Without its showy flowers, the garden marshmallow is a fairly common plant.
If at most buds form, but the hibiscus does not bloom, you should start looking for clues.
From July, the garden marshmallow (Hibiscus syriacus) shows its magnificent flowers.
Ideally.
If they are absent, have been absent for the last year, or only buds form but do not open, the plant is not doing well in your garden.
Either because it has the wrong location or because the hibiscus suffers from care errors.
Don't worry, with a few corrections you can get the shrub to bloom again next season at the latest.
Hibiscus does not bloom: Five mistakes you should avoid
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Numerous flowers and buds - but the garden marshmallow (Hibiscus syriacus) also needs the appropriate care.
© McPHOTO/Imago
Gardeners love not only the exotic flowers of the hibiscus, but also the long flowering period.
Because the shrub blooms until autumn, when other flowers have already ticked off the summer.
If the hibiscus does not bloom, it may be due to the following:
Too much shade: The garden hibiscus only blooms sparsely if the location is too shady.
Too much or too little water: In rainy summers, rot can occur and destroy the flower buds, even if this is not visible from the outside.
The same goes for excessive watering or a dense, poorly draining soil.
In dry summers, the flower buds remain closed due to lack of water.
Too little phosphorus: The nutrient supports the plant in absorbing other minerals from the soil.
If the content in the soil is deficient, the buds of the plant will not open.
Incorrect or no pruning: the marshmallow blooms on the annual new shoot.
If you prune the shrub at the wrong time or too much, you may have removed the buds.
Pests or diseases: Aphids in particular can cause the buds to become soft and spongy and not open: the buds rot.
A number of fungal diseases can also lead to the loss of buds.
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What countermeasures should be taken so that the hibiscus blooms again
You can solve the shade problem by planting the shrub in a new location where it gets at least six hours of direct sunlight a day.
Alternatively, you can move or prune other plants in the area to improve sun exposure.
For example, shady trees can provide more light once the lower branches are removed.
When you water the hibiscus, always aim the water at the soil around the plant and not at the plant itself. The flower buds must not get wet - the rain is of course unavoidable.
Ensure that the plant is sufficiently watered in summer and dry periods.
The soil around the shrub should remain evenly moist: at a depth of about 15 centimeters (carefully dig a small hole for this), the soil should feel slightly damp.
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Normally the marshmallow does not need a lot of fertilizer, but if the size or abundance of the flowers decreases, fertilizer can make up the deficiency, for example by working some horn shavings into the soil around the plant.
However, one should not overdo it, because too much phosphorus causes the whole plant to wither.
Since the hibiscus flowers on the newly growing wood, the shrub should be cut back immediately after flowering in autumn or in early spring before new growth.
As soon as you see aphids, usually on the stems or on the underside of the leaves, you should fight them with neem oil or soapy water.
If the plant has fungal problems, pruning improves air circulation between the branches.
The shrub may also be overwatered.
List of rubrics: © McPHOTO/Imago
