Hibiscus like warm days, even hot days, but they do not like scorching mid-summer heat. In the mid-day sun, leaves will wilt and blooms quickly shrivel, unless the plants have plenty of moisture and at least some shade. Mulching around hibiscus plants helps prevent soil from drying out quickly, and may keep the roots a little cooler.
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Category Archives: Gardening
Snails & Slugs, ugh!
Whenever we get a few days of rain during the summer, local snail and slug populations practically explode. The little nuisances show up on sidewalks, walls, windows, and worst of all for gardeners.. they eat hibiscus leaves and blooms!
Snails & slugs are related species, and both thrive in hot, humidity areas. Even without rain, automatic sprinkler systems can combine with warm weather to create ideal habitat for these critters.
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Location, location..
With thousands of different cultivars developed over the years, there is considerable variation in the growth habits of hibiscus plants. It may take a little experimentation to find just the right location and micro-climate in your yard, especially for finicky show-quality exotics.
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Hibiscus Fertilizer
Tropical hibiscus generally produce more blooms when given regular feedings of fertilizer. The best fertilizer mixes for hibiscus rosa-sinensis varieties are fairly low in phosphorus. That is the “middle number” of the markings on most fertilizer packages, so look for a mix that has proportions something like 20-10-20.
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