Purple-dinner-plate Hibiscus
- Grows best in partial shade
- 100 – 300 µmol / m2 PAR optimal
- Tolerates full sun (>1500 µmol / m2 PAR) and full shade (<75 µmol / m2 PAR)
- Too much light will cause extensive vertical stem growth and small dull colored leaves
- Too little light will result in a stunted plant with large, dark green leaves, few flower buds, and shortened flower life
- Medium
- Course, high organic matter soils.
- Good water retention, if in container.
- Rocky and well drained, if in the ground.
- Hydroponics
- Mother-plants do best in heavy aggregates such as cinder, peat, gravel, clay, or stake-supported in perilite or rice/coconut husk.
- Nursery/landscape plants are best grown in NFT, deep-root-submersion, or aeroponics. These systems are ideal because they lack aggregates that can injure roots during transport or that need to be removed for shipment.
- When transplanting from a hydroponic system into a soil-landscaping situation you must take care to handle the plant as little as possible and avoid exposing roots to the environment until they go into the ground. After transplanting water heavily and fertilize according to plant size and site. A shade structure and misting will minimalize shock.
- Fertilizer
- Soil grown plants can handle urea and ammonia based fertilizers but work best when these are combined with manures and beneficial organisms.
- Begin by mixing organics in while tilling soil, transplant your plant, side dress with high nitrogen fertilizer then, water.
- This is best done while plant is undergoing vegetative growth, this minimizes transplant shock and ensures that the high nitrogen will stimulate growth and energy without burning.
- This is also the best time to add calcium-containing fertilizers as they are slow to metabolize and early application will ensure a proper nutrient compliment when it comes to bud-set and flowering.
- During the initiation of flowering (before buds actually begin to appear) is the best time to begin applying blooming fertilizer containing high levels of phosphorous, potassium, sulpher, and magnesium.
- Flower induction takes 7-14 days, depending on the plant, and is either induced by the grower through water, lighting, and temperature control or is based upon the seasonal changes. Seasonal flowering typically occurs during spring and/or fall depending on the plant.
- Early detection of flowering stage (slowed growth, color change, leaf drop, etc.) and appropriate application of nutrients, light, and water can result in amazing crop performance never before seen in your plants.
Use normal hydroponic guidelines and techniques for heavy flowering plants when growing in soilless media.
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