I pruned the hibiscus again. It’s probably the wrong time of year to do this and it will probably weep over its loss of branches and then attract pests and disease. Oh, well. I’m just excited to have something in my yard live long enough to prune.
I received the hibiscus as a housewarming gift. It presented as light pink, almost peach at the nursery. I declared it a romantic color and placed it in a pot right outside the master window because I wanted to see it every day.
This hibiscus is a tropical one and not a hardy hibiscus. Both do fine here in Zone 9b. I think it’s a bit of a fussy plant and I had no business as a beginner adding this to my yard.
But I’m fascinated with hibiscus in general. On a recent trip to Oahu I posed with any bright colored hibiscus found all around the city, blooms as big as my hand.
My hibiscus came trimmed up in the standard way, a lollipop, which I hated and let grow out for two years. Last month and now today, I tried to shape it up a little while still letting it be the tree it was meant to be.
Meanwhile, my hibiscus really needs…. something. Fertilizer? Repotting? Different location? It’s getting more sunlight since the tropical storm toppled a neighboring ficus a couple weeks ago. I’m not sure the hibiscus likes it. I know it definitely does not like any sort of wind and it lets me know by dropping blooms and leaves. However, it does love tons of water.
In fact, it hasn’t bloomed in quite some time. It will produce buds but they yellow and dry out. My plan is to research when to fertilize the hibiscus and get it on a regular schedule. After two years it’s time to take care of this lovely tree and enjoy what it has to offer.
…Aaaaand this is gardening. Guessing at what nature wants and experimenting until it either flourishes or gives up.
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