How to Prune a Hibiscus Plant

This is a very sorry tropical hibiscus plant that the deer munched on all summer, I was going to toss it out but decided to try and revitalize it for this project.

This photo shows the damage the deer did, the plant never bloomed this year, because the deer ate the ends off all the branches repeatedly.

STEP ONE:

Make sure your pruners are clean and sterilized. Take a long look at the plant and decided where to cut. Hibiscus form buds on the ends of each new branch, so the more branches the more flowers.

You will want to make all your cuts ¼ inch above an outward facing bud/node.

There are two outward pointing nodes above.

STEP TWO:

Cut all the branches back by at least one third.

These three branches have all been cut back, you will notice that each branch has several node clusters, this is typical of hibiscus and should result in several new branches.

All cuts were made at an angle so that water would run off them.

This is the plant after cutting every branch back by one third.

At this point you will want to put it into a new pot with fresh soil.

Water it well and find it a sunny spot indoors for the winter.

Step 3:

Be sure not to waste all those cuttings!!!!

Remove the lower leaves and all but a couple of leaves from the top,

then stick them in a pot together and cover with a baggie.

If you have some rooting hormone you can dip the ends in it, but it isn’t necessary.