Herbaceous hibiscus: description, planting, cultivation and care in the open field

Herbaceous (hybrid) hibiscus is easy to grow, because it adorns the gardens and summer cottages of many flower growers. Pleasant shades, the luxurious look of the plant itself immediately catches the eye and makes you think about the heavenly corners of our earth. It looks great against the backdrop of undersized shrubs, and a variety of color palettes allows you to choose hibiscus to your taste.

Characteristics and description of herbal hibiscus

Herbaceous garden hibiscus was bred by crossing several varieties of North American origin.Because of this, it is also called a hybrid. The plant endures winter cold and temperature drops even to -30 ° C, as well as drought in summer. Thanks to these characteristics, the shrub is especially fond of flower growers in Russia.

In winter, shrub branches die off. A powerful and highly branched root system is perfectly preserved underground. Outwardly, the roots look like tubers. The height of the shoots reaches 3 meters, which must be taken into account when choosing a landing site. The leaf shape is oval or round, wide, dark green in color. In general, it is similar to a sunflower leaf.

The flowering period of herbaceous hibiscus falls on the middle of July - the end of October. Inflorescences sometimes reach 30 cm in diameter. The color scheme is represented by many shades from white to dark purple. There are also options with a combined color. Breeders also bred varieties with terry and corrugated type of inflorescences, but they are only suitable for growing in warm climatic conditions, since they do not tolerate frost well.

How to propagate a flower

There are several ways to propagate hibiscus, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Gardeners choose the most affordable and acceptable for their conditions.

Seeds

The disadvantage of this method is that the grown plant may not retain the characteristics of the mother bush. This technique is most often used by breeders to obtain new varieties. Seeds that have been stratified are placed in a damp cloth and left for a week, spraying with water as they dry.

When the grains swell, they are laid out in a prepared container with soil mixture, sprinkled and watered with a spray bottle. The distance between the seeds is 0.5 cm. The dish is covered with glass and placed in a well-lit, warm place. Shoots appear only after 3 weeks. As soon as a pair of true leaves forms on them, the seedlings are divided into separate cups or pots.Hibiscus will bloom only after 3-4 years.

Autumn cuttings

For this method, you will need to select a good he althy twig from the top of the hibiscus bush. It is cut at an angle and cut off the lower foliage. Before planting, the branch is placed in a container with water. Pour the earth into a large pot and water it abundantly. Hibiscus is lowered into the hole made (up to 5 cm), sprinkled with soil and watered again.

A greenhouse is made around the seedling and sent to a well-lit, warm place, protected from direct sunlight. You can check the process of formation of the root system in a month. To do this, the stalk is gently pulled by the top. If the root system has already formed, then it will hold the branch. Already in the second year after landing on the site, such a hibiscus will please with flowering.

Layers and division of the bush

Only adults and hibiscus bushes that have grown well can be divided. Work is carried out in the spring. The plant is completely dug up, the root is cut into several parts and seated in different places.

Cultivation of herbaceous hibiscus

Growing herbaceous hibiscus in your garden is easy. To do this, you need to choose the right place for planting and provide the plant with at least minimal care.

Time and place for landing

Planting work is planned for the end of May or the beginning of June, when warm weather sets in. The landing site should be well lit and protected from wind and drafts. The plant tends to grow quickly, so it will need free space with a radius of 1.5-2 meters.

Hibiscus feels great next to roses. But acidic and calcareous soils are not at all suitable for shrubs. The soil in the selected area must contain good drainage, be fertilized and breathable.

Preparation of planting material

You should not choose hibiscus seedlings from foreign catalogs.It is better to give preference to plants from domestic nurseries. They are more adapted to our climatic conditions and get sick less after transplantation. It is preferable to purchase a seedling with open roots. They must be powerful and well developed. Hibiscus under 2 years of age have not yet been fully acclimatized, so you should not buy them.

Open field planting technology

The hole for planting hibiscus is dug a little wider than the volume of the root system, along with an earthy clod. A layer of sand with humus is poured at the bottom, after which everything is watered abundantly. The seedling is installed in the prepared pit, covered with soil and watered again with water heated to room temperature. Immediately after planting, it is advisable to create partial shade for the plant.

Features of plant care

Hibiscus is unpretentious and undemanding in care, but if you give it due attention, the flower will surely thank you with a lush and long flowering.

Irrigation

Hibiscus needs plentiful and regular irrigation. This is especially true for the summer period. After the end of flowering, the number of waterings is immediately reduced. In no case should water stagnate on the site. To this end, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil and monitor its moisture content.

Hibiscus is watered with settled and sun-warmed water. Chlorinated shrub does not tolerate. In the morning and evening, the plants are sprayed. The frequency of watering depends on weather conditions and the age of the seedling. Young hibiscus need more moisture. In hot and dry weather, irrigation is carried out as the topsoil dries. If there is a critical lack of water, the flower will drop buds and leaves.

Feeding

In order for hibiscus to form buds more actively, in the spring it is fed with organic matter. Potassium-phosphorus fertilizers are also used. Further, during the growing season, fertilizing with a nitrogen content is introduced. With the onset of autumn, organic matter is introduced under the bushes.

Cutting

With the onset of cold weather, hibiscus branches completely dry out. At this time, they are cut at the root. The shrub does not need to be molded, but if there is a desire to get a lush and branched flower, then in the spring the top is slightly pinched.

Preparing for winter

Before the onset of persistent cold weather, dried branches are cut almost to the root, the soil is watered abundantly. It is advisable to spud the roots of the shrub and mulch the soil around it. The plant is covered with dry fallen leaves or sawdust.

Disease and pest control methods

Hibiscus often suffers from chlorosis due to the fact that there is not enough iron in the water for irrigation and an excess of chlorine is observed. The disease manifests itself in yellowing and falling leaves. For the purpose of prevention, the bush is watered exclusively with water that has been settled and heated by the sun's rays.If the plant is already sick, then it should be sprayed with preparations containing chelated iron.

Hibiscus herbaceous is attacked by pests such as:

• whitefly;
• aphid;
• spider mite.

You can fight such pests by treating the bushes with insecticidal preparations:

• Aktara;
• Intavir;
• Kinmiks.

Lavender and marigolds planted nearby will help protect the bush from aphids.This pest is also saved by spraying with a soapy or garlic solution. Glue traps and dandelion infusion save the flower from the whitefly.

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