Hibiscus...White

love these shrubs - have 2 :))))))))))))))))

Thanks Paul, have you had any flowering problems at all, can't get a bloom from this one this year....!!

Had no flowers either - but grows fast :))))

Oh right...well Vavilla is going to look at this one, she may be able to help...fingers x'd....

It is not that old from the looks of it Sue. So there is time. But, you can affort to cut off some branches from the base itself so that what is remaining can grow faster. The plant looks healthy but if you have all those branches, it will remain a bush whereas what you should really do is to make it a tree so that branches will form from the top and hang down with the flowers. If it was mine, I would cut off all leaving the fattest healthiest one only. But I can't ask you to do that not knowing how it will react. But those spindly side branches defintely have to be removed. Too many leaves taking away all what you are feeding it.

However, do not throw away what you cut off Sue; select a few strong ones and remove all leaves from them and cut off a little from the tops and stick them somewhere where they could take root without being disturbed by your pets.. I use those as stakes for frail branches of other plants in pots, and they all grow! Do not over water this plant either. They love the hot sun and a bit of dryness just like Ixoras. I do not give them any attention except to prune them. They get watered only because I water other plants. Any more doubts you have about what I said, please don't hesitate to ask Sue. I don't want anything to happen to your plant by confusing you Sue. Good luck.

Hi Vav...I've had a look and there is a good strong stem in the middle that could form the trunk of the Tree to be, it also has one thicker to the right but then it would be crooked...so I would be inclined to use the middle Stem..it also has around three to four branches at the top of it, pointing in an upward direction...
I will ask OH to do it his hands are stronger than mine...
I trust your judgment if you think it will perform better...
Thankyou...x

Frankly Sue, this is what I would have done if it was my plant. No sooner you cut them they start growing like mad putting shoots out every which way. But I saw a comment about a shrub. Out here hibisucs is mostly a tree. If you are thinking of making it a shrub, then of course you have to let it grow from all over. I like gardening but I don't go for topiary. shrubs, hedges etc. because I like convenience. It all depends on what you like. Whether you do what I say or not, the plant looks too young to flower unless it is a grafted one. If you intend cutting, don't forget to plant the strong ones because if they grow(they should) you might be able to exhange them for other plants or give them to friends. Hope there is more sun than what's in the picture.
Say a prayer for me and do the cutting Sue.
Best of luck to you.

Hi Vav...OH had a look in the RHS book on pruning, and basically it was as you said......I have had one flower the first year I bought it, I have had it around two years....I understand, also we have pruned our young Magnolia into a standard Tree, and also our Ceanothus...so we're not scared lol...and will keep the strongest stems for planting...
Going to eat then rest, take care talk soon...

Thank you RHS Book!

I think it's a good idea...seems to make sense to me...and the the stronger cut off stems can be planted to produce more plants, got to be good news...:)))

:))))

Vav..... OH has pruned the Hibiscus and left the one good strong stem.....looking good so far...:)))

Hesitate to say it Sue becaue you must be thinking isn't there no end to this pruning..is she going to kill my plant????

But, if you cut the top off maybe about 6 inches on the stalk that is remaining, branches will start from high to make it a tree. Have to get tree installed before thinking of blooms and while you are at it, better put some more soil around the tree base to cover it a little more....

It should work and if it does not.......I hate to think what you will do to me.....

This is a by the way comment Sue..those plants you see blooming while they are 2 inches high are forced fed on all the aritificial stuff to flower and once you bring it home if you also don't do the same, it doesn't bloom. I say stick to natural stuff...you do not have coconut fibre but compost and tea leaves will do the trick for any plant.
Even paper pulp. Paper pulp were all once trees. Your new blender would have come with recycled paper turned into solid blocks and not covered with rigifoam as usual. .... in water they dissolve in no time and makes good fertlizer. Mine are already in a fern bed. Do not take my word for it Sue but test it on a plant you can do without. That'll be $25 please. ........

Ha ha you are cheeky...lol...All the fertilising is done all the shrubs and bark laid over the top to help conserve moisture....I'll have a look at the packaging you speak off...and my friend I do use Tea for sure on the garden...Have got a lovely compost heap, lots of goodies inside...:))))
I'll post a pic of the now pruned tree, and you tell me from there what to do...ok ya...x

If u are doing already what I told u no problem Sue but what I feel is if you don't cut a bit of the top off and encourage that top to put out new branches, maybe what you pruned from the sides might come up again. Back to square one.

Ok, you can post a new picture to see to go on from there. The packaging looked solid though made from paperpulp and I decided to fill them with soil but the minute the water got into it, it broke into pieces and then i decided it was good fertilizer though they didn't become pots like I planned.

New pic posted Vav...and also a request from Oliveoil...;)))

I have answered your query Sue to the best of my ability; didn't see any other request......yet!