Garden hibiscus: care and reproduction, planting and growing in the open field

New varieties of hibiscus appear on the market every year. Breeders love this beautifully flowering plant. In the gardens of the middle lane, a frost-resistant variety is grown - garden hibiscus, flower care and reproduction have their own characteristics.

Description and characteristics of tree hibiscus

More than 200 varieties of hibiscus are known. In nature, they grow in countries with a subtropical and tropical climate, many species are cultivated. A variety of Syrian hibiscus (garden) is popular with flower growers. It is represented by tall deciduous shrubs.

Straight, even branches 3-6 m long covered with oval, bright green leaves. They are hard, glossy, shaped like oak leaves. The flowers are solitary, double or simple type with a diameter of up to 12 cm. The color of the petals is monophonic or two-color. Color shades different:

• white;
• dark red;
• pale lilac;
• dark purple;
• pale and bright pink.

This type of shrub plant develops slowly. The growth rate depends on the quality of care. Proper watering plays a big role. Blooms in the 3-4th year of life. The flowering period is long. It starts in July and ends closer to November.

The flower lives and pleases the eye with its appearance for only 1 day. The buds open in the morning and close by the end of the day. This does not affect the degree of decorativeness of a tree-like shrub. There are many buds, they bloom every day, so the bush is strewn with large flowers every day.

The frost resistance of varieties with simple flowers is higher than that of double varieties of Syrian hibiscus. The latter need to be covered for the winter, and varieties with simple flowers easily tolerate winters with little snow with short frosts down to 5-10 ° C. Hibiscus Syrian needs to be covered if the winter temperature stays around -15 °C for weeks.

Most popular varieties

Gardeners grow different varieties of garden hibiscus. They differ in shape, size, color of flowers:

• bush variety with pink-purple flowers - Ardens;
• White lovers choose Monstrosus, Totus Albus, William R. Smit and double-flowered Speciosus;
• Roseus Plenus has dark pink petals;
• Due de Brabant flowers are dark red with white stripes.

Hibiscus propagation

There are no problems with reproduction. In practice, flower growers successfully use seed and vegetative methods of reproduction. In one place, bushes grow for 20 years.

Seeds

Perennial seeds are in boxes. Collect them in late November or early spring. In the southern regions, the culture propagates by self-sowing, blooms in the 3rd year. The method allows to grow zoned, frost-resistant seedlings. They inherit all the varietal characteristics of the parent plant.

Seeds can be bought at the store. They are large and easy to plant. Suitable for any light, fertile soil. You will need a small container and a zip bag. The seeds are deepened by 1 cm. The soil is moistened with a spray gun. The container is placed in a bag, the lock is latched. Germinate seeds at a temperature of 25 ° C.

Shoots appear on the 7-10th day. The package is opened, but not removed for 3 days. In the phase of 4-5 leaves, the seedlings dive into separate cups, provide them with care and conditions:

• diffused intense light;
• regular watering;
• top dressing ("Agricola" for flowering plants).

Shanks

Perennial can be propagated by cuttings. You can cut them in the spring (end of February, March). Mature branches with a length of at least 25-35 cm are suitable for this purpose. They can be rooted in water. Correctly keep the jar with cuttings on the south window. Roots appear within a month.

Transplant into separate containers when their length reaches 3-4 cm. Use the mixture for planting:

• turf land;
• humus;
• sand.

In June, seedlings grown from cuttings are ready for transplanting into the open ground.

Dividing the bush

This method does not apply to tree varieties. By dividing the bush, grassy forms are propagated.

Features of planting garden hibiscus

Choose a sunny, open spot in the garden. The tree species does not like the shadow. It grows in partial shade, but fewer buds form during flowering. Prefers soil loose, with a high content of humus. It should pass water well, as the shrub does not tolerate waterlogging.

Where and when to plant

In the open field, garden hibiscus bushes are used as a tapeworm. Standard and bush forms look decorative. Graceful flowers favorably emphasizes the emerald green lawn grass. An ornamental plant is planted in flower beds with perennial flowers. Compact, low bushes go well with tall varieties of roses.

Lavender is considered an excellent companion. During flowering, its pale purple flowers favorably set off the hibiscus. At the same time, lavender drives away aphids from a neighbor. Conifers (thuya, Cossack juniper) serve as a good background for a shrub covered with pale green foliage.

The life expectancy of a bush depends on the location. The shrub does not tolerate drafts and the north, northwest wind, so hibiscus seedlings are planted on the south, southwest side of the house or fence. Landing dates depend on the weather conditions of the region.

How to plant hibiscus

Dig a hole 30-35 cm larger than the root ball. Humus (1 shovel), urea (1 matchbox) and garden soil are poured down. Everything is well mixed. The depth of the finished hole should correspond to the height of the root ball.

Carry out transshipment:

• hibiscus seedling being taken out of the container;
• put in a hole;
• sprinkle with garden soil;
• watering.

The pits are placed at a distance of 1.5 m from each other. Take into account the future size of the crown. In adult hibiscus bushes, the crown diameter reaches 0.7 m.

Rules for plant care

Caring for the Syrian hibiscus is easy. Standard care (watering, top dressing). In summer, it is necessary to pick off dried flowers, this lengthens the flowering period.

Water and fertilize

For abundant flowering in May, the hibiscus bush needs to be fed with potash fertilizer. For regions with cold winters, summer feeding is important. During this period, they make a bias on fertilizers containing phosphorus. They increase the frost resistance of hibiscus, prepare the plant for winter.

Feed 2 times a month throughout the growing season.Hibiscus bushes are watered under the root. The frequency of watering depends on the weather and rainfall. With prolonged heat and drought - weekly. An adult plant needs at least 10 liters of water. Due to the drying of the soil, hibiscus can drop buds.

Loosening and mulching hibiscus

The earth after watering and rains is compacted. By loosening the entire area of the near-stem circle, the air permeability of the soil is restored. Weeds are removed every week. To reduce the evaporation of moisture, the ground around the bush is mulched.

Hibiscus Wintering

For the winter, the shoots of an adult bush are cut to ⅔ of the length. In regions where temperatures drop to -15 ° C and below, all varieties of hibiscus cover. Covering material (lutrasil, spunbond) is used. The more layers, the more secure the cover.

Stamp forms are wrapped around, arcs are placed over low bushes. The soil around the trunk is mulched with a layer of sawdust, humus, straw, peat.

Should I trim?

Since the hibiscus tree blooms on the shoots of the current year, in the fall (spring) gardeners carry out mandatory pruning:

• shorten the upper part of the faded shoots of adult bushes;
• shoots of young hibiscus are cut to the maximum.

Short pruning of young plants helps to form a strong bush with a good crown. Pruning hibiscus branches stimulate the growth of new shoots, achieve abundant flowering.

Diseases and pests

Seedlings and young bushes of horticultural varieties suffer from the invasion of aphids and spider mites. You can see pests on the inside of the leaves. Plants are stunted due to pests. If insects are found, the bushes are treated with Fitoverm Forte.

Garden species rarely suffer from fungal diseases. When symptoms (spots) appear, the aerial part of the plant is sprayed with a fungicide solution:

• "Agate";
• Abiga Peak;
• Alirin.

The nuances of growing in different regions of Russia

In the southern regions, pruning (sanitary, shaping) is carried out in the spring, until the plant begins to grow - the end of March, the beginning of April or late autumn (end of November). Experienced gardeners prefer to form bushes in the spring.

In the middle lane, winters are frosty, so it is recommended to carry out shaping pruning before the onset of frost. It is much easier to cover cut bushes for the winter. In the southern regions, 2 types of shaping pruning are practiced:

• stamp;
• bush.

In temperate climates, it is advised to form hibiscus in the form of a bush.

Possible growing problems

The lack of nutrients is reflected in the appearance of ornamental shrubs. In the Syrian variety, with a lack of iron and nitrogen, chlorosis develops. The leaves turn pale, turn yellow. The veins on them are well visible. Solve the problem with root and foliar top dressing.

Excessive watering causes root rot. This leads to poor nutrition. The plant is starting to shed its leaves. Early leaf fall can be provoked by pests living in the soil:

• wireworm;
• May beetle larvae.

With the help of a spectacular plant, the garden becomes individual. With the help of garden shears, a tree-like shrub can be given any shape. With proper planting, caring for a flowering plant does not take much time. It rarely gets sick, unlike roses.

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