What Type of Artificial Light Do My Hardy Hibiscus Cuttings Need Indoors During the Winter?

Take Cuttings

• The American Horticultural Society notes that hibiscus plants root successfully from cuttings with the right timing and care. Take cuttings from soft wood at the start of the summer, before blooming begins. Cut 1 1/2- to 2-inch stems of growth with at least two pairs of leaves. Cut off the tip of each cutting and the lowest set of leaves, and bore a hole into the bottom of the stem with a pencil or other pointed object. Scrape any bark off the bottom 1/2 inch of the cutting.

Pot and Soil

• Dip the bottom 1/2 inch of each cutting into a rooting hormone before you pot it. Fill a large pot with perlite and starter soil, in equal parts, to give the cuttings a light, fine and moist base. Slide the cuttings 1/2 inch into the soil. Put the pot in a plastic bag for warmth and humidity and maintain soil moisture with daily waterings. Leave the plastic bag open for 10 minutes each day to give the cuttings air.

Indoor Location and Lighting

• Hibiscus plants need full, bright sun once established, but they burn and overheat in direct sun as cuttings. Keep the hibiscus cuttings inside the house, away from bright, harsh winter sun. Give them 12 to 13 hours of bright artificial light every day and keep them away from fireplaces or heating vents, as those dry the air and soil.

Artificial Lighting

• Indoor gardeners have a range of choice when it comes to indoor lighting. Standard overhead fluorescent lights work well but may emit little to no warmth. Supplement with halogen lamps and smaller tabletop lamps for more light exposure. The Growing Edge website recommends both soft and cool white light bulbs for red and blue light waves, which encourage different stages of growth. Supply 20 to 40 watts of light per square foot of room space to give the hibiscus cuttings the light they require for growth.