HIBISCUS
“Help me!” said my husband’s friend. “My hibiscus is on life support!”
It always makes me feel sad to hear tales of horticultural woe from people who love their plants, want to do right by them, but can’t seem to stop them from terminal decline. The hibiscus problem is a perfect case in point. Both parties–the man and the hibiscus–undoubtedly want things to work out, but they are struggling. Can this marriage of man and plant be saved? It depends.
The first problem is the plant. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, sometimes called tropical hibiscus or Chinese hibiscus, comes from the mallow family, which also includes hollyhocks, okra and the hardy hibiscus or Rose of Sharon. The mallows are a large clan, but most members are reasonably mellow, with undemanding natures. The trait that sets tropical hibiscus apart from many of its relatives is its heat-loving disposition, which is why it is happiest in its native tropics.
Given the proper conditions, tropical hibiscus are among the most beautiful plants in the world. The flowers, which resemble those of their hollyhock relatives, come in a wide range of vibrant colors including pinks, oranges, reds, whites, yellows and even blue-purple. There are double-petaled varieties and bi-colors. It’s safe to say that even the most unassuming tropical hibiscus will knock your socks off.
When you take a tropical plant out of the tropics and into a cold winter climate, you can make that plant perfectly happy by growing it in a pot outside. It will soak up sun and push out new leaves and flowers with great regularity for the entire growing season. The only thing you will have to do is fertilize regularly and water when the plant gets too dry.
Like many couples, my husband’s friend and his hibiscus undoubtedly had a wonderful relationship in the good times–while days were long, the sun was bright and temperatures were high. As the days shortened and the temperatures dropped, however, the expectations of man and plant diverged. The man dreamed of taking the plant inside to a sunny spot in his house where it would flourish and bloom all winter. The plant dreamed of a heated greenhouse where it would do the same thing. When the heated greenhouse of the hibiscus’ dreams turned out to be nothing more than a well-lit indoor space, the plant went into decline. This resulted in the man becoming depressed and appealing for help.
My friend can’t afford to build a heated greenhouse right now, and even if he did, it might not be finished in time to help his hibiscus. If you are in the same state, the best thing to do is create optimal indoor conditions. Warmth is key, as is light. Putting the hibiscus in the sunniest possible location–ideally a south-facing window–is important, but you also have to make sure that the hibiscus isn’t being chilled by drafts leaking in from outside. Those of us with old houses need to be especially vigilant about this. If the plant is toasty and warm, it will have a much better chance of survival.
Indoor hibiscus need watering, but too much watering will kill the plant. Water only when the top of the soil is dry to the touch. Fertilize once a month or so during the winter and gradually increase to once a week when spring rolls around. If you think that aphids, white flies or other bugs are the problem, encase the pot in a plastic bag and tie it securely around the hibiscus’ stem. Put the plant under the shower for a couple of minutes, which should be enough to blast off most insect pests. If you don’t want to do this, you can also spray the plant with insecticidal soap, being careful to treat the undersides of the leaves as well as the tops.
But what if you, like my friend, have done all these things and the plant still looks sickly? As with all relationships, patience is crucial. The plant is stressed by the outdoor to indoor transition, and, unfortunately nobody has invented plant Prozac as yet. You can provide all the love, support and comfort that you can muster, and the hibiscus will probably sulk anyway. The best that can be expected is a gradual return to the winter version of good health, which means continued life with the chance of some new leaves and possibly a flower or two. Human and plant will be greatly relieved when spring comes again, night time temperatures rise above fifty degrees and the hibiscus can return to the kind of life it needs and wants.
Of course, after all of the above, you may still be the kind of individual who flies in the face of conventional wisdom and enters into sometimes difficult horticultural relationships. If that is the case and you think you have what it takes to get involved with a hibiscus, try Logee’s Greenhouses, 141 North Street, Danielson, CT, 06239; (860) 774-8038; www.logees.com. Free catalog sent via bulk mail.