Hibiscus - a bright representative of the family Malvaceae, with colorful, beautiful, exotic flowers and smooth, pointed at the ends, emerald leaves. Distributed in a tropical environment. Due to its exotic beauty and unpretentiousness, it is widely grown as a home flower, hibiscus is also eaten, worn as decoration and even used for making paint.
Did you know? The first mention of hibiscus dates back to the era of ancient Greece. In Europe, it came in the XVII century from Asia.
Popular types of indoor hibiscus
There are about three hundred species in the world. The three most popular types of indoor hibiscus are Chinese, Syrian, dissected.
Chinese
Chinese Hibiscus (Chinese Rosean, Chinese Rose, Indoor Rose) - ornamental, evergreen shrub growing on the islands of the Pacific region and in Southeast Asia. There are about 500 varieties of such hibiscus.
It reaches three meters upwards, has dark emerald leaves with notches and large (up to 16 cm in cross member) semi-double or simple flowers of all possible colors. Their color varies from crimson to pink, from fiery orange to yellow.
After opening the bud, the flower lives for about a day, although the flowering period of the whole plant lasts from the beginning of March to the end of autumn. This is a widely known and very common type of home content. It is believed that it has a positive effect on the atmosphere in the room, cleans it. The flower of this hibiscus is of little importance in the care.
Syrian
Syrian hibiscus (Syrian rose, Birch) - deciduous shrub, its birthplace is Asia Minor (India, China). One of the few types of hibiscus capable of growing in open space in temperate climates.
Lives up to hundreds of years, while growing slowly and blooms for the first time only after 3 or even 4 years. The flowers are similar to mallow, the leaves are green, very bright. There are many varieties of Syrian roses.
Did you know? Syrian hibiscus is the state flower of Malaysia, a symbol of Haiti. Its ruby and pink flowers are an integral part of wedding attire in some provinces of India.
Dissected
Hibiscus dissected (Shizopetalus, Earring Princess) - An evergreen shrub reaching a meter in height has spread, according to various sources, from Central Africa or Brazil. It blooms from late spring to late November.
Flowers with a highly protruding pestle are red, orange, or red-orange. They have dissected curved petals with fringe. Usually reach in width no more than 8 cm. The leaves are shiny, green. In our climate can grow only in greenhouses or home atmosphere.
Growing indoor hibiscus at home
Hibiscus is not whimsical and quite endure the wrong content. But, if you want hibiscus flower to bloom, You should follow a few simple rules for caring for him at home.
Watering and lighting
It should be watered with settled, soft, slightly warm water. Avoid drying out the soil, as well as its excessive moisture.
In spring and summer, watering should be abundant and frequent (as soon as the top layer of soil dries out), and in the autumn and winter period, it is worth waiting a couple of days after the soil dries.
Hibiscus is a light-loving plant, but the light should not be scorching. Therefore, it should be ensured that in the summer season the lighting is scattered, indirect, and in the winter - it takes care of additional lighting. It is better to place the pot of Chinese roses from the east and west.
Temperature
A suitable temperature for hibiscus is + 20 ° С - + 25 ° С, in early autumn it should be lowered to + 16 ° С - + 18 ° С, and in winter - to + 14 ° С - + 16 ° С. Decrease in temperature in winter not a compulsory condition for the life of the plant, but flower buds are tied exclusively at low temperatures.
Important! The minimum allowable temperature for hibiscus is up to + 10 ° C. At + 10 ° C and lower, leaves start to fall off the plant.
Air humidity
The hibiscus flower is not whimsical to such an indicator as humidity and in this regard, it is very simple to care for it - Spray the plant often enough with warm water. It will also prevent the occurrence of ticks. Do not constantly spray in the period of violent flowering, since, when water flows on the flower petals, their wilting accelerates.
Soil for planting and growing
Hibiscus is not capricious in relation to the soil. But it is best suited to the soil of equal parts of sand, humus, peat and earth, You can add small particles of charcoal. Do not use dry or not rotten cowshed.
The soil should be light and loose for air to reach the roots. Loosen up land from time to time. Since the Chinese rose does not tolerate excessive soil moisture, caring for it should suggest drainage without fail.
Top dressing and fertilizers
To encourage flowering, during this period hibiscus should be fertilized with mineral fertilizer with nitrogen every month. Iron and copper chelates will also be beneficial. You can alternate with organic fertilizer.
From time to time magnesium leaf-dressing is allowed. The plant responds well to spraying with weak aqueous solutions of root bait. In winter, it is better to use fertilizers from phosphorus and potassium in half the dosage. And during the expressed rest do not give top dressing. Before you begin to fertilizer, do not forget to pour hibiscus.
Hibiscus pruning
There are a few simple rules on how to properly trim a Chinese indoor rose. For the first time pruning should be done at the age of two years.Next, perform the procedure annually, as flowers form only on new, young shoots.
The best time for this is the beginning of spring and then autumn. Wait 3 days after watering, move away from the sheet 5 mm, the cut should be 45 °. Do not cut more than 2/3 of the branch.
Hibiscus transplant
Replace the young hibiscus every year, mature one every couple of years. The best time is early spring. Pre-water the plant.
Important!After transplanting, irrigate the pallet for several days. This will help the roots to germinate better.
Propagation of indoor hibiscus
There are 2 methods of reproduction: using seeds, using cuttings.
If the first method is more convenient for you, then start during the middle of winter - the beginning of spring. Soak the grain in "Epinay" or equivalent for 12 hours.
Take the soil from peat and sand. Place under the glass. Keep the temperature around + 27 ° C. Before the appearance of 2-3 leaves, sometimes sprinkle seedlings, ventilate; after - transplant in the usual small pot.
The second method is more popular. More often it is made after trimming. The stalk should have 3-4 knots, and about 10 cm in length.
Too large leaves cut in half. Lubricate the cut with growth stimulants. Place the stalk in the soil of a mixture of peat and sand or water, cover with glass or film.
Ensure that the temperature does not keep below + 25 ° C. After the roots have appeared - transplant into a pot with earth (humus, sand, sod land and leaf earth in a ratio of 2: 1: 1: 1).
How to make hibiscus bloom
For the Chinese rose to bloom, it is enough to follow the above tips. Give the plant enough indirect light, observe the correct temperatures for different seasons, change the ground and fertilize it, do not forget to cut the hibiscus, as the buds are formed on young shoots.
Follow the simple rules of care and this wonderful plant will delight you with its bloom for a long time.
In this article, you were told about a wonderful and beautiful plant, about its popular species and how to grow hibiscus at home. We hope that the information was interesting and useful, and your pot will grow, blossom and make you happy for years.
