When I first fell in love with and started planting hibiscus, this site was tremendously helpful:

http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/index.htm

Tropicgal, Hey wow! Thanks for the fast reply and juicy info!

Carol

I appreciate the link. Lots of good info but I didn't find answers to any of my questions.

Regarding planting, most of the emphasis was on soil drainage. I'd appreciate any suggestions or info on amending.

Didn't find anything at the site on shade. Do you find that your tropical hibiscus need shade at midday or late afternoon?

Nothing either on cuttings. Anyone rooted cuttings? How long does it take at 70 degree nights and 85 degree days?

Thanks for your help! It is greatly appreciated.

Carol

Crickets.

Carol, I started some Hibiscus cutting approx 3 weeks ago and they started to grow new leaves at around week 2. I haven't potted them on yet but I assume they've rooted. I have one Hibiscus planted in the yard that get's sun all morning and then shade for the rest of the day and it does great. The two I have in pot's are the same , getting morning sun and dappled shade in the afternoon and they're doing good too. As for soil, well I have quite sandy, free draining soil and the Hibiscus that's planted in the yard is quite happy. The potted ones, I re-potted in a mixture of potting compost and Perlite, approx half and half, and they appear to be quite happy too. I'm in the Tampa Bay area by the way.

Hope that helps
Linda

Linda, thank you so much for the follow-up. Very helpful. I lost 100% of the cuttings I started in pure Perlite. I'm not nearly as gung-ho on Perlite as I was a couple months ago. I'm going to try a vermiculite or mix next time.

I would still love to know if hibiscus need or "appreciate" afternoon shade, or if they "appreciate" sun just as much, LOL! I always thought they were a full-sun-all-day plant.

I would still also love to know, if anyone amends their hibiscus soil, exactly what they use? What is "potting compost"? Who makes it or what does it say on the bag? What does the bag look like - what am I looking for? I'm very familiar with compost in general but sometimes these mixed terms get me. Are we talking Black Kow? Mushroom compost? Chicken manure? Worm casings? Fish fertilizer? Or something else?

I sure do appreciate your time and response. Thanks!
Carol

This post was edited by love_the_yard on Fri, Jun 21, 13 at 17:05

Hi Carol, Sorry, potting compost is what we cal it back in the UK, potting mix or potting soil is what it's called here. I started my cuttings in potting soil, no rooting powder, and just put them out on the back patio where they got morning sun but shade in the afternoon. I'm going to pot them on this weekend and I'll put them in a 50/50 mix of potting mix and Purlite.

I think that Hibiscus prefer some shade in the afternoon, heat is what they need more than all day sun. As long as they get at least 6 hours of sun, they seem to do ok. Apparently Hibiscus need a fertilizer that is higher in potash than nitrogen. I brought some from a specialist nursery, but with the shipping it was quite pricey, so I'll shop around next time and see if I can find something similar at my local nursery.

Linda

Linda, thanks once again for sharing your tips! I think I am overthinking or overdoing some of these rooting attempts. The cuttings looked absolutely beautiful when I potted them up - and then all six just went downhill. I had used hormone, perlite, bags for humidity, had them in the shade - all the right stuff, I thought. I am going to try your method next.

Thanks also for the other explanations. I am going to adjust! :)

Carol