How to plant a Chinese rose

The Chinese rose, or hibiscus in another way, is a widespread houseplant that is very much loved for its beautiful flowers and unpretentiousness. This species, although it is capable of withstanding severe frosts, does not have time to bloom in the climate of the middle zone. It is grown in gardens only in the southern regions. In cold weather areas, there is nothing to do but plant a Chinese rose at home.

About the Chinese rose

Hibiscus is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 6 m in nature. The flowering of the Chinese rose is quite long, which is another of its positive qualities. The genus has 250 species, one of which is cultivated as a houseplant. The homeland of the Chinese rose is Southeast Asia, and other types of hibiscus can be found in the wild in Africa, America and the Pacific Islands.

About growing a Chinese rose at home

Indoor varieties of the Chinese rose can be grown even by beginners. When cold weather sets in, hibiscus should be placed in a well-lit place. Low light is fine, but the rose won't bloom. The temperature must be maintained at + 20 ° C. And if it is lowered to + 5 ° C, then flower buds will be better laid. But this is not necessary, if conditions do not allow, then the hibiscus is left to winter at + 20 ° C.

Chinese rose

As soon as the warm summer weather sets in, the Chinese rose is taught to the sun - transferred to the balcony, and then moved to the garden. It is necessary to cover the hibiscus from bright sunlight, otherwise burns will appear on the leaves.

Ease of care, one of the qualities for which hibiscus is valued. It is important to observe the lighting and watering regime, then the plant will delight with large bright flowers. There are certain rules for caring for a Chinese rose:

• It is necessary to ensure that the soil is not overdried - in the summer there is quite frequent watering, once every 2-3 days, and in the winter, just watch that the earthen lump is moist;
• In a pot with a plant, you need to make good drainage so that the water does not stagnate;
• Hibiscus needs frequent spraying from a sprayer, especially if the indoor air is dry. The main thing is not to fall on the flowers, otherwise they will begin to fall off;
• It is better for the water to settle before watering;
• During flowering, the rose is fed once every 10 days with a complex fertilizer, and from autumn it is necessary to reduce the dose of nitrogen in the dressing;
• In spring, hibiscus is transplanted into a nutrient earthy mixture. It is difficult to replant large plants, so they simply replace the topsoil;
• After the plant is transplanted, it is pruned so that new shoots with flowers develop;
• In the fall, the Chinese rose grows and stretches - it is shortened by a third. If you prune in early March, then the shoots are removed to half the length.

With improper care, various pests, especially aphids, may appear on the hibiscus. Frequent spraying will help protect against these insects. Hibiscus can also be susceptible to various diseases such as infectious and non-infectious chlorosis, bacterial spotting, and brown rot. The most common care mistakes that lead to illness:

• a Chinese rose stands in a draft or in direct sunlight;
• too frequent watering, provoking root rot;
• dry air in the room or too high air temperature;
• dustiness of leaves;
• there is no regular spraying, this is especially important in summer weather;
• use for irrigation of poor quality water with various impurities;
• insufficient lighting;
• excessive fertilization;
• insufficient feeding and lack of regular spring transplants;
• contact with diseased plants.

If you avoid these mistakes, the Chinese rose will grow healthy and strong, delighting with regular flowering.

How to root a Chinese rose at home

The Chinese rose reproduces well by cuttings. The shoots left after pruning hibiscus in the spring are well suited for this purpose. The sections are treated with growth stimulants and placed in water. You can also leave them in a mixture of peat and sand, covering them on top, for example, with a jar.

Rose cuttings

The shoot has a white growth where the roots begin to appear. After a month, they begin to germinate, then the cutting is planted in the ground and pinched the top so that the hibiscus bushes.

If the spring cutting is well-rooted, it may even bloom after 2 months. To propagate the hibiscus, the top of the plant cut in mid-summer can also be used.

How to properly plant a Chinese rose with a shoot and seeds at home

Usually, perennials are not propagated by seed, but the Chinese rose is an exception. This method suits her perfectly. Rose seeds from China have a good germination rate, which lasts for 6 years and can germinate easily. The very procedure for such reproduction is very simple. There are several guidelines for germinating rose seeds from China. Sow it in late February or early March. The step-by-step landing algorithm is as follows:

1. First, the seeds are disinfected for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate, then washed and soaked for a day in a growth stimulator. In this case, care must be taken that the liquid does not completely cover them, and there is access to oxygen;
2. Next, the seeds are placed in wet gauze for germination. They should be kept moist and warm;
3. The seeds will germinate in about 3 days. They are seated in plastic glasses filled with sand, peat, and ash. The main thing is to make sure that the root of the plant grows straight and does not bend;
4. Sprouted seeds are placed in the soil, sprinkled on top a little and covered with paper or film;

The easiest way to reproduce, as for all perennials, is to plant a Chinese rose with a shoot. The cuttings are placed for rooting in water or a specially prepared soil composition. A month later, the roots will appear at the processes.

How to plant a homemade Chinese rose

To plant a Chinese rose with shoots, you need:

• take a stem with a diameter of about 0.5 cm;
• cut off the top at a distance of 15 cm and remove the leaves from the bottom;
• plant in a container;
• put in a place with good lighting;
• produce moderate and regular watering.

To make an annual transplant of a Chinese rose, a fertile mixture is prepared from sod and leafy soil, humus and sand. For young hibiscus, peat is also added. Expanded clay or fragments of bricks are placed at the bottom of the pot in order for drainage to take place. To less traumatize the roots, hibiscus from one pot is placed in another by transferring.

Chinese rose transplant

Hibiscuses are also planted by dividing the bush, but this method is used mainly for garden plants. The best time for the procedure is spring. Depending on the size of the bush, a knife, pruner or saw is used. Before dividing, the blades are disinfected, for example, with alcohol.

The bush is dug up, the earth is shaken off and, without damaging the extra roots, the trunks are separated. Then these shoots, on which there must necessarily be at least a few roots, are planted in pots with earth and compost. Water regularly, but in moderation.

Further care

Young sprouts of a Chinese rose are looked after in the same way as adult plants. When the rose grows, the old stems are removed, leaving new ones. Weeds are removed and the soil is loosened. Top dressing is needed during the period of active growth, from June to September. The fertilizer should have a high phosphorus content. Potash mixtures are introduced in autumn to prepare the hibiscus for wintering.

The Chinese rose is a spectacular and unpretentious houseplant that is also easy to propagate. The shape of the bush can be varied by pinching. Hibiscus with its large flowers will decorate any home.