Hibiscus
Hibiscus are the state flower of Hawaii and they symbolize joy and beauty which is why it is so popular with Hawaiian women. Common folk lore has it that single women will wear a flower behind the right ear while a married woman will wear one behind their right!
They are known especially for their striking beautiful and often amazingly large flowers. Their dense green foliage is also very lush, but is often overlooked because the mid to late summer blossoms are so prominent.
Planting several of these beautiful plants in a variety of colors will lend a unique, tropical effect to a garden and are also very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Outdoor Care These plants need well-drained soil and a spot in full sunlight. The secret to success is to water enough to keep the soil evenly moist. This plant doesn’t require fertilizer, but a general-purpose fertilizer will promote vigorous growth and support blooming.
Don’t worry if your plants die to the ground after a hard frost in an Ocala winter. Just cut them down to a height of 4 or 5 inches (10-13 cm.), and then wait for the plants to regrow from the roots in spring once temps begin to warm back up again
Indoor Care
Indoors, they require very bright light and several hours of direct sun in order to bloom as indoor plants. During the spring and summer, when it is actively growing, keep the soil moist but never soggy.
In the fall and winter, allow the top 2” to dry out before watering. They need a great deal of plant food so you should fertilize every two weeks in the spring and summer and monthly the rest of the year with a basic houseplant food diluted to 1/2 the recommended strength. Use a rich organic soil that holds the water but still drains quickly. Hibiscus plants grow better if the soil is a little acidic so try adding a teaspoon of vinegar to your water once a month or watering it with leftover tea. Although these plants produce large beautiful flowers, the blooms usually last for a day. Cool temperatures help the blooms last longer.
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