When Do Hibiscus Bloom And How Long Do They Bloom?

If you own a hibiscus plant, you are most likely expecting it to bloom into a bright-colored flower at some point. Unfortunately, while they are easy plants to care for, it may take some extra work to get the unique flower to bloom.

The hibiscus plant is a perennial, allowing it to bloom only yearly. This is usually during the peak of the growing season in August. 

However, if you own a tropical hibiscus plant, it will bloom all year round, with blooms normally lasting for a few days.

When Will My Hibiscus Bloom?

Depending on the type of hibiscus you own, it will be different when it blooms. For example, if your hibiscus is a perennial plant, it will only bloom once a year in the growing season.

A tropical hibiscus, however, will bloom all year-round consistently. Each bloom for these plants will only last one day.

Most hibiscus plants found in stores or grown by seeds usually are perennial.

How Long Do Hibiscus Blooms Last?

A hibiscus flower will appear bright and large, normally only lasting for one to three days. They will open in the morning and wilt when the sun has set.

How Do I Get My Hibiscus to Bloom?

If your hibiscus is not blooming, it may be lacking something. If it is not getting enough light or water, or even if there are pests, your plant will not bloom.

Sunlight

If your hibiscus is not in direct sunlight, it will cause it to not bloom. 

The plant needs direct sunlight since it is a tropical plant. Therefore, the more sunlight it gets throughout the day, the more likely it will bloom.

Fertilizer

If you fertilize the hibiscus flower too much, this will lead to an adverse effect on the plant. This is because the phosphorous in the fertilizer normally help the blooming process. However, it does the opposite for hibiscus.

If there is too much phosphorus, the plant will not be able to absorb any nutrients and will not even absorb the phosphorus. 

This stunt in nutrients will cause your hibiscus to not bloom. Instead, you may notice droopiness along with yellowing in the leaves.

It is important to dilute your plant’s soil completely and not fertilize it until the next growing season.

Even though it has issues with phosphorous, you must fertilize your hibiscus plant, as they need many nutrients to thrive and bloom.

Be sure to use a fertilizer that is 10-10-10 and is general fertilizer. It is important to fertilize the hibiscus during the growing season rather than the winter.

Pruning

It is important to prune dead or dying parts of your perennial hibiscus plants to promote growth and blooming. Cut back any brown or yellow parts to allow for new growth.

If you have a tropical hibiscus, it is best to leave it alone and not prune it.

Watering

Hibiscus plants normally need a lot of water throughout the week. Since they are tropical plants, they constantly need water to grow properly and bloom.

However, if you water your plant frequently, it is important not to over-water it. If your plant is in a pot, be sure it is not in any standing water. It should be in a well-draining pot.

If you have planted your hibiscus in the ground, you should ensure the soil is well-draining and will not allow water to build up underneath the plant.

Pests

If you find pests on your hibiscus, this will stop any growth and blooming. Therefore, it is important to inspect your plants for any pests.

If you notice pests on your plant, you should prune any infected parts of the plant and thoroughly wash it. After that, you should use insecticide or neem oil to kill and keep pests away.