division in a pot in the soil and provide it is a bit moist. But, you have to do this in the fall or before frost arrives, so that it gets established.
• You can replant the ground in the next spring season and enjoy its beauty. 

Common pests and diseases

The Hibiscus plant is not susceptible to any pests or diseases when planted in ideal conditions.

But, they may encounter aphids and spider mites when bring indoors. You can prevent these plant pests by applying neem oil to the plant. 

The Hibiscus plant also gets attacked by bacterial diseases which are transmitted from insects, rain, and fog. Some symptoms of bacterial diseases are dwarfing, stem rot, leaf wilt, and distortion of leaves. 

To prevent bacterial diseases, you much care that your plants get adequate space and air. The too-close plant often causes diseases, as the plant does above to take air easily. Make sure your plant has at least six inches of a gap.

Dropping of leaves

• If your plants’ leaves are constantly falling it might due to the following reasons.
• It may need to be repotted.
• It’s getting overheated due to excessive sunlight that is over 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
• It’s underwater. Hibiscus needs water for content. If you don’t provide them with adequate water it starts falling leaves.

Yellow leaves

If you see yellow leaves on the top of the leaves, it means the plant is getting overwatered. If you see yellow leaves on the middle or bottom of the leaves it means it is not getting adequate water.

Transplanting from pot

Hibiscus plants need to be transplanted every one to two years when planted in a pot to ensure the plant is growing in nutrient soil. 

When planting hibiscus in a pot does not use a deep pot. You do not want to waste your plant energy in growing roots at the expense of flowers. The ideal pot for planting is a medium-wide pot that is not too deep.

Also, the pot must have adequate drainage holes (not just one). Do not plant in clay soil as it will lead to soggy soil which will destroy plant growth.

Madhuresh

Hey! I’m Madhuresh, a passionate content creator, and a Plant lover. I created Shiny Plant to explore and learn about new plants. The purpose is to provide simple and effective Gardening Tips. Hope you’ll find this informative.