I Got a Deal

My local HD was selling this beautiful 5 gallon Yellow Wing for $7.95.

There are still a few left. I think I'm going to stop back in today after work. I already had a couple - I love this plant.

That one has always been a great grower for me..Good buy!

Kyle,

You grow hibiscus in Iowa? I wouldn't think that was possible. How do you over-winter them?

Steve

need tips on how to root cuttings. I have three outside that have not been killed by the frost. They are really large plants and I would like to try rooting them. I also have five in pots that are large and need to be pruned in the Spring.
thanks for your input.

Chris

Chris,

I propagated several of mine by finding new growth, thin tender shoots 6 or 7 inches long. You don't want to use hard, woody shoots. I cut off most of the leaves off of the stem, leaving just 2 or 3 at the tip of the stem. Also pinch off any flowers and buds.

At the base of the stem, I use a razor to peel away about an inch of the "bark", the outside skin of the stem. I do this on two sides of the stem.

I then pass the base of the stem through rooting hormone. It's available at Lowe's or HD, and not very expensive. The rooting hormone sticks to the stem where the skin was peeled away.

For a growing medium, I always use 2 parts sphagnum peat moss to 1 part vermiculite - it's always worked well for me. I wet the medium, fill a pot, and pack it down. I then push a pencil down the middle of the pot, to the bottom, making a hole to put the stem into. That way, the rooting hormone doesn't come off when I put the stem into the medium. Put the stem in about 2 inches deep, pack soil around the base of the stem, and water it well.

I then put the pot in a 1 gallon freezer storage bag, with a zip-lock closing thing. If the leaves of the stem touch the plastic, I put plastic straws in the growing medium, standing straight up, to keep the leaves from touching the sides of the bag.

I seal up the bag, and put it where it will be warm and well lit, but not in direct sunlight. Give it a couple of weeks, and check on it once in a while by tugging lightly on the stem. If there's resistance, then it's probably rooted.

Once I determine that it's rooted, I pot the plant using potting soil, and away I go.

I use this method on pretty much everything I propagate, and it's worked out well for me.

I prune my hibiscus pretty heavily in the Spring. I don't want them getting really tall, and it makes the plant grow thick.

Steve

Thanks I just copied to my plant folder .

thanks so much for those great instructions. I feel that by following this method, I will have several new plants.
Happy gardening,
Chris

Wow that was a good buy.......I hope it does really well for you and you will have tons of blooms this summer. Good luck and we are looking forward to seeing all your pretty photos.

Dee

Dee - funny you should mention it just now. I have 3 of these plants growing together. We had an unexpected freeze here last week, and they were damaged pretty badly. I cut them back, and it looks as though they'll pull through, but it's going to take them a while to get back to their original size.

Steve

So sorry to hear of the freeze but your right they will pull through.
I am sure you will be surprised to fast they recouperate....

Signs of life returning to my hibiscus after the freeze last week. Cut the stems back, and happy to see the green leaves sprouting out of what's left...

These were small enough and in pots, so I could move them in from the cold. They're starting to green up and bloom again too. I can't remember the name of these dainty pastel pink hibiscus. They have long sprays of branches and just bloom and bloom. If anyone can remember their name, please share!
:)

Mary, they're beautiful.

I cut the Yellow Wings way back, and I can see new growth on them. Not as lucky with the Firebush - I don't think it's going to come back.

Next winter, I'll know better.

I'm looking forward to meeting you at the RU.

Steve

Hummm I have some pinks just like that and I don't remember the name either. I will see if I can find it and I will let you know what mine is. Maybe they are the same.