:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GettyImages-1406538610-d27b3cee78f64251a7840983adf8733b.jpg?ssl=1 "The One Trick You Should Try to Get Your Hibiscus to Rebloom Before Fall Begins")
Key Points
- Deadheading hibiscus before seed formation keeps the plant focused on producing new flowers.
- Moisture imbalances, lack of sunlight, or pest issues can keep your plant from blooming.
- Give hibiscus care according to its variety, but all will need full sun and consistently moist soil.
Hibiscus flowers and drinks are quintessential summer—from their vibrant, delicate flowers to their refreshing taste. But just because they flower in the summer doesn’t mean they have to stay only in that season.
We asked pro gardeners what we can do to keep our hibiscus plants blooming through late summer into fall; here’s what they said.
Meet the Expert
- Carol Bradford is a master gardener volunteer at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County.
- Frank Clarke is the agriculture and horticulture program lead at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga County.
The One Trick to Get Hibiscus to Rebloom
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Cold hardy hibiscus should usually last past summer into early fall, but as temperatures start to drop it’s important to support your plant to ensure you can get the most blooms before they go dormant for the winter.
“To promote more blooming, growers should deadhead flowers after they bloom but before they go to seed creation,” says horticulturalist Frank Clarke. “The flowers only last a day or two, so these plants are prolific bloomers. Growers should expect a continuous flow of flowers through out the summer.”
By deadheading flowers, the plants can focus their energy on creating more, new blooms as opposed to maintaining the waning ones. Doing so before they begin producing seeds also significantly cuts down on the amount of energy expended to do so.
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Why Your Hibiscus Isn’t Fully Blooming
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It’s possible to have a hibiscus plant that grows thoroughly but doesn’t produce blooms; some plants will produce blooms, but then they won’t open.
“The most common reason I see hardy hibiscus [struggling] is because of moisture extremes or sunlight deficiency,” Clarke says. “If your plants receive full sun and soil moisture is well controlled, then there may be something else going on.”
Always be sure to check the growing conditions for your specific variety of hibiscus, because their water needs vary significantly from one to the other. Once this is corrected, check your plant for signs of any pests or disease.
“A newish pest, the hibiscus sawfly, eats the foliage in the spring and can cause a lot of damage very quickly,” says master gardener Carol Bradford. “The plant is unlikely to be killed but may be so weakened it fails to bloom.”
Check for signs of red spider mites and aphids as well.
How to Grow a Healthy Hibiscus Plant
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Like with all plants, hibiscuses have certain preferences that will reward growers with fabulous blooms when fulfilled.
The success of any plant begins before it’s even in the ground. Choosing the right spot to grow your hibiscus can significantly change their output of flowers when the season comes.
“Hibiscuses are also known as swamp mallows because they grow in damp soils and riverbanks,” Bradford says. “The buds will drop if the plant is stressed by drought.”
Ensure your plant has enough water and the right soil according to its variety, as you can see these effects even in the growing period.
“Drought can greatly impact flower production,” Clarke says.
No matter the variety, both of our experts emphasize the importance of sunlight in growth and flower production.
“If they are planted in a sunny spot with ample soil moisture they will grow quickly and bloom,” Bradford says.
Clarke adds that though it’s not ideal, they can also tolerate some shade if need be.