Pruning Vs. Deadheading Hibiscus: The Difference And Which Is Best To Do When

Tropical Hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus, H. moscheutos, H. coccineus) is a stunning perennial flowering shrub that can grow in hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA). There's a wide range of colorful varieties of hibiscus flowers for a tropical garden that stands out. Still, regular care and maintenance, like pruning and deadheading, are essential for healthy, long-lasting blooms. While both pruning and deadheading involve cutting parts of the plant to improve its health and appearance, they are not the same thing.

Pruning is the practice of cutting stems and branches of a plant to encourage new growth and/or train it into a desired shape. It is usually only done once or twice a year, depending on the plant's needs and hardiness. For hibiscus, pruning is generally limited to once per year. It is also specifically targeted at newer growth for tidiness, and to remove dead or damaged branches. Plus, you can selectively cut certain stems to train the plant to grow in the direction you want. The time of year you need to prune is dependent on the plant's growth and blooming characteristics.

Deadheading, on the other hand, is the practice of cutting or pinching off the heads of spent flowers before they die completely. It is done consistently throughout the blooming season. Generally, deadheading is done for a few reasons. The most common reasons for deadheading are to promote reblooming and extend the season, and to improve the appearance of your plants. It can also be used to control self-seeding if you don't want the plant to spread on its own.

If you're looking for tips and tricks to keep your hibiscus plant growing and thriving, these pruning tips are just what you need. Pruning is an essential part of hibiscus care. The first step of pruning is to determine how your plant grows. Does it bloom on new wood or old wood? This will tell you what time of year you need to prune for the best growth (before or after the blooming season). 

Hibiscus plants flower on new wood, so you should prune before the new blooming season. It is best to do this before new buds start to form, so you will want to prune in the late winter or early spring after the threat of frost has passed. If you prune in late winter, you will most likely see bushier growth. When you are ready to prune, use sharp loppers to cut away the desired stems. Pruning shears may not be enough to easily cut through the woody branches with a clean cut. A good rule of thumb is to cut the plant down by about half. This will delay your blooming season slightly, but provide a healthier, tidier plant.

Deadheading is a common practice for perennial flowers if you want to extend the blooming season, but it doesn't work the same for all flowers. Each variety requires different timing and cutting techniques to produce the desired results. Some varieties only need to be deadheaded a few times in the season, while others need constant attention. Likewise, some plants need to be cut with shears, and others can be pinched off with your fingers. 

So what's the best way to deadhead hibiscus for endless blooms? It's simple, but time-consuming. However, if having a perfectly manicured flower garden brings you joy, it will be well worth it. To deadhead your hibiscus plants, simply pinch off dying flower head stems whenever you see them, at the point where they meet the main branch . How much you want to allow the flowers to wilt is ultimately up to you, but if you see the petals begin to brown, it's probably a good time. There is no hard and fast rule for how frequently to deadhead hibiscus. Simply keep an eye on the blossoms during the blooming season and take off the dead ones when you don't like the look of them anymore. This will encourage your hibiscus to continue blooming. At the end of the season, when you start to see fewer blooms, you can choose to stop deadheading if you want to collect the seed pods to propagate additional plants.