Hibiscus variegated care. Indoor hibiscus (or Chinese rose) is a flower that is always in fashion. Hibiscus "Cooper": home care

Hibiscus, also known as the Chinese rose, also known as the flower of love, belongs to the mallow family. East Asia is recognized as its homeland. This is an evergreen shrub that is undemanding to growing conditions.

Description of Hibiscus

In indoor conditions, the shrub can grow to almost two meters in height. Elongated oval leaves, serrated along the edges, shiny dark green. Flowers can reach 14 cm in diameter, the color of single or double petals ranges from snow-white to fiery red, including yellow, cream and pink. Numerous buds on the bush appear from spring to late autumn.

Another variety of Chinese rose common indoors is Cooper's hibiscus. This shrub comes from Asia Minor, China and India. A distinctive feature of this variety is the compactness of the bush. It does not grow higher than 80 cm, which is very convenient for growing on a windowsill. In all other respects it is very similar to the tall hibiscus.

Both tall and low-growing Chinese roses are recommended for landscaping living rooms, office premises, and can be used in kindergartens and schools. This shrub or tree will decorate the hall and foyer of a theater, club or library.

double flower

Variegated form

Multicolored hibiscus

Conditions required for growing Chinese roses

Temperature

As a heat-loving plant, hibiscus prefers a moderately warm atmosphere. The optimal temperature range for it will be from +14 to +22 °C. By placing the rose after a hot summer in a room where it is +14-15°C, you can significantly extend the flowering period of hibiscus. When the weather is warm outside, it is very useful to take the plant out into the open air, protecting it from cold winds.

Lighting

The flower of love loves sunlight very much. When placing a flower in the open air, it is advisable to shade it at midday. Indoors, plants exposed to direct sunlight at midday should be protected from the sun or moved into the shade. Hibiscus will react to lack of light by dropping leaves or buds. A Chinese rose bush kept in winter at a temperature slightly higher than +12°C can bloom just as wildly as in summer.

Watering

Chinese rose of any type is very dependent on soil moisture and ambient air. In summer, abundant watering is required, in winter - moderate.

Water for irrigation needs to be settled and at room temperature. In addition, it must be soft, without traces of chlorine and hardness salts. Watering a rose with hard, rusty or cold water will cause the leaves to turn yellow and the buds to fall off.

At high temperatures indoors or outdoors, it is necessary to retain moisture in the soil by creating a mulch layer of moss, peat or expanded clay.

• It is useful to spray a plant indoors on hot days or turn on a humidifier.
• When humidifying the air, you need to try to prevent moisture from getting on the flowers.
• In winter, it is necessary to constantly humidify the air in a room with a Chinese rose.
• This can be done by hanging containers of water on batteries, or by installing trays with constantly moistened expanded clay.
• With a lack of watering and drying out of the earthen clod, leaves and flowers fall off; with excess moisture, the roots rot, and as a result, the leaves and flowers fall off again.

Caring for a Chinese rose at home: video

Feeding and fertilizers

A fast-growing and abundantly flowering plant requires frequent and abundant feeding. Fertilizers containing a large proportion of nitrogen stimulate the growth of shoots and the formation of large leaves.

Hibiscus needs phosphorus and potassium for lush flowering.. Once every two to three weeks, it is necessary to add a complete mineral fertilizer with the addition of microelements to the irrigation water.

At the beginning of spring, it is good to alternate nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers with organic ones. In the summer, with the beginning of flowering, they switch to specialized fertilizers for flowering plants.

You need to water the rose bush with the fertilizer mixture in the morning, the next day after watering with clean water.

Transfer

A cutting purchased in a store or rooted at home grows in a very small volume. Very soon this dwelling will be too small for a young, growing bush. A transplant will be required.

A seedling sold in a store is treated with drugs that slow down its growth. Acceleration of its growth will occur only after replanting the plant with a complete replacement of the soil.

It is better to start replanting in the spring, when the plant wakes up after winter hibernation. Transplantation is carried out using fresh substrate. In this case, carefully shake off the old soil from the roots, trying not to damage the root hairs of the plant. During subsequent changes of the pot, the soil is not changed, but only transferred, keeping the lump of earth intact.

The soil intended for Chinese roses can be of the following composition:

• two-thirds of it may consist of garden soil,
• one third of universal soil for indoor flowers,
• the addition of humus or turf soil is allowed.

A very important detail of proper planting is good drainage. It will help avoid stagnation of water at the roots. This problem can be completely eliminated by placing plastic bottle caps under the bottom of the pot. Then, even with strong overflow, the plant’s roots will not remain in the water for a long time. To prevent drainage from losing its properties over time and becoming covered with soil, a piece of non-woven material or any synthetic fabric can be placed on top of the expanded clay layer.

When changing the pot, you need to remember that a sudden change in volume should not be allowed. Each next one should be 2-3 cm larger than the previous one. Increasing the volume too much will cause the greenery to grow faster at the expense of flowering.

Pots for young plants are increased annually. As soon as the diameter of the pot exceeds 30 cm, the annual replanting is stopped. For older bushes, the top layer of soil is changed to about 5 cm. But once every 3-4 years, adult hibiscus will need to be transshipped. It can be done at any convenient time.

The soil composition for adult roses is slightly different:

• clay turf soil – 2 parts;
• humus soil - 1 part;
• leaf soil – 1 part;
• loosening additives sand, vermiculite, charcoal in small quantities.

Spring transplanting and pruning hibiscus: video

Bush formation

In the spring, before growth begins or in the fall after flowering, formative pruning of hibiscus is carried out. It is very important, especially in spring, not to miss the optimal timing. There should be no buds on the pruned shoots in the fall, and in the spring it is important not to delay this procedure. If you prune a rose in May, you may not see flowers until next year.

The branches of hibiscus are so thin that it is inconvenient to use pruning shears; it is better to carry out this operation with ordinary scissors. Remove dried branches, shoots that duplicate the main branches, growing inside the crown, intersecting and the ends of too long branches.

When pruning a bush, they try to shape it in such a way as to give the shape of a low spreading tree. Each shoot is pruned, leaving one to three leaves on the branch, above the outward-facing bud.

A properly formed plant will decorate the interior. One of the options for forming hibiscus is bonsai.

Hibiscus bonsai

The advantages of the Chinese rose include its ability to quickly grow green mass; even after severe and erroneous pruning, the tree is covered with fresh shoots.

Reproduction of indoor hibiscus

It is not difficult to have a flower of love. It is enough to cut a branch from the plant you like in February-April or July-September.

Cuttings remaining after pruning are quite suitable. Select cuttings that have a lignified part. Selected cuttings are placed in water, to which root formation stimulants or an activated carbon tablet are added.

With the appearance of roots, the cuttings are planted in a prepared pot. To speed up the establishment, the seedling is covered with a cut plastic bottle. At first, screw the lid onto the neck, creating a complete seal and increased humidity. Subsequently, the plug is removed and ventilation is created.

Another condition for rapid rooting is sufficient (without overwatering) soil moisture. When young shoots appear on the cuttings, the bottle is gradually removed. First, they take it off for a few minutes, gradually increase the time, and then remove it completely.

Another way to propagate hibiscus is air layering. A ring-shaped cut is made on the selected branch. Apply wet moss to the resulting wound and tie it with polyethylene. The moss is periodically moistened, and at the same time the appearance of roots is controlled. When they appear, the cuttings are cut off and planted in the soil.

Rooted cuttings can bloom in the first year.

Is it possible to keep this flower at home?

Indoor hibiscus, from the point of view of the teachings of Feng Shui, serves as a talisman for people, takes away the negative energy of the room, and attracts goodness into the house. The Chinese rose tree is able to absorb harmful substances from the air, helping to purify it. Medicinal forms are prepared from the flowers of the plant. Infusions of flowers and leaves cleanse the skin; crushed leaves help in the fight against ulcers and abscesses. Hibiscus tea is prepared from the flowers of certain varieties of hibiscus.

Increasing the air humidity in the room where the rose is located, combined with the beauty of the flowering bush, helps to relax and relieve stress.

Residents of the Pacific Islands decorate their hair with these flowers. In the language of the inhabitants of these places, the name of the flower sounds like “Flower for beautiful ladies.”

The hibiscus flower is one of the five national plants of Malaysia. Hibiscus petals are considered symbols of the commandments of Islam.

In Eastern culture, the Chinese rose is considered a symbol of home and family values, the patron of businessmen, and a remedy for depression.

Why is the Chinese rose called the flower of death?

Human rumor is very fond of endowing plants with supernatural properties, most often harmful to humans. It is not recommended to grow any vines, callas, or hibiscus at home.

There are rumors that the flower attracts misfortune and death to beautiful ladies. They say that if a rose blooms unexpectedly, one of the inhabitants of the house may die.

How true is this? Perhaps there were coincidences, and along with the sudden flowering of the hibiscus, someone died, but this is nothing more than a tragic coincidence. For many years, this flower grew and pleased the owners in many families and nothing tragic happened to them.

Another name unfamiliar to most is burnet. It must be drinking the blood of its owners, since it is so colorful! The plant is a vampire! But that's not true. Hibiscus is not even an energy absorber of other people's energy. From observations it is known that any indoor plants grow very well next to this plant and even very sensitive people do not feel discomfort next to it.

No one is immune from tragic coincidences, but this beautiful and useful flower should not be blamed.

If you like hibiscus, then grow it at home and enjoy the beautiful flowers. Don't pay attention to prejudices!

Hibiscus is considered a rather unpretentious plant. It is neutral regarding the level of illumination, regularity of watering, and temperature changes. Therefore, it can be recommended to beginning gardeners as one of the most beautiful and easiest crops to grow.

What does it look like

Hibiscus is common not only in Asia Minor. It is often found in America and Africa. In wet meadows in floodplains, it forms dense thickets, abundantly decorated with flowers. He loves water very much, for which he received the name “swamp mallow” in his homeland. In our country, hibiscus is more often called Chinese rose.

Hibiscus belongs to a large genus of the mallow family. Information about the number of the genus in sources differs. On average, the genus has from 150 to 300 representatives. There are wild and cultivated species, different in growth type and color. The genus includes herbaceous annuals and perennials, shrubs and trees.

Hibiscus leaves are petiolate with notched edges. Almost all species bloom with large, beautiful flowers. The flowers are very elegant and have a brightly colored corolla. After flowering, the fruit ripens - a capsule with an abundance of seeds. After ripening, the fruit splits into five leaves.

In areas where hibiscus grows naturally, it is used not only as an ornamental plant. Young shoots and leaves are considered a vegetable crop. The roots, fruits, seeds and leaves are used for medicinal purposes. The flowers are used to produce a natural dye. Dried hibiscus petals - base for cooking

Indoor varieties

For home gardening, mainly low-growing varieties are used. Not so long ago, only one type of hibiscus with red double flowers was known in indoor floriculture. Now there is much more choice - new species have been imported, hybrid varieties with different colors have been bred.

• Chinese hibiscus. An adult plant does not exceed two meters in height. It tolerates pruning easily - a more compact plant can be formed. It grows quickly in width - suitable only for spacious rooms.
• Dissected hibiscus. This variety was brought to us from Brazil. It is distinguished by original flowers of exquisite shape. The tubular calyx is divided into petals. The petals are strongly dissected and bend back. The color is red-orange. The pestle protrudes forward strongly.
• Hibiscus "Mix". Belongs to evergreen shrubs. In good conditions it grows just over a meter. The flowers are large, double or simple. Various colors. There are varieties with white and deep red flowers. Wide range of intermediate shades.
• Hibiscus Cooper. Otherwise called variegated. The main feature of the variety is its unusually colored leaves. The variegated leaves harmoniously combine green, white and red. The flowers are large, but ordinary - pink or red.

Depending on the type of hibiscus, caring for it may have its own characteristics. For example, variegated varieties are very sensitive to light. In strong shadow they fade and become less expressive. In a sunny place they become unpredictably variegated.

What to do after purchase

Having brought the hibiscus home, carefully examine it - the stems, leaves from the outside and inside. Look for pests and signs of disease. Carefully remove it from the pot and inspect the root system for rot and root worms. Hibiscus plants are usually sold in plastic pots and are easy to remove and put back into place.

If you notice something suspicious - dots, spots, gnaws, cobwebs, uneven yellowing of leaves, treat with special preparations as a preventive measure. Insecticides for pests, fungicides for fungi and diseases.

Whether indoor hibiscus needs to be replanted after purchase is a controversial issue. Almost all hibiscus come to us from Holland. Manufacturers customize them to the desired parameters - abundant flowering, rich green leaves, the root system completely envelops the earthen ball. Plants are planted in peat with a very high content of fertilizers and growth stimulants. If you suddenly move a flower to a less nutritious environment, it may simply die.

If you decide to replant the hibiscus immediately after purchase, then only by transshipment with complete preservation of the earthen clod. But it’s better to wait until flowering ends. During this time, most of the supply of nutrients will be depleted and the flower will tolerate transplantation much more calmly. Before replanting, completely dry the root system, carefully untangle the roots using a skewer, and clean them of any remaining old soil. There is no need to rinse the roots - hibiscus is sensitive to this procedure.

On the second day after planting, you can water it with Zircon. Sometimes hibiscus reacts to stress with leaf lethargy. Try placing a clear plastic bag over the plant and inflating it so that the leaves do not touch the film. When the turgor of the leaves is restored, the bag can be removed. A month after planting, cut the branches as low as possible - this stimulates lateral branching.

Its further growth depends on the period of adaptation and proper transplantation of hibiscus after purchase. The main thing is to take your time, do everything thoughtfully and pay attention to detail.

Features of caring for hibiscus

How to care for indoor hibiscus? This is a fast growing, relatively hardy plant. With good care, it blooms stably and profusely and reaches large sizes. The rules for caring for hibiscus are quite simple.

• Lighting. The plant is very light-loving - young plants are placed on the windowsill on the east or west side. Adults are placed next to the window. On the north side it stretches out, fades, and stops blooming.
• Temperature. Doesn't like intense heat. It is advisable to create conditions for comfortable, moderate temperatures of about 20-22°C. In winter, rest in a cool place is required - 14-16°C. Hibiscus can do without a dormant period, but flowering will be sparse.
• Watering. Moisture-loving plant. In summer, water generously, but do not overwater - allow the top layer of soil to dry. During watering, make sure that the earthen ball is completely saturated. Excess liquid from the pan is poured out 10-20 minutes after watering. In autumn, the frequency of watering begins to be gradually reduced - after the soil surface dries out, wait two to three days. In winter, the intervals between watering depend on the temperature. The colder the room, the less often you need to water the hibiscus.
• Humidity. Requires high air humidity. Spraying is a mandatory procedure. During flowering, spray carefully, trying to avoid getting moisture on the flowers and buds. The problem of dry air is solved by using special humidifiers, placing the pot in a tray with wet filler, and spraying the air around the plant.
• The soil. It is recommended to use neutral, light and nutritious soil. The optimal composition is leaf soil, humus, turf and sand. Use mixtures without adding peat. A useful additive is charcoal. You can choose a mixture for citrus crops from ready-made store-bought soils.
• Feeding. Fertilizers are applied regularly, but in moderation. In spring, it is recommended to feed the flower with a preparation with a high content of phosphorus and potassium. The rest of the time, use a balanced mineral complex for flowering crops. For example, “Kemira Lux”. The nitrogen content in any product should be minimal.
• Transfer. Until three or four years of age, hibiscus is replanted annually. As growth slows, the intervals between transplants increase to two to three years.

How to prune a Chinese rose correctly? It is better to do this after flowering. Remove all shoots growing inside the bush and parallel to the trunks. Old two-year-old shoots on skeletal branches are cut off. The cuts are made at an angle, directing the outer edge of the bevel towards the top of the crown. Trim in two steps, giving the plant the opportunity to recover. Removing a large number of shoots at one time weakens the plant and provokes the development of diseases.

If it doesn't bloom...

If the hibiscus has stopped blooming, you just need to analyze the conditions. It does not bloom for various reasons - warm wintering, improper watering, too large a pot, lack or excess of microelements. To stimulate flowering, try the following algorithm:

1. In October, cut off all old shoots, leaving only three eyes on each. If the pot is too large, transplant it into a smaller container.
2. With the onset of winter, give the flower a rest period at low temperatures of about 15-16˚C. Limit lighting and water only as needed to maintain light soil moisture.
3. At the very beginning of March, increase your watering frequency a little. Loosen the dried soil well.
4. Return the pot with the plant to a warm, well-lit place. Carry out the first feeding.
5. When it gets warmer outside, remove three centimeters of soil and replace it with new one. The optimal composition is garden soil, dry seaweed and well-rotted compost.

How to care for indoor hibiscus during flowering? Feed and water regularly, maintain high air humidity. Avoid direct sun exposure to the plant; try to find a place that is not hot. Spray carefully, avoid getting moisture on the flowers. Remove faded flowers immediately so that they do not interfere with the blossoming of new buds.

How does hibiscus reproduce?

Hibiscus can be propagated by seeds or cuttings. Cuttings are a simpler and faster method. Seedlings grow slowly and do not always retain their maternal characteristics.

Growing from seeds

Growing hibiscus from seeds at home is a troublesome and difficult task. Seeds can be collected from your plant or purchased at the store. To obtain healthy seedlings, follow the following sequence of actions.

1. Prepare light soil - a mixture of sand and peat. Fill a flat container with it.
2. Moisten the surface of the soil with a spray bottle and cover the container with glass. Glass can be replaced with ordinary polyethylene or cling film. Place the container under a fluorescent lamp and maintain the temperature at 25°C.
3. After the appearance of the third true leaf, the seedlings can be planted into separate containers.

Hibiscus from seeds blooms at the earliest in a year, usually in two. This depends entirely on the quality of care and living conditions.

Cuttings

Propagating hibiscus by cuttings is an easier and faster way. The apical cuttings quickly take root and grow. For successful rooting, adhere to the following scheme.

1. Cut apical cuttings 5–8 cm long.
2. Treat the cuts with a root former solution - “Kornevin”, “Heteroauxin”.
3. Prepare a light peat-sand mixture and fill small pots with it.
4. Place a cutting in the center and cover the pot with a glass jar or plastic cup. Ventilate daily and monitor soil moisture.

The cover is removed only after stable signs of growth appear. Rooting a hibiscus from a cutting does not take long - the roots appear within about a month, and after another three to four months the first flowers bloom on the young plant.

Compositions of hibiscus of different colors, expressed in one pot, look interesting. For example, a combination of white and yellow, red and pink colors. Compositions are formed at the cutting stage, by rooting cuttings from different plants in one pot.

Main problems

Quite often you have to deal with yellowing, drying out leaves, and falling buds. There are other problems too. The reason is not necessarily hidden in an attack by pests or a specific disease - problems can be caused by simple care errors. You can see the main problems and their causes in the table.

Table - Difficulties in growing hibiscus

Typical pests

It is not always possible to avoid pest attacks. Weakened, diseased plants are more susceptible to insect attacks. This is due to the discrepancy between the parameters of the conditions of maintenance and the requirements - too dry air, irregular or excessive watering. Typical hibiscus pests and methods of controlling them are shown in the table.

Table - Hibiscus pests

In reviews, experienced gardeners advise beginners to periodically carry out preventive treatment with low doses of insecticides and fungicides. This helps protect the plant from pest attacks.

Possible diseases

It is not always possible to avoid infection with viral or fungal diseases. Infection occurs through insect vectors, contaminated soil, and other plants. The disease can be diagnosed based on a number of signs. All signs, names of diseases and their treatment are briefly described in the table.

Table - Hibiscus diseases

Properly organized care for hibiscus (Chinese rose) in a pot will help avoid most problems. Hibiscus is a long-lived plant. With good care it can grow and bloom regularly for over 20 years. Fits perfectly into the interior of spacious rooms.

Hibiscus is best known as China rose. The plant can be grown both at home and in the garden. This plant is not only beautiful, but also very useful.

Eating hibiscus is contraindicated for people with gastritis, stomach ulcers, and children under 1 year should not consume hibiscus in hibiscus or any other form.

Chinese rose has the following healing properties:

• Diuretic.
• Anticonvulsant.
• Bactericidal.
• Choleretic.
• Hemostatic.
• Stops the development of tumors and boils.
• Laxative.
• Cleansing from toxins.

There are several types of hibiscus that are common in home cultivation:

• Syrian.
• Dissected-petalled.
• Trifoliate.
• Drummond.
• Volatile.
• Chinese.

Variegated hibiscus has a large number of varieties, each of them differs in the color of the petals and the shape of the flower.

On one plant there may be, some are completely green, and some have red, white and yellow tints. Almost the entire area of ​​the sheet is covered with patterns.

It is easy to shape a hibiscus; it responds well to pruning and in the spring, during the period of active growth, it begins to branch well. Flowering occurs already in the first year of the plant’s life. If you provide the correct one, you can achieve hibiscus flowering around the clock. Even in the cold season it produces buds abundantly.

Features of hibiscus:

• The largest leaves grow up to 15 cm in length and up to 6.5 in width. Hibiscus can have both large and small leaves equally.
• The petals of variegated hibiscus are bright red in color. The plant is suitable not only for indoor conditions, but also for winter gardens.
• Each flower of the variegated hibiscus lives only one or two days. But the flowers are constantly replaced by one another, so the effect of constant flowering occurs.

At home, hibiscus helps cleanse and improve the health of the air.

Flowers of other species can be yellow, purple, violet, red, pink, with a double or glossy surface. The multiple golden stamens, which are combined into one long tube, also attract the eye.

Growing conditions and rules for caring for variegated hibiscus

Hibiscus develops and blooms best in. If there is a lack of light, the plant will not die, but it will not grow as actively and bloom less luxuriantly. Already in March, an abundant flowering period begins, which continues until late autumn, and in rare cases lasts the whole year.

Flowering can also take place on northern windows, but eastern or western ones are best suited. The air temperature in the room should fluctuate between 20-25 degrees; in winter it should not fall below 13 degrees. If the leaves are exposed to direct sunlight, it is better to shade the plant or take it out into the garden or onto the balcony. The hibiscus needs to be gradually accustomed to the sun, hardening it, allowing the sun to hit it only for a few hours at first.

Watering the plant:

• abundant during the period of active growth and moderate in winter.
• The plant does not tolerate drying out of the soil or waterlogging.
• The soil should be slightly moist.
• To ensure that the plant constantly receives the amount of moisture it needs, it is mulched. If excess water has formed in the pan, drain it.
• Hibiscus responds well to a cool shower, which not only cleanses the leaves of contamination, but also prevents certain diseases.
• The top layer of soil is sometimes loosened, this is done after watering.

Flower buds normally form in winter at a temperature of 15 degrees. Some species, such as Syrian hibiscus, can tolerate lower temperatures. If the room temperature is high in winter and the air is dry, then spraying hibiscus leaves is recommended.

In the spring, the hibiscus is transplanted into a larger pot; before transplanting, pruning is done (to form a bush or for greater branching of shoots). The cuttings that remain during pruning can be rooted.

The hibiscus is transplanted into soil, which is prepared according to the following scheme: 2 parts of turf soil and one part each of peat soil and sand. Pieces of charcoal are added to the soil. Adult plants are no longer replanted, only the top layer of soil is changed to renew the soil.

It is also a mistake to place hibiscus in cold soil. Because of this, the roots of the plant may dry out.

A hibiscus bush can live up to 20 years. Mineral and complex fertilizer is applied, a special fertilizer is selected for flowering indoor plants, and it is applied once every three weeks during the period of active growth. Every amateur gardener can handle the propagation of hibiscus.

Several methods are used:

1. Stem.
2. Green cuttings.
3. Semi-lignified cuttings.

Best for: February, early spring, mid-summer, August. Cuttings can be rooted in water or a substrate of peat and sand. In order for rooting to occur successfully, the cuttings are covered with plastic film or glass. In just three weeks, roots will appear.

Most often, hibiscus is infected with spider mites, aphids or whiteflies.

A plant may drop its flowers if it experiences stress, such as a sudden change in growing conditions. But the peculiarity of hibiscus is its rapid ability to recover when provided with favorable conditions. By following simple steps, you can get an exotic plant at home.

More information can be found in the video.

Surely most lovers of house plants are already familiar with such a plant as the Chinese rose. In its homeland it is called Cooper's hibiscus. There are several subtleties in plant care that you need to know so that the flowers are bright and the flowering period is long.

Botanical description

The flower belongs to the Malvaceae family. This is a flowering shrub with beautiful bright buds. The duration of the flowering period is spring-autumn. The flowers themselves quickly fade, you can admire them in just a couple of days, and new buds appear in place of the old ones. The color of the buds is from pink to scarlet with splashes. Plants with yellow and orange colors are also popular.

The fruiting plant is a box with several valves. It contains a large number of seeds. All of them are covered with fluff. This plant belongs to varieties with variegated leaves, that is, this hibiscus is variegated. For this reason, the flower received a second name: variegated hibiscus.

Hibiscus Cooper

Hibiscus is a fairly tall plant. Reaches one and a half meters in height. And this is in apartment conditions. Elongated leaves measuring 3x10 cm distinguish it from its counterparts. Hibiscus petals are speckled. The plant is characterized by branching.

Home care

• Temperature.

During the summer, hibiscus needs to maintain a temperature of 16 to 22 degrees.

• Watering.

Moistened soil is necessary, so the flower is watered every 3-4 days. For irrigation, use settled water at room temperature.

Attention! Cooper's variegated hibiscus, or variegated one, loves moisture. Requires daily spraying with water. It is important that the air in the room where the flower grows is humid.

• Illumination.

Hibiscus with variegated leaves prefers good light. The light should be slightly diffused to avoid burning the leaves and flowers. He will definitely like the southwest or south side.

The plant is sensitive to light, its branches immediately turn towards the sun. From time to time you need to turn the plant so that it grows evenly.

• Priming.

In order for air to pass well to the roots, the soil for hibiscus must be loose.

• Trimming.

The procedure is carried out throughout the year. Pinching is required in early spring. Even very young shoots need to be pinched. As soon as the hibiscus has bloomed, pinch all ends. Afterwards the plant will produce new shoots, already with buds. Those shoots that are parallel to the trunk are also pruned.

• Feeding.

Fertilizer is applied only two months after planting in the ground. Next, they feed from spring to autumn: April-October. Once every 21-28 days is enough. It is worth considering that nitrogen-containing additives are not suitable for any plants of this species, as they may change the color of the flowers for the worse. The Snow Queen hibiscus (Cooper's subspecies) will especially feel this, as it has snow-white flowers.

The emphasis should be on the presence of boron, copper, zinc, and molybdenum in the fertilizer. This chemical composition of microelements will have a positive effect on the condition of the plant.

How to propagate hibiscus

The flower can be propagated using seeds and cuttings. The most difficult method is by seed, while propagation by cuttings is possible even for a novice gardener.

Hibiscus Cooper

With the first method, flowering can occur only in the second or third year. With the second, the plant pleases with bright buds within a year. With this method, the properties of the mother plant are completely transferred to the daughter plant. The seed method, on the contrary, does not at all guarantee the transfer of key properties to future plants.

Briefly about diseases and pests

The most dangerous pest of flowers is aphids. Most often, it affects leaves and buds that are not yet sufficiently strong. Possible damage to spider mites in the internodes. Special preparations are used for disinsection. It is recommended to use a soap solution for ticks.

Cooper's hibiscus is a plant for those who like the exotic and do not want to spend a lot of time and effort caring for the plant. It will appeal to flower lovers who are just starting to breed and grow colorful representatives of the flora.

Hibiscus, often called the Chinese rose, is a long-lived houseplant. I am familiar with a hibiscus that celebrated its 25th anniversary. Now this is a real home tree, almost reaching the ceiling, with dark greenery, in the spring ruby ​​flowers appear in its crown. And more than a quarter of a century ago it was a thin cutting in a pot that was given to my grandmother. At that time, the Chinese rose was very popular. It was grown in apartments, and large branchy trees decorated public places. At the end of the 20th century, interest in hibiscus almost disappeared; it was replaced by fashionable exotic plants. But, as popular wisdom says: the new is the well-forgotten old. Capricious exotic flowers have become boring. Now the Chinese rose is again winning the sympathy of flower growers. They note that this plant has much more advantages than disadvantages. Hibiscus blooms beautifully and for a long time, has decorative and lush foliage and is unpretentious in terms of maintenance and care, and is easy to propagate. If you follow certain features when caring for a Chinese rose, it will live for decades, landscaping and decorating your home with flowers.

Hibiscus, beautiful and healthy (photo)

Hibiscus, contrary to its popular name, Chinese rose, has nothing to do with Rosaceae. He is a member of the malvaceae family. The genus of hibiscus is very diverse; it includes more than three hundred herbaceous and shrub plants, as well as trees. They are distributed throughout the globe, in the subtropical zone. Wild hibiscus grows in African and Asian subtropical forests, the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands, and America. Some varieties of the plant can be found in Transcaucasia and Crimea, the Far East and southern Europe.

The ancient Greeks were the first to describe hibiscus. But the plant came to the countries of Western Europe only in the 17th century from Asia.

Among the domesticated hibiscus there are garden and indoor crops. Garden bushy varieties are grown in the southern regions in open ground, very often as a hedge. At home, mainly Chinese and variegated hibiscus are bred.

Hawaiians call hibiscus the flower of beautiful women. The famous Hawaiian garlands are also made from its flowers. In Oceania, India and China, hibiscus is a recognized symbol of hospitality and family. This flower is one of the attributes of home comfort. In India, purple hibiscus flowers are used to decorate the bride's outfit.

Indoor hibiscus is a shrub or tree; an adult specimen can reach 3 meters in height. Hibiscus has a bare stem covered with light gray bark; with regular pruning, it branches well. On the petioles there are large, up to 8 cm long, shiny leaves with a serrated edge. They are a little reminiscent of birch foliage, but darker in color.

Hibiscus flowers are large, starting from 5 cm. There are varieties with huge plate flowers, their diameter reaches 30 cm. Varieties with simple inflorescences have five paper-thin petals, bent back, and a very prominent pubescent pistil. There are terry varieties. The color of the flowers can be white, yellow, orange, pink, purple, gray or red, and also combine different shades. The lifespan of hibiscus flowers is very short, they bloom within a day or two. But new ones immediately bloom to replace faded flowers; with proper care, the plant blooms for a long time, from three to eight months. If pollination is successful, fruits will appear; they look like boxes with five doors. Inside each are covered with hairs or bare seeds.

In the old days, fabric dye was made from hibiscus flowers in eastern countries. Some varieties of this plant were used in paper production.

A well-cared for indoor hibiscus can live for several decades. You can grow a powerful bush or tree from it, or you can limit its growth. Hibiscus lends itself well to shaping.

Caring for this plant is easy. It needs bright lighting, sufficient watering and slightly increased humidity. Give the Chinese rose a place near the south window, spray it sometimes, trim the branches and watch for months how wonderful flowers open one after another.

Hibiscus are beautiful and edible

Plants included in the genus of hibiscus are very diverse. Among them there are annual and herbaceous, deciduous and evergreen, there are those that cannot exist without support, and trees up to 4 meters. But in almost every hibiscus a person has found something attractive and useful. Some varieties are grown on an industrial scale, some are used as elements of landscape design, and others simply create coziness in our homes.

The most popular in home floriculture is Chinese hibiscus, also known as Chinese rose. The tree-like shrub can grow up to 3 meters. The plant has rich, rich green foliage. Large (up to 16 cm) flowers appear from spring to autumn. Each lives no more than two days, but there are usually so many buds on a well-tended plant that the flowering seems continuous. Breeders have bred over 500 hybrid varieties of Chinese hibiscus. They differ in color (from purple and chocolate to soft lemon and cream) and shape (simple, semi-double and double) of flowers. Some varieties of Chinese hibiscus:

• Kyoto is a variety with simple yellow flowers and a reddish center.
• Hamburg is distinguished by its double purple flowers.
• Florida is a variety with simple flowers, the petals are red-orange.
• Philing Blue with flowers of unusual bluish-violet shades.
• Parple Majestic - dark purple petals with white speckles, the edge of the flower is corrugated.
• The Carmen Keen variety has amazing pink-purple flowers with a white border.
• San Remo - elegant simple bright white flowers with a yellow pistil.
• Borias - flowers with a strongly wavy edge, creamy white color and a dark core.

Photo gallery: varieties of hibiscus (Chinese rose)

Variety Borias Variety Carmen Keen Variety Filing Blue Variety Hamburg Variety Parple Majestic cultivar San Remo Variety Kyoto Classic Chinese rose Variety Florida

• Variegated hibiscus, also known as Cooper's hibiscus, is one of the most popular plants among gardeners. This variety pleases not only with bright flowers, but also with variegated leaves. They combine green with different shades of white, yellow and pink. The color of the leaves depends on the temperature of the plant, the quality of the soil and lighting. Cooper's hibiscus flowers also come in a variety of colors.
• The dissected hibiscus is popularly called the princess's earring. It received this name for its fantastic red-orange flowers. They have fringed, thin, curved petals and a long pistil. The plant blooms for at least six months. The evergreen bush does not grow more than 1 meter. In our area it is grown as a houseplant.
• Syrian hibiscus is a deciduous tree-like shrub. Its popular names are Syrian rose or birch. The plant's homeland is the Middle East, common in Syria, India, and China. It is grown in gardens there. This plant develops slowly, but lives for about a hundred years. The first flowers appear at 3–4 years of age. The color of the inflorescences can be violet, lilac, pink, bluish or white with colored spots at the base of the petals. The foliage of Syrian hibiscus is juicy and bright green. Many varieties of Syrian hibiscus have been developed.
• With good care, swamp hibiscus can bloom all year round. It has bright and huge flowers (up to 30 cm). It is usually grown as a garden crop.
• Sudanese rose (or hibiscus) is an ornamental and at the same time edible plant. It is grown as a crop in Sudan, India, Thailand and Malaysia. The two-meter shrub blooms with large red-orange flowers. Their bracts are collected, dried, and then brewed like tea.
• Trifoliate hibiscus is an annual plant and is rarely grown in indoor floriculture. This hibiscus has atypical feathery foliage with a slight edge. The flowers are small (4 cm), creamy yellow with a dark red center. Interestingly, they open in the morning, and close after noon.
• Variable hibiscus is nicknamed crazy rose. This tall (up to 4 meters) hibiscus has double flowers very similar to a rose. But as they bloom, they change color. At first, the white flower becomes crimson as it fades.
• There is a variety of hibiscus - okra, which is cultivated as an edible plant. Okra pods contain large amounts of ascorbic acid and other vitamins. They are stewed, baked, dried, pickled and frozen. This type of hibiscus is also not to be denied decorative properties. It blooms with large yellow, orange or pink flowers.

Photo gallery: varieties of hibiscus

Okra - edible hibiscus Swamp hibiscus is distinguished by its huge flowers Variegated hibiscus, also known as Cooper's hibiscus Variable hibiscus, nicknamed crazy rose Dissected petal hibiscus Syrian hibiscus Sudanese rose (or hibiscus) Trifoliate hibiscus

The main condition is a lot of light

Indoor hibiscus is an unassuming plant. The bush grows quickly and is not capricious. If you give it bright light, mist it occasionally, and don't forget to water it, it may even bloom at an inopportune time as a sign of gratitude.

Table: conditions for indoor hibiscus

Some gardeners claim that indoor hibiscus is not sensitive to air humidity. And they also advise spraying the plant regularly. Like any subtropical plant, the Chinese rose loves humidity, but not excessive moisture. Follow the rule: the higher the temperature, the higher the humidity, and, conversely, at low temperatures, low humidity. And carefully observe the condition of the flower, it will tell you what it likes.

How and when to replant an indoor Chinese rose?

It is advisable to replant the hibiscus immediately after purchase. In the store, plants exist in a depleted substrate and are treated with special preparations so that they do not overgrow. And after moving into nutritious soil, the hibiscus begins to actively increase in size. But if you get a Chinese rose that is blooming, wait until the end of flowering. The stress from transplanting will interfere and the buds may die.

When choosing a pot for hibiscus, the general rule for flowering plants applies. If you want lush flowering, don’t plant it in a large pot “for growth.” In a spacious container, the hibiscus will begin to develop roots, grow greenery, and will postpone flowering indefinitely.

Young, medium-sized plants should be replanted annually in the spring, slightly increasing the diameter of the pot until it is 30 cm or more. For adult specimens that are already difficult to replant, renew the top layer of soil by about 5 cm in the spring.

Prepare the soil for Chinese roses that is nutritious, neutral in acidity and loose. Example options:

• Ready-made soil for hibiscus from the store, drainage components have already been added to it.
• Dilute the universal soil for indoor plants with garden soil by half, you can add crushed moss.
• Mix the substrate for indoor plants with turf and humus soil, you can add charcoal.
• Two parts rotted compost or humus and one part leaf soil, sand or vermiculite.

Pour drainage into the hibiscus pot, sparingly, the airier your mixture is, the better. And do not forget to sterilize all components for transplantation.

1. Place a drainage layer and some soil substrate into the pot.
2. Remove the hibiscus with the earthen lump from the old container. Shake off the soil a little, do not remove it completely.
3. Examine the root system; if rotten roots are found, remove them. There is no need to trim healthy roots.
4. Place the earthen lump with the plant in a new pot, carefully add soil between the wall and the lump, shaking the pot slightly. Compact the top layer of soil slightly.
5. Water and spray your hibiscus after transplanting.
6. Place the plant in its old place; hibiscus does not like moving, especially after stress.

Video: how to transplant hibiscus

Caring for indoor hibiscus at home

Hibiscus is an easy-to-care plant. He is not capricious in vain, being content with regular watering and spraying (although there are requirements for water quality), modest fertilizing and sanitary pruning. I knew a hibiscus that grew in a room without a window, under completely artificial light. It was often sprayed, so the greenery was elastic and bright, but the plant did not bloom lushly. The hibiscus produced no more than a dozen buds per season.

It must be said that hibiscus forgives the gardener’s mistakes. The plant can be reanimated. Main - notice in time that the flower is depressed and take action.

Water, spray and feed

Chinese rose is very sensitive to water quality. It should not be watered with hard and cool water. This can cause the plant to get sick, shed buds and even leaves. Tap water causes a disease called chlorosis.

If you want your hibiscus to be healthy, bloom and live long, water it with desalted, soft, warm water. Let it stand, filter and, if necessary, heat it slightly. The same requirements for water for spraying. In hot weather, it is useful to spray the Chinese rose twice a day. But try not to let large drops of moisture fall on the flowers. They don’t live long anyway, and water will shorten their lifespan even further.

Want to add a glossy shine to your hibiscus leaves? Spray it with infusion of onion peels. Fill the jar halfway with onion peels, compact it and fill it with boiling water to the top. Let the solution sit for a day or two. Strain it and spray the leaves of the Chinese rose. By the way, this is good protection against spider mite attacks.

Keep the soil in the hibiscus pot constantly moist. Drying out of the earthen clod can lead to leaf fall. In spring and summer, during the flowering period, the plant needs to be watered abundantly. In winter, the amount and frequency of watering is reduced, but again, bringing the earthen ball to complete dryness is dangerous for the health of the hibiscus.

During growth and bud formation, be sure to support the Chinese rose with fertilizing. Two or three times a month, give her liquid mineral fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen, iron and copper in the spring (for greenery), and in the summer - phosphorus and potassium (for flowering). Prepare the solution according to the instructions. Some gardeners recommend fertilizing hibiscus once a month with fermented infusion of bird droppings; it is diluted with water 1:20 and added to the soil immediately after watering, so as not to burn the roots. In winter, stop feeding or limit it to once a month.

Video: caring for hibiscus

Helping the rose to bloom

A healthy and well-groomed hibiscus usually does not refuse to bloom. And the flowering time lasts from 3 to 8 months. But sometimes the grower neglects the rules of maintenance and care, and then problems arise.

What does it take for hibiscus to bloom magnificently and for a long time?

• Bright lighting all year round, in summer - protection from direct sun, in winter - additional lighting.
• Keeping it cool in winter, at a temperature of +15–18 degrees, flower buds are formed more actively.
• Sufficient watering and spraying in summer, moderate in winter.
• Feeding hibiscus.
• Spring replanting or updating the top layer of soil, but the pot should not be too spacious.
• Pruning Chinese roses stimulates flowering.

Analyze whether you meet all the conditions for the flowering of hibiscus. Try to correct the mistakes, and perhaps this season your Chinese rose will delight you with buds and then flowers. Those who have been growing this plant for a long time note an interesting feature. If the hibiscus is kept cool in the fall (for example, the heating is not turned on for a long time), then later, when the apartment gets warmer sharply, flowering may begin.

And a few more “unscientific” tips. They say that hibiscus will bloom better if a wooden chip is inserted into the soil at some distance from the stem (about 10 cm). It is recommended to “water” hibiscus with vodka to improve flowering. Add one cap of alcohol to irrigation water once a month. And finally, the China rose can be intimidated. The owner of the plant tells how she placed an ax next to it and threatened to cut it down if she didn’t see it blooming. And the rose blossomed.

Try it, maybe it will work. But still, first use traditional methods.

Let's retire

The dormant time for the Chinese rose usually comes in winter. Winter hibernation is not clearly expressed. The plant simply slows down and does not bloom. Although under certain conditions it can bloom even in winter.

The gardener's task is to give the hibiscus a full rest. The air temperature should be reduced, ideally to 16–18 degrees. That is, remove or protect the plant from heating devices, place it closer to the cold window glass. Reduce watering, moistening and fertilizing. But you need a lot of light, the hibiscus will be grateful for the lighting.

Trimming

Pruning Chinese roses is an annual must. It helps to bloom and bush. You can prune the plant immediately after flowering, at the beginning of winter, or in spring. For rejuvenation, adult shoots are cut by a third, and thin and dried branches are removed. Cut boldly, do not be afraid to harm the hibiscus, after pruning it will grow more actively.

When pruning your Chinese rose, choose what you want to form: an indoor tree or a bush. If you decide to grow a tree, remove the lower branches, exposing the trunk. If your goal is a compact bush, cut off the central stem and upper shoots without pity, leaving the basal shoots. But don’t forget to thin it out too. Remember: flowers appear on new growth. Cut branches can be used for propagation.

Video: spring pruning of hibiscus

Grafting a Chinese rose

Chinese rose cuttings do not always take root successfully, especially for hybrid varieties. To get the desired rose of a certain color and type, flower growers graft a varietal cutting (scion) onto a simpler plant (rootstock). You should not use hybrid plants of Dutch origin as a rootstock; you need a simple hibiscus of the “grandmother’s” variety. And the scion from the newly purchased “Dutch” will not work; the store-bought plant was treated with drugs that stop growth. Vaccination is a real operation, so hands and tools must be spotlessly clean.

1. Remove all leaves from the scion (woody varietal cuttings), leaving the growing points. Do the same with the rootstock.
2. Make maximally matching oblique cuts on the rootstock and scion.
3. Connect and press the sections of the scion and rootstock. Wrap the grafting site tightly with adhesive tape or tape, sticky side out, so that you can remove it later without injuring it.
4. Cover the plant with a bag to create a humid atmosphere and place it under a lamp.
5. Moisten the soil and ventilate the plant occasionally.
6. If condensation forms on the bag, remove it. Do not allow the plant to get wet. It can cause rot.

Care errors, pests and diseases (table)

Hibiscus propagation

Hibiscus can be propagated by seeds (sowing in mid-winter) or cuttings (all year round, but better in late summer).