Updated at: 01-06-2022 - By: Sienna Lewis

When hibiscus plants aren’t getting enough sunlight, or if they’re overcrowded–or even if they’re just not flourishing well where they are–they should be relocated. Prior to transplanting, you must first choose the ideal location for the plant and then decide on the best method to use to ensure that the plant is not damaged during the transfer.

Hibiscus Transplant Info

Before transferring hibiscus plants, you should fulfill the following two tasks: Begin excavating the new location’s planting hole. Transplant stress and moisture loss can be minimized if the shrub is planted as soon as possible in the new place. When you are ready to plant, you may have to make adjustments to the hole’s size, but having it started provides you an advantage. The planting hole should be twice the width and twice as deep as the root mass. Use a sheet to keep the soil from the hole from contaminating your work area. Reduce the shrub’s size by roughly a third. This may seem extreme, but the plant will suffer root damage and shock as a result of this procedure. A huge plant can’t be supported by a little root mass.

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When to Move Hibiscus

After the petals have faded, it is the ideal time to transplant a hibiscus. Hibiscus bushes cease blooming in late August or early September over the majority of the United States. Make sure the shrub has enough time to establish itself in its new place before the temperatures drop below freezing. Drench the dirt with water before digging a circle around the plant. For every inch of trunk diameter, begin digging one foot deep (0.3 m). A 2-inch (5-cm) diameter trunk requires a 2-foot (0.6-m) diameter circle to be dug around it. A shovel can be used to separate the root ball from the soil once you have removed the soil around it.

How to Transplant a Hibiscus

Step 1

Try to get the right timing and weather for a hibiscus plant to thrive. Late August to late October is the ideal time to transplant hibiscus, depending on the temperature in your area. In countries where it is not too cold for a tropical plant, hibiscus is planted as a garden ornamental. Hibiscus plants thrive in warm, sunny environments, although there are hardier varieties available for locations with less favorable temperatures. For the optimum time to transplant, consult a local nursery.

Step 2

Make sure you pick a good place. In order for hibiscus to thrive, the soil must be well-drained and the plants must not be overly shaded. Avoid placing them in areas where salt spray will be present. Because they spread out as well as grow upward, they require a large amount of space to accommodate both their roots and their branches. To avoid frequent wind, they should be planted in a place where they are not exposed to it.

Step 3

Reduce the limbs to a third of their original size. As a result, nutrition is kept closer to the plant’s roots and strongest portions. Excavate a trench around the plant with a depth of roughly 1 foot for every inch in diameter of the trunk. After pruning the shrub, this trench should be far enough out so that the entire bush is ringed.

Step 4

Dig straight down, not slantingly, with a razor-sharp spade. You’ll be less likely to damage the roots this way. Take your time and be careful with the roots, since damaged roots are the most common cause of plant death following a transplant. Lifting the plant requires extreme caution to avoid damaging the roots. Keep as much soil around the roots as possible.

Step 5

Apply a natural fiber fabric and thread to the roots to secure them. This helps to keep the soil in place and the roots contained. The plant should be gently lifted onto a piece of fabric, and the corners should be lifted and tied.

Step 6

Ensure that the plant is placed at the same depth as it was originally. A change in height or depth is not acceptable. Hibiscus plants require adequate drainage, so be sure to use loose dirt at the bottom of the hole.

Step 7

Fill the hole about three-quarters of the way with earth before putting in the plant. When you’ve added water, push down the dirt to get rid of any air pockets. When transplanting, you should use stakes to keep the plant upright unless the plant is quite little. The remainder of the hole should be filled with a mixture of good soil and peat moss.

Step 8

For the first six weeks, you should water your newly transplanted hibiscus every two days. When the ground isn’t quickly soaking up the water, or when it’s well saturated, water it until it’s done. Before re-watering, allow the soil to air dry completely. When it’s time to water it, the soil should be crumbly and dry to the touch. Now that your plant has found a new home, it should be thriving.

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How to Move a Perennial Hibiscus

Hibiscus moscheutos (USDA plant hardiness zones 5 through 9) or Hibiscus coccineus (USDA zones 6 through 9) are perennial hibiscus that can be the star of a summer garden with their spectacular blooms. You can relocate your perennial hibiscus if it isn’t doing well in its current location.

Because hibiscus plants are sensitive to root disturbance, it’s best to avoid moving them unless absolutely essential. In order to avoid the effects of transplant shock, be sure to provide your hibiscus with a lot of TLC after the major relocation. The smaller the hibiscus, the faster it adapts to its new environment. According to the University of California Master Gardeners, the primary goal when transplanting shrubs is to minimize root disturbance.

1. Wait until new shoots emerge in spring

In the spring, keep an eye out for evidence of new growth on your perennial hibiscus. As one of the last perennials to put up new foliage, hibiscus plants typically take until the middle of spring to do so.

2. Prune off dead growth

Hand cut the plant’s dead growth to a few inches above the ground level.

3. Water the plant deeply

Before moving the hibiscus, give it a thorough watering, ensuring that the root zone is completely saturated. As the plant is relocated, the water helps the soil adhere to the roots, lowering the risk of root injury.

4. Prepare the soil in the new location

When planting in full light and moist soil, loosen the earth with a shovel at least 18 inches deep and three times as broad. Make sure the new place is big enough for the plant to grow 4 to 7 feet tall and half that wide.

5. Dig a trench around the plant

The blade of a shovel should be plunged straight down in a circular motion around the hibiscus. One foot out from the plant’s edge is recommended for every inch of diameter in the thickest stem. The shovel should not be pointed at the plant. Work your way outward from the outer perimeter of the circle by digging an inch-wide trench.

6. Dig a new hole in the new location

Make a hole in the loosened soil large enough to accommodate the hibiscus’ root ball. At least three feet apart is recommended when transplanting many hibiscus plants.

7. Dig out the root ball carefully

The trench should be lined with burlap or a tarp. With a shovel, remove the hibiscus root ball and place it on a sheet or burlap. To transport the plant, wrap the root ball in a material and place it in a new location. As much as possible, keep the root ball hidden from view.

8. Plant the root ball and water it

Incorporate the root ball into the new opening. Plant and soil should be adjusted such that the plant’s crown is at the same level as it was in the previous location. Native soil should be used to fill in the space between the root ball and the top of the container. To remove any air pockets in the soil, use water. Fill up the remaining space with soil and push it down to ensure that the roots are secure.

9. Mulch the new transplanted shrub

Mulch the transplanted tree by placing a three-inch layer of mulch around it. Keep it at least 4 inches back from the stems of the plant to prevent rot.

10. Water regularly

Mulch the transplanted tree by placing a three-inch layer of mulch around it. Keep it at least four inches away from the plant’s stems to avoid decay.

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11. Care over time

Mulch the transplant by three inches. Keep it at least 4 inches away from the plant’s stems to prevent decay.

Things You Will Need

  • Pruners for the hands
  • Shovel
  • Tarps and burlap are both acceptable materials.
  • Mulch

When transplanting hibiscus, place the shrub in an area that is large enough to accommodate it, but not so large that it’s unable to support its own weight.