Hibiscus clayi grow and care – shrub or tree of the genus Hibiscus also known as Kauai rosemallow or Clay’s hibiscus, Hibiscus clayi perennial evergreen plant and used as ornamental plant for the flowers, can grow in tropic, subtropical or mediterranean climate and growing in hardiness zone 10b+ and with the right overwinter care in hardiness zone 10a.
Leaves edible color green in oval shape and serrated margin.
How to care: Add fertilize at least once, put mulch to keep the soil moist, organic matter and humus, prune once a year
What is the best way to start growing? Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction – cutting
How to propagate by cutting: Propagating by cutting better to start in the early spring or with temperature of 15-26C (59-79F) and better before the plant start to grow after the dormant, better to choose stems that not going to bloom, requirements: moist soil, high humidity, peat soil, hormone for root growth, highly recommend to use green house (or small plastic box with holes) it will take few weeks.
Is it necessary to graft or use vegetative reproduction? No, but with cutting ensure the color of the flower and the size of the plants, not hard to start by seeds
Difficulties or problems when growing: ?
Recommended planting season? Spring in hardiness zone 10a, spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11, all year in hardiness zone 12+
How to plant: Dig hole bigger 50% more than the roots ball, add to the hole, organic matter, dead leaves and hummus put back some soil and mix it, after this put the cover lightly but strong enough that won’t fall put support for the plant if needed, if the plant is not stable consider to prune, water it twice in the first day and every day for two weeks put water more than the regular, better to add the fertilizer after the plant establish.
Pests and diseases: Aphids, mealy bugs, mites
Pruning season: Autumn / Winter
How to prune: Weak branches, dead flower and leaves and inner branches that not blooming, also important to design the plant when it’s young for a shrub or tree
Size of the plant? 0.5-2m as shrub and as tree 2-8
Growth speed in optimal condition: Fast growing
Water requirement: Average amount of water
Light conditions in optimal condition for growing: Full Sun, possible in half shade but will bloom less
Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant? No
Growing is also possible in pots, planter, flowerpot or containers: Yes, when growing in pot need 50% bigger than the roots ball, every time that switch the container to bigger switch some of the soil to new soil until arrive to the desirable container size, after that every few years better to switch part of the soil and cut some roots, no need to take the plant out just from the side of the container, can grow in container of 10-20L (2-4 gallons) need to design the plant as shrub or small tree (better shrub the tree will be too much big to grow in container of 20L (4 gallons) and will need at 50L (10 gallons), soil can be potting soil, mixture of peat soil and perlite or other light mixed soil, water it regularly and care when put bottom for the pot be aware not to let the water stay there too many days, need to add humus, organic matter, fertilizer and mulch to cover the soil to keep it moist.
Blooming information
Bloom season: Spring / Summer / Autumn (in the tropic all year)
General information about the flower Pink or red with five petals
