inexperienced need help

Hi,
I have just started to discover hibiscus. I have a red leaf variety that I would like to keep in a pot. The problem is I seem to kill everything with the exception of petunias that I try to plant in a pot. I would like some advice on what potting medium, fertilizer (what kind and how much and how often) and how often should I be watering.

Thanks,
Marie

Hi Marie. I'm sure you are going to get some expert advice here....just not from me! LOL I LOVE my Hibiscus and am lucky enough to live where they are happiest.

I container garden because I'm slightly disabled and OLD! (smile). I only mention this because I'm trying to grow plants that don't need a lot of attention but give a big bang for the buck. It's getting more difficult to re-do the pots each year, so now I have Hibicus and Bougainvillea started everywhere. I put them in Miracle Grow Potting Mix and use Osmacote for fertilizer. Because of the heat in summer I usually water on days when it doesn't rain.

The only ones that I don't have good luck with are the varigated red......they just don't like anything I do for them. Oh well, you can't win 'em all. Good luck, and if you are like me it becomes an obsession to own one of each color grown! LOL
Pati

Thanks for the info Pati. I am afraid that it will become a I need every color & variety addiction too. I have 7 in the ground so far. But I do not know what they are. I just started to get into gardening in the last year or so and I have a serious plant addiction!!

Marie...so are you telling me I've sent the little plants off to their deaths? lol...

JUST KIDDING...you'll do fine, they're actually quite easy.

I'll second the Osmacote recommendation. It's a slow release so you don't have to worry about it as often and it's nearly impossible to burn the plants.

Also, with the heat out by you, you might want to add a layer of mulch in the pots to keep them from drying out so quickly. Here in New Orleans we're having a bit of a drought- all the heat, but no water, and that's what I've started doing at the advice of one of our local AHS people.

LOL!!! Tess the ones I am getting from you I was planning on planting in the ground. I am fairly successful with in the ground planting so far. But the red leaf variety I have I want to put on the patio and so far I have even managed to kill brugs which everyone else seems to keep alive in pots just fine. I am determined though and refuse to give up!