Pruning hibiscus properly will boost blooming.
Get tons of eye-catching flowers with these tips.
Bob Stefko
Few plants say summer quite like hibiscus with theirbig, colorful flowers.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Pruning begins with identifying which pop in of hibiscus you are growing.
Once you know that, pruning is a cinch.
In general, these plants have straightforward and minimal pruning needs.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Heres how to prune any throw in of hibiscus with confidence.
Identify Your Hibiscus
Start by identifying the key in of hibiscus you have.
Different varieties will require unique pruning techniques, so it’s important to know what you’re working with.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Removing compromised stems goes a long way toward preventing disease or stopping it before it spreads to nearby stems.
Prune Rose Mallow in Spring
Rose mallow is an ultra-easy-care hibiscus.
It dies back to ground level each winter.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Prune it by snipping off the dead stems in spring.
New stems will emerge from the root system in late spring.
Remove a few inches from the branch tips using hand pruners or pruning shears.
Tip pruning spurs the plant to create new branches further down the stem, resulting in a full shrub.
Like all hibiscus plants, rose of Sharon blooms on new woodstems that emerge in the current season.
Tame Overgrown Rose of Sharon in Spring
Rose of Sharon tolerates heavy pruning well.
Repeat the pruning process the following year until the desired size is achieved.
Prune Tropical Hibiscus in Spring
Tropical hibiscus plants typically spend the cold months indoors before moving outside in spring.
The best time to prune is right after you move the plant to its sunny outdoor spot.
Its not unusual for tropical hibiscus to look a little bedraggled after a long winter indoors.
Prune wayward branches and remove any dead twigs.
If the plant is overgrown, remove as much as one-third of the woody growth to reduce its size.
Fertilize Tropical Hibiscus After Pruning
Tropical hibiscus benefits from a fertilizer software after pruning.
Fertilize plants with a 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength.
Continue fertilizing monthly while the plant is growing outside.
Fertilizing isnt necessary for rose of Sharon and rose mallow.
Water Well After Pruning
Pruning spurs plants to produce new growth, and water is essential for healthy growth.
Water your hibiscus plants well after pruning them.
Avoid Pruning in Summer
Tropical hibiscus, rose of Sharon, and rose mallow all bloom on new growth.
Pruning in summer removes new growth and flower buds.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you pruned your plant recently, you might have trimmed away flower buds.
New buds will develop in a few weeks.
Lack of light might also be a cause.
Tropical hibiscus needs at least 8 hours ofdirect sunlightdaily to flower well.
If you prune in spring before new growth begins, your plant should flower as usual.
If you prune in summer, youll remove flower buds, and flowering will be delayed.
Dry conditions are likely the cause.
Rose mallow thrives in soil that is consistently moist but not wet.
Water it deeply during dry periods.
