How to Grow Hibiscus From Cuttings

 

One of the most beautiful flowering plant you can easily grow in a garden or pot is Hibiscus plant. Hibiscus plant has large, colorful blooms that can brighten balconies, yards, and indoor spaces. While hibiscus plant can be easily grown from seeds, growing the plant from cuttings is faster, easier, and it gives you a new plant identical to the parent plant. If you can provide proper care, the hibiscus cuttings can develop roots in a few weeks and then eventually grow into wonderful healthy flowering shrubs.

Why Grow Hibiscus Plant From Cuttings?

Growing hibiscus plant from cuttings actually has a lot of advantages and benefits:

·  Growing hibiscus plants from cutting has faster growth compared to growing them from seeds

·  The new hibiscus plants keep the same flower color and characteristics

·  Growing hibiscus plants from cutting has higher success rate

·  Growing hibiscus plants from cutting has less expensive than buying new plants

·  Growing hibiscus plants from cutting has is easy for beginners

A lot of gardeners actually prefer this method because it allows them to reproduce healthy hibiscus plants quickly.

Best Time to Take the Hibiscus Plant Cuttings

The best time to actually grow hibiscus plant from cuttings is during the warm growing seasons, which are:

·  Spring

·  Early summer

·  Early rainy season in most tropical regions

Warm temperatures actually help the hibiscus plant cuttings root faster. Make sure you avoid taking the hibiscus plant cuttings during very cold weather because rooting becomes slow and difficult.

Materials You Will Need To Get Started

Before starting you need to gather these materials:

·  A healthy hibiscus plant

·  A very good sharp scissors or pruning shears

·  A good small pots or containers

·  A good potting mix or rooting medium

·  Water

·  A good transparent plastic bag or plastic bottle

·  Rooting hormone (this one is optional)

Having everything ready will really make the process very easier and it will also improve your chances of success.

Also read: How to Grow Monstera From Seed

Choosing the Right Hibiscus Plant Cutting

The success of propagation really depends heavily on selecting a healthy Hibiscus plant cutting.

Make sure you choose a stem that is:

·  Healthy and also disease-free

·  Green in color but slightly mature

·  About four to six inches long

·  Not currently flowering heavily

Make sure you avoid weak, damaged, or very old woody stems.

How to Cut the Hibiscus Plant Stem

You can use clean sharp scissors or a pruning shears to cut just below a leaf node. A leaf node is the point where the hibiscus plant leaves grow from the stem.

The hibiscus plant cutting should have:

·  Two to four leaves

·  Several nodes

·  No flowers or flower buds

If flowers are present you need to actually remove them because they take energy away from the plant root development.

Preparing the Hibiscus Plant Cutting

After taking the Hibiscus plant cutting, you need to prepare it properly before planting them.

Remove The Lower Leaves

Make sure you remove the leaves from the lower half of the plant stem. This will help to prevents leaves from rotting in the soil and also reduces water loss.

You can leave only a few leaves at the top.

Trim The Large Plant Leaves

If the remaining hibiscus plant leaves are very large you can carefully cut them in half. This will help reduce moisture loss while the hibiscus plant cutting develops roots.

Using Rooting Hormone (This one is optional)

You can just dip the cut end into rooting hormone powder or gel if available. This can also help to speed up the plant root growth, although hibiscus plant can still root successfully without it.

Preparing the Soil For Planting

The hibiscus plant actually cuttings need a light, a well-draining growing medium.

Good rooting mixtures consist of:

·  Coco peat and perlite

·  Potting soil mixed with sand

·  Peat moss and vermiculite

·  Sand and compost

Make sure you avoid heavy clay soil because it holds too much water and may cause the hibiscus plant cutting to rot.

Fill a small container with the moist rooting medium.

Planting the Hibiscus Plant Cutting

You can make a small hole in the soil using a stick or pencil.

Then insert the hibiscus plant cutting about two to three inches deep into the soil and then gently press the soil around it to hold it upright.

Make sure you water lightly after planting.

Don’t overwater the plant  because soggy soil can easily cause rot.

Creating Humidity around the Plant

The hibiscus plant cuttings actually root best in humid conditions because they lose water quickly before the plant roots form.

You can create humidity around the plant by:

·  Covering the container with a good transparent plastic bag

·  Using a good plastic bottle as a mini greenhouse

·  Placing the container in a humid area

Make sure the plastic does not touch the leaves directly.

Also allow some airflow around the hibiscus plant to prevent mold growth.

Providing the Right Environment For The Plant

Light Requirement

Place the hibiscus plant cutting in bright indirect sunlight.

Make sure you avoid strong direct afternoon sun because it may dry out or burn the hibiscus plant cutting.

Actually, a shaded veranda, bright window, or lightly shaded outdoor area works well for the hibiscus plant.

Temperature Requirement

The hibiscus plant roots do best in warm temperatures that are between:

·  20°C to 30°C (sixty-eight to eighty- six Fahrenheit )

Warm conditions really encourage faster rooting.

Water Requirement

Make sure you keep the soil slightly moist but not waterlogged.

You need to check the soil regularly and then water whenever the top begins to dry slightly.

Too much water is actually one of the biggest reasons why most hibiscus plant cuttings fail.

How Long Does Rooting Take?

The hibiscus plant cuttings usually develop roots within:

·  Three to eight weeks

The exact time really depends on:

·  The temperature

·  The humidity

·  The hibiscus plant variety

·  The growing conditions

You can gently tug the hibiscus plant cutting after a few weeks. Resistance usually means that the hibiscus plant roots are forming.

Transplanting the Rooted the Hibiscus Plant Cutting

Once the hibiscus plant cutting develops healthy roots and the new leaves begin to grow, it actually means is ready for transplanting.

You can easily move it into a larger container or directly into the garden.

Choosing the Right Location For Planting

The hibiscus plant grows best in:

·  A well-draining soil

·  A warm climates condition

·  An areas with a good sunlight

Actually most hibiscus plants really need at least six hours of sunlight daily for abundant flowering.

Caring for the Young Hibiscus Plants

Water Requirement

The young hibiscus plants really need regular watering, most especially during hot weather.

Make sure you keep the soil moist but avoid flooding the plant roots.

Fertilizer Requirement

After a few weeks you can easily feed the hibiscus plant with a balanced fertilizer.

A fertilizer that is rich in potassium actually encourages flowering.

You can easily apply fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season.

Pruning The Hibiscus Plant

You can carefully pinch or prune the tips of the plant occasionally in other to encourage bushier growth.

Pruning the hibiscus plant can also improve air circulation around the plant and flower production.

Also read: How to Grow Aloe Vera From A Cutting

Hibiscus Plant Common Problems and Solutions

Cutting Rotting

The cause:

·  Too much water on the plant

·  Poor drainage

The solution:

·  You can use a well-draining soil

·  Make sure you water less frequently

Leaves Wilting

The cause:

·  Low humidity around the plant

·  Excessive sunlight around the plant

The solution:

·  You can increase humidity

·  You can also move to indirect light

No Roots Forming

The cause:

·  Cold temperatures

·  Weak hibiscus plant cutting

The solution:

·  Try and use healthy hibiscus cuttings

·  Make sure you keep the environment warm

Mold Growth

The cause:

·  When there is poor airflow

·  When there is excess moisture

The solution:

·  Ventilate the humidity cover daily

·  Try as much as possible to avoid overwatering