Hibiscus syriacus

Shenny · July 2020

I have recently acquired two very pretty Hibiscus plants. Woodbridge and speciosus. I am thinking of growing them in big pots due to limited garden space. This will mean I can move them around if I need to. Will growing in pots be ok?
Any advice appreciated.

Obelixx · July 2020

I don't see why not as long as the pots are big enough and you use a good, loam based compost with maybe 1/3rd MPC. It would mean you can tuck them into a sheltered corner for winter too. In my last garden, in central rural Belgium, I found the hibiscus always very late to come into leaf - late June sometimes - but then they'd be glorious tho in the end the only ones that survived hard winters were the ordinary Bluebird.

In this garden we have inherited blue, white, almost red and pale pink and they start a lot earlier and flower for longer. The advice here is to prune them back by a third to 2/3rds taking them back to a leaf node in late March, early April so they can certainly be kept pruned to size if needed.

You'd need to give them a good feed of slow release fertiliser for roses or tomatoes in spring and then occasional liquid feeds of comfrey tea or tomato fertiliser to encourage the flowers.

Shenny · July 2020

Thank you. That’s really useful advice. Gives me more confidence to grow in pots.

Obelixx · July 2020

Just one thing, no frosts here after md March usually so bear that in mind if you do get to the point of spring pruning yours. Good luck.

Shenny · July 2020

Thanks.

Hibiscus syriacus

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