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Beautiful Hibiscus Flowers

By David P Lee

Growing Hawaiian Hibiscus flowers can be exciting and fun, but you do need to understand how they grow and what they might need from you to be successful in your endeavor. The Hawaiian Hibiscus is part of the Malvaceae Family. As the name suggests it is a tropical flower and related to many of the other hibiscus plants you may be familiar with. Flowers such as the Hardy Hibiscus, Hollyhock, and Confederate Rose are also hibiscus plants much like the Hawaiian variety. The Hibiscus is most common to the Pacific Island regions like Hawaii and those in Asia. The hibiscus is actually the national flower of Malaysia for this very reason. Though the hibiscus is considered a Hawaiian flower it is just a certain species that is truly of Hawaiian origin.

There are a variety of colors and sizes when determining the characteristics of the hibiscus flower. There are reportedly thousands of color combinations, with no true black or blue. The size varies from a 2 inch diameter blossom to a 10 or 12 inch. Some of the hibiscuses are found on bushes that only grow a few feet every several years, while others can grow up to 15 feet in a short time.

To grow this tropical beauty you will need to make several changes to your greenhouse or where you intend on growing them. The climate must be tropical that you will keep them in. You should be careful about areas that do frost, so that you can bring the flower in to the warmth at night if need be. You can keep the flowers in pots for easy moving. Pots allow for the same type of growing conditions as planting the hibiscus in the ground, but you have more options. If you are going to grow hibiscus you should consult a professional gardener to help you learn the methods of potting plants. They will offer you the appropriate tips for where you live as opposed to figuring it out on your own. We have some common tips that have been offered from professional gardeners to help you get started:

Keep the fertilizer light and often. A true fact is that hibiscus flowers are very big eaters. You need to use fertilizer that contains special elements, such as copper and iron. In most cases, a dry fertilizer is acceptable, but most growers prefer a fertilizer with a low phosphate count. You should keep the phosphate to a minimum, because the phosphate can build up in the dirt of the flower over a period of time and cause harm to the plant. If you are considering using a fertilizer with nitrogen, it has been found that overusing nitrogen in the flower food will help encourage the growth of the leaves, but it will do nothing for the actual blooms. Fertilizers that contain water are best for hibiscus being grown in pots or for spraying the leaves.

You also need to keep the insects away from the plant. The hibiscus should be checked for insects frequently, and you may want to use a type of insecticide or natural option to keep the plant safe. Insecticide use should be done in the mornings after the plant has been sprayed with water. A good temperature to spray at is below 80 degrees. You should spray both the top and bottom of the leaves.

Prune to enhance growth. As with all types of plants, pruning back can help encourage the growth of the leaves and blooms. It helps to manage the actual size of the plant, and to get rid of any dead leaves or petals. This is very similar to Plumeria cuttings. The tropical hibiscus, like the ones found in Hawaii, can be pruned at almost any time. For the best results, it is recommended that you prune during a time when the new growth will not be harmed from any cold temperatures. To help shape the plant, many gardeners cut the longest portion of the branches, and then return in about 4 weeks to prune the next third. Make sure that you are using sharp and clean shears, as well as angling down away from the node of the flower.

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Article source: Organic Gardening Articles: http://www.organicgardenarticles.com/

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