How to prune hibiscus

How to prune hibiscus branches

It is best to prune the branches of hibiscus after it has finished blooming, which can reduce the loss of nutrients and promote the overall growth of the plant.

Generally, pruning is done after the hibiscus flowers. The withered branches and leaves around them are pruned first. The withered branches are still absorbing nutrients. Prune the denser branches and top them appropriately during pruning. Otherwise, the hibiscus will grow very high. Try to prune both sides symmetrically.

Hibiscus pruning and shaping

1. When pruning young seedlings, you need to pinch the tops. Hibiscus seedlings can be pinched when they are 15 cm. Just keep 2-3 branches. Wait until the new branches grow to about 10 cm and then pinch them again. After pruning, you can clearly see a big change in shape.

2. Mature plants need to be thinned out. If the plants are relatively short, the protruding long branches should be cut off. If there are too many branches, some of them should be cut off to enhance internal ventilation and lighting.

3. Cut off the withered branches after the flowers bloom. Prune the hibiscus every time it fades, cutting off the thin, overgrown, crossed, and overlapping branches and leaves, and also picking off the withered flowers.

4. Old plants should be pruned once every two years. For older plants, they can be pruned again every 1-2 years, leaving 2-3 buds on each side branch when pruning.

5. Maintenance after pruning. Be sure to pay attention to ventilation after pruning hibiscus flowers. In addition, you can spray carbendazim on the pruned areas to prevent the wounds from rotting.

Hibiscus pruning tips

1. Pruning during the dormant period: Hibiscus will enter a dormant period in winter. It can be pruned when repotting to adjust the plant height and promote the germination of side branches.

2. Pruning during the flowering period: Summer is the peak flowering period of hibiscus. In order to further adjust the growth and elongation direction of some branches to promote continuous flowering, summer pruning can be carried out.

3. Pruning makes it grow faster: When pruning hibiscus, you need to keep the strong branches and prune off the branches and leaves that are not growing well. If the branches and leaves are very dense, you also need to prune off the dense branches and leaves so that the nutrients are concentrated in the remaining branches and leaves, which can promote the good growth of the plant.

Notes on pruning hibiscus

After pruning, hibiscus should be maintained in a cool, ventilated and warm environment. The temperature and humidity should be controlled during maintenance. Water it appropriately and never sprinkle water on the leaves, otherwise it will cause the leaves of the plant to rot, and in severe cases it will cause the plant to wither and die.