Hi, I'm Judy Mirro, a UVM Extension Master Gardener,
coming to you from the University of Vermont Greenhouses,
and I'm here to help you become a houseplant hero
by providing some guidance on caring for your house plants.
Today our focus is on Hibiscus rosa-sinensis,
commonly referred to as the hibiscus.
These are amazing tropical evergreen shrubs
with an upright branch.
Hibiscus has glossy, dark green, oval leaves.
Large varieties of hibiscus flowers can grow
up to eight inches across
with ruffled trumpeted shaped blooms
in pink, yellow, red, orange, and even multicolored.
Less common varieties come with flowers in white and purple.
Blooms are short-lived, lasting one to three days,
but with a succession of blooms that should last for months.
Caring for these tropical beauties is easy
if you keep a few things in mind.
If you have a window with a south exposure,
you can grow the hibiscus with success.
The plant needs a lot of light
and a lot of warmth to thrive.
You'll need to keep it in direct sun every day
if you want it to grow and flower.
Keep your hibiscus in really bright south or west window.
Since we Vermonters deal with harsh winters,
be sure to pull your plants back away
from the window in winter to avoid cold drafts.
We don't want any part of the plant
to be touching the window
or be close enough to catch a cold.
Hibiscus prefer their soil to dry out between waterings
to prevent any root rot.
Water only when the top few inches of soil becomes dry.
Use your fingers or an inexpensive moisture meter
to check that the soil is dry.
To get your hibiscus to flower,
you'll need to fertilize your plant regularly
besides giving it all that sunshine.
Be sure you're feeding your plant every other week
from early spring through late fall.
A bloom-boosting fertilizer would work best.
Allowing your hibiscus to dry out too often
might just open up the door to pests,
like the spider mite.
In order to get rid of these pests,
place your plant in the sink or shower,
as in this example, where we're cleaning off pests
from an Angel Wing Begonia.
If the pest infestation is severe,
go ahead and use a commercial insecticidal soap.
Always be sure to read the directions carefully
and completely before applying any pest control application.
And remember to wear all the required safety gear,
like safety glasses and rubber gloves.
Hibiscus do just fine in regular potting soil mix.
Springtime is best time to repot.
If you find your roots are tightly wound
when you go to repot, gently loosen up the roots
when you do repot
and place them in the pot that's one size larger.
Since this hibiscus is a shrub,
you might wanna prune your houseplant back
at some point to keep it shapely
and in a size that's manageable for your home.
Look to prune your hibiscus in late summer.
This should also encourage flowering on new shoots.
Be sure to maintain at least three main branches
that are sturdy and upright.
Hibiscus leaves will, on occasion, turn yellow and fall off.
This is totally normal.
However, if your plant has a lot of yellowing leaves,
it's telling you it's stressed.
Underwatering or pests are the likely cause,
so pay attention to what your plant needs
to keep it healthy.
If you're experiencing flower buds dropping
before they open, the likely cause is
from a lack of water or insect infestation.
Double flowering varieties can be a bit trickier to grow,
and they do tend to drop a flower bud for no reason,
so don't get frustrated.
You might opt to grow the single flowering variety
to begin with, so you'll have better success.
If you like, you can bring your hibiscus outdoors
for the summer months
when the evening temperatures
stay consistently above 50 degrees.
Start them out in a shady spot
and move them slowly into the sunshine
for the rest of the summer.
Move them back indoors in the early fall,
and be sure to hose them off
before bringing them indoors
to ensure you're not bringing any outdoor pests
inside with them.
It might also be a good idea to isolate them
from other house plants for a week or more to be sure.
If needed, use your insecticidal soap
to rid your plant of any critters.
And as I said earlier,
follow all directions and safety guidelines.
Remember that by providing your plants
with the conditions and care they need,
you too can be a houseplant hero.
For more information on house plants or home gardens,
visit the UVM Extension Master Gardener website
and see our Garden Resources page,
or contact the Extension Master Gardener volunteers
at the Helpline.
The phone number is on your screen.
This is Extension Master Gardener Judy Mirro,
wishing you happy growing.