How to Care for a Lipstick Hibiscus

Prepare a bed for lipstick hibiscus in a location where the plant will receive part to full sun daily and have room to grow at least 6 feet wide (some lipstick hibiscus can reach 12 feet in height if left unpruned). Amend poorly draining soil with compost using a rototiller. Mix a container medium from 1 part soil, 1 part sand or perlite, and 1 part peat if you prefer to pot your lipstick hibiscus. Fill a large, well-draining planter with the medium, leaving enough space to place the plant in the center.

Dig a hole in the prepared bed large enough for the root ball of the lipstick hibiscus and just deep enough to keep the crown of the plant at the same level as it was in the nursery pot. Set the plant in the hole and gently pack the prepared soil around it. Treat a potted lipstick hibiscus similarly, but dust the soil lightly with lime after the plant has been potted. Mulch lipstick hibiscus with 1 to 2 inches of organic mulch to aid in water retention.

Water lipstick hibiscus deeply once a week; they have moderate water requirements -- water potted plants when soil about an inch below the surface feels dry. Apply slow-release fertilizer in the spring or feed the plants twice monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer. Prune back the plant by half early in the growing season, just after all danger of frost has passed.

Watch carefully for spider mites and aphids; these are the most damaging pests on lipstick hibiscus. Treat either insect with insecticidal soaps year-round or dormant oil during the cold season. Avoid using chemical pesticides unless infestations are severe. since this will kill off any natural insect predators as well as unwanted pests.