Prune Hibiscus: [Importance, Time, Tools, Considerations and Steps]

Hibiscus pruning can be one of the easiest garden maintenance tasks you’ll ever have, and one that will deliver great results in return.

This bush gives a beautiful bright red flower as a gift and is very popular in some areas of the world, such as Latin America.

When some time has passed without receiving pruning, it can weaken due to the excessive weight of its branches, which will directly interfere with flowering.

And since the idea is to maintain its production at spectacular levels, here we tell you what you have to do so that the pruning work does not become a headache.

Why prune hibiscus?

The pruning of the hibiscus, or hibiscus, responds to the need to promote a more numerous production of branches and, therefore, of flowers. The reason for this is that the hibiscus produces a flower for each branch, in the terminal part of it.

This means that the more branches the plant has, the more flowers it will produce. On the other hand, pruning also has a positive impact on its health because through it the damaged parts are going to be eliminated.

In a diseased plant, a well-thought-out pruning will be able to significantly improve its condition and, if it resists it, it will soon bloom again.

When is it better to carry out pruning of hibiscus?

Hibiscus pruning is best done during the spring, as it will help the new branches to develop in this season and bloom. Sometimes, at the beginning of autumn, a small maintenance or cleaning pruning can also be applied if necessary.

What tools should we use when pruning hibiscus?

Hibiscus pruning can be done with basic gardening tools such as pruning shears. For certain very small or thin parts, a knife could help a lot, and on the contrary, for thicker parts, a handsaw is more feasible.

All tools must have a very good edge so that the cuts are made without inconveniences. Also, make sure to disinfect them before promoting any type of pruning, be it in one species of hibiscus or any other.

What considerations should we take into account when pruning hibiscus?

Before advancing in the pruning of the hibiscus, it is necessary to observe it carefully to evaluate its structure and define the most favorable route to start the pruning.[/su_note]

Keep in mind that if you decide to move forward without planning ahead, you will most likely waste more time and may cut off parts you shouldn’t. Also put all the tools at hand and the space where you will leave the waste to work with order.

How to prune hibiscus without damaging the plant?

Hibiscus pruning can be done in several steps to make the task even easier. These steps are as follows:

1. Clear the plant of all branches that are in a deplorable state, either because they look brittle, damaged, dry, dead, have wilted flowers or leaves, or are tangled or bumping into each other. This action reduces the amount of energy-draining items without benefiting the structure, and also makes the bush look prettier.
2. Cut back the older stems that are located on the sides as they tend to grow and cause the plant to look messy.
3. Reduce the branches that have already given flowers from the previous year and that are surely larger. The idea here is that you can arrange a roughly equal length between all the branches so that the bush has a neater and nicer shape. If you leave two or three nodes in each of them, it will be more than enough to promote a new flowering.
4. Evaluate if the shape of the bush is correct and, if not, apply small cuts in the parts that are needed. This phase of the work is not highly recommended and should only occupy a few sections. If you don’t mind that the structure is a little unbalanced or you are a beginner, it is best not to do this step.

Specialists recommend that pruning in no way occupies more than 60% of the plant because it may not be able to recover later. Such drastic pruning is only done when the plant is sick and you are looking to give it a chance to recover.

Then, almost all of the shoots are reduced until reaching the base and it is waited to see if they develop again. Otherwise, the plant will die, either by pruning or by disease.

With a hibiscus in good condition we will be giving an incredible ornamental value to the garden, so it is one of the care that is most worth applying, so go ahead!

• How to Fertilize a Hibiscus: The Complete Guide – Sembrar100

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