How to Plant Hibiscus Cannabinus Easily

Often used for making ropes, canvas, sacks, carpet mats, and fishing nets, hibiscus cannabinus or often known as Kenaf is one of the most widely cultivated hibiscus species. This cultivation is generally to produce bark fiber that resembles hemp fiber with an average length of about 1.5–3 m.

Given the many benefits obtained from hibiscus cannabinus, it is certainly not surprising that many people are curious about how to grow this plant easily. However, planting hibiscus cannabinus requires proper procedures and equipment for this plant to grow well.

So, how to grow hibiscus cannabinus easily? If you really need the clear tutorial, thankfully, this post will guide you on how to plant hibiscus cannabinus as easily as possible. So, let’s see the guides below!

Planting Hibiscus Cannabinus,Here’s the Guide!

The hibiscus cannabinus is propagated by the seeds. In this case, the seed really retains viability for about 8 months under ordinary storage conditions. In other words, planting this plant starts from the seeds.

Step 1: Soil Preparation

Of course, when you start to plant any plants, including hibiscus cannabinus, you should prepare the planting site which may be good for planting hibiscus cannabinus. Make sure to remove all of the weeds which grow at the planting site.

You also need to spread a 2 to 4 inch-layer of leaf mold, well-aged manure, peat moss and compost over the soil along with ½ pound of 15-8-12 fertilizer per 50 square feet of planting area.

To turn the soil and mix the amendments thoroughly to a depth of eight to 10 inches, you can use a shovel or tiller. Clearing away large clumps of dirt and stones is a must for you. However, the soil should be loose with a fine texture.

You have to know that Kenaf hibiscus will grow well in sandy or sandy loam soil which drains quickly. To improve the draining capabilities of clay soil, you can also add perlite and build a 4 to 5 inch high raised planting bed.

Step 2: Sow the hibiscus cannabinus seeds

After you have a great soil at the planting site, you can then sow the seeds about 1 ½ to 2 inches deep. Make sure to plant them 5 to 6 inches apart for branchless plants or 2 to 3 feet apart for branches plants. Give space multiple rows 3 to 4 feet apart.

Step 3: Water the seeds

Make sure to water the freshly planted seeds thoroughly to ensure good soil contact. You can also continue to water the seeds as often as possible to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate and for the first month or until the seeds become well-established.

Need to know, the hibiscus cannabinus will grow long taproots and are drought-tolerant but it will be better to grow them with supplemental water. Please lower the water frequency to once or twice per week once the first month, but water them generously.

Step 4: Spread mulch

After the plants germinate, make sure to spread a 2 to 3 inches depth of organic mulch to help keep the soil moist.

Step 5: Pruning

To maintain smaller plants and encourage branching, you can prune the plants back by as much as one-third to one-half with sharp pruners.

You can cut them above a growth bud or eye. Please leave them unpruned to encourage the flower production, only older branches will produce the flowers.

That’s it! Planting the hibiscus cannabinus is pretty easy to do, isn’t it? Now, it’s your turn to get started growing this plant from seeds and see how great this plant grows.

Tips for a Successful Planting

It’s important to note that hibiscus should be moved outside in the summer and then back inside during the winter. Certainly, it needs a bunch of great tips to keep this plant growing well. So, what should you do?

• Make sure to trim the plant hard before moving it inside for the winter. However, it will go into near dormancy until later winter.
• Once you trim the plant, but before you bring it inside, make sure to treat it thoroughly for insects. You can see neem oil and liquid detergent or use a hose to blast off insects.
• After inside, please don’t overwater, however, provide as much humidity as possible including daily mistings. Make sure not to expose yourself to blowing air from vents.
• When the weather warms above 50oF (10o C) at night, you have to move it back outside and acclimate slowly.

Read also : How to take care of hibiscus in winter

Taking Care of Hibiscus Cannabinus

Here’s how to take care of hibiscus cannabinus:

• Soil

Soil preparation should be at least 20 cm deep and thorough. Seeds are sown or planted with a row drill bit at the start of the rainy season with about 6 – 30 kg of seed/ha drilled 15 cmx15 cm in dry soil or 12.5 cmx12.5 cm in wet soil. The depth of planting is about 0.5 – 3.2 cm.

• Zone

North of the equator planting is performed in May or June which allows as much time as possible for vegetative growth before flower set. Then, almost any farmer living between 45o N and 30oS latitude can produce good crops of Kenaf, along with other plants including corn, cotton, beans, sugar or vegetables.

• Fertilizer

The soils can be treated with manure or green-manure. Treatment with 585kg/ha ammonium sulfate and green-manure of Mimosa envisa will increase the yield of kenaf by 50%.

One of the recommended fertilizers  is around 40–60 kg/ha P2O5, 35–70 kg/ha and 45–65 kg/ha K2O.

• Watering

Water the freshly planted seeds thoroughly to make sure the soil is in good contact. To keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate, continue to water the seeds as often as possible. Need to know, the hibiscus cannabinus plants are drought-tolerant, however it will be better to grow them with supplemental water. Lower the water frequency to once or twice per week once the first month, but water them generously.