Help for friend's Hibiscus...

Hello to so many familiar faces!!! I told my friend you'd be the "go to" folks. His mother has a Hibiscus that was purchased last year. They over wintered it in her garage. This NOID "baby" has grown to almost 6' as of last weekend. Lush green leaves...looking VERY healthy apparently...but....NO sign of blooms...not even buds! :( Any thoughts from you Hibiscus gurus as to what might help? I thought possible a Bloom Booster fert - but wanted to check in here first. Also wondered if foliar feedings might be helpful...if so what have you found to work best. Thanks so much for any suggestions!!!

yep, I think the first thing that comes to mind is need for fertilizer. I used to use bloom booster for everything but I've shied away from it and use it almost exclusively for annuals. I have bought a hibiscus fertilizer and it got my sluggish hibbies blooming within 2 wks after application. Since hibbies need freq. watering, it causes fert. to leach out, so once a month application is important for that reason.

At this time of yr I would think WM, HD & lowes would have tropicals and/or hibbie fertilizers, so easy to find.

This message was edited Jul 10, 2009 5:17 PM

Hi Chantel. I'm assuming its now outside in full sun? I do agree some hibiscus fertilizer, on a very regular basis, could be very helpful. It can take some time for overwintered plants to set some buds the next summer. My parents over winter several inside and set them back outside around Memorial Day. They typically do not see any blooms until late July or early August. Perhaps they could speed up the process if they had theirs in full sun, but its' only in part sun on an elevated porch in the back. If they put it out front in full sun they're afraid the deer will devour it. You want to use a fertlizer with a low 2nd (phosphate) number. The four fertilizers I use are the following breakdown: (24-8-16) (18-6-8) (18-5-23) (20-10-20). I hope you guys can get your friends mother's hibiscus blooming REAL soon.
Jon

Thank you Jon...Nery too...I will forward your comments to my friend!!!