How to Grow a Potted Hibiscus

Find the right-sized pot for the hibiscus. If you just purchased it, use the same size or one size larger in which it is growing. Ensure that the pot has holes in the bottom for drainage.

Create a loose, well-drained potting soil for the hibiscus. Use 2 parts quality potting soil since inexpensive soil has a tendency to harden and may contain ingredients that are harmful to the hibiscus. Also add 2 parts peat moss and 1 part vermiculite. Combine the ingredients well, and moisten the mixture.

Pour the soil mixture into the planting pot until it is half full. Remove the hibiscus from the nursery pot, gently shake the root ball to remove excess potting soil, and then place it in the new pot. When planted, it should sit at the same depth as it did in the nursery pot, so add or remove soil to get it to the proper depth. Fill the pot with soil, and water it slowly until the soil is saturated and water runs from the bottom of the pot. If you use a water tray under the pot, empty it 15 minutes after watering.

Place the potted hibiscus in an area where it receives at least six hours of sunshine a day. If you are growing it indoors, a south-facing window is ideal.

Water the hibiscus before the soil dries out completely. Stick your index finger into the soil up to your first knuckle. If the soil is dry, water the plant. Watering a potted hibiscus can be tricky, as you need to ensure the entire root ball is wet. Water slowly until water drains from the bottom of the pot. After it drains, slowly water again.

Feed the potted hibiscus each time you water. Use a 20-5-20 fertilizer that is labeled “water-soluble.” Dilute the fertilizer to half the strength listed on the package. Use plain water on the first irrigation and, after it drains completely, use the fertilizer solution for the second irrigation.

Prune the hibiscus to remove dead stems and to keep it to the size you desire. Cut stems above a leaf node.

Transplant or root prune the hibiscus when the roots fill the pot. If you wish to keep it to its current size and reuse the same pot, use a sharp knife to cut 2 inches from the bottom of the root ball and 1 inch around the diameter. Re-pot it as you did originally, with fresh potting soil.

Allow the soil to dry a bit more in winter – until the top 2 inches are dry. When you do water, use warm water – about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Stop fertilizing until you notice new growth.