Proper care for Chinese hibiscus includes repotting it in fresh soil once a year. Anyone who chooses the right time, prepares the repotting well and proceeds carefully when repotting will be rewarded with a he althy plant.
How and when should a hibiscus be repotted?
To successfully repot the Chinese hibiscus, it should be done in spring, all necessary materials provided and the roots shortened if necessary. Pruning can also be done to promote compact growth.
When will we repot?
The indoor hibiscus is repotted in spring. Then the rest period is over and the plant begins to sprout. If you repot it later, there is a risk that the hibiscus will drop its flowers.
Well prepared
You should prepare all the materials you need to repot the hibiscus in advance so that you can work quickly. This includes standard potting soil, a fork to loosen the soil, well-sharpened secateurs or a sharp knife and possibly a new container.
The Chinese hibiscus does not need giant pots to thrive. It gets along well with a small pot size and little substrate. You transfer young plants to a larger container every year. It's best to use a pot that is at most 2cm larger than the old one.
Older hibiscus plants stay in their pot. Here only the soil is replaced and the roots receive a strong pruning.
Repotting – a good opportunity for pruning
At the same time as repotting, the Chinese hibiscus can be pruned as a further care measure. Light annual pruning promotes the plant's compact growth, strong shoots and large flowers.
Repotting step by step
- tilt the hibiscus carefully
- loosen the substrate and remove the plant by gently pressing or tapping on the pot
- knock off loose soil
- Loose up the roots - a fork is suitable for this - and cut back excessively long roots so that the roots can spread well in the new soil
- For large plants, the roots are cut back so that enough soil fits between the ball and the container wall
- fill fresh soil into the new container
- place the hibiscus so that the roots can spread to all sides and cover with soil
Tips & Tricks
Before the hibiscus in the pot gets its summer spot on the terrace and blooms, it is also repotted. Since the potted plants get relatively large over the years, it's best to find someone to help you repot them.
