Add a splash of color and a touch of drama to your landscape with the daring divas of Hollywood Hibiscus.
These glamorous tropical beauties can be the star of any show by following these simple care tips.
WHERE TO GROW
Like any big star, Hollywood Hibiscus plants love the heat and the sun! So make sure these beauties are in the spotlight (direct sunlight) for about 6-8 hours per day to get them to give their best performance. They make great annuals in the landscape and fantastic thrillers in container gardens.
WATERING
Hollywoods are a thirsty crowd. Make sure the soil in their containers stays evenly moist — not sopping wet — but about as damp as a wrung-out sponge.
FEEDING
To keep their “runway ready” look, Hollywood Hibiscus need to be fed with a balanced or low phosphorous fertilizer. When looking at the numbers on a fertilizer label, the center number should be the same or lower than the numbers on either side. For example, the numbers could look like this: 10-10-10 (balanced) or 12-6-8 (lower in phosphorous). Do not use “bloom booster” formulas on your Hollywoods.
TRIMMING
Some stars are high maintenance in the hair department, but not Hollywood Hibiscus. Let them grow during the summer and enjoy their masses of beautiful blooms. If they grow larger than you’d planned, you can selectively trim back individual branches to different heights to maintain a natural look while reducing size. (Think “long layers.”)
CONTAINER PLANTING TIPS
Plant Hollywood Hibiscus in containers that are at least 10-12 inches wide, using high quality potting mix. Accessorize with other water-loving plants including strawberries, sweet potato vines, creeping jenny, asparagus fern, and million bells.
YELLOW LEAVES
If you haven’t fertilized the plants at all, try fertilizing them. If you have been fertilizing, they could be getting too much phosphorous
BUDS FALLING OFF
This is rare but can happen to plants that are moved a lot. Try to let your Hollywoods sunbathe in peace. (Don’t turn them frequently.) Hollywoods are divas in name only, but everyone gets a bug every now and then.
For more information or questions, feel free to stop in at Meadow View or give us a call at 937-845-0093. Happy gardening!
MVG – Helping Our Customers Grow Fine Plants Since 1984!
