Whether you are growing arise of Sharon , hardy , or tropic hibiscus , their showy bloom are superb for adding bright ornamental note value to the garden , with a recollective flowering time of year over the summertime month .

And because hibiscus plant spread readily , multiplying these beauty is wanton !

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A close up horizontal image of a bright red tropical hibiscus flower pictured in light sunshine on a soft focus background.

Photo by Lorna Kring.

All three garden character are propagated in the same manner , with the best hazard of achiever coming from rooting softwood or semi - ripe stem cuttings .

Air layering is another good selection , and hibiscuscanbe started from seed , although hybrid seed stock typically does n’t raise true to the parent industrial plant .

But we ’re covering all three method here , so you may pick out the best option for your garden !

A close up vertical image of pink and red hardy hibiscus growing in the garden pictured on a soft focus background. To the top and bottom of the frame is green and white printed text.

Photo by Lorna Kring.

Are you ready for a sea of fabulous , brightly - colored flowers ? Then let ’s have a feel at how to disseminate hibiscus shrub .

Here ’s a peep at what ’s forward :

What You’ll Learn

Stem Cuttings

Air Layering

From seed

A close up horizontal image of pink and red hardy hibiscus flowers growing in the garden pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Before we delve into thedifferent propagation methods , let ’s have a fast looking at at the types of hibiscus variety commonly raise in home gardens .

The method of propagation are the same for all type , but how you care for the Modern hibiscus plants afterwards is emphatically different – so it ’s helpful to fuck what you ’ll be adding to your garden .

Hibiscusis a declamatory genus of flowering shrubs , and the three chief garden varieties are :

A close up horizontal image of hibiscus stem cuttings set on a wooden table with a pot of rooting hormone.

H. rosa - sinensis , or tropical hibiscus , needs a freeze - spare environs in Zones 9 to 11 to grow outdoors twelvemonth - round .

Tropical hibiscus plants sport four- to six - inch flowers in colors of orange , red , pink , and yellow , and are often sold as houseplants .

In temperate regionsH. rosa - sinensiscan be moved outdoors for summertime , but they involve to be fall to a warm , indoor environment once out-of-door temperatures throw away to 50 ° degree Fahrenheit .

A close up vertical image of a hibiscus stem showing new growth at the tip pictured on a soft focus background.

H. moscheutosandH. coccineusare the hardyor recurrent hibiscus types , and both these species are commonly referred to as rose mallow .

Rose mallow are North American natives and they grow extra expectant , six- to nine - inch blooms in shades of mauve , pink , reddened , and white that often sport a contrasting eye .

H. moscheutosis cold hardy in USDA zone 5 to 9 but most hybrid are desirable for culture as far north as Zone 4.H. coccineusand its hybrids are hardy in zone 6 to 9 .

A close up horizontal image of the blade of a pair of pruners scraping off the bottom of a hibiscus stem for propagation.

H. syriacusis commonly known as althea or rose of Sharon . The plants bring about two- to three - in peak in wraith of gloomy , pink , regal , and white . They develop into large landscape painting shrubs and are stout in Zones 5 to 9 .

And if you ’re see for some animate selections , be sure to tally out our guide to37 of the best hibiscus varieties .

Now let ’s plunge into the three ways to propagate hibiscus works .

A close up of a jar of Bonide Bontone II Rooting Hormone isolated on a white background.

1. Stem Cuttings

Propagation via stem cuttings give rise reliable solvent for all three types of hibiscus , although tropical sort can be a bit loth and may take longer to raise roots than the other types .

When take cuttings from your hibiscus it ’s always a smart idea to take a few more cutting than you really necessitate .

Stem cutting are a reliable multiplication method acting and they typically have good root success , but it ’s not always 100 per centum .

A close up horizontal image of hibiscus stem cuttings being planted in a pot set on a wooden table.

While it ’s potential to protrude stem cuttings in water , the solution lean to be thin , weak , and more easily damage when transplant than those rout in potting spiritualist .

Overall , I find that hibiscus plants grown from cuttings root in ground are more vigorous and heartier .

The best time to take base cuttings is when the plant is actively putting out new growth , which is in springiness to other summertime .

A close up horizontal image of a hand to the right of the frame holding a Stanley knife to cut a stem at an angle for propagation.

New increase is easily identified because the tips are undimmed green while older wood is brown .

you may wait until tardy summertime to take cuttings , but by then the stems have a semi - ripe to ripe grain and they ’ll take longer to settle , which leaves them more susceptible to wintertime cold when plant out .

Here are the steps :

A close up horizontal image of a stem of a hibiscus plant wrapped in aluminum foil for air layering.

bruise the bark in this manner exposes the stem ’s cambium layer . The cambium bed contains cubicle for both bark and sapwood growth and give the right conditions they ’ll uprise into roots .

If desired , dim the cut close and injure surface area into root hormone powder , which you canpurchase from Arbico Organics .

Bonide Bontone II Rooting Powder

A close up horizontal image of a bamboo tray with hibiscus seeds and pods drying outdoors.

Alternatively you may handle your pots with a cloche or plastic bag , but do n’t let the bag connect with the foliage . Use chopstick or popsicle sticks to prop up it into a tent .

If abridgment forms , take away the lid , cloche , or bag , to ventilate themini greenhouseenvironment – cutting like warm temperatures , but you do n’t need them to overheat .

The stems need ordered moisture to form roots and the land should not be allowed to dry out out . Mist daily to keep it moist .

A close up horizontal image of white and red rose of Sharon flowers pictured in bright sunshine on a soft focus background.

Roots should develop in four to five weeks . you could tug the tip gently to feel if there is any light underground , if so , this is a preindication that rooting has taken place .

Wait another month , then transplant each successful cutting into individual pots . young foliar growth may also be unmistakable at this metre .

At least six weeks before your first frost date or the following spring , you could transplant your new hibiscus engraft out into the garden .

2. Air Layering

Air layering is another method that produces good results and is typically used to propagate the tropical hibiscus kind , which are a bit unvoiced to steady down from prow cuttings .

Air layering is the summons of encouraging base developing on a section of stem while the stem is still attach to the parent plant . When the layer has rooted , it ’s detached from the stem of the parent works and transplanted or potted up on its own .

Avoid using clear plastic , which can cause sunshine scorch – or you may apply aluminum foil to wrap the moss as well .

Roots commence to develop at around six weeks .

Leave the layer for another four to 12 weeks , then sever the layered stalk from the parent , cut it just below the source testicle and below a circle of leaf node .

Unwrap the covering gently then found out into the garden at least six weeks before your first Robert Lee Frost engagement or stool up into individual container .

Learnhow to raise hibiscus in containersin our guide .

3. From Seed

All types of hibiscus can be spread from seeds , but it should be note that ejaculate pick up from hybrids typically do n’t grow unfeigned to the parent and may not look the same .

Germination takes two to four weeks , and once the seedlings have two sets of leaves they can be transplant into small individual pots .

After all danger of freeze has passed , harden off seedlings for at least one workweek before transplanting into the garden or pot up into larger container .

Stunning, Showy Plants

Propagating any type of hibiscus is an soft path to quickly multiply your stock of arresting , showy works !

For the fastest rooting , take base cuttings in spring or former summertime while the hint are still fleeceable .

Air layering is another reliable propagation method acting but it ’s important to keep the dressing moist for root to occur .

Seeds postulate to be begin indoors several calendar week before the last hoarfrost date but think of that intercrossed seed does n’t reproduce true to the parent industrial plant .

Andfor more hibiscus know - how , add these pathfinder to your reading leaning next :

Photos by Lorna Kring © Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL right RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product photo via Arbico Organics . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .

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