Even among ancient people, it was customary to endow plants with magical properties, which they associated with ancient legends and bad signs. One of these plants is a Chinese rose. Why is hibiscus a flower of death? Reviews of flower growers about its cultivation, superstition and signs, explanation of scientists - further in the article.
Hibiscus: origin and distribution
Researchers first discovered beautiful vibrant flowers in the rainforests of Asia. In the wild, hibiscus grow in the form of shrubs reaching three meters in height. The Chinese rose is also widespread in South America, especially in Argentina, where these flowers are usually grown in almost every house.
Hibiscus was introduced to Europe only in the 18th century, where it came into fashion and was grown in greenhouses and houses. Despite the fact that many superstitions have entrenched in him, caring for him and colorful flowering cause only positive reviews among gardeners. Why is hibiscus a flower of death? The answer to this question will be considered below.
Attitude to flower in different countries
In the countries of Asia, America and Europe, the Chinese rose is treated differently:
- in Asian countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, on the islands of Fiji and Haiti) the plant is considered a cult, in honor of hibiscus they organize holidays and processions-processions;
- in Malaysia, the flowering of hibiscus is called the harbinger of imminent wealth, and it promises an unmarried Chinese girl an intimate wedding and love;
- in Brazil and Argentina, the flowering of a Chinese rose heralds the birth of a healthy baby;
- its Chinese name is indicated by a special character interpreted by the word "exquisite";
- in European culture, on the contrary, there are many superstitions associated with hibiscus.
Botanical Description
According to the scientific classification, hibiscus belongs to the evergreen shrub plants of the Malvaceae family, which happens to be one and perennial.
The plant has petiolate, incised leaves. Fruits are formed into a box, which breaks up into 5 parts, inside it are pubescent or smooth seeds in large quantities. The brightest and most beautiful part of the plant is the hibiscus flower (photos of various colors are given below).
For home growing in European countries, a greenhouse type of hibiscus is used, called a Chinese rose (lat. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). The Malay archipelago is considered to be its homeland; it has flowers of various colors and shapes. Over the past 20 years, genetics have been able to develop many new varieties of Chinese roses, which rightfully consider flower growers to be one of the main decorations of many home flower gardens.
Varieties and hybrids
Hibiscus has a wide species diversity (about 300), however, 2 of its main species are widespread in Russia and the CIS countries:
- Syrian - grows in the southeast of Transcaucasia, where the subtropics zone is located;
- ternary, or northern - is common in countries with a continental climate (in the southern regions of Ukraine, in Western Europe, the regions of the Far East and Kazakhstan).
The most beautiful and beautiful species is the swamp hibiscus, whose flower (photo below) can reach 12 cm, has a bright purple color, but prefers to grow in a tropical climate.
Hybrid varieties of hibiscus, bred back in Soviet times in Tashkent, belong to herbaceous plants. One of them - red hibiscus - has the largest flowers, reaching a diameter of 27 cm, and the original "maple" leaves of a reddish hue. In the southern regions of Russia they are even planted in open ground, but it is preferable to grow a plant at home in a greenhouse.
Signs and superstitions
It should immediately be said that all the negative signs relate to those cases when a Chinese rose is grown at home. Most often, they relate to the situation when the plant suddenly begins to bloom or suddenly withers. This is considered a harbinger of misfortune.
The most common signs that the Chinese rose, or hibiscus, is the flower of death:
- According to some reports, the plant is able to absorb the strength of the person in whose house it grows. Proponents of this theory believe that the owner of the flower dies of exhaustion when the Chinese rose blooms for a long time and abundantly.
- Other superstitious people claim that the flower planted in the house sows irritation and anger around itself, attracts diseases, and then death, with the maximum negative force acquiring at the time of flowering.
- If the flower begins to turn yellow and fall, then someone in the house will get sick.
- The plant was given the nickname "hubby" because it attracts grooms to the bride-mistress, and then scares them away, because of which the girl remains unmarried.
- The flower provokes constant quarrels between the wife and husband - the owners of the house, which can lead to divorce.
- Another nickname for hibiscus is the "hemorrhage." The plant supposedly, like a vampire, sucks energy from its owner.
However, according to scientists, all these superstitions about hibiscus as a flower of death are not confirmed by anything and are associated with ordinary coincidences. Among flower growers, it is known that, being among other plants, the Chinese rose does no harm to anyone, because they all grow well and do not die.
Explanations of scientists
According to biologists, the unusual behavior of the plant (lush flowering and wilting) is evidence of adverse changes in the environment and microclimate in the room where the hibiscus is located. It can be caused by the appearance of mold from dampness or drying out due to high air dryness, harmful emissions of closely located industrial enterprises.
The myth that a drooping plant becomes a vampire, scientists also explain the natural causes. Hibiscus stems and leaves have high absorbent properties, which is why they literally absorb any harmful (even radioactive) air particles. Therefore, an unexpected fall of the green mass indicates a critical amount of harmful radiation. Therefore, instead of getting rid of the diseased plant, it is better to find the cause of the dysfunctional conditions and tackle its elimination.
Biologists do not advise to sound the alarm about the falling of several leaves, because this evergreen plant is able to regularly update its crown, and this is a natural process laid down by nature itself. So the question of whether it is true that hibiscus is the flower of death can be answered absolutely precisely - no. It is better to find out what useful properties a similar plant has.
Useful properties of hibiscus
Since ancient times, healers have used all parts of the Chinese rose in many areas:
- In folk medicine. Decoctions were used to treat dysentery and normalize the digestive tract, in the treatment of infectious and skin diseases (for healing ulcers and boils), as an expectorant for removing sputum when coughing.
- In cooking. The famous healing tea karkade is made of cups of flowers of the edible "Sudanese rose", one of the types of hibiscus.
- In cosmetology and perfumery. Extracts from petals are used to add in the required quantities in the manufacture of perfumes and other cosmetics (creams, ointments, lotions, etc.).
It should be noted that the flowering of hibiscus in the house never causes allergic reactions. This is due to the special structure of the flower, in which all the pollen is stored inside and does not enter the air.
Growing a chinese rose
Among gardeners, it has been suggested that growing a Chinese rose is not at all difficult. Because of this, many are surprised: why is hibiscus the flower of death? Reviews even inexperienced lovers involved in the cultivation of this plant at home, indicate the incorrectness of such superstitions.
The Chinese rose perfectly develops in perfect harmony with the surrounding plants and the people who care for it. The plant is demanding for good lighting and prefers spacious pots. The larger the container in which it is planted, the faster the hibiscus grows, reaching even a large height in the room.
The optimum temperature in the summer is from +20 to +22 ° C, in winter it can be reduced to +14 ° C. Like a tropical plant, the Chinese rose loves high humidity, so you need to regularly spray it, trying not to get on the buds and flowers. Experts recommend placing a pallet filled with water with pebbles or expanded clay to increase air humidity.
Care Rules
Water the plant should be plentiful, but not often, watching the drying of the soil. Fertilizing is recommended to be dosed: in the spring - potash and phosphorus, in the summer during flowering - complex, but the flower does not like nitrogen-containing fertilizers.
The most important factor that provides abundant flowering is proper pruning. Hibiscus should do shaping pruning regularly, every year immediately after flowering, the tip of the stem must be trimmed so that young lateral shoots grow. It is on them next year that buds and flowers will appear. Also, in the beginning of spring, it is recommended to pinch all the shoots (even young ones). The spinning tops that appear during the growing season, growing parallel to the trunk, should be regularly trimmed.
Observing all the rules, each grower will be able to grow a Chinese rose at home in order to admire how the hibiscus blooms in the summer season.
Growing problems
As with all ornamental crops, various difficulties and problems can be observed when growing a Chinese rose. Knowing their cause, you can adjust the care and improve the condition of the plant.
The most common problems:
- The buds that have appeared do not open, but fall off. The situation may be caused by a lack of moisture in the air and soil, a deficiency of useful substances coming from the soil, and an underestimated indoor temperature.
- The lower leaves fall, and the new ones begin to grow yellow. The problem is associated with a high content of chlorine and calcium in the soil, a lack of nitrogen and iron, and this also happens when the air is too dry or if the water is too cold.
- With a good lush crown, the plant does not want to bloom. The situation arises due to excessive nitrogen fertilizer or in insufficient light, high temperature in the cold months (when kept in a warm room).
- Pinkish spots on the leaves usually appear when there is an excess of fertilizer or poor lighting.
Bright and colorful "flower of life"
Correction of errors and compliance with simple rules of care allows gardeners to successfully grow this plant at home. Therefore, many of them leave positive reviews about the "flower of death" hibiscus on the sites of decorative plant lovers. Why he was named that way was described above.
Scientists advise not to believe in bad signs and stories about this beautiful flower. After all, all the problems with its flowering or wilting are due to completely natural reasons. Proper care, watering, pruning and dressing will prevent the death of the flower and not worry in the future about the fate of its owner.