How to Grow Hibiscus? A Detailed Guide to Cultivation Methods
When planting hibiscus seedlings, choose a spot with full sunlight, fertile and loose soil, and good drainage. Use a 15 cm diameter clay pot, and increase the pot size year by year. Firm the soil and water thoroughly; first shade the plant for several days, then after it has recovered from transplanting, move it to a spot with full sunlight. Usually pay attention to moderate watering, and apply cake fertilizer liquid once a week.
Propagation: Generally, cuttings are the main method, and other methods are rarely used. Spring cuttings have a higher survival rate than autumn cuttings, and field cuttings have a higher survival rate than pot cuttings, and they root faster and can bloom in the same year. Generally, choose healthy two-year-old branches; one-year-old semi-lignified strong branches can also be used. It is best to take the middle section of a side branch and cut it into a cutting about 15 cm long with 5--7 nodes. Use coarse sand or silica stone with good drainage and strong aeration as the cutting bed soil, disinfect it, and then place it in the cutting bed at a thickness of about 15—20 cm. The lower leaves of the cutting should be cut flat with a sharp knife, and the cutting should be inserted promptly to a depth of 1/2. After inserting, water thoroughly once immediately, cover with plastic film, maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, keep it moist but not wet, and ensure good drainage and aeration. Then gradually expose it to sunlight. Under conditions of 18—25°C and 70%-80% relative humidity, roots will generally form after 20 days, and it can be potted in about 1 month.
Management: When planting hibiscus seedlings, choose a spot with full sunlight, fertile and loose soil, and good drainage. The pot used for potting should not be too large; generally use a 15 cm diameter clay pot, and increase the pot size year by year. Use sandy loam rich in organic matter as the potting soil, mixed with 10% decomposed cake fertilizer or dry manure. For newly planted seedlings, firm the soil and water thoroughly; first shade for several days, then after the plant has recovered from transplanting, move it to a spot with full sunlight for cultivation, which helps survival. Usually pay attention to moderate watering; too much moisture affects flowering. In high summer temperatures, water in the morning and evening, and spray water on the leaves. Apply cake fertilizer liquid once a week to ensure abundant flowering. When the seedlings are about 15 cm tall, pinch the tips 1—2 times to encourage new shoots. Before the first frost each year, move them into a greenhouse or indoors; the room temperature should not be lower than 5°C, otherwise they are prone to cold damage, and it is best to keep it above IO°C. After moving indoors, open the windows for ventilation every day, water appropriately, and control fertilization. When the weather is too cold, watering helps prevent cold damage. Moving them outdoors should be done after the temperature rises the following year. Combine this with repotting and replace with new potting soil. At the same time, prune by leaving 2--3 buds from the base of each side branch and cutting off the upper parts, so that they sprout full and even new shoots again, making the plant grow vigorously with abundant flowers and leaves. Pests and diseases of hibiscus include aphids, scale insects, and sooty mold. Pests can be controlled by manual capture or spraying with 1000 times diluted dimethoate solution; for sooty mold, the main control method is to improve environmental conditions, mainly by ensuring sufficient light and good ventilation.