PAGE TWO 
HOW TO GROW HIBISCUS! 
HIBISCUS, one of the most popular ornamental shrubs 
for landscape plantings in Florida, can be grown easily if 
just a few simple precautions are taken. Most of our soils 
are suitable for Hibiscus, but all soils need the addition of 
plant food and water. Hibiscus will safely take tempera- 
tures down to freezing. Sometimes a 28-30 degree tem- 
perature will kill the tops of Hibiscus plants but they will 
generally come back and put out new growth in the spring 
and bear bloom on the new growth. It is wise to bank 
Hibiscus, especially choice grafted plants, to prevent the 
loss of such plants in the event of a hard freeze. 
PLANTING: Prepare hole about twice the depth as the 
ball of earth around plants roots; remove the plant carefully 
from the can or pot. Using a mixture of 50% topsoil and 
50% peat, leafmold or well decomposed manure, to which a 
handful of good commercial fertilizer of high organic 
fertilizer has been added for each foot of the plant height, 
the hole should be refilled to a point that will allow the 
plant to set in the ground at the same level as it was in the 
container or in the nursery row. Fill in around the plant 
firmly with the mixture mentioned above, watering it in well 
to prevent air pockets from forming. Leave a shallow basin 
around the plant to retain moisture. 
FERTILIZATION: Since Hibiscus grow practially all 
year around, three applications of a good commercial fer- 
tilizer of a 6-6-6 formula (with a high organic content) is 
recommended each year. Newly set plants will probably 
not need as much fertilizer the first season as they will later, 
if the soil has been properly prepared; the amount of fer- 
tilizer per application will vary from an ounce for a very 
small plant to as much as four pounds for a very large one. 
Fertilizer may be broadcast around the base of the plant or 
applied by using the punch bar method. Fertilizer should 
be watered in well. If possible, fertilizer should not be 
permitted to settle on the foliage; if so, it should be washed 
off immediately to prevent leaf damage. 
WATERING: Newly set plants should be soaked two to 
three times per week. After the plant is established, water- 
ing is necessary only in dry seasons. 
FLOWER BUD DROP: Bud droppage is the sign of an 
unhealthy plant. Insects, rootknot, or a deficiency of one 
or more of the plant food elements may cause flower buds 
to fall prematurely. A poorly drained location or subjecting 
the plant to severe dryness may cause this; some few varie- 
ties also drop their buds in the spring until along in June 
when the growth is a little harder. 
INSECT PESTS: The regular spring and fall cleanup is 
usually sufficient to keep Hibiscus clean. However, in cases 
of severe infestation, a specific spray may be necessary 
FLORIDA NURSERY GARDEN NEWS 
SEPTEMBER 1954 
Some of Central Horidas 
Favorite Hibiscus! 
AMERICAN BEAUTY-large double deep fuscia rose. 
APEX-Single flat orange yellow; darker center. 
BETTY CHALK-Single brilliant red with deep throat. 
BETTY KERSEY-—large golden salmon single. 
BARON VON KLEINSCHMIDT~-gorgeous double yellow. 
BRIDE -large single blush pink shading white. 
BRILLIANTISSIMA~—large single bright red. 
BUTTERFLY-—large double bright yellow. 
BUTTERCUP-clear single yellow. 
BRUCE PARNELL-—large double brilliant orange-red with 
yellow undertones. 
BALL OF FIRE—large double red with yellow stamen. 
COLUMBIA~—large peony form rose pink. 
DOUBLE YELLOW #40—(Sungold)—large double, yellow. 
DOUBLE YELLOW #50—(Goldenglo)—ruflled double 
golden yellow. 
EUTERPE-single salmon pink. 
FLAMINGO-large double ruffled carmine pink. 
FLORIDA SUNSET-single flowers of sunset shades with 
bronze margins. 
GOLDEN DAWN-large single golden orange with red 
veins and bronze center. 
GRANDIFLORA~—bright light pink with dark eye. 
HELEN WALKER-ruffled single apricot pink. 
HURRICANIA—double of lovely reddish pink shade. 
INDIAN CHIEF-—large single orange red. 
KILAUEA~—Iarge single yellow with pinkish center. 
KONA~—large double flowers of exquisite light pink. 
KING OF TONGA~—huge single orange red. 
LA FRANCE PINK—small bright pink flowers. 
LA FRANCE WHITE-—small dainty pure white bloom. 
LILLIAN WILDER-—Ilarge single shading from white to 
pink with deeper pink throat. 
LUTEA-—soft buff yellow single with dark crimson eye. 
MRS FRED ANDERSON-ruffled yellow single with varie- 
gated pink center. 
MRS. JOHNSON-large single creamy pink with lighter eye. 
MME. X—ruffled double pink and white. 
PSYCHE —small single red with feathery edges. 
PEACHBLOW- large double peach pink. 
SUNSHINE-— golden yellow single with deep pink throat. 
SINGLE YELLOW 101 lovely clear yellow single. 
SINGLE SCARLET-—large single scarlet—heavy bloomer. 
—HIBISCUS FROM 75c UP— 
We have many other choice varieties in stock . . . some grafts and 
others on own root. Visit our display grounds and enjoy the lovely 
blossoms. We are open daily from 7:30 til 5:30. Altho we are closed 
on Sunday, visitors are welcome to drop by and enjoy the flowering 
shrubs in bloom. 
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