Frogsarefun
New Member
Hello, I have two hibiscus bushes purchased this May from local greenhouse. How long should I wait to be able to harvest leaves and flowers safely?
Hi @Frogsarefun! Others may disagree, but on any plants that I haven't grown from seed or a cutting of one of my existing plants, I wait until there is new, healthy-looking growth on the plant before feeding it to my critters. For hibiscus specifically, I waited until a new bud forms as well.Hello, I have two hibiscus bushes purchased this May from local greenhouse. How long should I wait to be able to harvest leaves and flowers safely?
Hi @Maro2Bear - Glad for this input. I posed a question to my local Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners as to how long they think it takes for fertilizers and insecticides to "work their way out" of a plant.Id say, as long as you havent your self sprayed anything on these plants, all the new fresh leaves, buds & flowers are safe to feed. I have two hibiscus on our front porch, (two new blooms today) but they will soon come in & grow & bloom in our sun room all Winter long. One of these was purchased in Spring & I have been feeding our Sully new blossoms from this bush all Summer.
Fresh new flowers & buds - go ahead & feed. Thsts a good almost 6 months.
Hi @TheLastGreen! Beautiful hibiscuses (hibisci?) I'd definitely wait more than 3 days before feeding to your tort. Even using the guideline of waiting to see new, healthy-looking growth, 3 days is not long enough for that to happen (would be more like a month, I'd say). And that's after you transplant it into new fertilizer- and insecticide-free dirt.I have the same problem as @Frogsarefun, I have bought a beautiful hibuscus, with lots of buds, about 3 days ago, and I am not sure if I should feed the green buds when they flower (the 2 orange ones were green, when I bought them)
Hi @Maro2Bear - Glad for this input. I posed a question to my local Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners as to how long they think it takes for fertilizers and insecticides to "work their way out" of a plant.
It seems to me that because of the pumping action set up when water enters root cells through osmosis, and the Transpirational Pull which moves water and minerals to the upper parts of the plant, that the dissipation of the chemicals we're all concerned about should occur more quickly than over the course of a whole year. About 98% of the water coursing through the plant's system is turned into water vapor that exits the stomata (pores) of the leaves. The real question is "how long do the nasty chemicals stick around?" I'll let you know what the MG's come back with.
P.S. if anyone wants to pose this question to your Master Gardeners, you can find them here.
Sorry should have been more clear, I was talking about when those two new orange ones bloom, but I'll wait a few monthsand I am not sure if I should feed the green buds when they flower
Mine were outdoors all summer, potted. Just moved them in and will repot them.Hi @Frogsarefun! Others may disagree, but on any plants that I haven't grown from seed or a cutting of one of my existing plants, I wait until there is new, healthy-looking growth on the plant before feeding it to my critters. For hibiscus specifically, I waited until a new bud forms as well.
I'm not sure if you planted these bushes outside or if they're growing indoors. It's important to re-pot plants you buy commercially into dirt that you are sure has no insecticides or fertilizers in it. Got pics?
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When I brought mine in from outdoors, I kept them away from all my other plants until I was sure there weren't any hitchhiking bugs on it (it's an old, long, sad, and very frustrating story!) Anyway, I did notice some spider mites on the hibiscus.Mine were outdoors all summer, potted. Just moved them in and will repot them.
So, I heard back from my Friendly Neighborhood Master Gardeners but they couldn't give me a specific answer without more information (most of which, if we knew - we'd likely be able to answer the question ourselves). Don't get me wrong - they are very helpful and they tried!I posed a question to my local Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners as to how long they think it takes for fertilizers and insecticides to "work their way out" of a plant.
P.S. if anyone wants to pose this question to your Master Gardeners, you can find them here.