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Sun, Dec 10, 06 at 16:33
| Hi, I'm new to this particular forum, wish I'd tuned in to it a while back. I have 3 standard hibiscus shrubs, the red or peach variety you get at most garden centers in 3 gal sizes. The first year or two, they bloomed like crazy. Lately, I've been getting a lot of growth, but not many blooms. I have had to cut them back severly 3 times this year, because they keep getting so tall they obscure the lights on the outside of the house. I don't want them to be real short, but 6' plus is a bit rediculous!
Is there a way I can train them to remain a bit shorter, 3-5 ft would be ideal, and produce a profusion of blooms? They are just regular garden variety hibiscus, but look so lovely when they are covered with 6" flowers. The sprinklers water them every other day, and I fertilise them with a 12-6-9 fertilizer twice a month. We are in zone 10 in south Florida. Any input would sure be appreciated. Dave |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by beachbarbie z9a NC (My Page) on Sun, Dec 10, 06 at 18:27
| Dave, Since hibiscus bloom on new growth, pruning, although necessary sometimes, will stop that branch from blooming. It takes about 3 months for enough new growth to be produced for new blooms. I take it you want to keep the standard shape. You'll have to prune it back quite a bit, so that when it does recover from the pruning and start to bloom, it's still a size you want. What some people do, so that they can still enjoy blooms while keeping the plants size under control, is to prune 1/3 of the branches, leaving some of the branches alone to keep blooming. When the pruned branches bloom again, then they prune back another 1/3...etc. Hope this helps, Barb |
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| Since I pruned all of my plants back does this mean they won't bloom at all this year, or just how long will it take to recover? I wish I'd found this site last year. I'm a fairly new gardner and learning through trial and error has cost me some beautiful plants and lots of dollars. |
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| Three months of good, bright light should be enough to start getting flowers. |
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- Posted by tsmith2579 Z7B/8A-Alabama (My Page) on Mon, Apr 16, 07 at 23:57
| Water with 5 gallons of water and 5 tablespoons of Epsom salts monthly. Every 3 months, add 2 tablespoons super phosphate to the water. They will bloom like crazy. |
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| i cut my Hibiscus back to 3" from the ground last winter. Stalks were about 3/4" round. I waited. All of a sudden in mid spring up shot new shoots. Now it about 5' tall , very heavy on it's self. No blooms yet. I water heavy regularly, here it is mid June & no blooms! Should I tie the tree up to a post or let it be on its own? Also, will I get blooms this year due to cutting all the way back last winter??? Please help someone!! |
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- Posted by audrey_gardener 8 (My Page) on Fri, Jul 10, 09 at 1:25
| I'm new at this, but from what I've read, certain Hibiscus species (the rose-mallow and Moy grande) do not bloom till June, so I would be a little more patient and it will probably bloom in the next couple of weeks if you leave it along. |
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