How to Propagate Hibiscus? A Few Common Methods Explained
Hibiscus flowers are very beautiful when in bloom, with brightly colored flowers in white, light red, deep red and many other colors, extremely gorgeous, so how do you propagate hibiscus?
1. Cuttings Propagation
Generally, cuttings are best taken in late autumn and early winter, and it is best to wait until the leaves have all fallen, then store them until the following spring to take cuttings, which gives the highest survival rate. To select the cuttings, first wait until the leaves have fallen, then cut the branches starting 10 cm above the ground, cutting them into cuttings about 10-15 cm long, tie 50 branches into a bundle, then dig a large pit 40 cm deep and 50 cm wide in a sheltered, sunny spot for storage, arrange the branches neatly, cover them with 20 cm of wet sand, and after that keep the sand moist.
By the following spring, the cut ends will have healed over. Select healthy, sturdy one-year-old branches; do not choose old branches that are becoming woody, as that will lower the survival rate. Only sturdy one-year-old branches give the highest survival rate.
2. Division Propagation
The advantage of division propagation is that it is done in early spring before the cotton rose (Hibiscus mutabilis) sprouts. Prepare the base soil in advance, dig up all the old plants, divide them into several plants according to the direction of the roots, then immediately plant them in the prepared soil, water again after a week, and if they grow well, they can bloom that same year. Among the propagation methods of the cotton rose, there is also seed propagation: from November to December, the mature fruits are picked and stored in a dry environment, and can be sown the following spring. Bury the seeds in deeply dug furrows, cover with soil, and some soil can also be placed on top. After about half a month they will sprout, and some can even bloom that same year. In addition, the fine hairs on the seeds can drift away with the wind, and once they land on the ground they can propagate on their own.
These are the two main propagation methods for hibiscus. If conditions allow, you can also choose seed propagation, but growth is relatively slow.