Every Hibiscus gardener dreams of seeing enormous blossoms on their plants each morning. But oftentimes their weight can cause the branch to dangle, which in turn damages the stems.
Don’t let that stop you from growing big blooms! Follow our recommendations to make the Hibiscus stem thicker as well as stronger.
Why Does Hibiscus Become Leggy?
Hibiscus can be broadly classified into tropical and hardy varieties, depending on their height, blooms, and habitat in which they grow.
Tropical Hibiscus (native to Asia) stays relatively low (5-6 feet) and has no obvious tall stem. As for hardy Hibiscus (native to North America), they can grow up to 15 feet tall and have a thick stem.
On the whole, almost all the varieties of Hibiscus are woody. Their stems have a cambium that can form new tissue to form secondary phloem and secondary xylem. As the old xylem tissue lignifies into wood, Hibiscus thickens its primary stem to support the surrounding branches in its natural cycle.
But sometimes, due to external factors, this natural cycle is disturbed and the stem remains thin over time.
The primary reason for the leggy growth of the hibiscus stem is insufficient light, which causes stretching of the internodes, resulting in a weak stem.
In other words, if the distance between the nodes is much, the stem grows thin and soft. This can go unnoticed until you see a large bloom hanging from a drooping branch.
And, if this shortcoming is not addressed, the plant will gradually weaken and thus become more susceptible to various kinds of pest infestation. In many cases, unless the problem is resolved by taking adequate measures, the plant succumbs to its weaknesses.
How Do You Prevent Leggy Stems In Hibiscus?
The stem develops in the same way as the plant itself. So, if your Hibiscus is doing well and is well nourished, its stem will also become thick in the process.
However, you must also take into account that different varieties of hibiscus have different stem thicknesses. Moreover, the roots and their surrounding space generally play a big role. The more roots, the larger the plant itself, and thus thicker would be its stem.
A thick stem is formed primarily for two reasons:
- When there are enough and the right nutrients, the plant then plans to develop more buds which usually require a lot of energy. This energy transfer requires a strong and thick channel – thus resulting in a thicker stem.
- To give the plant the much-needed support when it forms more branches and leaves.
Another important thing to keep in mind here is that placing Hibiscus under the fan to help it grow a thick stem is an absolute myth. Yes, you can place it under a fan, but that doesn’t directly thicken the stem, it just causes more cellulose to form in the stem to give it more support.
For the plant to grow a thick stem, it needs the right nutrients. Nitrogen and potassium are responsible for stem and leaf growth. So, if you supply enough nitrogen and potassium, the stem will also become thicker.
Keep the below factors in mind to avoid a leggy stem
- Always place Hibiscus under direct sunlight
- Choose the right-sized pot depending on the growth
- Provide balanced nutrition and adequate water
- Ensure proper air circulation
If Hibiscus is grown from seedlings, it’s quite normal to see a weak structure until it has matured for a couple of weeks. It is therefore advised to gradually relocate them to an area that allows a little sunshine and slowly increase their duration.
It is best to give the young plant a balanced fertilizer from time to time (without overdoing it). However, you should not do this on a completely newborn plant, as fertilizer can kill it. I prefer organic fertilizer only until the young plant has grown to a height of at least 8 inches.
5 Tips To Make Your Leggy Hibiscus More Thicker
Tip #1: Love & Care
Hibiscus is an herbaceous perennial – It needs a good dose of fertilizer, water and sunlight to develop into a lush green plant. In addition, it needs to be inspected from time to time to make sure it is free of pests (particularly aphids and whiteflies).
And as the plant develops new branches, it must be pruned when it reaches a certain height. This is to interrupt the vertical growth and encourage the plant to grow horizontally. This will thus prevent branches from becoming too long and will in turn make your Hibiscus bushier.
In case there are growing buds in few branches, focus on the non-flowering branches and cut them off if they get too long. Also, replace the pot as and when Hibiscus grows beyond a particular height.
While transplanting, make sure to prune the roots allowing them to grow better and faster.
Tip #2: Feed Potassium Based Fertilizer
Hibiscus have a voracious appetite for potassium. I personally have never seen any other plant that loves this particular mineral so much. Owing to its deficiency, in some cases, Hibiscus exhibits a leggy structure. So, the most important thing is to replenish the soil with a potassium-based fertilizer so that the plant grows healthier and stronger.
You can use either potassium nitrate (13-0-45), muriate of potash or sulfate of potash. MOP and SOP contain a high proportion of potassium (50-60% as K₂O), but I recommend sticking to potassium nitrate as it also contains nitrogen to promote shoot growth.
Tip #3: Provide Space & Warmth
When growing hibiscus plants in the ground, it’s important to consider the space between any two plants to avoid competition for nutrients. When too many plants are planted close together, they will compete for nutrients in the soil, leading to weaker growth.
The same applies to the ones grown in pots. And while you may have planted a single plant in a pot – an appropriate pot size will ensure that your hibiscus plant has enough space to grow and access the nutrients it needs to thrive. Read here to know about the ideal pot size for hibiscus plants.
Aside from this, Hibiscus prefers a warm climate, which is perhaps why it grows well in tropical environments. However, it can also grow quite well here in the northern parts of America, provided you choose the right location. This is because heat accelerates many metabolic processes, which the plant exhibits by growing vibrantly.
Tip #4: Avoid Overwatering
Excessive watering at any time of the year can also contribute to thin structure and excessive growth of twigs during the flowering season. In such cases, it is necessary to immediately cut off the elongated shoots, and then strictly control the amount of water supplied to the plant.
It is best to follow a strict watering schedule basis the requirements of your plant. To know more about this, read this article on watering requirements of Hibiscus plant.
Tip #5: Provide Adequate Sunlight
In order to grow a thick and strong Hibiscus stem, you need to make sure that it gets enough sunlight. And while the plant can be kept in partial shade, but nurturing it in full sun will make the Hibiscus stronger. And this should be practiced all through the year in case you live in areas that do not experience subzero temperatures.
Bottom Line
Of late, gardeners have access to all kinds of organic fertilizers, both offline and online. So instead of resorting to synthetic fertilizers, which are usually expensive, opt for organic fertilizers like vermicompost to nourish Hibiscus soil.
You can even make this organic compost at home by composting your kitchen and garden waste in a compost bin. This way, you turn your waste into a rich source of nutrients. It also gives your plant a high organic matter content, which contains important soil microbes and good bacteria that are beneficial to the overall vitality of the plant.
Remember that thickening of the stem takes time. Be patient, while working on it, and above all, make an effort to build a relationship with your plant. Because if you listen to your plant, it will listen to you.
Have fun gardening!
