Hibiscus is a popular flowering plant found in almost every home these days. It is a spiritual, ayurvedic, and medicinal plant. It comes in many varieties and colors that attracts everyone, and adds life and beauty to any garden.
Naturally, everyone wants hibiscus to grow well and bloom profusely. However, sometimes, despite being healthy, the plant stops blooming, leaving many plant lovers wondering why their hibiscus isn’t flowering.
But don’t worry—this is a very common problem, and good news is that with proper care, it can be easily fixed. In this guide, I’ll guide you how to get maximum flowering from your hibiscus plant.
How to Get Maximum Flowering in Hibiscus
1. Provide maximum Sunlight
Hibiscus is known for its large flowers and requires a lot of energy and good sunlight to bloom.
- For optimal growth and maximum flowering, hibiscus requires at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight daily. Therefore, it should be placed where it receives maximum sunlight.
Note:
- If your garden doesn’t get much sunlight, don’t expect much from this plant.
People often make the mistake of placing it in a shady spot with little sunlight, and are disappointed when their hibiscus doesn’t bloom.
2. Use a soil mix rich in organic matter and nutrients
For any flowering plant, the soil mixture you use plays a crucial role. If your hibiscus is healthy but not flowering, something is wrong with the soil. If the soil mix is nutrient-deficient, plant will stop blooming.
So how should the soil mix be?
- Roots grow in soil, and if you want strong, healthy growth the soil mixture must be of good quality.
- If the soil in the pot is tight, doesn’t drain well, or unable to absorb water, the soil mix is not suitable for healthy growth.
- Sometimes you give everything to the plant like – right fertilizer, sunlight and water and still it is not blooming, the reason for this could be the use of bad or hard soil.
Even if the soil looks fine on the surface, it may be tight or compacted from inside. So, what you can do is:
- till the soil gently,
- add some compost (vermicompost) or organic fertilizer, and
- water thoroughly to make the soil aerated and fertile.
3. Follow Correct watering method
How you water your hibiscus can also hinder its flowering.
One such case is – Overwatering will prevent it from blooming.
- Overwatering can cause the roots to become sandy and lifeless, thus stunting growth. Buds may appear but won’t bloom.
- Many people have asked me that in their plant buds appear but won’t bloom. Overwatering can be a one of the factor.
Underwatering – even underwatering will prevent a hibiscus plant from blooming. Nutrients won’t be absorbed properly, the plant will become stressed, and the leaves will yellow and fall off. Therefore, you shouldn’t overwater or underwater.
How to Water a Hibiscus Plant Properly –
- Water thoroughly when the soil feels dry. Water until it comes out of the holes from the bottom of the pot.
4. Best Pot Size for Hibiscus plant
Hibiscus roots spread rapidly; planting it in a larger pot promotes growth and abundant flowering.
- If you plant your hibiscus in a small pot smaller than 12 inches, it won’t bloom well.
- A clay pot at least 12 inches deep is best for hibiscus plant.
5. Check for Pest attack in Hibiscus plant
Being a flowering plant, it is often infested with insects such as aphids, mealybugs, and other pests.
- You should spray the plant with a solution of neem leaves every 10 to 15 days. This reduces the chances of pests, and the plant will remain healthy and flower well.
6. Do Pruning of Hibiscus plant
If your hibiscus is not flowering, pruning of a plant is a necessary step.
- Pruning triggers hormonal activity at the cut end that encourages the plant to produce new growth.
- Avoid excessive pruning in winter; simply remove yellow leaves, dull stems, and flowers.
7. Check for Nutrient deficiency
If the plant is healthy but still it’s not flowering, it’s a clear indication that it needs more fertilizer. I give my hibiscus plant some fertilizers that promote flowering.
First, I spray with Epsom salt water solution on leaves.
- Then I apply a liquid fertilizer made from cow dung cake.
- After 10 days later, if the hibiscus plant is producing buds, I apply a liquid fertilizer made from banana peels…
- After applying the banana peel fertilizer, wait another 10 days and then give the plant a liquid onion peel fertilizer. This fertilizer also promotes flowering, and you may see new buds appear within a few days.
Follow our Social media channel:
1. Voice of Plant – YouTube Channel
2. Voice of Plant Facebook Page
3. Instagram Voice of Plant Channel
Happy Gardening!!
FAQs on Hibiscus Flowering Tips
1. Does hibiscus have a short blooming time?
Ans. Yes, some native hibiscus flowers bloom for a single day, opening in the morning and fading in the evening. However, there are also many hybrid hibiscus varieties that bloom for two or three days.
2. What is the best season for hibiscus to thrive?
Ans. Hibiscus is a summer plant and thrives well in warm weather. Requires at least 5 to6 hours of minimum sunlight for blooming.
3. Is Hibiscus a plant or tree?
Ans. Hibiscus is a shrub or small tree and can be easily grown in a pot or container in a balcony or terrace garden.
4. Which fertilizer should not be used for hibiscus plants in extreme heat?
Ans: Mustard cake liquid fertilizer should not be used for hibiscus plants in extreme heat as it can burn the plant.
5. Which pot is best for a hibiscus plant?
Ans: A 12-inch clay pot is best for growing a hibiscus plant at home.