Growing
Hawaiian Hibiscus flowers can be exciting and fun, but you do need
to understand how they grow and what they might need from you to be
successful in your endeavor. The Hawaiian Hibiscus is part of the
Malvaceae Family. As the name suggests it is a tropical flower and
related to many of the other hibiscus plants you may be familiar
with. Flowers such as the Hardy Hibiscus, Hollyhock, and Confederate
Rose are also hibiscus plants much like the Hawaiian variety. The
Hibiscus is most common to the Pacific Island regions like Hawaii
and those in Asia. The hibiscus is actually the national flower of
Malaysia for this very reason. Though the hibiscus is considered a
Hawaiian flower it is just a certain species that is truly of
Hawaiian origin.
There are a variety of colors and
sizes when determining the characteristics of the hibiscus flower.
There are reportedly thousands of color combinations, with no true
black or blue. The size varies from a 2 inch diameter blossom to a
10 or 12 inch. Some of the hibiscuses are found on bushes that only
grow a few feet every several years, while others can grow up to 15
feet in a short time.
To grow this tropical beauty you
will need to make several changes to your greenhouse or where you
intend on growing them. The climate must be tropical that you will
keep them in. You should be careful about areas that do frost, so
that you can bring the flower in to the warmth at night if need be.
You can keep the flowers in pots for easy moving. Pots allow for the
same type of growing conditions as planting the hibiscus in the
ground, but you have more options. If you are going to grow hibiscus
you should consult a professional gardener to help you learn the
methods of potting plants. They will offer you the appropriate tips
for where you live as opposed to figuring it out on your own. We
have some common tips that have been offered from professional
gardeners to help you get started:
Keep the fertilizer light and
often. A true fact is that hibiscus flowers are very big eaters. You
need to use fertilizer that contains special elements, such as
copper and iron. In most cases, a dry fertilizer is acceptable, but
most growers prefer a fertilizer with a low phosphate count. You
should keep the phosphate to a minimum, because the phosphate can
build up in the dirt of the flower over a period of time and cause
harm to the plant. If you are considering using a fertilizer with
nitrogen, it has been found that overusing nitrogen in the flower
food will help encourage the growth of the leaves, but it will do
nothing for the actual blooms. Fertilizers that contain water are
best for hibiscus being grown in pots or for spraying the leaves.
You also need to keep the insects
away from the plant. The hibiscus should be checked for insects
frequently, and you may want to use a type of insecticide or natural
option to keep the plant safe. Insecticide use should be done in the
mornings after the plant has been sprayed with water. A good
temperature to spray at is below 80 degrees. You should spray both
the top and bottom of the leaves.
Prune to enhance growth. As with
all types of plants, pruning back can help encourage the growth of
the leaves and blooms. It helps to manage the actual size of the
plant, and to get rid of any dead leaves or petals. This is very
similar to Plumeria cuttings. The tropical hibiscus, like the ones
found in Hawaii, can be pruned at almost any time. For the best
results, it is recommended that you prune during a time when the new
growth will not be harmed from any cold temperatures. To help shape
the plant, many gardeners cut the longest portion of the branches,
and then return in about 4 weeks to prune the next third. Make sure
that you are using sharp and clean shears, as well as angling down
away from the node of the flower.
