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Hi, I'm Judy Mirro, a UVM
Extension Master Gardener,

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coming to you from the University
of Vermont Greenhouses,

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and I'm here to help you
become a houseplant hero

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by providing some guidance on
caring for your house plants.

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Today our focus is on
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis,

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commonly referred to as the hibiscus.

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These are amazing
tropical evergreen shrubs

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with an upright branch.

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Hibiscus has glossy,
dark green, oval leaves.

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Large varieties of
hibiscus flowers can grow

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up to eight inches across

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with ruffled trumpeted shaped blooms

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in pink, yellow, red, orange,
and even multicolored.

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Less common varieties come with
flowers in white and purple.

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Blooms are short-lived,
lasting one to three days,

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but with a succession of blooms
that should last for months.

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Caring for these tropical beauties is easy

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if you keep a few things in mind.

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If you have a window
with a south exposure,

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you can grow the hibiscus with success.

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The plant needs a lot of light

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and a lot of warmth to thrive.

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You'll need to keep it
in direct sun every day

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if you want it to grow and flower.

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Keep your hibiscus in really
bright south or west window.

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Since we Vermonters
deal with harsh winters,

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be sure to pull your plants back away

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from the window in winter
to avoid cold drafts.

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We don't want any part of the plant

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to be touching the window

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or be close enough to catch a cold.

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Hibiscus prefer their soil
to dry out between waterings

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to prevent any root rot.

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Water only when the top few
inches of soil becomes dry.

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Use your fingers or an
inexpensive moisture meter

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to check that the soil is dry.

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To get your hibiscus to flower,

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you'll need to fertilize
your plant regularly

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besides giving it all that sunshine.

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Be sure you're feeding
your plant every other week

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from early spring through late fall.

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A bloom-boosting
fertilizer would work best.

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Allowing your hibiscus
to dry out too often

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might just open up the door to pests,

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like the spider mite.

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In order to get rid of these pests,

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place your plant in the sink or shower,

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as in this example, where
we're cleaning off pests

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from an Angel Wing Begonia.

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If the pest infestation is severe,

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go ahead and use a
commercial insecticidal soap.

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Always be sure to read
the directions carefully

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and completely before applying
any pest control application.

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And remember to wear all
the required safety gear,

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like safety glasses and rubber gloves.

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Hibiscus do just fine in
regular potting soil mix.

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Springtime is best time to repot.

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If you find your roots are tightly wound

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when you go to repot,
gently loosen up the roots

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when you do repot

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and place them in the pot
that's one size larger.

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Since this hibiscus is a shrub,

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you might wanna prune your houseplant back

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at some point to keep it shapely

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and in a size that's
manageable for your home.

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Look to prune your
hibiscus in late summer.

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This should also encourage
flowering on new shoots.

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Be sure to maintain at
least three main branches

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that are sturdy and upright.

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Hibiscus leaves will, on occasion,
turn yellow and fall off.

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This is totally normal.

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However, if your plant has
a lot of yellowing leaves,

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it's telling you it's stressed.

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Underwatering or pests
are the likely cause,

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so pay attention to what your plant needs

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to keep it healthy.

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If you're experiencing
flower buds dropping

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before they open, the likely cause is

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from a lack of water
or insect infestation.

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Double flowering varieties
can be a bit trickier to grow,

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and they do tend to drop a
flower bud for no reason,

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so don't get frustrated.

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You might opt to grow the
single flowering variety

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to begin with, so you'll
have better success.

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If you like, you can bring
your hibiscus outdoors

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for the summer months

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when the evening temperatures

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stay consistently above 50 degrees.

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Start them out in a shady spot

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and move them slowly into the sunshine

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for the rest of the summer.

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Move them back indoors in the early fall,

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and be sure to hose them off

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before bringing them indoors

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to ensure you're not
bringing any outdoor pests

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inside with them.

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It might also be a good
idea to isolate them

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from other house plants for
a week or more to be sure.

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If needed, use your insecticidal soap

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to rid your plant of any critters.

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And as I said earlier,

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follow all directions
and safety guidelines.

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Remember that by providing your plants

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with the conditions and care they need,

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you too can be a houseplant hero.

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For more information on
house plants or home gardens,

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visit the UVM Extension
Master Gardener website

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and see our Garden Resources page,

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or contact the Extension
Master Gardener volunteers

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at the Helpline.

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The phone number is on your screen.

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This is Extension Master
Gardener Judy Mirro,

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wishing you happy growing.