I have been searching for information on bare root hibiscus planting care and I sure would appreciate any help or advice you can lend. They were named only as (dormant) hardy dinner plate hibiscus. Their delivery was delayed so they just arrived. It's very warm here now and I'm not sure how to pot them or how to properly care for them with it being so hot. I have a covered back patio or, if needed, I can keep them inside after potting.
Thank you for any help!
DD
I am no expert or know for sure what to tell you, but I would soak the plants in water over night. They do require full sun. You could try planting them in a pot first then place outside, or just go ahead a put them in the ground. I just planted one Tues. and I filled hole with water let it soak in good, then put some Epsom salts in the hole, and placed some slow release fertilizer in with it and then filled it up up half way with soil and put in some more water and packed it down and then finished filling with dirt. Then I have been giving it a drink of water everyday. Not a lot, I'm not drowning it just to keep the ground moist.
Thank you, and thank you for your quick reply! (I read the information that you gave right away, but just now have had the chance to post back.)
I have them soaking as you advised and will pot them in the morning. Mine have to grow in containers for now, at least until the side yards are ready for planting. (I printed out your planting instructions for when they get planted in the yard.)
Thank you so much!
Just an update after your helpful instruction...2 are starting to grow leaves already. Yippeee!
Thank you. :)
Once they start they are fast growers. Keep them watered. You may want to start feeding them. Something with a low middle number. I had one planted in a pot only because I wasn't for sure where I wanted to place it. I noticed yesterday it was wilted a lot due to the fact I kept it on the back patio, I guess out of sight out of mind. It had doubled it size probably three times. So I decided on a place to plant and in the ground it went. It looks great today. I have planted 14 new ones this year, and 2 that I had planted last fall. I still have two yellow ones that need to go in the ground as soon as I decide where to put them. About 7 of them I had started from seed last winter. White, yellow and red. I got three off of the coop here at Dave's, then I got three off of Ebay. About half of them already have buds. If the ones I started from seed don't bloom this year, I am sure they will next year.
If you still have them in pots and in your zone you may want to wait until fall to plant them outside. That way it won't be to hot for them. I know last summer I had gotten about six Hardy's off ebay and out of the six only three of them came back this year. After I had them planted in the ground it was so hot that after they started growing the tops died back. But of course all of them were new ones that were started that winter. I never gave them a second thought of coming back this year, but three did. So that is whey I am thinking that if you keep them in your pots let the roots get good and strong, then plant in the fall, I am only thinking they would have a much better chance of survivor. If the one I planted yesterday hadn't of grown so much I probably wouldn't have planted it out.
Most of this information is coming from my own experience only.
Linda
Linda, thank you so much. This is such helpful information.
Wow, all of yours sounds so nice -- bet it's beautiful with so many! It's great that yours are doing so well and I appreciate your insight. Hope my 2 larger ones will be ok. One's leaves are mottling to solid yellow, but I am going to get some of the lower middle number food for them that you mentioned. I may have been giving them too much.
The new babies: I will let them grow in the pots until fall. Right now they are grouped in a semi-moist area near other plants and shaded from the direct sun by a pygmy palm. I hope that's enough protection for them in this heat. (One has no new growth.)
They are grouped on 3 sides by other bigger plants, way back behind the oleander babies...
They are looking good. Keep watch on the the roots, when they start coming out the bottom be sure to put them in the next size larger pot. Yes I would go for a fertilizer with a small middle number, that is what I was told to do with my tropicals and I just do the same with my Hardy's. You can burn the roots by giving to strong of fertilizer.
Linda
Thanks, Linda!
DD
