Hibiscus seeds «Rose of Sharon purple»

Hibiscus «Rose of Sharon purple» / Hibiscus syriacus - this is a deciduous shrub of medium size 1.5-2 meters, rarely up to 3 meters high and 1-1.5 meters wide. Differs in bright green ovate leaves up to 10 cm long, arranged alternately. The leaves resemble chrysanthemum leaves, 3-lobed, bloom late, in cold springs young leaves are often yellow-white, autumn color is yellow.

Its flowers are solitary, magnificent, exotic in appearance, large up to 12 cm, very attractive, similar to mallow flowers: white, pink, light blue, sometimes bicolor.

Hibiscus Syrian blooms from late June to late September. Each individual flower lives for a day, but don't let that scare you, because many flower stalks appear one after another for a very long time, and along the entire height of the bush. This fact makes the bush itself grandiosely majestic and irresistible. The flower petals are very delicate. Seeing him once, you will be fascinated and in love with him. Some have dubbed the hibiscus - "The flower of love." Grow in the form of bushes or small standard trees. Hibiscus loves a lot of light, heat and moisture. Then it blooms long and luxuriantly from the second half of summer until frost. It can tolerate partial shade, but then it blooms worse. Propagated by seeds or semi-lignified cuttings.

Syrian hibiscus grows quickly and needs to be shaped by pruning - in spring, shoots should be shortened by 1/3 of the length, and in summer, fast-growing branches should be pinched.

Seeds are stored in bags in a cool, dry place. With such storage, the seeds remain viable for 3-5 years. Seeds do not possess organic dormancy; they do not need stratification. Seed depth 2 - 3 cm. Seeds are sown directly into the ground or into the nursery. Seedlings bloom in August of the first year and bloom all autumn. Plants are very responsive to fertilizer.

This plant is easier to grow as a seasonal annual, or to keep in winter in a bright and cool room. Can be used as indoor culture. Syrian hibiscus is very good in sheared and standard forms, in containers, in hedges, single and group plantings of several tones at once. You can also plant young hibiscus bushes, not branched three together, of different colors. When they reach about 50 cm, weave them with a pigtail, it will turn out like a standard tree and it will bloom in different colors. It will turn out very beautiful, unusual, you will pleasantly surprise your guests, they will not immediately understand how this is possible.

Growing hibiscus from seeds

Sowing seeds of tree-like hibiscus begins with soaking in a solution of a good stimulant, according to the instructions. Then the seeds are kept at room temperature in a damp cloth and bag for 1-3 days. Then they put it in the refrigerator door or take it out to a cold room. There they are 5-8 weeks.

After the time of this cold stratification, the seeds are sown, one at a time in small cups. The temperature in the room should not exceed plus 17 degrees. No bowls and flowerpots! It is necessary to ensure that the soil is moist, but not wet. Shoots appear in 7-25 days. Stock up on patience.

Small seedlings with an excess of moisture are “mowed” by a black leg, keep this in mind. It is better to water in the pan, and not often. Increase watering already in April, when there is a lot of sun. In April, the seedlings are hardened by the sun, by the contrast of temperatures, they are planted in the ground in May (they are transferred from cups with a clod of earth), but they must pinch the core root. Otherwise, it will be difficult to transplant, if necessary, a plant with a deep tap root. At first, from possible frosts, cover with bottles.

For the first 2 years, seedlings are tied to a peg hammered from the north side, covered in winter with spunbond in 3 layers or wrapped with reeds, letter paper. Seedlings need to breathe! Under the film they disappear. Good soil, watering and fertilizing, a sunny-sunny place are the key to abundant flowering. The distance from the track is 130 cm or more. The same is true between plants.

Winter sowing in the garden is also possible, with dry seeds in dry soil, each seed must be protected by the heaped parts of the bottles. Precipitation must fall on the seeds!

Another option. Soak the seeds in late February-March in a stimulant, rinse, put in a damp cloth and bag - and in the refrigerator door for 5-6 weeks. They will peck - into the ground in the garden, in the sun.