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Getting Hibiscus Flowers to Bloom

September 18, 2008
Hibiscus Flower

Question:

I have a hibiscus plant that will bloom, but the blooms will not open up completely before they die. I have planted it in the ground and fertilized it. I water it everyday, but nothing seems to work. What should I try next?
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Hardiness Zone: 9a

Keri from Houston, TX

Answer:

Keri,

What kind of hibiscus do you have? There are hundreds of varieties available, many with curious flower forms. For example, the variety "Flower of an Hour" (Hibiscus trionum) has 2 inch wide white to pale yellow flowers with dark centers that typically only bloom for a couple of hours each day.

Is it possible you have a "Turk's Cap" (Malvaviscus penduliflorus)? This flower is isn't technically a hibiscus, but it's closely related. The fact that it is often referred to as "Sleeping Hibiscus" only adds to the confusion. The flowers resemble those of a "wilted" hibiscus. They never fully open, but hang down in a tubular fashion from the stems of the plant (this is a clever adaptation by the plant to encourage pollination by hummingbirds, which are typically attracted to bell-shaped flowers. Here is a picture for reference:

If what you have turns out to be a Turk's Cap, it will bloom off and on throughout the year, usually looking its best in early winter.

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Another possibility is bud drop (leaves start to open then dry up and fall off). This is common with hibiscuses, and is caused by stress from improper watering (not enough), too much fertilizer, extremely hot weather, or insect damage from the likes of aphids or thrips. Double flowered varieties of hibiscus seem to be particularly susceptible to bud drop.

Ellen

Answers

By josh (Guest Post)
July 2, 20081 found this helpful
Best Answer

Are you sure they are the type that fully opens? Not all of the Hibiscus flowers fully open certain types do not.

 
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October 23, 2010

I have a hibiscus which gets full sun daily. It develops a bunch of bloom pods, but just before they bloom they fall off. Only a few make it to full bloom. I water it daily in the hot summer, two times per day. Also, I fertilize weekly with Miracle Grow granular 10-52-10, 1 teaspoon per gallon of water. What can I do to get the blooms to come to full maturation? Thanks.

Hardiness Zone: 10a

By JOHN COMBES from Gold Canyon, AZ

Answers

September 13, 20150 found this helpful
Best Answer

I have read that hibiscus don't like lots of phosphorus so 52 is too high. Something like 6-2-8 should work better for you.

 
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June 18, 2018

I am a novice gardener. I planted 3 hibiscus plants. They are tropical. I fertilized them and now they aren't blooming. They were flowering well before the fertilizing. I used a 10-4-12. Also I live in southwest Florida. Thanks for your help.


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July 28, 2009

My hibiscus is loaded with blooms, they are not developing like they did last year. Most of them fall off before opening or the blooms are very small like a husk. What can I do? Thanks for any help.

By Sue from Fairmount, TX

Answers

September 21, 20111 found this helpful
Best Answer

Don't cut it back unless you want to root the cuttings and they are easy to do this time of year. Just cut back to the first part of old growth (grey bark) and put in soil and keep moist. Leave outside (I put mine under the plant so I know what color is in the pot till it roots.

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Not blooming is usually 2 things; not enough water put a pan under it that will hold about 2 inches of water as they are very thirsty, and fertilizer. I use 10.10.10 and liquid 20.20.20 during the summer. Don't forget the sun....takes all you can get but at least 3 hours. I live in south Georgia and I have to take mine in in the winter. It will bloom all winter long if given enough bright light and the other things but in winter curb the fertilizer a little but keep the water coming. Good growing.

As for the lady with small blooms ... fertilizer and water and maybe a bigger pot.

 
 
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June 3, 2016

My hibiscus won't flower, it was in the ground and growing well. I fertlized the plant and still no flowers. I have potted the hibiscus now and have fertilzed with a good fertilizer and waited a few months, still no flowers. I have used a flower booster fertilizer specifically for hibiscus and still no flowers. The plant itself is healthy, lush and green with constant new growth, but it has never flowered.

The plant is outside in the pot and gets good sunlight. I live in a humid zone. This hibiscus has never flowered and I have had it for over 1 and half years now. I have 2x other hibiscus that are thriving and constantly flower. Can anyone give me advice on how I can get it to flower?

Answers

Anonymous
June 5, 20160 found this helpful

Maybe you gave the plant too much fertilizer that is why it is making constant new growth. Flowering for a plant is a tentative to survive and if your plant has such a happy life with plenty to ''eat'' why should she bother to make flowers.

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Just put it on the diet and most of all don't forget to prune it in early spring.

 

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June 5, 20162 found this helpful

Maybe you gave the plant too much fertilizer that is why it is making constant new growth. Flowering for a plant is a tentative to survive and if your plant has such a happy life with plenty to ''eat'' why should it bother to have flowers. Just put it on the diet and most of all prune it in early spring. Cut the central main branches at half length and cut the side branches leaving only 3 or 4 buds. Pruning will make new branches start and the flowers will appear on this new branches. Cutting the flowers once they faded also helps the plant produce new ones.

 
August 1, 20160 found this helpful

Hibiscus hasn't flowered for four years what am l doing wrong?

 
September 1, 20160 found this helpful

same response 4 plants in a row 2 bloom constantly 2 are healthy fed (sounds like a bad kid) no blooms

 
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May 20, 2017

My tropical hibiscus has stopped blooming. The plant is deep green and growing. The only thing different is I put 1-2 inches of potting soil around the whole pot (2-1/2 ft by 25").


Thank you.

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May 11, 2018

I just bought my plant a week ago. I left in it the pot it was in and placed it on my flower bed. It had one beautiful flower and lots of buds. The flower eventually fell off, but all the buds kinda dried up and didn't bloom. What happened? Did I over water it? I used some Miracle Gro initially. Will it bloom again this season?


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August 6, 2016

I had 3 thriving, blooming hibiscus (purchased at Home Depot) that were growing beautifully in containers on my front porch (Camp Lejeune, NC). The deer decided they were good to eat, and ate most of the leaves, all the flowers, and some of the stems. When I realized what was going on, I moved them to my Carolina room and babied and nourished them back to health.

I've since put them back in their original location (with deer repellent on the ground around them), and they are still producing lots of leaves, but I've only seen 2 flowers in the 5-6 weeks since I moved them back. What am I doing wrong?

Hibiscus Not Blooming
 

Answers

August 19, 20161 found this helpful

Deer ate only the buds of two of my hibiscus. I moved them to my back deck where I have a plant in full bloom, but neither have produced buds again. They are healthy and leaves are beautiful. What can I do to get them to bloom again.

 
August 19, 20160 found this helpful

I had a similar problem. As it turns out, 2 of my 3 hibiscus have started blooming g again after moving them back to their original location. I watered and fertilized them, then sprayed the lawn about 2 feet out and the plants themselves with a rabbit and deer repellant.

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Seems to have worked.

 
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September 18, 2011

I have a bright orange hibiscus that is about fifteen years old. it has been outside in a pot all summer long but only bloomed once with two flowers. It is about five feet high and the leaves are thick and green, but it is not blooming. I will bring it inside soon, but what should I do with it so it will bloom in the upcoming months?

By Lynda D

Answers

September 21, 20111 found this helpful

Hi! Is this a tropical or hardy hibiscus? I've found with the tropicals that they either are not getting enough water, lack of fertilizer or are root bound. I'm sure you've kept up with the water and such so if it's tropical I'd guess it's to big for your pot. Leaving the rootswithout enough room for the roots to grow.

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For a hardy hibiscus all of these are also likely possibilities. However hardy hibiscus can be finicky. Many prefer to be planted in the ground while others thrive in pots. Then again it could just need a good pruning.

When my peppermint schnapps quits blooming it's either water or pruning they need. ( this is a hardy hibiscus ). I discovered that my rose mallow preferred a pot because it wouldn't bloom in the ground! I've had a bad tropical this year too!

How do you usually care for it in winter?

 
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July 9, 2016

My hardy hibiscus plants bloom wonderfully when they first flower, but the buds following the first blooming dry up and fall off. These are supposed to bloom throughout the summer. Why is this happening?

Growing zone 6 I think (southern Ohio). Hey, I'm not an expert horticulturalist. :)

Thank you.

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