Plant Care Sea Hibiscus

Sea Hibiscus

About Sea Hibiscus

The sea hibiscus is a widespread species that has been used for many purposes around the world. Their beautiful flowers emerge yellow and transition to orange and eventually red throughout the day. Their wood has been used by native Hawaiians in boats, firewood, and carvings, and the fibers as cork. They are rich in antioxidants and the bark and roots have been used as a tea to lower fevers. They are often grown as bonsai trees and the leaves are used in cooking to make tempeh, a dish made of fermented soybean. 🌺

Taxonomy

Hibiscus tiliaceum
Hibiscus
Malvaceae
Malvales

Also known as

Talipariti tiliaceum and Hibiscus tiliaceus

How to care for Sea Hibiscus

💦 Water

How often to water your Sea Hibiscus

Water needs for Sea Hibiscus
0.5 cups
every 9

Sea Hibiscus needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Sea Hibiscus

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Sea Hibiscus in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Sea Hibiscus: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Sea Hibiscus love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Sea Hibiscus does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Sea Hibiscus in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Sea Hibiscus

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Sea Hibiscus: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Sea Hibiscus after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

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💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Sea Hibiscus is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!


💦 Water Needs

Sea Hibiscus prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Sea Hibiscus requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Sea Hibiscus is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.


💨 Humidity

Sea Hibiscus doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.


🪴 Soil

Sea Hibiscus does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!


💩 Fertilizer

Sea Hibiscus should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!


🌎 Native Region

Sea Hibiscus is native to Worldwide.


🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Sea Hibiscus bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Sea Hibiscus will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.


🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Sea Hibiscus can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 10a-12a. Find your local hardiness zone here.


🌱 Propagation

Sea Hibiscus can be propagated by the stem method. To propagate:

  • Make a cut just above the node. The node is the break in the stem where the leaf emerges.
  • To get the cutting to root, you can either:
    • Place the cutting in water until roots emerge and are ~2” long and then transplant into well-draining soil, or
    • Place the cutting directly into well-draining soil and water when dry.

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Sea Hibiscus, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Sea Hibiscus

Sea Hibiscus

Sea Hibiscus


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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