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Annuals/hibicus

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Expert: - 10/1/2010


Question
when is best time to divide and replant and how do you divide

Answer
Tom,
You don't say what type of hibiscus you have - if it's a hardy hibiscus, the type that die to the ground every winter, you can divide in spring or fall. You'd dig the entire clump up and use a root-pruning saw, or an old knife, to cut a piece off about the size of a luncheon plate. (6 to 8" in diameter) Then Replant the pieces and water well. Do this either now, or in early spring before the plant breaks dormancy.

If you have a tropical hibiscus usually these are single stemmed plants that are shrubs - you don't divide these, but propagate by taking cuttings off of this year's growth. See a good article about taking cuttings here: http://www.finegardening.com/how-to/articles/propagate-your-shrubs-from-softwood...

I hope this helps,
C.L.

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C.L. Fornari

Expertise

Annuals suggested for specific situations (sun, shade, windowboxes etc) New or unusual annuals are a particular interest of mine, and I grow many of these from seed. I am happy to help problem solve, answer questions about maintenance, and guide you to sources of unusual plants.

Experience

I am a garden writer/speaker/consultant and host of a weekly gardening radio program in the Northeast. I have been gardening all my life for my own pleasure, and started as a professional gardener and garden communicator 15 years ago. I work part-time at a garden center, selling and tending shrubs/trees/annuals/perennials...and doing some propagation and design work. I often think that all these professional activities serve to put a somewhat legitimate framework around a serious case of plant-lust.

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