Q. I have a hibiscus in a 20-inch clay pot with wrinkled
flower buds, small leaves, and leggy stems. The hibiscus gets filtered light on
my South facing patio and gets hand watered every other day.
flower buds, small leaves, and leggy stems. The hibiscus gets filtered light on
my South facing patio and gets hand watered every other day.
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| This is a hibiscus growing in a 20 inch pot. Some hard renewal pruning is needed and repotting the plant. |
A. I looked at the picture of your potted hibiscus and I
think it is getting large for its container. This is a 20-inch container and
the size of the main stems are larger than thumb sized. That’s because you are
pruning all the small stems from the outside and not pruning the larger stems
toward the center. Your pruning style is also the reason it’s getting “leggy”.
think it is getting large for its container. This is a 20-inch container and
the size of the main stems are larger than thumb sized. That’s because you are
pruning all the small stems from the outside and not pruning the larger stems
toward the center. Your pruning style is also the reason it’s getting “leggy”.
I think
you have two options; you can either get a larger container or cut the hibiscus
smaller. Let’s me explain how to do “renewal pruning” on it first. I think
that’s your best option.
you have two options; you can either get a larger container or cut the hibiscus
smaller. Let’s me explain how to do “renewal pruning” on it first. I think
that’s your best option.
Renewal Pruning
Renewal
pruning, cutting deep inside the shrub and removing larger wood, results in a
flush of sucker growth from the remaining “stubs” that eventually fills the open
areas. This flush of sucker growth will be succulent and produce lots of leaves
and flowers. You then select the best suckers to establish a new plant. Basically,
you are “renewing” an older shrub by reinvigorating it.
pruning, cutting deep inside the shrub and removing larger wood, results in a
flush of sucker growth from the remaining “stubs” that eventually fills the open
areas. This flush of sucker growth will be succulent and produce lots of leaves
and flowers. You then select the best suckers to establish a new plant. Basically,
you are “renewing” an older shrub by reinvigorating it.
Prune the
main stems as low as 4 to 6 inches from the soil. This sounds dramatic but in hibiscus it results in a flush
of new growth from below the cuts. Doing this causes it to sucker below the
remaining stubs with new growth filling these open areas. In previous pruning you were removing from the perimeter. Do renewal
pruning as soon as weather cools off in the fall and new growth will cover the
deep pruning cuts before it gets cold.
main stems as low as 4 to 6 inches from the soil. This sounds dramatic but in hibiscus it results in a flush
of new growth from below the cuts. Doing this causes it to sucker below the
remaining stubs with new growth filling these open areas. In previous pruning you were removing from the perimeter. Do renewal
pruning as soon as weather cools off in the fall and new growth will cover the
deep pruning cuts before it gets cold.
Repotting
After
you finished renewal pruning your hibiscus, gently ease it out of the container
and remove the soil from around the roots. Keeping the roots moist, prune a
couple of large roots and replace the soil in the container with fresh soil.
Repeat this renewal pruning and repotting process about every three or four
years to keep it young and vigorous.
you finished renewal pruning your hibiscus, gently ease it out of the container
and remove the soil from around the roots. Keeping the roots moist, prune a
couple of large roots and replace the soil in the container with fresh soil.
Repeat this renewal pruning and repotting process about every three or four
years to keep it young and vigorous.