Hidden Valley Hibiscus ~ Plant Care
Potting & Planting Hibiscus
How to repot
1. Gently ease the pot off the root ball. If the roots are circling the bottom of the pot and form a solid mass at the bottom, it is time for a larger pot.
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2. Choose a pot that is about one size larger than the one the plant came in. Probably it came in a 2 gallon black nursery pot - good choices for the new pot would be 3 gallon or 10-12 inch pots. Clay is good for stability but the hole in the middle is usually not sufficient. Any pot you choose could benefit by having more drain holes. -If there is someone around who can drill more holes in the pot then go ahead and do so. If not, choose a pot that has at least 4 holes already in it. Another option for repotting is to use a plastic pot but place it inside a larger and heavier clay pot which will keep it from blowing over and keep it from overheating in the sun.
Potting Soil - The Key to Success
1. Choosing the right potting soil can make all the difference in the success you will have with the grafted hibiscus. We are often asked what type of potting mix should be used to transplant the hibiscus into when increasing the pot size. Since exotic hibiscus have special needs, we now offer the HVH Recommended Potting Mix, which is the same potting mix we use ourselves since we believe it is the best available for hibiscus. And not only do we recommend this potting mix, we make it ourselves!
2. After much experimentation we found the ideal potting mix for growing our own hibiscus. This mix creates an ideal balance of both water and air within pots, has an enhanced ability to hold and transfer nutrients to the plant roots, and contains many organic compounds to protect plant and root health and to maximize growth. It is also a "living mix" that contains the many beneficial microbes that plants need to thrive.
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There are special dynamics at work inside pots - much different from what happens in the ground. For that reason it is best to use potting media that is called "soil-less" and is usually made from coco coir or peat moss with other material like perlite added to it. Unfortunately, most potting soil on the market is to heavy for these modern hibiscus and stays too wet. If you decide to use such a product it is important to add sharp clean sand, perlite, or bark in order to open up the mix and allow it to drain and breath better. Usually, adding 1 part sand or perlite to 3 parts purchased mix will be sufficient. Alternatively, a mix made for cactus can be used for hibiscus although keeping the plant wet enough in hot weather could be a challenge with such a mix.
3. Now, with pot and well draining potting mix ready, it is time to repot. This is a simple operation and can be done in just a few minutes. Merely place some of the new mix in the bottom of the new pot. The idea is that the top of the root ball will be about 1 inch below the rim of the new pot when it is placed on top of the new soil. After settling the root ball on top of the new soil, fill in around the sides of the root ball with more of the new potting mix.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT jam the mix down into the pot. Air is as important as water to the roots, and tightly packing the soil mix will force most of the air out of the pot. Just fill in and lightly press on the soil so that the root ball is securely nestled in the new pot.
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