Growing hibiscus
Caring for a Chinese rose does not cause any problems, but we must bear in mind that hibiscus grows very quickly, becomes spreading, so for long-term maintenance in small apartments is not the most suitable choice.
Hibiscus - a plant unpretentious, shade-tolerant enough, but with a lack of light,
develops and little blossoms. With sufficient lighting in March, the first buds begin to appear on the tree, and the succeeding flowers decorate the crown of the leaves until late autumn. In case of insufficient natural light in an apartment in winter it is useful to illuminate plants with fluorescent lamps - so that the intensity of illumination per 1 sq. Km.m surface was 60 watts.
The plant is easily propagated by green and semi-woody cuttings. You can propagate and seeds, but for double varieties only the vegetative method is suitable. They reproduce the Chinese rose throughout the year, but the most suitable time for this is February, March and August. In the vegetative method, the tips of young shoots with 2-3 interstitial sites are cut and rooted in a moist environment - in a special room greenhouse, under a polyethylene film or glass hood at a temperature of at least 22 ° C.The substrate is made up of peat and sand, taken in equal parts. After 2-3 weeks, roots are formed, and rooting cuttings can be planted in small pots( diameter 7-9 cm).Soil mixture for seedlings is made up of 2 parts humus and taken on 1 part of leaf, turf and sand. Bloom young plants in a year.
Young specimens are transplanted annually, and adults are transplanted as needed. Yet every spring it is desirable to remove the top layer of the soil and replace it with fresh earth mixture.
To form a cute compact bush, hibiscus regularly pinch shoots. Especially often this procedure is recommended for young plants - so you will ensure their abundant flowering. Flower buds are laid mainly on shoots of the 3-4th order of branching. To prishchipke and pruning the main and lateral shoots proceed, when they reach a length of 8-10 cm. Usually from the moment of pruning and pricking to flowering, it takes 3-3.5 months.
Adult plants are transplanted in spring before flowering into a mixture of 2 parts sod, 1 part humus and 1 piece of leaf land. You can add some horny sawdust to this land, as well as pieces of charcoal. Before transplantation, the young branches are shortened to half their length.
In winter, the Chinese rose is kept near the windows, watering is reduced( especially in case of a short daylight, and also in insufficiently warm rooms with high humidity).The temperature is maintained moderate, but not below 12 ° C.Optimal temperature - 15 ° C - promotes the planting of flower buds. If the air in the room is very dry, the leaves are often sprayed, the plant is sometimes showered;it is also desirable to maintain sufficient air humidity with the help of special sprayers.
In summer, plants are placed on window sills or as near as possible to windows in a sunlit and well ventilated room. You can take out and on the balcony. From direct sunlight
rays, a Chinese rose should be pritenyat. Regular spraying during this period promotes intensive growth of hibiscus and serves as a prophylaxis for the appearance on leaves of such common pests as shield aphid or red spider mite.
In the hot season, water is abundant. It is sometimes advisable to loosen the top layer of the soil about an hour after watering.
Feed the Chinese rose with mineral or organic fertilizers. Complete mineral fertilizer alternates with liquid mullein( 1 part infusion into 10 parts water).From spring to mid August, feeding is done once a week, and the rest of the year - once a month( phosphorus and potassium in a half dose).
If you want your rose to blossom in the fall, transplant it only in May, and until then keep as far as possible in a state of complete rest, watering very moderately. Often during this period, the plants lose all the leaves. After transplanting and pruning, the trees are given strong shoots, which are cut again in July. With this scheme of care, flowers appear in October-November, when other indoor plants do not please us with flowers.
Possible difficulties in keeping the Chinese rose
Buds fall. The most likely cause is the drying of the soil. Other reasons are lack of nutrients and a sudden change in temperature in the room.
The leaves wrinkle. The reason is too dry air. Always spray the plant regularly. Fall leaves. The most likely cause is insufficient air humidity and drying of the soil. Other causes include drafts and excessive moistening of the soil.