How do you take a start from a hibiscus tree/plant?

Question

How do you take a start from a hibiscus tree/plant?

Answer 1

Hardwood cuttings, are the best way but require lots of attention. If it's growing outside and a limb can be bent/flexed to the ground carefully bend it down to the ground where it will come in contact with exposed soil. take a sharp knife and make a scrape NOT A CUT on the underside of the branch exposed to the soil about 1" long. You can use a growth hormone (rootone purchase @ any garden center) and dust it on the open wound to expedite, but it will root anyway without it. Cover the area with soil completely top and bottom and tack down with cut pieces of coat hanger wire or even a rock to weight it down and keep it in place. No disturbance is essential for root development. water it in. and keep checking to make sure it doesn't dry-out before root development begins. usually 2 weeks. Then forget about it till spring. When leaves first appear (no threat of frost or freeze) dig up the covered area and cut below the wounded/rooted section and transplant at once to the desired area. You must  cut the now rooted branch back to the last green shoot because that small amount of root would not support all that top. Water in, and keep moist till new growth appears Once new growth develops over the rooted area your job of creation is over and nature will take over from there.  

*If you can not bend a branch down to the ground then bring the ground to the branch by making a slice on a smaller branch from above and dust with hormone then take soaking wet peat moss and saran wrap and wrap around the section like a bandage over a wound. Rubber band or twist tie the ends to ensure no air gets in and daily condensation should keep it moist. If you are in a region with freezing temps. You will have to protect it from freezing. You may be lucky enough to get rooting before winter sets in. In which case do the above after rooting steps but transplant to a pot instead of outside and bring to an area that won't freeze. Come springtime follow the same procedures as above regarding planting after rooting takes place. I was the propagation specialist @ Mt. View Nursery/Biltmore gardens 15 years, respectfully.

Answer 2

All of the hibiscus species, tropical hibiscus, rose of sharon or the hardy hibiscus (rose mallow/swamp hibiscus) root quite easily from hardwood or soft wood cuttings.  Take an eight to twelve inch cutting from a finger sized branch, dip it into rooting hormone then leave it in water until it roots or better yet,  put it in starter soil and keep it moist.   Here in the tropics, we just take a cutting and poke it into the ground.

Answer 3

two different answers depends upon where(state/zone) is it ?   is it the tropical flower from a nursery/florist, or the shrub althea=rose of sharon.  what size is it?...althea = softwood cuttings taken now root readily when dipped in rooting hormone

Answer 4

just dig out some of the root like any other perennial spreader. i dont think you can do this with the tree. hibiscus produce seeds, which are rather hard to grow.

good luck.

Answer 5

Turtle,  Hibiscus tree is great choice if winter temperatures are not to cold.  We live in Georgia and winters get to cold.  So we  grow them in pots as a annual and they bloom all summer long.   After buying plant they need to be planted so they will get about 50% sun.  I would use water souble fertlizes. If you have any pest problems,   I would spray with solution of unscented liquid detergent using 1 tbs spoon per gallon.  

Enjoy your Hibiscus tree they are beautiful.

Good Luck