In collections of plant design, hibiscus is far from the last place. This majestic flower has long been loved by gardeners for its highly decorative leaves and a variety of colors. The Chinese rose is especially beautiful during its flowering period. There are many varieties of indoor culture, the most popular is a plant with large red roses. Flowers are good because they can be propagated at home. Although these indoor plants are considered unpretentious, beginner gardeners still need to learn the basic rules of how to root hibiscus.
Flower Overview
Hibiscus is a grateful plant, with good care it pleases gardeners with lush greenery and incredibly beautiful flowers. Among the many varieties of it there are both garden specimens and indoor ones. The hibiscus family has collected all the available palette of colors except for blue and black. On average, the life cycle of a Chinese rose bush is 18-20 years. Indoor plants should be protected from negative external influences - direct sunlight and drafts. At the same time, culture cannot be deprived of enough light.
Breeding methods
If you are a beginner grower, then most likely you want to plant crops that are not difficult to care for. Chinese rose is one of the simplest plants, despite the fact that it looks very luxurious. It is very easy to propagate. The easiest way, which will not cause much trouble - cuttings. Many indoor plant lovers share their experience on rooting hibiscus at home. To propagate it yourself, you can apply the following methods:
- division of the bush;
- cuttings;
- seed propagation;
- by layering (rooting of shoots).
The choice of material for propagation
Not everyone knows how to root hibiscus from the cuttings correctly, but the further development of the plant depends on the choice and preparation of planting material. A few valuable suggestions will help you do this right. You need to choose shoots for propagation immediately after the flowering of the Chinese rose. If manipulations are performed during the period most beautiful for the plant, this will make it weak. It will direct all its forces to the healing of the cut sites, and hibiscus at this time needs nutrients to form buds. It is necessary to cut branches only from the middle part of the bush. You should carefully inspect the plant and choose shoots that have already covered with woody peel. Sections of about 14-15 cm long are cut off from them with a knife. In order not to expose the bush to excessive injuries, an oblique cut is made. The clipped part must have at least three internodes.
Preparatory stage
It is necessary to correctly arrange the plant segment obtained from the shoot. The upper part of the handle should be slightly shortened. Remove the two outermost sheets from both sides. Pre-prepare all the necessary accessories:
- small capacity;
- expanded clay to create drainage;
- peat tablet;
- vermiculite for loosening the soil;
- stimulator for the formation of the root system;
- polyethylene or glass.
Important conditions for the procedure
There are two options for rooting hibiscus from the cuttings: in water and in the soil mixture. When using the first method, it is imperative to regularly moisten the soil. If this condition is ignored, then in an insufficiently moist substrate, shoots will not give root shoots. Regardless of which method you choose, it is recommended to create a greenhouse effect for future seedlings. You can cover the container with cuttings with glass or make a cap for this purpose from a plastic film. To avoid rotting, you need to ventilate the so-called greenhouse. The optimum moisture level in the substrate will help maintain the sphagnum moss. With the advent of the first few root shoots, the young plant needs to be placed in more nutritious soil, where it will continue to develop. At the same time, the upper two or three sheets need to be cut a little, and several lower ones should be removed.
Landing in the sand
So, in more detail, how to properly root hibiscus. Usually, shoots for propagating a Chinese rose are cut at the end of winter. Prepared branches are placed in well-moistened sand, covered with a film. Here the temperature regime is mandatory, the indicators on the thermometer should not be less than + 22 ° C. If the seedlings are under the film, then the roots on them will grow back after 60 days.
In the substrate
How to root a hibiscus sprig in the ground? It is necessary to prepare a container with loose nutrient soil. Then the substrate should be well moistened and a 2 cm plant twig should be immersed in it. A package should be put on top of the container with seedlings, thus maintaining the temperature and water balance. Care for it is the timely removal of condensate. It is necessary to periodically remove the bag and shake out drops of water from it. With this method, the seedling will be ready for transplanting to a permanent place in a month.
Competent procedure
Another way to root indoor hibiscus is to:
- it is necessary to soak a peat tablet in water;
- carefully cut off the desired length of the segment and dry it a little;
- lay a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot;
- mix the soaked peat tablet with vermiculite;
- pour the resulting substrate on top of the drainage;
- the cut location on the dried part of the shoot must be treated with the drug - "Kornevin";
- then immerse the segment in a substrate two centimeters;
- create greenhouse conditions;
- then we monitor the soil moisture.
Ventilate the seedling should be done every 10-14 days. Root processes should appear after two months. After this, you need to wait another two weeks until they get stronger, and then transplant the young plant into a beautiful flowerpot. When it takes root in a new place, you need to take care of it in the same way as for an adult flower.
How to root hibiscus from cuttings in water?
This is the easiest way. Despite the fact that adult plants themselves do not tolerate increased soil moisture, parts of the shoots feel great in water, they release shoots well. The process consists of several sequential actions:
- it is necessary to cut and prepare parts of the shoots, as described above;
- prepare containers; it is better to choose opaque ones from dark glass;
- to speed up the process of root formation, a growth stimulant or activated carbon can be added to the water;
- you need to immerse the branches in the liquid by half, periodically topping it up (the water will gradually evaporate).
The seedlings obtained by this method are slightly weaker than those rooted in the soil, but quickly grow stronger and take root well.
Reproduction of elite plants
There are many varieties of hibiscus. Among them there are plants with terry flowers. Also with unusually beautiful colors and shapes that are significantly different from ordinary culture. Due to this diversity, many gardeners have a question about how to root varietal hibiscus. Here you have to be patient. The fact is that elite specimens produce root shoots much longer than classic ones. Sometimes this process drags on for six months.
Varietal hibiscus is best rooted in water. Three basic conditions are obligatory: heat, light and sufficient humidity. As a material for creating a greenhouse effect, you can use zip packages. With this device you do not have to constantly disturb the seedling. It will be enough to simply open the bag once a week and release excess moisture from it. On the part of the handle that is in the water, a light coating (callus) will first appear, after a while the roots will gradually begin to grow.
Propagation by processes
The processes formed on the stems of the plant can also be used for reproduction. They root perfectly in the warm season. You need to select the appropriate branches (0.5 cm section), cut the top from the branch to the top of centimeters by 15. Then place in water or moist soil and send to a well-lit place. As necessary, carry out moisturizing procedures.
Substrate preparation
How to root cuttings of hibiscus indoor, we figured out. Next, we move on to preparing the soil in which the flower will grow constantly. It would be nice to purchase a special composition for citrus crops, add a little sand and vermiculite to it. You can prepare the substrate yourself. For this purpose it is necessary to take: three parts of leaf and sod soil, one each of humus, charcoal and sand. Subject to these proportions, hibiscus usually develops well, get sick less and live long.
The most comfortable Chinese rose feels in peat soil. Experienced flower growers advise adding moss sphagnum to regulate humidity.
Growing Features
Failure to comply with some nuances can lead to the fact that the plant will look lethargic and may eventually die. As a result, all your labors will be in vain. It is important not only to conduct a successful rooting process, but to continue to take care of this wonderful flower. To constantly admire the flowering of a Chinese rose, you need to create the optimal atmosphere for it. She does not like too dry air, so it is better not to place a flowerpot with a plant near the battery. To avoid wilting of the flower, you need to carry out spraying procedures.
You should not choose a too wide pot for transplanting. They seem to feel the size of the container and stop developing rapidly - the smaller the flowerpot, the more buds will be on the bush. It is important to understand here that one cannot leave too much space on the roots of a plant. They feel bad in plastic containers. Chinese roses bloom long enough.
It is necessary to carry out plant nutrition since March. This should be done once a week. To maximize the absorption of nutrients, you need to alternate the application of fertilizers - first feed the culture with a mineral complex, and in the next step add organic matter.
It is important to regularly dust the leaves or to carry out hygiene procedures by spraying. It is also necessary to protect the bush from direct sunlight. Particular attention should be paid to culture if you have central heating, where the air is usually too dry. All care activities should be carried out sparingly.
Recommendations
According to experienced gardeners, hibiscus breeding is best done in May. It is at this time of year that the plant has the most active growth. It was noted that after spring rooting, bushes and later develop better, their survival is increased. Although the plant can be propagated year-round.
It is recommended to use various growth stimulants: both special and self-made. Without such funds, the root system of seedlings develops slowly, especially in elite specimens. They can form only callus, and then stop growing.
Florists do not recommend practicing the propagation of Chinese roses by seeds. This is the most unproductive method. Not leaving a great chance of success. First, seeds must be pollinated, which is extremely rare. Secondly, such plants hardly take root or are too weak.
A slice must always be treated with a drug that promotes root formation. You can not use young green branches for propagation. Sometimes weak plants grow out of them, but there is a likelihood that they will begin to rot. The use of mini-greenhouses during the rooting process is also a must.
How to create a live bouquet of hibiscus
By grafting individual segments from different varieties of Chinese roses, you can get an incredibly beautiful composition that will become the real pride of your floral design. For this purpose, a young plant is used, which is taken as a basis. No more than 4-5 cuttings of other varieties of room culture are grafted to it in the crown area. Such manipulations can only be performed in the summer months. Of course, art culture will need enhanced dressing and careful care.