How to Propagate Hibiscus Plants

You can clone an existing hibiscus plant by growing a hibiscus stem from the parent plant. The process of hibiscus propagation in the tropics and cold regions is the same and is easy to do at home. By cutting branches, rooting cuttings and planting in the ground, you will have healthy new hibiscus plants without having to buy!

Table of Contents

Cut branches

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Wait until summer to propagate hibiscus plants. Cut branches in mid-summer when the tree is at its strongest. This will increase your chances of successfully planting all the branches. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If you wait until late summer to prune, the branches will age and wood, making them take longer to root.

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Choose branches with green, smooth shoots. Look for smooth, dark green branches with lots of leaves at the tips. A healthy hibiscus plant will have many new shoots that you can choose from. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Lighter brown or dark green branches can also be cut, but you’ll need to keep them in the ground for them to grow.

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Use pruning pliers to cut branches from new shoots. Use clean and sharp pruning pliers to cut green branches about 10-15 cm long on the tree. Carefully place the branches in a box or bag for safety. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Avoid cutting too many branches on the same tree, as this can leave the parent plant bare or stunted. You should only cut about 5-6 branches at a time.
Wipe the pruners with a clean, damp rag after cutting to kill bacteria and prevent lightning.

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Remove leaves on branches, except for 2-3 leaves at the ends of branches. Remove leaves on the branches to help increase the amount of oxygen as the branches grow. You can use pruners to cut off all the leaves on the branch, leaving only 2-3 leaves at the top of the branch. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

If the remaining leaves are too large, cut the leaves in half to prevent them from wilting.
Never pull a leaf from a branch, as pulling it off can damage the fibrous fibers in the branch, making it harder for it to grow.

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Cut diagonally at the bottom end of the branch to encourage rooting. Use pruning pliers to cut off a piece of about 0.5 cm from the bottom end of the branch, diagonally at a 45-degree angle. This step will stimulate the branch to take root. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If possible, you should cut the branch right at the point where the previous leaves grew. These spots, called the “eyes” of the twig, contain natural growth hormone.

Cuttings

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Dip the lower end of the twig in root-stimulating hormone. Root-stimulating hormones are powders or solutions that stimulate new shoots to take root from young cells. There are numerous root stimulants on the market, but many gardeners prefer honey. Carefully apply root stimulant hormone to the lower ends of the branches and transfer the branches to the nursery medium. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Try to avoid touching the lower end of the branch with your hands, as the oil on your hands can stick to the branch and reduce the effects of root-stimulating hormone.

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Plug the branches into the water if you want to monitor the rooting process. This method is best suited for first-time planters, as it allows you to see the roots grow. Fill a clear bottle with warm water to 2.5 cm–5 cm water level and add 1 drop of hydrogen peroxide. Carefully insert the branches into the jar, making sure the leaves do not touch the water. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Remember to change the water once a week. You just need to take the twigs out of the jar, empty the water and change the water to prevent microorganisms from multiplying.
This method allows you to monitor the growth of the plant. After about a week, you will see white nodules emerging, and roots will grow in about 4 weeks.
You can use tap water if you don’t use a water softener. The softened water has too much sodium, making it difficult for hibiscus propagation to succeed.

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Stick the branches into the soil if they are old and turning wood. If you cut them late at the end of the season, these branches may become darker green and already have a crust forming on the outside that makes it harder for them to take root. Prepare a container and fill it with soil so that the soil layer is about 5cm – 8cm high. Use a pencil to poke holes in the soil, gently place the branches down, and compact the soil around them. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Do not push the branch into the ground without first poking the hole, as soil particles can damage the branch and wash away the rooting hormone.

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Cut cuttings in sand and peat moss if you are taking cuttings from tropical hibiscus. Mix 3 parts sand and 1 part peat moss in a pot. Water the mixture evenly and poke holes with a pencil before gently placing the branches in and compacting the soil around. ^{[9] X Research Source}

Water again after the branches have been planted to prevent them from drying out too quickly.

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Cover the branches with clear plastic and place the pot in a place with indirect sunlight. Gently cover the branches with clear plastic wrap or cling film to retain moisture, then place in a bright place but out of direct sunlight. Branches need to be placed in a place with indirect light throughout the day to grow. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Leave a gap underneath or cut holes in the top of the plastic bag to allow air to circulate as the branches grow.

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Mist the branches every day to keep the soil moist. Hibiscus is a water-loving plant, and keeping the cuttings moist will help them take root. You should lightly mist the plants every day so that the nursery medium is moist but not wet. ^{[11] X Research Source}

If the soil is wet, remove the plastic and only water every 2 days. Branches can rot if waterlogged.
If the soil dries out too quickly, you should water the plant more during the day. If the problem persists, move the plant to a cooler or less brightly lit location.

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Wait 2-3 months for the branches to take root. When the roots are strong enough to be planted in the ground, you will also see young leaves sprouting from the ends of the branches. Carefully dig up the branches and plant them in a pot. ^{[12] X Research Source}

With branches stuck in water, you should wait until the roots change color from white to light brown before planting.

Plant a tree

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Pour soil into a pot with a diameter of 10 cm. Hibiscus plants need to be planted in a separate pot to grow well, so you should prepare a pot for each branch. You can buy soil for hibiscus plants at plant stores and nurseries. Pour soil into the pot to about 2-3 cm from the pot’s mouth. ^{[13] X Research Source}

If you can’t buy hibiscus soil, you can use high-quality topsoil. Mix 4 parts soil with 1 part sand or peat moss to make the soil slightly less fertile.

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Dig a hole about 8 cm wide and 8 cm deep. Use your hands or a garden shovel to dig a hole in the ground to plant hibiscus branches. Remember to take into account the size of the roots to dig the hole to fit. ^{[14] X Research Source}

If you are unsure, dig a little wider and add more soil later.

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Plant the branches in the ground so that the leaves are directly above the ground and water the plant thoroughly. Place the cuttings in the hole in the ground, being careful not to damage the newly sprouted roots. Plant so that the leaves are above the ground but not touching the soil, then cover with soil and water thoroughly. ^{[15] X Research Source}

If the leaves touch the ground, they can begin to rot. Depending on the size of the cuttings, you may need to fill the bottom of the hole with some soil to make sure the plant doesn’t get buried too deep.

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Place the pot in a place with indirect light for 2 weeks. After planting the stem in the pot, place the pot in an area with indirect light while the plant takes root in the soil. Leave the plant in this position throughout the day for 2 weeks. When the 2 weeks are up, you can move the plant to a place with direct sunlight to stimulate the plant to grow new branches and leaves. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Hibiscus plants love the sun, so you should place the plant in a sunny spot and rotate the pot every few months to evenly distribute sunlight to the plant.

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Water daily while the plant is growing. To make sure you don’t over-water, you should test the soil 1.5 hours after watering. The soil should be slightly moist but not too wet. If you find the soil wet, you should only water every other day to avoid standing water in the pot. ^{[17] X Research Source}

In winter, you should water warm (about 35 degrees Celsius) to help the plant grow.

Advice

Although hibiscus plants can be propagated by seed, the success rate is much lower than by cuttings. Seedlings also often have different characteristics from the parent plant, and the resulting shoots may not be as healthy.
Be careful when handling the branches because they break easily. Hold the branch only between your index finger and thumb if possible.
Wrap a mesh bag around the hibiscus fruits to prevent the seeds from falling to the ground as the pods dry out. Seeds that don’t stay on the plant until dry are not good seeds!

Warning

Many species of hibiscus are toxic to pets. You should be cautious when choosing hibiscus plants to plant.

Steps

Cut branches

Cuttings

Plant a tree

Advice

Warning

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