- Place the Hibiscus plants in a bucket
of water for a day or two to assure re-hydration before planting. - Choose a sunny spot in your garden. Hibiscus, of the size these will grow to be, require a square yard or more of a growing space in a sunny location. The plants will tolerate some shade during the day, but avoid planting them near or under trees. Prepare the soil to a depth of about one-foot in this space.
- Dig a hole one-and-a-half times deeper than the plant is long — “the $10 hole for a nickel plant.”
- If the soil is heavy, mix some peat moss or other organic material into the soil at the bottom of the hole, along with a tablespoon or so of balanced fertilizer (such as Peters 10-10-10).
- Place the plant in the hole, leaving about one-half inch of the root above the ground surface and spreading the root out as much as possible to assure that the roots will grow in more than one direction. This will provide a sturdy base for the plant as it grows to a height of three to five feet.
- Fill the hole about half way with some of the soil previously removed, making sure that the plant stays upright.
- Pour water into the hole to fill it completely. This watering assures that the entire root will be in contact with soil. Air spaces left around the root could cause it to die.
- Fill the remainder of the hole with soil and pack it down with your hands around the plant.
- For a second time, water the plant generously.
- Mulch the plant with 3-4 inches of mulching medium. If the soil is very cold when you plant these plants, you may wish to wait until the soil temperature rises to 50 degrees Fahrenheit before adding mulch. (Almost any mulching medium can be used.) Mulch tends to hold ground temperatures down. These plants will not break dormancy until night air temperatures have risen to about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
- With a pencil, enter the planting date (and any other identifying information you wish) on one of the plant labels.
- Place the label on one of the planting stakes and push it into the ground a few inches from the stem that shows above ground to mark the plant’s location.
- It may take some time for your new Hibiscus plants to leaf out, especially if they are dormant when shipped. Don’t panic. It may take several weeks for you to see sprouts emerge.
After the plant is established, it needs at least an inch of rain (or irrigation) each week during the growing season. If you can grow other perennials (daffodils, tulips, etc.), you should have no trouble with hardy Hibiscus. They tolerate a wide range of acidity/alkalinity conditions, but do not use fertilizers for Hydrangeas, and other highly acid or alkaline-loving plants. If you find mites or other insects, provide an application of safe garden insecticide.