Rules for planting and caring for indoor hibiscus at home
Caring for indoor hibiscus at home interests many people. This popular plant grows well and has pronounced decorative properties. To achieve abundant flowering, you need to provide the culture with proper care. This should include timely watering, pruning and fertilizing. It is imperative to protect the plant from diseases and pests.
Description and characteristics of the plant
This flower is also often called the Chinese rose. The culture belongs to the Malvov family. It is characterized by large flowers of different shades. They reach 25 centimeters in diameter. There are a total of 30 types of these roses. However, the northern or Syrian hibiscus is grown at home.
This ornamental culture is distinguished by dark green glossy leaves that have sharp edges and large teeth. The plant forms a tree or shrub. It blooms 1-2 times a year. The flowers are yellow, orange, red. With proper care, hibiscus can live for 10 to 20 years.
Rules of care
In order for a culture to develop normally and fully develop, it must be properly cared for.
Ground requirements
Neutral soil should be chosen for the plant. It should be light and nutritious. It is better to mix humus, leafy earth, sand and turf. It is not recommended to add peat to the composition. Charcoal is considered a useful component.
Choice of capacity
Typically, growers plant their crops in pots with an inner liner. The plant is considered moisture-loving, as it can hardly tolerate dry weather.
Lighting and temperature conditions
The plant needs enough light. Young bushes should be placed on the east or west window sill. Adult plants are placed near the window. On the northern window sill, the plant turns pale and stretches.
The hibiscus does not tolerate strong heat well. It is better to create comfortable conditions for him with a temperature of + 20-22 degrees. In winter, it is reduced to + 14-16 degrees.
watering mode
The culture needs a sufficient amount of liquid. In summer it is watered very abundantly. However, the bushes should not be poured. When watering, the clod of earth should be completely saturated. 10-20 minutes after watering, excess liquid should be poured out of the pan.
In the fall, the amount of watering is gradually reduced.
top dresser
Fertilizers should be used systematically, but in small amounts. In the spring, the culture should use products based on potassium and phosphorus. In other times, balanced compositions are used for flowering plants - for example, Kemiru Lux.
Training
To properly prune a crop, you should follow these recommendations:
- Determine the size and shape of the flower.
- To get a tree, it is worth removing the side shoots of the second generation and leaving 1-2 central branches.
- Cut the top of the head into 2-3 buttons.
- To form a bush form, it is worth removing the central branch. Due to this, it will be possible to activate the growth of side shoots.
Protection against diseases and pests
The plant can face dangerous pathologies or pest attacks. In such a situation, it is necessary to act in time.
Spider
Quite often, hibiscus suffers from attacks of spider mites. The first symptom of a rose is the formation of a cobweb, localized on the leaves of the plant. Aktara and Fitoverm help against parasites. You can also use regular soapy water.
Aphid
These insects often attack the hibiscus by absorbing its juice. A characteristic sign of a violation is leaf rolling. Subsequently, sticky drops form on the foliage. To control aphids, wipe the leaves and branches with a cotton ball. Then use soapy water. You can also use special formulations - Aktar or Iskra.
Chlorosis
In this case, the leaves of the plant lose their color. The affected fragments lose their color and become pale or yellowish. After a while, the foliage may fall off. If you do not take action, the hibiscus will remain bare. To avoid this, it is worth using an iron chelate and applying the necessary fertilizers.
Sunburn
This issue occurs when the culture conditions are violated. Hibiscus does not tolerate direct sunlight well. Therefore, you need to choose the right place for it.Also, the risk of sunburn increases if the plant has been in the shade for a long time and then suddenly fell into the sun.
When problems appear on the leaves, dry spots of a yellow or red tint appear. In such a situation, you should immediately take action.
Vascular wilt
This pathology becomes a consequence of infection of the culture with fungal microorganisms or viruses. With its development, the tips of the branches dry out and wrinkle. The disease quickly affects the trunk, which leads to the death of the crop.
Shield
When hibiscus is affected by these insects, brown bumps can be seen on the leaves. To cope with insects, it is recommended to collect them by hand, and then treat the bush with insecticides.
gallica
When these midges attack a bush, its leaves curl up and fall off. The root system of the plant also suffers. As a rule, the eggs of parasites are localized in the buds of the culture. To deal with the problem, it is important to harvest the inflorescences before dropping them. This will help keep the roots intact.
For prevention, the soil is treated with compounds from soil pests.
Transfer
It is recommended to replant young crops every year. If necessary, the procedure is carried out 2 times a year. Each time you need to take a pot 4-5 centimeters in diameter larger. Mature bushes are moved to a new location every 3-4 years. At the same time, it is worth changing the topsoil every year.
Young bushes are transplanted in spring and autumn. Adults are only allowed to move in the spring.For a plant, it is worth choosing loose, nutritious soil. It must be neutral. To make the substrate yourself, it is worth mixing leafy earth, turf, humus and sand in a 2: 2: 2: 1 ratio.
When transplanting, you should definitely carefully study the state of the roots of the culture. If necessary, it is treated with a solution of Fundazol or Maxim.
Breeding methods
Hibiscus can be propagated by cuttings or seeds. The first method is considered the most convenient. This allows you to get a full-fledged plant that will bloom profusely.
Seeds
It is recommended to plant the seeds from late January to mid-March. Before the procedure, they must be soaked in Epin for 12 hours. For planting, a composition based on sand and peat is used. After that, the pot is covered with glass or foil to create greenhouse conditions.
It is important to maintain a stable temperature at + 25-27 degrees. It is also necessary to air the pot and irrigate the soil. When 2-3 leaves appear on the sprouts, they can be moved to a separate container. Such bushes give flowers only after 2-3 years.
Cuttings
To prepare cuttings, it is worth choosing young developed shoots that have a semi-lignified bark. Cut the cuttings with a sharp, clean knife. In this case, the slices are made obliquely. It is best to make cuttings of 14-16 centimeters. They should contain 3-4 internodes.
In this case, the upper part of the shoot should be shortened, and the extreme leaf fragments should be completely removed. The lower part should be placed in Epin's solution for several hours.It is recommended to root the cuttings in water. At the same time, it is worth adding activated carbon or a useful substrate to it.
Possible problems to solve them when growing
Sometimes there are various problems when growing hibiscus. To deal with them, it is worth establishing the reasons for their appearance.
The leaves are turning yellow
This problem can be attributed to excessive calcium or chlorine content in the soil. It is also caused by nitrogen and iron deficiency, increased dry air in the room, low temperature and the use of cold water for irrigation.
pests
Hibiscus is considered a fairly hardy plant. It sometimes encounters attacks from aphids, spider mites or scale insects. To cope with pests, it is important to properly care for the culture.
No flowers and buds
Such problems are often caused by too much nitrogen. In this case, it is worth choosing other fertilizers. Improved lighting is also important.
The shedding of buds is often observed with a sharp change in the conditions of detention.
Bacterial fungal diseases
Unfavorable conditions of detention lead to the development of fungal infections. Transplanting a crop into new soil will help cope with the problem. It is also worth using fungicides.
Falling buds and buds
This problem is caused by a lack of moisture and increased dryness of the soil. It is also caused by a deficiency of useful elements in the soil and low air temperature.
Additional tips and tricks
For a hibiscus to develop normally, it must receive quality care;
- ensuring normal humidity and temperature parameters;
- place the flower in a lighted place;
- water on time;
- choosing appropriate fertilizers;
- prune the plant in a timely manner.
Indoor hibiscus is a beautiful ornamental plant that grows well at home. To achieve abundant flowering and avoid the development of various diseases, the culture must be provided with quality care.