Hibiscus
Family. Malvaceae.
Homeland. China.
Description. The genus Hibiscus or Sudanese rose includes more than 200 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs, trees, annual and perennial herbaceous plants.
A huge variety of varieties and hybrids have been developed with large, showy funnel-shaped flowers. Shades range from golden, pink, yellow to orange. Each flower remains open for 1 - 3 days and has a diameter of 7 - 15 cm. There are simple, semi-double and double varieties. The buds have no scent.
The leaves are shiny, dark green, oval, pointed with a serrated edge, 5 to 7.5 cm long and 2.5 to 4 cm wide.
When pollinated, the Chinese rose will form fruits.
Height. The bush grows very quickly and can reach a height of up to 1.5 - 2 m indoors.
Home care
Reproduction
Hibiscus propagates by semi-lignified stem or apical cuttings 8 - 15 cm long with 3 - 5 internodes, in spring or summer.
- The cuttings are cut with a sharp sterile instrument, making an oblique cut at the bottom.
- The lower leaves and buds are removed from the cuttings, and the upper ones are often cut in half to reduce the area of moisture evaporation.
- The base of the cutting is treated with phytohormones.
- Take small pots and place a drainage layer 2-3 cm high on the bottom.
- Fill the pots with moist soil consisting of peat and coarse sand or perlite.
- Place the cuttings in a small pot, deepening one internode.
- Cover the pot with a plastic cap or glass to maintain uniform humidity and place in a warm place with a temperature of at least 21 ° C.
In the ground, the cuttings take root faster - about a month, after which the cover can be removed. The successful completion of the process will be indicated by the beginning of new growth.
Cuttings take root successfully even in water - for faster rooting, take an opaque container, and young plants are also covered with transparent film or glass.
Unfortunately, bushes rooted in water and then planted in the ground slow down their development a little - their root system adapts to new conditions.
Reproduction by seeds is possible, but this method is suitable for patient gardeners, and the resulting specimens may not inherit all the charm of the mother plants. Fresh seeds have good germination.
Sowing is carried out in the spring. Hibiscus seedlings are placed in a warm place, shaded from direct sunlight and covered with a transparent plastic cap. With the appearance of new growth, the cap is removed.
Species with recumbent stems can root on their own when in contact with the ground in the area of the leaf nodes; it is also possible to bury the stems - the formation of air layers.
Sometimes grafting is used as a method of propagation, and then the same grafted bush becomes the owner of buds of the most diverse shapes and colors. This method is suitable, for example, for varietal bushes, which can be difficult to root at home.
An interesting method of propagation is air layering directly on the bush.
The stems are cut in a circle to the white part with a sharp sterile instrument, the surface of the wound is sprinkled with rooting agent and the cut is covered with a plastic bag with nutritious soil. After some time, roots will appear under the bag.
When it blooms
Hibiscus blooms continuously from late spring to late summer. Individual buds may appear at any other time of the year.
Care, how to prune
Growing hibiscus is not at all a difficult task - even novice gardeners can handle this process.
Regular pruning of the tree helps to form a dense and lush crown with abundant flowering. In addition, pruning controls the height of the bush.
The plant easily tolerates even radical pruning and is capable of producing lateral shoots from any dormant bud.
For the sake of an attractive external form, some gardeners create standard variations.
Timely pruning allows you to avoid exposing the lower part of the stems.
Buds appear on the tops of young shoots, so it is better to do pruning after flowering.
To form lateral shoots, long branches can be bent horizontally and fixed in this way - in this case, new branches are formed from dormant buds. Dormant buds can be anointed with cytokinin paste to awaken them to life.
In the winter months, it is better to provide a cool period of rest - the bush will gain strength for subsequent flowering. Reduce watering during this period, stop fertilizing, lower the temperature and move the pot to partial shade.
Try not to change the location and conditions of keeping flowering specimens - they can shed buds.
In the warm season, take the tree outside, taking care to protect it from direct sunlight, rain and strong gusts of wind.
Soil
Light and well-drained soil with high organic content and perlite or coarse sand for improved drainage.
The plant has no special requirements for soil pH, but likes nutrient-rich soils.
How to replant
Hibiscus is replanted annually in the spring - in March, immediately after pruning. Keep in mind that the bush blooms best in a relatively tight container. For planting, choose a pot with large drainage holes.
For large tub specimens, the replanting of which is difficult due to their size, replace the top 5-7 cm layer of soil with fresh soil every spring.
Grafted trees should not be buried in the ground - the grafting site should rise above the soil by several centimeters.
When replanting, carefully inspect the root system and cut off rotten and old roots, sprinkling the cut sites with crushed charcoal.
Pests and diseases
- If the air is too dry and there is not enough moisture in the soil, the plant may drop its buds.
- In winter, leaves fall off if the bush is cold or is exposed to cold drafts.
- New leaves become smaller, the tree refuses to bloom - due to a lack of nutrients in the soil.
- If there is not enough light, the shoots stretch out, flowering does not occur, and the lower part of the stems becomes bare.
- Hibiscus turns yellow when root rot occurs.
- Leaves turn yellow when there is insufficient nitrogen content in the soil.
- Chlorosis occurs with iron deficiency - with this disease, the leaves turn yellow and fall off. To compensate for the deficiency, foliar feeding with iron chelate is carried out, applying the nutrient solution to the leaf blades directly from a fine sprayer.
Of the insect pests, shoots and leaves can be attacked by scale insects and spider mites. Leaves become sticky and deformed when infested with aphids.
Watering
Water thoroughly during growth, but allow the top few inches of soil to dry out before watering again. Gradually reduce the frequency of watering in the fall.
Watering should be plentiful, but excess moisture should be removed from the pan immediately after watering.
The plant can hardly tolerate both flooding and lack of moisture.
For irrigation, use only settled water at room temperature.
Fertilizer
Hibiscus is very fond of liquid mineral fertilizers rich in potassium. Use the solution every two weeks during the growing season.
With excess nitrogen, the tree will grow abundant green mass to the detriment of flowering - use mainly fertilizers rich in phosphorus.
Temperature
During the growth period, keep at room temperature not lower than 18 °C. If the hibiscus is dormant in winter, the temperature is lowered to 15 °C, at which time the bush may shed its leaves.
Representatives of the genus do not tolerate heat well and at temperatures above 27 °C, they need frequent spraying of the leaves.
Some varieties begin to get sick at temperatures below 15 °C - for example, their leaves turn yellow.
Lighting
In summer, a brightly lit place without direct sunlight is required. In winter, move the pot to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day.
Lighting directly affects the number of buds and the duration of flowering.
Spraying
The plant needs high air humidity. Spray the bush - the higher the temperature, the higher the air humidity should be.
Dry air in living spaces leads to the shedding of buds and some leaves.
Try to spray in the morning, as the leaves should remain dry at night. Use soft water.
To increase air humidity, you can place the pot on a tray with wet pebbles or sphagnum moss or use a room humidifier.
Purpose
A very decorative species, distinguished by large, showy flowers. Under the right conditions, it can bloom all year round.
Hibiscus buds are used for medicinal purposes in China, the petals are added to salads and used to make tea.
Tea is an excellent source of vitamin C, and is also believed to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
In India, hibiscus buds are used to decorate brides' wedding wreaths; in Haiti, it symbolizes feminine beauty; the people of Haiti and Brazil also use large, showy flowers as decoration.
Sometimes grown as a flowering tree - bonsai .
Interesting facts
With good care, the bush can live indoors for 20 years or more.
The plant is poisonous to dogs and cats.
Young leaves and stems are sometimes eaten fresh, the wood is used to make all kinds of crafts, and ropes are made from the fibrous bark.
Unmarried women in Hawaii and Tahiti wear a hibiscus flower in their hair on the right side, and married women - on the left.
Hibiscus is believed to have medicinal properties - for example, it can strengthen blood vessels and has the ability to remove cholesterol and toxic substances from the body. Flowers can serve as a choleretic and diuretic, and also have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.
Chinese women use the buds to dye their hair, and they are also an excellent food coloring.
The flowers produce essential oil, rich in amino acids and vitamins A and C, which has calming and toning properties, and also perfectly moisturizes the skin and helps get rid of dandruff.
Hydroponics
Grows well in hydroponics.
Types:
Hibiscus syriacus
Under natural conditions, it is a multi-stemmed, large-flowered shrub with a rounded crown up to 3 m high, which does not tolerate frost and is intended for growing only indoors. The leaves are bright green, palmately cut, each “finger” is oblong and has large teeth along the edges. The flowers are large - up to 8 cm in diameter, with 5 rounded, slightly corrugated petals, pink, white, red or lilac, appear on the plant throughout the summer. The center of the flowers is often dark. Syrian hibiscus is a tree type.
Separately worth noting - hibiscus variegated - a plant that is distinguished not only by abundant and long flowering, but also by unusual, brightly colored leaves. On the green leaf blades of this variety there are all kinds of specks, spots and marks of white, light green, pink and even burgundy.
Hibiscus Chiffon is a delicate double variety of hibiscus with very abundant flowering. The inner petals of flowers are much smaller than the outer ones, but externally they often have contrasting specks on the surface. Flower colors include white, pink, lilac, lavender, blue, and flowers reach 10 cm in diameter.
Hibiscus Tahitian - is the common name for the absolutely incredible colors of hibiscus varieties. The flowers are simple or double, painted in all the colors of the rainbow, often containing 2 or more shades. The leaves are simple, glossy, dark green, creating an excellent contrast with the flowers.
Hibiscus herbaceous
A perennial, spectacular, winter-flowering plant that is often grown in open ground. The main feature of this type is that during the winter the entire above-ground part dies off and grows back every spring. The flowering of this subspecies is very long, but less abundant than that of ordinary hibiscus, but the flowers are simply huge - reaching 40 cm in diameter. Currently, simple, double and semi-double varieties have been bred. The color range ranges from white, pink and red; the leaves, depending on the variety, can be either green or burgundy.
Hibiscus Mutabilis
Large shrubs with abundantly branching stems, green, large leaves reaching a length of 18 cm. The leaf blades have slight pubescence on the underside. The main feature of this species is that plants can change the shade of the flowers - only the opened buds on the plant are painted white, and after three to four days the same flowers become dark pink or lilac. There are semi-double and double varieties of this shrub.
Hibiscus trionum
A small annual plant - reaches 90 cm in height, develops quickly. The stems are abundantly branched, slightly pubescent at the tops. The leaves are beautiful, green, glossy, curly, palmately separated, with 3 segments, for which the plant got its name. The flowers are small, with yellow, cream or white petals and a burgundy center, and remain open only during the daytime in clear weather. each flower remains open for only 1 day, but numerous buds simply replace each other and the bush remains in bloom for 1.5 - 2 months.
Hibiscus sabdariffa
A light, airy shrub with thin, abundantly branching, erect shoots. The leaves are palmate, consist of 3 - 5 segments, green, glossy, bent along the central vein, arranged alternately. The flowers are white or cream, up to 10 cm in diameter. The buds of the plant are used as food both fresh and for preparing all kinds of desserts and refreshing drinks. It is believed that this type of hibiscus has a diuretic, antipyretic and laxative effect.
Hibiscus schizopetalus
A very beautiful shrub with hanging large flowers of coral or red color. The flower petals are deeply cut, bent back, the stamens are very large - they protrude far beyond the petals. The leaves are green, simple, glossy, lanceolate in shape.
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
An evergreen shrub or tree-like hibiscus, which in optimal conditions can reach a height of 2 - 5 m. The leaves are green, glossy, broadly lanceolate, with small teeth along the edge. The flowers are large, single, reaching a diameter of 10 cm, with soft petals in red, pink, yellow, white, orange, light blue or light purple.
Hibiscus acetosella
Tall plants that can be considered both as decorative foliage and as flowering plants. The stems are thick, erect, weakly branched, reach a height of 170 cm. The leaf blades are reddish, reach a length of 10 cm, are arranged alternately and consist of 3 - 5 fingers. The edges of the leaves are corrugated and covered with small teeth. The flowers are solitary, pink with a dark center, funnel-shaped.
The leaves of this plant are edible, have a sour taste and contain more vitamin C, and are used to make salads.
Hibiscus cannabinus
Annual or biennial herbaceous plants with erect stems up to 2.5 m high. The leaves are green, dissected into 3-7 fingers, reach a length of 10-15 cm and resemble hemp leaves, which is why the plant received its name. The flowers are solitary, white or yellow, with a darker burgundy center, reaching 8 - 15 cm in diameter.
Hibiscus moscheutos
Tall flowering perennials with vertical, unbranched, thick stems. The leaves are green, heart-shaped, on short petioles, with small teeth along the edges of the leaf blades. Flowers with 5 soft, rounded petals are found predominantly in the upper part of the plant and reach a diameter of 10 - 15 cm. Shades of flowers include white, pink and red, the center is often tinted burgundy.
Hibiscus clayi
Quite compact shrubs 50 - 90 cm high with woody, branched shoots. When grown outdoors in warm climates, they can reach a height of 8 m. The leaves are green, glossy, entire or finely toothed, lanceolate. The flowers are single, with 5 narrow, red petals, and can appear at any time of the year on the tops of the shoots.
Hibiscus militaris
A rare variety - it is a flowering perennial with woody stems, on which are located bright, green leaves, divided into 3 fingers, up to 15 cm long. The height of the plant reaches 60 - 90 cm. Flowers up to 15 cm in diameter, wide open, colored pink or red tint.
Hibiscus heterophyllus
A tall and rapidly developing evergreen, flowering shrub up to 6 m high. The leaves are narrowly divided into 3 narrowly lanceolate, dark green, slightly bent along the central vein of the fingers. The flowers are large - white, pink or yellow, with a dark center.