| Hello. I lost quite a few of my hibisus plants during this past winter and have replaced them. I love the double flowered hibiscus and was wondering if you could root them from their original plants. If you can, do you need to root them in water or place directly into soil? Same thing with crepe mytrle trees? Thanks for your help. |
| You can have a reasonable degree of success in propagating your crepe myrtle and your hibiscus with tip cuttings. Choose stem tips that have not developed flower buds and that are pliable but are beginning to develop bark. Make 6" long cuttings, remove the lower leaves, and dip the cut ends in rooting hormone. Set the cuttings in a container filled with moistened potting soil, then place 4 wooden stakes (I use bamboo skewers) around the inside rim of the pot and drape plastic wrap over the stakes. This will act like a little greenhouse, keeping humidity in to keep your cuttings from drying out. Lift the plastic once a week or so to check the soil moisture level and to allow fresh air to circulate. Place the pot of cuttings in a shady part of the garden and keep the soil damp but not soggy wet. I usually place 6-8 cuttings in a single one gallon pot. You'll know the cuttings have rooted when they begin to develop new leaves. At that time remove the plastic wrap but leave the cuttings alone to develop healthy root systems. In 3-4 weeks you can transplant them into individual containers or plant them in the ground. Good luck with your project! |
