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How to Root Hibiscus Cuttings – 2 Simple Methods

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A hibiscus plant is a perennial flowering plant of the genus hibiscus in the Malvaceae family. It is also known as rose mallow, florist’s hibiscus, china rose, and rose of Sharon. This genus has several hundred species found in temperate, subtropical and tropical regions across the world.

The hibiscus flowers are large and showy with five petals that can be red, pink, white or yellow. Hibiscus plants are beautiful, but they are also hard to care for.

If you have a hibiscus plant and it has grown too large, it is time to cut off the top of the plant and replant the roots in a pot or your garden. It will take care of your plant while not taking up too much room.

It can be difficult to know how to take cuttings from the plant and pot them correctly. In this article, we will give you some great tips on how to root hibiscus cuttings.

Rooting hibiscus cuttings is propagating this plant. Before we dive into propagating hibiscus successfully, let’s go over some information about this process.

How to Root Hibiscus Cuttings
How to Root Hibiscus Cuttings – via Reddit

What Is Propagation?

One way to enjoy gardening is by introducing new plants to your garden and sharing them with friends. Propagation is an easy and fun way to grow free plants for yourself or others. It refers to the process of growing new plants from different sources.

It’s affordable and makes it easy to grow many plants in your yard. With propagation, you can produce new plants from those you already have.

You can use cuttings to propagate your hibiscus plant. It is a fairly simple and common method that people use. Moreover, doesn’t take very long to have your new hibiscus plant.

2 Methods To Root Hibiscus Cuttings

You can root hibiscus cuttings either in water or soil. Let’s discuss each method in detail. But before that, we will want you to know some essential tips on taking hibiscus cuttings.

You cannot be successful in rooting hibiscus cutting unless you have chosen the right one. So, read carefully!

  • First of all, choose hibiscus cuttings from the desired hibiscus plant. It varies among the following factors; flowering type, non-flowering type, hardiness zone, size, and color.
  • The best time to take hibiscus cutting hibiscus is late spring or early summer.
  • Select a plant with various viable stems with plenty of green leaves.
  • Ensure that you are taking cuttings from a healthy, disease-free hibiscus plant. The healthier the parent hibiscus, the higher is the chance of successful propagation.
  • It would be best to take the softwood cutting of hibiscus as it contains portions of new growth and its root faster. Other cuttings such as semi-hardwood root slower.
  • Pick new shoots as thick as a pencil and measure at least 5-6 inches long.
  • Now you are skilled to take a perfect cutting to make it root successfully. Let’s start the process of answering how to root hibiscus cutting.

Method 1: How to Root Hibiscus Cuttings In Soil

1.     Take Cutting

Take a cutting from the hibiscus plant by considering all the above points. Use sharp pruning shears to make a perfect cutting at a 45-degree angle. Make sure you take cutting below the node of the stem. It will keep your hibiscus plant safe from any wound.

2.     Make Angled Cut

Make an angled cut at the base using your shears. As with most cuttings, it will allow better water/nutrient absorption and make rooting easier.

3.     Remove Leaves

After taking a perfect cutting from your hibiscus plant, start removing its leaves with the help of a clean and sterilized gardening pruner. The removal of leaves from the cutting will help increase the oxygen level in the baby hibiscus plant as it grows.

4.     Expose Cambium Layer

You can wound the base of cutting with the help of a sharp knife to expose its cambium layer. Gently scratch the outer layer of the end of your cutting, keeping the stem safe. It gives the roots more surface area to grow efficiently.

5.     Dip Ends In Rooting Hormone

Dip the wounded end of your cuttings in a rooting hormone. You can also skip this stem, but it will initiate the rooting of hibiscus cutting.

6.     Create The Perfect Potting Mix

Create a potting mix that will provide your hibiscus cutting with the right balance of nutrients. The perfect potting mix should be composed of three ingredients: compost, sand and peat moss. The best way to create the perfect potting mix is to use an equal amount of each ingredient.

7.     Poke Holes in the Soil

Poke holes in the soil with the help of your finger or any other stick. You can make holes as deep as you want to plant your cutting.

8.     Bury the Cuttings In Soil

Plant your cutting 1.5-2 inches deep into the potting mix with the wounded base down (dipped in rooting hormone). Hibiscus plants prefer acid soil, so you should add some peat moss to your potting mix. The roots will start to develop within a few weeks.

9.     Cover With Plastic Bag

Create a humid environment for the hibiscus cuttings by covering them with a plastic bag. You can also use a halved plastic bottle for this purpose. Condensation will start to accumulate in the bottle or bag.

If there is no condensation, it is an indication that the soil is dry and needs watering. Keeping hibiscus cuttings warm and moist will initiate their growth.

10.     Keep The Cuttings In Shady Area

As the hibiscus plant loves plenty of sunlight so, place your newly planted cuttings in a well-lit area. However, this plant withstands indirect sunlight, so make sure to place it in the shade.

How to Root Hibiscus Cuttings 2
Does anyone know why my 8-month-old hibiscus cutting keeps making root nubs but not full roots? – via Reddit

Method 2: How to Root Hibiscus Cuttings In Water

Rooting hibiscus cuttings in water is no different than the soil rooting process. You will take the cuttings from the same process mentioned above.

Once you have wounded the epidermis of cutting at the base and applied rooting hormone, now is the time to place this cutting in water. Here are the steps to do it:

1.     Take A Glass Of Water

Take a normal-sized see-through container or a glass. Fill 3/4th warm water in it.

2.     Add Hydrogen Peroxide

It would be best to add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to the water. It prevents microbes from multiplying in it.

3.     Immerse The Cuttings Base In Water

Immerse the base of your cuttings in the water. You can root hibiscus cuttings by placing them in water for 1-2 weeks. Make sure to keep it in partial shade and bright light.

4.     Keep On Changing Water

Change the water about once a week and continue adding the hydrogen peroxide each time. In 4-7 days, new roots will start coming out.

Signs That Cuttings Are Well Rooted

  • Callus (little white bumps on the stems) will begin to appear around the first week. It is the first sign that your hibiscus has started forming roots.
  • Real roots emerge after four weeks, depending upon the season and variety.
  • The emergence of new leaves signifies that your hibiscus cutting is well-rooted.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has been of help to you. We have tried to cover the basics of how to root hibiscus cuttings and provide some advice on the best way to go about it.

Hopefully, you will find this article useful and informative. Let us know in the comment section below if you have any queries or suggestions.