How to Grow Hibiscus Into Vines

Hibiscus normally grow as shrubs and trees but their bendable woody stalks make them perfect for growing as a vine. If you live in a warm climate and don't have to worry about freezing temperatures, growing hibiscus as a vine will be easy. However, if you live in a colder climate where the temperature dips below freezing frequently, hibiscus vines may not survive. Create a lush cover of floral beauty by coaxing a new hibiscus plant to grow around a trellis or some other type of support.

Shovel
Potting soil
Dry fertilizer 10-10-10
String

Instructions

- 1
  Plant the hibiscus in nutritious soil, covering the root ball completely. Dig the hole twice as large as the root ball. Place the hibiscus, during the spring, near a support like a trellis or fence. Position the plant where it can receive at least six hours of sunlight. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of dry fertilizer like 10-10-10 around the base of the plant.
- 2
  Trim the plant leaving two or three main growing branches. Guide these branches toward the growing support and tie them to the support, using string. Make the knots loose so you can remove them and reposition them in a few weeks.
- 3
  Reposition the ribbons, easing the vine further along the trellis after two weeks. Continue to guide the hibiscus the way you want it grow along the support. Remove sucker branches that grow from the main trunk of the hibiscus by popping them off as they appear.
- 4
  Water the hibiscus regularly, soaking the root ball daily when no natural precipitation occurs. Hibiscus should receive 1 inch of water a week. Feed the plant fertilizer twice a month.

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