The hibiscus is perhaps one of the most iconic and easily recognizable plants in the world. The hibiscus flower is big and vibrant, and it is quite popular because of its stunning range of colors.
However, while the hibiscus is going to really brighten up your garden, you have to understand that the plant is not easy to grow. Many gardeners actually prefer growing hibiscus in smaller containers due to constraints of space.
Just like any other plant, watering is simply one part of the care routine that you have to follow. Apart from watering the plant regularly, you also need to focus on preparing the soil properly and making sure that the plant gets appropriate amounts of sunlight.
To grow lots of plants and get a colorful bloom, you have to make sure that the plant is properly watered. Watering the plant properly is quite easy, but if you do not have an appropriate strategy based on your situation and the microclimate, things can get confusing.
In the following few paragraphs, we will talk about some important considerations on watering the plant and discuss a few strategies. Read on to find out how to properly water your hibiscus plant.
Essential Considerations
First of all, you need to understand that the hibiscus is a water-loving plant. If you have seen the hibiscus plant, you will already know that the plant has considerably big leaves.
The blooms are also of a considerable size, and the plant is full of moisture. The hibiscus is naturally found in tropical regions, where the air has quite a bit of humidity and there’s lots of rainfall.
Due to the fact that it is found primarily in islands or coastal regions, they love humidity. If you are growing the plant in a drier region, you are going to have to compensate for the humidity by making artificial adjustments.
Essentially, you need to make sure that the plant gets lots of water during the warmer summer season. The hibiscus is not going to survive well in the colder weather, and there is a pretty strong chance that the plant will prematurely die.
While there’s no confirmation about how the plant is going to thrive in the winter season when watered heavily, you should just follow a traditional strategy and avoid giving it lots of water.
Essentially, there are two different ways to water the plant well. First, you need to figure out how often your plant requires water. Second, you need to figure out how much water the hibiscus requires.
The hibiscus needs to be watered quite often during the warm weather, and if the temperature gets really hot, you will have to water the plant even more. In certain locations, that essentially translates to watering on a daily basis.
If your area does not receive a lot of rainfall, you will have to provide water on your own. But, if you live in a tropical region that gets lots of rainfall on a regular basis, you can reduce your watering regimen.
The next thing you need to determine is the quantity of water required by the plant. This can be determined by simply looking at the soil and how wet it is around the roots of the plant.
In a pot, this is quite easy to figure out. However, if the hibiscus is planted out in the garden, you are going to have a bit of difficulty. If there is lots of green foliage around the plant, you can safely come to the conclusion that the plant is getting lots of water.
Another thing you need to consider is the quality of water that the plant is receiving. The quality of tap water is a problem in certain parts of the country.
You need to understand that the pH value of the water needs to be balanced. The amount and the kind of materials that are found in the water, along with its pH value, can all have an impact on the growth of the plant.
While the hibiscus is fairly tolerant and can easily absorb water of varying mineral content, you should know that the acidity in the water will have a negative impact on the plant.
The plant can thrive in water that has a pH value between 5.0 and 7.0. Even slightly hard water is fine for the hibiscus, especially when you consider that the number of minerals have dissolved properly.
However, if the pH value is very high or considerably low, and the water has lots of minerals inside, it could prove to be a problem. You might want to get in touch with your local Agricultural department to figure out the quality of water.
More importantly, they are going to give you detailed tips on how to measure the water conditions and the steps that you can take to combat this problem.
You can also use a series of measurement tools to determine the pH value of the water and the density of minerals. Furthermore, there are plenty of online forums where you can get advice on figuring out the quality of water as well.
How Often Should You Water?
It doesn’t matter what tools you use to water the plant. Some people prefer using the water hose, others like to use a sprinkler or a watering can. Some people like to install a drip system in their garden.
The simple thing to know here is that it doesn’t matter what kind of method you use to provide water to the plant, the one thing that does matter is the frequency of the watering. You need to water the plant before it gets stressed out and stops growing.
This is also going to put a full stop to the blooming around the plant. When the plant is unable to receive enough water from the place where it is growing, it will automatically begin to shut down blooming and growth processes.
Most gardeners refer to this as the survival phase because the plant stops working on blooming and growth and instead begins to focus more on survival. In the beginning, you will find it difficult to identify whether the plant has shut down growth.
However, it does happen, and if you take a very close look at the plant on a regular basis, you will notice that the growth of the plant will have stopped. If you do not take remedial action right away, the plant will soon begin to wilt.
When you provide water to the plant, the wilting will stop, and the leaves will again turn crisp and bright green. However, many people stop once they see the leaves turning color.
That’s a bad move! While the hibiscus might have recovered from its touch with death, there is a pretty strong chance that its growth and blooming process in the future is going to be negatively affected.
Watering the plant regularly is going to ensure that the hibiscus does not begin to wilt. You won’t even have to worry about the shutdown of the processes that cannot be seen by the eye.
Perhaps one of the major reasons why hibiscus plants stop blooming during the summer months is because they fail to receive appropriate amounts of water.
Experienced gardeners already know a thing or two about growing hibiscus, so they make sure that the plant continues to receive lots of water. This also prolongs the bloom and the hibiscus continues to give off flowers throughout the summer season.
However, many hibiscus plants stop blooming when the temperatures begin to rise sharply. This is usually because most people water their gardens in the same manner in the summer as they used to during the springtime.
Obviously, you need to understand that while a lesser amount of water was sufficient for the plant during springtime, the requirements may have changed.
The hibiscus could get considerably stressed during the summer months when the temperature is high, especially in the afternoon. This is true for both potted hibiscus and ones that are planted in the soil.
In fact, the potted hibiscus could dry up by the end of the day, so you will have to make sure that you provide lots of water. If you don’t, the number of blooms are going to decrease, and the quality of the bloom is also going to suffer.
The only way to counter this problem and to make sure that it doesn’t occur is to provide lots of water to the hibiscus. Ideally, you should water your hibiscus plants twice a day.
Or, you might want to transplant the hibiscus into a larger pot so that it is capable of holding more water. You also need to consider the plant getting rootbound, and transplanting it is a great way to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Watering as Per the Weather
Let me reiterate this again: there’s no specific quantity that you can give to the hibiscus and ensure that the plant continues to thrive properly. While you should water the hibiscus quite often, you also have to adjust to the current conditions.
For instance, when the weather is considerably hot, you will want to water the hibiscus at least twice a day. Similarly, when there is a considerable amount of wind, you will have to water the plant again.
The excessive winds are going to cause soil to erode, so you need water to maintain the moisture. On the other hand, when the weather is cloudy or it is raining, there is no need for you to water the plants altogether.
At certain times during the year, you will be watering your hibiscus plants at least three times a day. Then, come the winter months, you won’t be watering the plant at all.
As a rule of thumb, you should water the hibiscus at least once a day, when the temperature outside in the summer is moving between the 70s and the low 80s. Keep in mind that a dried out hibiscus is unable to defend itself, so the plant can be a prime victim for an insect attack, or the cold.
To ensure that doesn’t happen, you just need to water. In fact, one of the best ways to ensure that the hibiscus remains fine during a cold night is to sprinkle a bit of tap water on the plant. Ideally, the water should be colder than the temperature in the air.
If you have difficulty in watering the plant twice in a day, you should consider placing a shade cloth in front of the sun, or put the hibiscus in a larger pot so that it is capable of holding in more water.
Another thing that you can do is place a saucer underneath the plant. You can then fill up the saucer with water, as this is going to help with the humidity.
When the temperature gets really hot, the water in the saucer is going to evaporate, and this is going to maintain the humidity around the plant. If you really don’t get the time to water your hibiscus plants in pots, you can also choose self-watering pots.
These are pots with a built-in reservoir that is capable of sending the water to the potting mix. It automatically checks the dryness in the potting mix and quickly supplies more water to ensure that the plant never dries out.
Finally, you have the drip system. The drip irrigation system is perhaps the most popular choice because it can be fixed on a timer. As soon as the timer hits, the drip irrigation system supplies water to the plants.
When watering, it is important that you provide a sufficient amount of water to the soil. Make sure to move the nozzle slightly away from the point where the stem emerges from the roots, as the pressure of the water might erode the soil around that region.
These are some simple tips to ensure that your hibiscus gets lots of water!
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.
Bonnie
Monday 15th of November 2021
What part of the country do you live in? I'm in middle Georgia and want to make sure some of the statements about pansies, violas, and hibiscus apply to this area or a cooler climate. Thank you, Bonnie