Hibiscus comes as a tropical plant that is grown indoors as a houseplant. It also grows as a hardy outdoor plant in USDA zones 4 through 9. There are over 300 species of hibiscus. The flowers come in a wide range of colors and depending on the variety you choose, the petals can be single or double rows of petals.
You can propagate hibiscus from stem cuttings. So if your friend has a hibiscus that you like, you can have one as well. Just be sure to ask permission before you take a cutting from a plant that is not yours. For a greater success on propagating your hibiscus, take the cuttings in the spring.
Before you gather the cuttings, it is a good idea to prepare your pots first. This prevents the cuttings from extra stress and drying out if they have to wait for the pots to be filled.
Find a Pot
The size pot depends on how many cuttings you want to start. When trying to start hibiscus, they propagate better when they are not alone in a pot. A one gallon pot holds a half-dozen or more cuttings. Always take extra cuttings, because not all of them will root. If you only want to try 2 cuttings, choose a 4 inch pot.
Fill the pot with sand or perlite. Wet the planting medium thoroughly with water. When perlite is dry, it has a tendency to float away. It takes a while for the perlite to become saturated, then it will be heavier.
Choose The Right Stems to Cut
If you are going a distance to gather your cuttings, place a wet paper towel into a plastic bag. The wet paper towel keeps the cutting hydrated until you are ready to plant.
Examine the hibiscus to find a 5 to 6-inch length of healthy new growth. New growth is green and it bends without snapping or breaking. The stem should be as thick as a pencil for better success at propagation.
With your pruning shears, cut the stem at an angle, just above the eye or bud. Cut the stems again, only this time, cut them through the eye at an angle. The eye is where the leaf emerges. Place the cut end of the stems into the wet paper towel to keep it hydrated.
Prepare the Cuttings For Propagation
Cut or pinch off all the leaves, except for the top two or four leaves at the top. Wet the bottom 2 inches of the stem in a glass of water and then shake the stem to remove the excess water. Dip the wet end into rooting hormone. Tap the stem with your finger, or against the side of the container to remove the excess rooting hormone powder.
Make a hole in the perlite or sand with a dibble or a pencil. Insert the end with the rooting hormone into the hole, firming the planting medium around the stem with your fingers to keep it in an upright position.
Place a large bag over the top of the pot, taking care that the leaves of the cuttings aren’t up against the plastic. Secure the plastic around the pot with a string or rubber band. If all danger of frost is past, you can place the pot outdoors in a shady location. If you are starting them indoors, place the pot in a bright window, out of direct sunlight.
Check the perlite or sand every day for moisture. You’ll want the planting medium to stay moist and not dry out.
Transplant the Rooted Cuttings
It can take six to eight weeks for the roots to form. Transplant the cuttings when they have rooted. You can test for the roots by gently pulling on the stems. If you feel resistance, this indicates that the roots have formed. If the cutting moves easily, then they have not rooted.
Transplant the hibiscus into 6 inch pots filled with potting soil. To remove the rooted hibiscus from the pot, turn the pot over on its side and gently wash the perlite or sand away. Because the roots have grown together, this will help separate the roots for easier planting.
Sources:
“The Houseplant Expert”; Dr. D.G. Hessayon; 1980
“Favorite Houseplants”; Don Dooley; 1976
