For someone who wants to have a beautiful plant at home, but still does not know how to take care of indoor flowers, hibiscus is ideal. Despite its beauty, this plant is very unpretentious. It can easily withstand low light, and sudden temperature changes, and insidious drafts. It will not be lost even if you miss watering time. It is thanks to this unpretentiousness that hibiscus is often placed in offices, living rooms, in the halls and corridors of various institutions.

Hibiscus is called the "Chinese rose", and this name conveys the beauty of this plant as accurately as possible. However, in order for hibiscus not only to live, but also to delight you with its bright flowering, you need to remember a few tips.

Location and lighting

The first thing that a novice florist needs to learn is the light-loving hibiscus plant. Place it by a window or any other well-lit place. Also do not forget that hibiscus grows very quickly and grows quite large. In a small room, problems with its placement may arise: this flower does not like crampedness. The pot in which the hibiscus will live also plays an important role: the tighter the pot, the slower it will grow.

Temperature

The optimum temperature for a Chinese rose in the summer is 20-22 degrees. In winter, the temperature should be lowered to 14-16 degrees. Lowering the temperature in winter will have a positive effect on the future flowering of hibiscus. If you do not have the opportunity to keep the flower in low temperature conditions, do not be discouraged - the Chinese rose can grow in winter and at room temperature.

Air humidity

Hibiscus needs frequent spraying, as the flower adores high humidity. If you keep hibiscus in a room with dry air, then there is a high probability that the flowers will not be able to fully open. Spraying should be carried out as carefully as possible - water should not get on the flowers, otherwise the buds will be covered with spots and fall off.

To increase the humidity, you can use a pallet with expanded clay or pebbles, filled with water. But remember, the bottom of the pot must not touch the water!

Watering

Hibiscus loves moisture. Water it abundantly so that the soil in the pot is completely saturated with water. But it is not worth watering the Chinese rose too often - the top layer of the earth should have time to dry out. In autumn and winter, watering should be moderate, after about 2-3 days, half after the top layer dries out. For watering, it is best to use constant soft water at room temperature.

The soil

The soil for growing hibiscus should be nutritious and light, it should be close to neutral (pH about 6). The ideal soil composition would be a mixture of turf, leaf, humus soil and sand in a ratio of 4: 3: 1: 1. Pieces of charcoal can be added to the composition of the earth. A simplified soil composition is also suitable: turf, humus soil and sand in proportions of 2: 1: 1.

Do not forget to take care of good drainage, the flower does not tolerate stagnant water in the pot!

Top dressing and fertilizers

Top dressing plays an important role in the care of indoor hibiscus. It is very important not to overdo it with fertilizers. In the spring, when the hibiscus is preparing to start growing, it is worth feeding it with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer. For the rest of the fertilizers, the optimal time will be summer, when the flower grows most actively. But it is better to refuse nitrogen-containing fertilizers - hibiscus does not like them too much.

Transfer

Young plants need to be replanted every year. To do this, mix in a pre-prepared pot or tub 2 parts of garden soil, 1 part of sand and 1 part of peat. If you are replanting a large plant, then the mixture should be prepared heavier.

From the age of three, the need for an annual transplant disappears: an adult plant must be transplanted every 2-3 years.

Pruning

There is a categorical answer to this question - yes, we do! Formative pruning must be done annually, only under this condition will the Chinese rose delight you with its flowering. Each time after flowering, the tips of the shoots must be cut, then the lateral shoots will grow, on which, in turn, buds will form. Keep in mind that hibiscus flowers only appear on young shoots, so every shoot that is not cut in time is another flower that you will not count on next year.

In early spring, it is very useful to pinch all the shoots - including the young ones. Although pruning indoor hibiscus can be carried out throughout the year, it does not harm it at all.

Shoots that grow parallel to the main trunk (they are called "tops") must be cut off. Just like those of the branches that grow inside the crown. Don't worry about the flower, regular pruning is good for it to grow healthy and bloom abundantly.

Indoor hibiscus propagates both by seeds and cuttings. However, there is too much trouble with seeds for a novice grower - this method is quite laborious and is more suitable for those who are engaged in the selection of indoor hibiscus. And propagation by cuttings has several indisputable advantages. Firstly, this method retains all the varietal characteristics inherent in the parent plant. And secondly (which is especially important for an amateur grower), with this method, the plant begins to bloom in the first year.

Seed propagation

Seeds are best sown from late January to mid-March. Before planting seeds in the ground, they should be soaked for 12 hours in Epin. You need to plant seeds in a mixture of peat and sand. After planting, the pot is covered with glass or foil to create greenhouse conditions. It is necessary to constantly maintain the temperature within 25-27 degrees. Also, do not forget to periodically ventilate the pot and spray the soil with seeds.

When young sprouts have 2-3 leaves, they can be transplanted into a separate pot. Hibiscus grown from seed will only flower for 2-3 years.

Propagation by cuttings

Young cuttings are best suited for propagation. Place them in water or soil to root. In the first case, you will need a vessel, preferably made of dark glass, filled with water. Place a stalk in it and cover with a "cap" - for example, a glass jar. This is necessary to increase the humidity. Cuttings will take root in about 25-30 days. When the roots appear, the cutting will need to be transplanted into an earthen mixture containing a large amount of peat. It is advisable to add sphagnum moss there - this is especially useful for a young plant.

When rooting directly into the soil, you need a mixture of coarse sand and peat. But do not forget that before this, it is necessary to remove all leaves from the cutting, except for the top two.

• Buds appear, but do not open and soon fall off - insufficient watering; drying out of the soil; lack of nutrients in the soil; low room temperature.
• Lower leaves fall, new leaves grow yellow - increased content of calcium and chlorine in the soil; lack of iron and nitrogen; too dry indoor air; abundant watering with cold water; low temperature.
• Lack of flowers with too lush crown - an excess of fertilizers containing nitrogen; the flower does not have enough light, the temperature is too high in winter.
• Pinkish spots appear on the leaves - lack of light; oversupply of fertilizers.
• Leaves shriveled and become lethargic - lack of moisture.
• The roots dry out - the soil temperature is too low.
• The leaves dry up - the air in the room is too dry; high temperature in winter.

Diseases and pests

The greatest danger to indoor hibiscus is and. To get rid of these pests, you must first wash the leaves with soapy water, and then spray with actellik solution.

Indoor hibiscus - reproduction and care (video)

Indoor hibiscus, or the second name is Chinese rose, is a fairly well-known indoor flower with lush inflorescences among all gardeners. The hibiscus flower is respected by the islanders in the Pacific Ocean. For the girls of this island, the hibiscus flower is a bright decoration in the hair.

General information about the Chinese rose

In Malaysia, hibiscus petals represent the commandments of Islam. And in India, they believe that hibiscus protects the house from bad wishes and accompanies the achievement of success in work and helps to cope with the oppressed state.

Its name from the scientific side - Syrian hibiscus ... His native place is Asia Minor, he belongs to the Malvaceae family. Hibiscus grows in good conditions to almost three meters in height.

The trunk of the plant is smooth to the touch, the color of the bark is grayish. The leaves are quite large, trefoil-shaped.

There is only one kind of home hibiscus with large scarlet inflorescences.

Hibiscus indoor home care

Caring for indoor hibiscus is not difficult, and having done everything right, he will thank you for your attention with abundant flowering and active growth.

The houseplant hibiscus is a thermophilic flower and thrives at temperatures between 19 and 23 degrees. Without adhering to the temperature, indoor hibiscus will refuse to bloom.

When caring for home, the Chinese rose loves humidified air, which is more suitable for natural conditions. Therefore, it is better to keep the humidity for hibiscus at least 60%. Hibiscus must be sprayed constantly.

Fertilizer for indoor hibiscus

During active development, hibiscus needs a variety of nutritional supplements. For lush flowering, he needs universal fertilizers with the addition of nitrogen and potassium. Fertilize once a week, and do it in the evening, watering the flower in advance.

When the plant stops developing strongly and slows down its growth, it is necessary to reduce the frequency of fertilization. It should be borne in mind that you do not need to fertilize hibiscus during dormancy and after transplanting, only after a few months.

How to transplant hibiscus at home

A young growing plant needs a transplant every year, and the older the plant, it will be enough to simply replant as needed or change the soil, once every three years.

A transplant is only necessary if the root system has filled the entire pot. In large, bulky plants, only the upper part of the soil is replaced.

The soil for transplantation can be purchased universal for indoor flowering plants, or you can prepare it yourself. To do this, mix part of the garden soil, sod and a little humus, and do not forget about good drainage, it is a prophylaxis against rotting of the root system.

The capacity is selected not much more than the previous one, otherwise the plant will go to the root and refuse to bloom. For a while. When transplanting the soil from the root system, it is not necessary to knock down the whole, only if the roots of the plant rot, then you need to cut them off.

Several types and varieties of hibiscus are grown in gardens, information about them, planting and care in the open field, reproduction and pruning can be found here.

Hibiscus from seeds at home

In hibiscus, reproduction occurs from seeds. After the bud has bloomed, seeds form in its place. Seeds are soaked in a container with a growth stimulator for 12 hours. After they are washed with a light solution of potassium permanganate.

Next, the seeds are wrapped in a piece of damp cloth, and placed in a plastic bag and left in a warm place so that the seeds begin to germinate. But it is necessary to periodically moisten them with light water and ventilate them so that they do not get stuck.

When the seeds are baked, they are sown into the soil to obtain a seedling. Done right, seed propagation of hibiscus will be a pleasure for you.

Reproduction of indoor hibiscus in this way will give flowering only in the third year. After germination and the appearance of three leaves, the seedlings are planted in pots.

In hibiscus, reproduction at home occurs also with the help of cuttings.

How to grow hibiscus from a cutting

When growing a Chinese rose at home, it is necessary to cut a couple of cuttings from a large adult flower in February and plant in prepared moist soil, covered with an ordinary glass jar. In such conditions, the plant must be kept until it takes root, about a month and a half with a temperature of about 23 degrees.

Also, cut cuttings can be left in water until the roots appear, and then planted in a container with prepared soil.

Pruning hibiscus

Pruning indoor hibiscus is how you would like to get a lush spreading bush or tree. In hibiscus, pruning occurs in the spring, until the plant begins to actively develop, or in the autumn period after flowering.

In hibiscus, pruning forms branching. If you cut your hibiscus at the wrong time, it won't bloom. Use scissors to cut the branches. It is necessary to cut off dry branches and woody stems, which are opposite the main branches. Prune your plant so that it blends harmoniously with your home comfort.

Hibiscus diseases and pests

The main cause of plant diseases is dry air, insufficient watering and drafts.

At elevated air temperatures, the buds of hibiscus begin to fall off, and if the temperature is below the set level, the buds do not appear at all.

Sometimes the plant infects aphids, for this it is necessary to treat them with a chemical to combat aphids.

Another pest is a spider mite, it appears from dry air. To avoid this, spray the plant in time. And you can destroy the tick by washing the leaves with soapy water.

Why do indoor hibiscus leaves turn yellow? - the reason why the leaves of hibiscus turn yellow may be an excess of chlorine in the water for irrigation.

Therefore, in order to avoid this, the water should be defended for several days. Also, due to these factors, the leaves of hibiscus can curl.

If the leaves begin to turn yellow, then the plant must be fed with fertilizer with the addition of magnesium.

Why hibiscus does not bloom - during the formation of buds, the temperature in the room should not exceed 15 degrees, lighting should be diffused, watering should be reduced. By following these rules, the plant will bloom profusely.

Hibiscus transplant video. Video of the correct transplant of flowering hibiscus. To prevent flowering hibiscus from shedding flowers during transplantation, it must be reloaded, i.e. minimally destroying the earthen lump. What kind of soil is needed for hibiscus and the transplanting process itself can be seen in the video below.

Hibiscus transshipment - video

Now we are going to transplant hibiscus. It is also called Chinese rose or Chinese rose.

Caring for hibiscus at home involves the obligatory transplantation of the plant. To transplant hibiscus, we need a light nutritious soil mixture, we have a mixture based on leaf humus. You will also need a pot. We take a two-liter pot. It is, however, a little too big, but there is no other pot. Compensate for the size of the pot with a drainage layer, no big deal.

So, let's start transplanting hibiscus. We pour drainage on the bottom of the pot (pebbles or expanded clay). The drainage layer should be about 2 centimeters thick. Pour a small layer of earthen mixture on top of the drainage; claydite and earth do not need to be mixed.

You need to see in what state the hibiscus, or rather, its root system, is it ready for transplantation. Carefully remove the hibiscus from the pot. To make the plant easier to remove, the plastic pot can be crumpled a little on the sides so that the earth moves away from the walls. The root system of our hibiscus is in excellent condition, which can be seen from the state of the flower itself - in a poor condition of the root (when they rot, for example), the leaves of the hibiscus turn yellow. Our hibiscus leaves are green and juicy, and the flowers are large and beautiful. There is only 1 dried leaf at the very bottom, but this does not mean anything, it may just break off from the stem and dry out.

You need to remove some of the peat, but only the one that can be easily chickened out with a wooden stick or pencil. Small white particles can be seen in the peat. No need to be scared, these are not worms, this is perlite, which makes the substrate more air and moisture permeable. By killing all the extra peat - the land that has not been mastered and braided by roots, but only that which is easily shaken off. You must try not to injure the roots and do no harm to the hibiscus. As you can see, our hibiscus has healthy and powerful roots.

Well, let's proceed directly to transplanting a Chinese rose. We have already prepared a pot with expanded clay and a layer of earth. It is advisable to try on how a homemade Chinese rose fits in a new place, if necessary, add some more earth. We begin to fill in the earth, filling all the free space between the earthen lump with roots and the walls of the pot. Pour evenly, compact the earth, trying to place the hibiscus as central as possible in the pot. The soil level in the pot should be 1-1.5 centimeters below the top of the pot so that water does not roll off the ground when watering the hibiscus.

As you can see, we are replanting a flowering hibiscus. Don't worry about this. In fact, we do not transplant, but transfer the hibiscus, which will reduce the level of stress transferred by the plant to a minimum, since we do not injure the roots of the plant. If during the transplanting of hibiscus into a new pot the old substrate (in our case it is peat) was wet, then it is not necessary to water the plant immediately after transshipment, but it will definitely need to be done the next day. If the ground was dry, then you should immediately water the hibiscus.

Hibiscus grows rapidly.

Before you have time to look back, the newly rooted stalk has turned into a good bush and the pot is already too small for it. In cramped dishes, hibiscus lacks nutrients, it very quickly depletes the moisture contained in the pot. In order for the plant to continue to develop, it must be transplanted correctly.

The new pot shouldn't be too big. It is enough to pick up dishes 4-5 cm larger in diameter than the previous one (1).

Place drainage on the bottom of the pot in a layer of 3-4 cm. This will prevent the soil from acidifying (2). Gently remove the hibiscus from the old pot. Carefully, taking care not to damage the roots, remove the old drainage (3).

Examine the earthen lump carefully. If the soil is not acidic and there are no pests in it, then the hibiscus can simply be overloaded, that is, transplanted into a larger pot without disturbing the earth's coma. If you notice damage to the roots or the presence of pests, then you will have to free the roots from the ground, rinse them in a solution of any fungicide ("Maxim", "Fundazol") and pest repellent (4). Then it will no longer be a transshipment, but a transfer.

Carefully, so as not to damage the roots, remove the top layer of earth from the earthy clod (5)

Place a layer of prepared potting soil over the drain. Try the ball on the new pot (6). The level of the soil surface in the pot after the restoration of the removed layer of soil should be 3-4 cm below the edge of the pot. If the lump with roots has dropped too low, add more potting soil, if too high, remove the part with a shovel so as not to disturb the drainage layer.

Fill the voids between the clod and the sides of the pot with the potting soil (7).

Gradually compact the potting soil and top up as needed. The compacted soil should be at the level of the earth ball (8). Add soil on top so that the root collar is at the same level (9).

Pour well until water begins to flow into the pan. After it is completely drained, empty it from the tray. Add soil gently if it has settled too much on the edge of the pot (Y).

After transplanting, spray the hibiscus with Zircon solution according to the instructions, this contributes to a faster recovery of the roots disturbed during transplantation (11).

When should you transplant hibiscus?

In a cramped pot, hibiscus slows down growth and sheds not only the buds, but often even the leaves. To prevent this from happening, it must be transplanted in a timely manner: young plants annually (and sometimes 2 times a year), each time increasing the size of the transplant dishes. Plants over 5 years old are transplanted every 3-4 years, but the top layer of soil in the pot is replaced annually.

Potting mix for hibiscus

The soil mixture for replanting should be loose and nutritious with a neutral reaction. The most suitable composition: 2 parts each sheet. turf and humus and 1 part of sand. It will be useful to add a small amount of charcoal and ash. Such a mixture is also suitable: 2 parts of peat, 1 part of humus, 1 part of garden soil and 0.5 part of washed sand.

Hibiscus prefers neutral soils, so add 0.5 cups of wood ash for every 2 liters of the mixture, as well as 1 tablespoon of complete mineral fertilizer. If you prefer to use ready-made mixes from the store, then choose neutral soil mixes for replanting hibiscus. (about soil and mixtures for indoor plants)

Hibiscus transplant - photo

The Chinese rose can be found almost everywhere: at home, at work, in a cafe or anywhere else. And all because this is an extremely common flower that blooms very beautifully, grows quickly, and it is a pleasure to care for it. Hibiscus, the second name for the plant, is so popular that it is put on coins in Malaysia.

Rose is almost a birch

The Chinese rose can reach significant sizes, but in indoor conditions they try to restrain its height at a level of 2 m. The leaves resemble birch in shape, only in an enlarged version. They are deep green in color, slightly rough to the touch, and have teeth at the ends. The flowers are very beautiful, the red ones look especially impressive. In some plant specimens, they can reach up to 14 cm in diameter. Depending on the variety, the flowers can be simple or double. The fragility of the flowers is a little upsetting: their lifespan is only 1-2 days, but if you take care of the plant correctly, then the flowering of replacing flowers can last from spring to late autumn.

For a Chinese rose, you need to find a bright and warm place without drafts. The midday sun can burn the leaves, so plants should be shaded at this time. It is necessary to water abundantly in summer, and in winter, if the temperature of the content is lowered to 14 degrees Celsius, it is rarely watered to prevent waterlogging of the soil. Leaves may fall off at temperatures below this value.

In the warm season, hibiscus should be taken out into fresh air, which has a very beneficial effect on flowering and appearance. Top dressing is applied during the flowering period from April to September; complex mineral fertilizers for flowering crops are well suited for this. It should be fed once every two weeks.

The Chinese rose loves high air humidity, so it is very useful to spray the crown, even a shower will be good for replenishing moisture reserves, just try not to get on the flowers: from contact with water, they quickly wither, become stained and fall off.

Formation

The most important activity when growing a rose is pruning, which will help form a compact flowering bush or tree. First of all, you need to remove the weakest or dried up shoots. In addition, it should be remembered that hibiscus blooms on the shoots of the current year. The time for pruning is early spring, when the buds have not yet formed. All young shoots are cut in half. Cut sites can be treated with activated carbon.

Reproduction

For propagation of the Chinese rose, seeds and cuttings are well suited. Seed germination is high, and the germination process itself is simple. Seed germination lasts for six years. Before you start sowing seeds, it is best to germinate them in damp gauze. Sowing can be started in February. The germination area should be warm and humid. After about three days, sprouts will appear on the seeds, and then you can start sowing. For this, plastic cups (0.5 l) with sand, peat and ash are suitable. After sowing, the seeds are lightly sprinkled with earth and covered with foil, placing in a bright place, but without direct sunlight.

When propagating by cuttings, you can use the material that remains after spring pruning. Before planting in the ground, the cuttings are best germinated in a heteroauxin solution to accelerate root growth, and then they can be planted in a separate pot with soil.

Hibiscus is a very popular and incredibly beautiful flower that is successfully grown both in the garden and indoors. The genus "Hibiscus" belongs to the "Malvovye" family and has more than two hundred species and varieties. Not many people know that it is from the petals of one of the types of hibiscus, called "Sudanese Rose", that "Hibiscus" tea is made. But the Sudanese rose is grown only in the garden, and at home another type of plant has taken root - "Chinese Hibiscus" or "Chinese Rose". Today we will talk about taking care of the indoor type of hibiscus at home.

Indoor hibiscus is a tree-like shrub that grows up to 3 meters. It has lush foliage of rich green color. The leaves are shiny and serrated.

In the tropics, hibiscus can bloom all year round, but at home it blooms from spring to autumn in large, cup-like flowers. Each individual flower lives for 1-2 days, after which it begins to fade gradually. But on each bush of the Chinese rose there are usually a lot of buds, so its decorative effect does not suffer from this. The color of the petals and their shape are very varied depending on the variety.

When pollinated, fruits appear that look like a five-leafed capsule. Inside are seeds, which can be either smooth or covered with hairs.

Chinese hibiscus varieties

More than 500 hybrid varieties of Chinese hibiscus have been developed, which differ from each other in flower shape and color. The photo shows the most popular of them.

Kyoto- yellow flowers with a reddish center.

Hamburg- purple double flowers.

Florida- red-orange petals.

Feeling Blue- Flowers of bluish-purple shades are diluted with thin white stripes drawn from the center to the edges. A very decorative variety.

Pirple majestic- dark burgundy flowers with white specks appearing closer to the edges of the petals.

Carmen Keene- pale pink flowers with a white border.

San Remo- rather large white flowers with a yellow pistil.

Borias- white flowers with wavy edges. The core is bright crimson.

Hibiscus care at home

Growing hibiscus at home will take a lot of patience. But this is not due to the fact that the flower is too picky about the conditions of detention. It's just that the Chinese rose is slowly growing. It will take several years for a young specimen bought in a store or planted on its own to turn into a large, lush, profusely flowering bush. Perhaps this is the only difficulty, because otherwise, hibiscus, like most tropical plants, loves bright lighting, abundant watering and high humidity.

Lighting and location

Hibiscus needs a lot of sunlight. If you are planning to grow a flower on a windowsill, the most successful options are east and west windows. A southern sill can also be used, but during midday the hibiscus should be shaded with curtains or blinds to prevent the leaves and buds from burning. If you plan to place a pot with a plant in the back of the room, choose the south side, as otherwise it will not have enough light. In the northern regions, where cloudy weather or short daylight hours prevail, additional illumination with phytolamps is required.

Hibiscus doesn't like drafts. Remove the flower while airing the room, and also do not place it near an open window.

In summer, a pot with a Chinese rose can be taken out to a balcony, loggia or garden. Fresh air promotes more abundant flowering. But protect the flower from the wind, as well as from prolonged exposure to the midday sun. Hibiscus tolerates morning and evening sunlight well, but can wither from the midday sun.

In winter, it is better to rearrange the plant on the sill of the south window. It is desirable to provide additional artificial lighting.

Temperature

In spring and autumn, the optimum temperature for hibiscus is 20-22 ° C. In summer, it can be raised to 25 ° C. In winter, it is recommended to lower the temperature to 15-18 ° C, as this has a positive effect on the setting of buds and the flowering of hibiscus in the next season. But in no case do not let the temperature drop below 12 ° C - the flower may die.

If you don't have a cold room at home, don't worry, hibiscus can overwinter at normal room temperature.

Watering

Hibiscus is a moisture-loving plant. In spring and summer, it should be watered abundantly so that the entire earthen lump is completely saturated with moisture. But this should not be done too often, between waterings the top layer of the soil should dry out. In autumn and winter, watering is slightly reduced, and watered 2-3 days after the top layer dries. For irrigation, settled, filtered, rain or melt water at room temperature is used.

Hibiscus is not able to accumulate water in the leaves, so you should not forget about watering it. If you were still away and did not water your pet for a long time, you need to bathe it in the shower immediately upon your return. So the plant will be saturated with moisture faster than through the roots, and, most likely, will not get sick.

Air humidity

The Chinese rose needs high humidity, otherwise there is a possibility that the buds will not open completely. Therefore, it should be sprayed frequently. Use the same water for spraying as for irrigation. At the same time, be extremely careful - try to spray only the leaves of the plant, not getting on the buds, otherwise they will become covered with spots and fall off. A good bonus would be the presence of an aquarium or a humidifier in the room.

In winter, special attention should be paid to humidity, because during the heating season the air in our apartments becomes very dry. Try not to place the flower pot near the central heating radiator, and if this is not possible, cover the radiator with a damp towel. Remember to dampen the towel as it dries. Additional air humidification can be arranged using a tray filled with water and pebbles (expanded clay). But please note that the bottom of the hibiscus pot should not touch the water, otherwise the roots can rot from excess moisture.

Top dressing

Like any other houseplant, hibiscus needs additional feeding, because the nutrients in the soil are not endless. In the spring, when the flower is actively growing and gaining buds, feed it with liquid fertilizers containing nitrogen, iron and copper. During flowering, the composition of the dressings should be changed, and fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium should be used. Potassium assists in bud formation and phosphorus assists in root growth. Feed the flower 2-3 times a month, no more. Follow the dosage according to the instructions.

Some resources do not recommend using fertilizers containing nitrogen, as hibiscus does not like it. But in order for your bush to grow and grow lush foliage, nitrogen is needed. Therefore, we, in turn, advise you not to worry about this, and apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers during the period of active growth. Above all, do not overdo it. Apply such dressings no more than 3 times a month.

There are a couple of rules to follow when feeding hibiscus:

1. before feeding, the flower should be watered abundantly;
2. Fertilizers are best applied in the evening.

The frequency of top dressing in winter depends on the temperature at which your bush hibernates. If you were able to provide him with a cool wintering with a temperature of 15-18 degrees, stop feeding. If you couldn't, just reduce them to 1 time per month.

You need to know that buds are formed only on young branches of a Chinese rose, and pruning is necessary for their appearance. After the flowering period, trim the tips of all the shoots. This stimulates the appearance of new lateral shoots in these places, on which buds will appear next year. In early spring, also pinch all the shoots, including the young ones that have appeared.

Pruning for decorative purposes is also necessary. Remove shoots that grow parallel to the main trunk (tops) and those that grow into the crown. Do not worry about the flower, it tolerates pruning well and never gets sick after it.

How to transplant hibiscus

The first transplant of indoor hibiscus must be done a couple of weeks after purchase. Stores use a depleted substrate so that the plant does not grow too much while on the counter. But if you bought a flowering specimen, wait until the end of flowering, otherwise all the flowers will fall off. Further, young specimens less than 3 years old are transplanted once a year in early spring, slightly increasing the diameter of the pot. Older specimens are transplanted every 2-3 years, and adult large bushes are no longer transplanted at all. It is enough to renew the topsoil.

Pot

Each time, the new pot should be slightly larger than the previous one. But you cannot immediately take too large a container, otherwise the plant will put all its strength into the growth of roots and foliage, leaving you without colorful flowering this year. The diameter of the pot should be increased until it reaches 30-40 cm. In the future, new pots are not used, and the transplant can be carried out in the same pot. Otherwise, you will grow a rather large bush at home and will face the problem of placing it.

The soil

For indoor hibiscus, loose soil with neutral acidity is suitable. The easiest way is to buy ready-made soil for hibiscus in the store. If this is not found, you can prepare the mixture yourself:

• Buy a universal soil for indoor plants and dilute it with an equal part of garden soil with the addition of moss.
• Mix the same universal soil with turf soil and humus in equal proportions. Add some charcoal.
• Mix 2 parts of humus or rotted compost, 1 part of leafy soil, 1 part of sand or vermiculite.

Transplant process

1. Stretch out the pot and cooked soil.
2. Place a thick layer of drainage and some soil at the bottom of the pot.
3. Remove the hibiscus from the old pot along with the earthy clod. Shake off the dirt ball a little, but not completely.
4. Examine the roots carefully. If you find rotten roots, cut them off.
5. Place the bush in the center of the new pot and sprinkle dirt between the earthy ball and the walls. Shake the pot a little in the process so that the earth falls asleep in hard-to-reach places and settles a little. Add some earth and on top, compressing slightly.
6. Water and spray well with the hibiscus.
7. Return the bush to its old place. The plant does not like moving, and even more so after transplanting it does not need extra stress.

Reproduction of hibiscus

Chinese hibiscus can be propagated at home by cuttings and seeds. Seed propagation is a rather laborious process and is more often used by breeders. With this method of propagation, there is no guarantee that the varietal characteristics of the mother plant will be preserved. In addition, the first flowering will take several years.

Propagation by cuttings at home

Cutting is the simplest and most common way to propagate indoor hibiscus. A specimen grown from a cutting retains all the varietal characteristics of the parent plant. In addition, flowering can be expected already in the first year. Cutting is best done in the fall, after flowering.

1. Cut the cuttings 10-12 cm long with 3-4 internodes from even, undeformed branches of the mother bush.
2. Trim the bottom leaves and flowers.
3. Prepare a potting mix of equal parts peat and sand. Fill it in cups or other containers suitable for rooting cuttings. Place the cuttings there.
4. Create greenhouse conditions for them by covering with a film, a transparent bag or glass.
5. Place the greenhouse in a room with an air temperature of 25-27 degrees, ventilate and humidify daily.
6. The stalk will take root in about a month. When this happens, transplant the young specimens into 7cm diameter pots, trim the top off, and care for them as if they were an adult plant. Most likely, your new specimen will lay buds in the spring.

Hibiscus cuttings can also be rooted in water. To do this, simply place the cuttings in an opaque glass of water, adding a growth stimulator or a couple of activated charcoal tablets. Next, proceed in the same way as when rooting in the substrate, starting from point 4.

Growing from seeds

Sowing seeds is best in winter - in January-February.

1. Soak the seeds overnight in a growth stimulant solution (Epin, Zircon).
2. Prepare the soil with equal proportions of turf, sand and peat.
3. Place the drainage layer and substrate in the seed container. Water.
4. Plant the seeds 0.5 cm deep and 2 cm apart.
5. Cover the container with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect, and place it in a warm room with a temperature of 24-27 degrees.
6. Ventilate and humidify the greenhouse daily.
7. In a couple of weeks, the first shoots will appear, but it is worth cutting down the seedlings only after the appearance of 3 real leaves on each of them.
8. After transplanting into separate pots, keep young specimens in a well-lit room, but not in direct sunlight.

Hibiscus grown in this way will bloom for 2 or even 3 years.

Growing problems

If you notice the symptoms of the disease in time, you can quickly determine the cause and correct the situation. Now we will describe what this or that symptom means.

Hibiscus sheds unblown buds.

• insufficient watering;
• low room temperature;
• lack of nutrients.

Leaves wither.

• insufficient watering;
• excessive watering, and, as a result, decay of the root system.

Leaves dry and curl.

• insufficient air humidity.

Leaf fall.

• the presence of pests;
• the flower stands in a draft.

The leaves turn yellow and dry.

• watering is done with hard, most likely not settled chlorinated water;
• low room temperature.

The stems are elongated, the leaves lose their bright color, turn pale.

• lack of sunlight.

Indoor hibiscus does not bloom.

• too large a pot;
• insufficient lighting;
• lack of fertilizing;
• not trimmed.

There are sticky droplets on the back of the leaves.

• insect pests;
• the norm for some odorless varieties. This is how they attract insects for pollination.

On the obverse of the leaves there is a white bloom, which turns brown over time.

• Powdery mildew. Remove infected leaves. Treat the hibiscus with Bayleton or Fundazol.

Pinkish spots on the leaves.

• excess fertilizer;
• lack of light.

Pests

Spider mite.

• The leaves have yellowish spots, a small cobweb is noticeable. Spray the Chinese rose with insecticides such as Fitoverm or Derris. Avoid excessive dryness of the air, regularly spray the plant with water from a spray bottle. If spraying does not help, place the flower under an ultraviolet lamp.

Shield.

• On the underside of the leaves, there are hard brown growths along the veins. Adult scale insects are not afraid of chemicals and will have to be removed by hand. Then spray the plant with the insecticide solution. Repeat the procedure several times until you completely get rid of the scabbard.

• Young leaves and shoots wither and curl. Small insects are visible on them. Spray the plant with aphid remedy according to the instructions.

Conclusion

Indoor hibiscus is a wonderful decoration for any home. It has lush decorative foliage and lovely flowers. The variety of varieties allows any grower to find exactly what he wants. Do not forget about the ease of care and the long flowering period. And this is all just a small part of the advantages of the Chinese rose, which will bring a sea of ​​positive moments into the life of home owners.