Even if you can buy flowering hibiscus bushes from summer to autumn in a specialist store, you should not plant the potted plants directly in the garden. The reason lies in the origin of these plants.
Hibiscus is best planted in spring
When is hibiscus in season?
The garden market offers garden hibiscus in pots at different times of the year. The flowering period of the various varieties begins in June or July and extends into autumn. Therefore, the plants are mainly offered in August or September, when the plants are in full bloom. The advantage of potted goods lies in the independence from classic planting times. You can cultivate the shrub in the tub until the right season for planting out in the garden has come.
Notes on planting times
Species from the Hibiscus genus are native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They are not adapted to the Central European winter climate, although many varieties still grow outdoors all year round. In order to survive the cold season unscathed, they must be well established at the site. That takes time.
autumn planting
In principle, it is possible for you to place the plants in the garden immediately after purchase. Planting in autumn is not recommended, however, because the ornamental shrubs do not have enough time to grow before the onset of winter. If you decide on this planting date, you should pay attention to good weather.
Sunny autumn days when the soil is still sufficiently warm promote the subsequent phase of root development. Think of a good winter protection. A mulch layer of fall leaves, brushwood and compost shields the root ball from frost. Ground covers are an aesthetic alternative that ensure a permanent, even soil climate once they have grown in.
spring planting
Ideally, you pot the goods in a large bucket and overwinter it in a frost-free room. When the sun has sufficiently warmed the soil in spring, the hibiscus can move outdoors. The substrate should have a minimum temperature of 15 degrees Celsius so that the marshmallow feels comfortable. The long establishment time until the next winter has a positive effect on resistance, although you should still ensure good protection against the cold in the first two years.
How to plant correctly:
- Dig a planting hole twice the diameter of the root ball
- Mix excavation with compost and use ornamental shrubs
- Pot ball is flush with the soil surface
- Fill in the gaps with soil mixture and step on well
- Cover the soil with mulching material and water the substrate thoroughly
site conditions
The garden hibiscus, behind which the large-flowered marsh marshmallow hides, prefers sunny areas or places in the sun. A nutritious and humus-rich subsoil with fresh to moist conditions is important. Light soils that dry out quickly and cannot retain nutrients are unsuitable. You can improve such substrates with compost.