Hardy Hibiscus - should seedlings be pinched back?

I am the grateful recepient of seeds for newbies and received some hardy hibiscus which are now well on their way. Should I be concerned about pinching them back or doing anything else besides watching them grow?

I'd watch them grow. My hardy hibiscus never branch...they send out more stems from the base of the plant. Every year they're bigger and better!!

Thanks threegardeners! This is even easier than I thought! Now I have to get some 'shoes and socks' for them like yours so mine won't look so leggy :-)

Hi guamsorbit,

I do pinch at least 3 times here on new hardies. They do seem to branch better down here. For instance last year my baby Texas Star's were pinched once and then 2 new branches formed. I then pinched those and on 1 plant I counted 11 new branches after the 2 pinch. I had many many more blooms out of it and It was not near as leggy. It looks like threegardeners does not have that problem. They are just beautiful!!! Congrats!!!

Robert

Thanks Robert, so that begs the question...when do I start pinching? After how many sets of leaves? or how tall? or...something else I haven't thought of? And would this apply to more established plants or just seedlings? It is hard to imagine huge flowers on these spindly little stems but I'm anxious to see them :-)

dee

Hi Dee,
I usually start pinching at 6 to 8 inches. I'll knock off the top and wait for new branches. Usually when I get 4 to 5 established leaves on the next 2 new branch's I'll tip them. I'll keep at least 3 leaves on them. This is usually all I do to get better branching. Hope it helps. If you pinch it will usually stop the upward growth and put more energy into new lower growth which will ultimately be bushier and upward if that makes sense (LOL)

Robert

Perfect sense. Thanks again.

Yup...your climate is soooo different from mine! Pinching would be useless here, they wouldn't have time to bloom for me, as it is they barely make it before frost gets them...I have MAYBE 3 months of growing time in a good year.

threegardeners, how old is your plant? I have four that I purchased last year that were well established with huge woody stems. I had never seen them before and I was instantly enthralled. They were already in bloom when I brought them home so I have yet to see them come up from the ground. Two have now started showing signs of life and they are the ones in more sun. The other two are taking their sweet time. Is sun exposure going to be a factor? How long will it take before the stems on my seedlings bulk up? Like I said earlier, I cannot imagine having big flowers on those spindly stems. Sorry for the long list of questions but this is exciting stuff!

thanks,
dee

That one is 5 years old. They so take forever and a day to appear in the Spring. Just when you think they're dead, give em a couple more weeks. I grow all of mine in full sun. Mind you, that's Canadian sun...

I bought seeds of Hibiscus moscheutos 'Southern Belle' mix from Parks Seed Co, which I sowed in Feb. I now have 12 plants. How long before these will bloom from seed?

I started one from seeds 2 years ago. It never blooms since it didn't get enough sun. I just potted it up this year, to replant it where it receives more sun.