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Hibiscus plant are beloved for their large , gaudy flower and fragrance and deep green leaves . They ’re often used in teas and potpourri and are a garden staple .
They make excellent plants to add a pop of tropical color to your patio , balcony , deck , and landscape and draw butterflies , bees , and hummingbird .
Photo Credit: IG @drmeganhersh
But , you might not have known that the Hibiscus genus Rosa - sinensis ( hi - BIS - kus RO - sa - sy - NEN - SI system ) has a much more ornamental and satisfying use .
experience asChinese hibiscusor Chinese rise up , this plant has been used traditionally in a broad range of Cartesian product and applications .
One of these is an art form like shumu penjing . This Chinese predecessor to Japanese bonsai is not cut back to shallow pots .
This recitation involves creating and growing a plait hibiscus plant life to overshadow symmetry .
Braided Hibiscus Care: How To Grow A Braided Hibiscus Tree
grow a lace hibiscus tree diagram is similar to its full - sized counterpart in many ways .
However , the tree diagram has a lower cold tolerance and needs regular pruning to keep its shape .
Creating A Braided Hibiscus
Creating a braided hibiscus expect at least three Taiwanese hibiscus plant .
Potting The Tree
As mention , you will necessitate a container that ’s approximately 10 ” inch across for the initial planting .
occupy this with a well - draining tropical potting mix with a slimly acidulous pH level between 6.5 and 6.8 .
These plants tend to be very hungry . You ’ll want to remedy the grunge with worm molding or adose of hibiscus fertilizerbefore planting .
Also , add a layer of rough-cut gravel to the bottom of the pot to aid in drainage . These plants do n’t care to sit in body of water .
You will ask to repot your braided hibiscus every 3 year , fine-tune to one container size larger .
Be certain to replace the dirt during this time so the plant has more nutrients and is n’t sitting in a buildup of toxins .
The winters are too moth-eaten in most of the US for this industrial plant . But it ’s potential to grow them in a garden in USDA hardiness zone 12 and parts of zone 11b .
Light
Your braided hibiscus will require a lot of igniter to thrive . regain a nice due south - face up window where the plant can get 6 - 8 hour of verbatim sun during the daylight .
During the warm months , you may also choose to take the plant alfresco , where it can welcome more prolonged periods of full sun . They also grow well in partial shade .
Temperature
lace hibiscus Tree are cold - intolerant and will die if exposed to freezing temperatures for too long .
When growing one outdoors , you must fetch it in spite of appearance if the temperature dips below 50 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Some agriculturalist have report the plant life will survive as low as 45 ° degrees Fahrenheit . But only hazard this with a full - grownup specimen .
Indoors , the potted flora will thrive in ordinary home temperatures . But you do n’t want to lease the room temperature dip below 55 ° degrees Fahrenheit .
Watering
Water the plant life using the soak - and - teetotal method acting when the soil feels dry , around 2 ” inch down .
The Hibiscus works is somewhat drouth tolerant and will arise better when not watered too often . The industrial plant does n’t ask much water during the fall and winter calendar month .
However , lace hibiscus require lots of piss during summer / hot months or while in flush .
observe that it ’s usually a near idea to feed your braided hibiscus between waterings to scale down the hazard of chemical burn .
Fertilizer
As mentioned , braided hibiscus trees be given to be very hungry .
Give them a balanced , water - soluble fertilizer , rather 16 - 16 - 16 . Although 20 - 20 - 20 and 10 - 10 - 10 are also hunky-dory , these can be a fiddling trickier to work out with .
you may also use dense - release fertilizer , especially for container plants .
A safe ratio is 1 teaspoon per gal of piddle , give weekly during the spring .
Worm casting are also a great source of nutrients and produce wide-cut blooms .
Pruning
Part of the pleasance of owning a braided hibiscus is relish its shape .
You will need to trim away any scraggly branches in the early spring and fall to keep the canopy in a uniform , rounded configuration .
Related : More onwhen and how to lop hibiscus .
The canopy will take a few years to fill in but will will you with a dense , round canopy from which the blooms will practically precipitate out .
It ’s also important to crop container - grown works frequently to further more side shoots and circumscribe the pauperism for a big root system .
When pruning , cuts should be made at a thin angle just above a leaf bud using a sharp pair of pruning shear .
Pests and Disease
Finally , your braid hibiscus is prone to a few gadfly and disease result , especially if you keep it out of doors .
Potential problems leading to bud drop and similar issue :
Side upshot of an infestation or overwatering of braided hibiscus include :
Neem stain can help finish and prevent these problems when applied every 2 to 3 weeks in place of watering . You may also select to use fungicides or pesticides to plow the flora as require .
