Hidden Valley Hibiscus ~ Plant Care

Feeding and Fertilizing

'Simple Pleasures'
Exotic hibiscus produce many big and gorgeous flowers. They are also vigorous growers. To do these things well, they need to be given adequate nutrition. Remember, there is only a limited amount of food in a pot. Sometimes, there is none at all in a mix made solely of peat moss, coco coir, and perlite. The peat moss and coco coir are not sources of food for plants - they are simply there to secure the roots and to hold water and food for the roots to absorb. BUT, it is up to you to provide the food the plant needs.

Hibiscus produce their most and best flowers with a fertilizer high in potassium - that is the third or last number in the formulas often given on fertilizer containers. Sometimes, people are tempted to use the "super bloom" type formulas which are very high in phosphorus - the middle number of the formula. This is NOT GOOD for hibiscus as research has shown that high phosphorus can prevent hibiscus from absorbing other nutrients it needs. These types of fertilizers may be sprayed on the leaves of the plant as a "foliar feeding" but should not be added to the pot.

Although there are other fertilizers that will benefit your hibiscus, there is nothing that compares to the HVH Special Blend Hibiscus Fertilizer designed by HVH owner Charles Black and manufactured by the top fertilizer manufacturer in the US according to Charles' specifications.

'Living Legend'
The basic formula is important, in this case 17-5-24, but also the exact source for these ingredients and the percentage of types of nitrogen as well as the amount and type of minor elements included is also very important. HVH has experimented extensively and believes the formulation of the HVH fertilizer is simply the best there is. From the chelated minerals to the inclusion of magnesium and the use of the more expensive but safe form of phosphorus the HVH Special Blend Hibiscus Fertilizer is first class all the way!

If you use a local brand, is good to check that the plant food is complete - that it contains "minors" which are small amounts of minerals that hibiscus also need. They will be listed on the side of the container. Look for ingredients like copper and iron. Be sure to follow the directions that come with the package of fertilizer. Hibiscus like to be fed small amounts often rather than large amounts occasionally. If you can hook up your water hose to a proportioner or fertilizer injector, you can water and feed easily at the same time. Otherwise mix your water and water soluble plant food in a container and pour enough of the solution into each pot so that some comes out the bottom of the pot. Fertilize when the pots are moist, not when they are dry. Use plenty of plant food in the summer and less during the winter.

However, not everyone can or will remember to add fertilizer at every watering. For the "fertilizer challenged," a more permanent fertilizer such as the HVH Recommended Timed-Release could be a better choice, perhaps giving a water soluble plant food a couple of times per week or month as well. If you're striving for optimal growth, you might try using both timed-release fertilizer along with regular feedings of water soluble fertilizer.

For more detailed information on plant foods and feeding we refer you to the manual 'Growing Hibiscus At Home' which contains a great deal of detailed information on how to successfully grow these wonderful tropicals.

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