Introduction:
Hello and welcome to the "Pak Plants". Today, we're diving into one of your favorite flowers: the hibiscus.
The hibiscus plant stays green all year round, and when the season is right, it blooms with such vibrant flowers that your entire garden will be filled with color. You can find hibiscus flowers in many colors like red, white, yellow, peach, and magenta.
Regarding size:
You can maintain it as small as one foot or let it grow up to fifteen feet tall. The ones you see behind me are about six to seven feet tall, and this is how I’ve maintained their height. If left unchecked, they can grow much taller.
As for planting:
If you prefer to keep it small, you can pot it in a container. For a larger bush, you can plant it directly in the ground. If you want to create a bonsai, you can also plant it in a tray.
In winter season:
In winter, the hibiscus becomes dormant, but as soon as February arrives, it starts to bloom. While the flowers may be small initially, it’s a good time for composting. After its dormant period, it’s essential to provide it with good compost, whether it’s in a pot or in the ground. About fifteen days later, you can give it a liquid fertilizer.
- If you’re wondering how to make liquid manure, soak your compost in water for three days, strain it, and then dilute it in a one-to-one ratio before applying it to your plants. Good nutrition during the growth period leads to abundant flowering throughout the summer.
- For the soil mix, use a four-part mixture: one part compost, one part leaf mold or dry leaves, and two parts sand. If you’re using a pot, add a couple of teaspoons of neem cake or bone meal. If it’s in the ground, you can double the quantity. These are organic fertilizers, so even if you use a bit more, it won’t harm the plant.
Sunlight:
The more sunlight the hibiscus receives, the more flowers it will produce. If it’s in the shade, you’ll mostly see leaves and no flowers. Therefore, ensure it gets full sun.
Watering:
When it comes to watering, if it’s in a pot, you’ll need to water it daily. If planted in the ground, you can water it alternately.
Pruning:
Pruning is crucial for maintaining a healthy hibiscus. It should be done in February or March, at the beginning of the growing season. Proper pruning helps the plant to flower quickly and maintain its shape.
For Pests:
For pests, a healthy plant is less likely to be attacked. If pests do become a problem, preventive measures like regular oil sprays can help. Neem oil is effective, and if you don’t have it, you can make neem water by boiling neem leaves in water for fifteen to twenty minutes. Cool it, strain it, and then use it for spraying. If you prefer neem oil, use water-soluble neem oil from the market and mix it in water before spraying.
If pests do attack, solutions like soap sprays can be effective. Mix two teaspoons of liquid detergent in one liter of water, spray it on the plants, and wash it off after some time.
Propagation:
- When it comes to propagation, you can take cuttings from the hibiscus. Choose stems as thick as a pencil, cut them into six-inch pieces, and apply rooting hormone or cinnamon powder before planting them in coco peat. This will help in growing new plants.
- If your plant isn’t flowering, it might be due to lack of sunlight or insufficient compost. Providing good compost and bone meal can help in boosting flower production.
Benefits:
The hibiscus flowers have many benefits.
- You might have heard about hibiscus tea, which is made from these beautiful red flowers and has a delightful, tangy flavor. The flowers, leaves, and seeds are used to make this tea, which is available in the market.If you make tea at home, please share your experience in the comments.
- Additionally, hibiscus flowers can be used for hair coloring, conditioning, and even shoe polishing.
- The leaves can also be used as a conditioner.
If you’re considering adding this plant to your collection, now is a great time.
