Can I prune my hybiscus plant?

Lorraine Romano
by Lorraine Romano
I have several doing well but, one is scraggly with only a few leaves and no blooms.

  8 answers
  • Jacquie Jacquie on Mar 31, 2018

    I trim the dead stuff and leave the healthy parts alone

  • Lois Williford Stewart Lois Williford Stewart on Mar 31, 2018

    At one time I cut mine down to the ground. It came back as good as before.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Mar 31, 2018

    Pruning will not help...It is most likely insects.Use a systemic insect control if in the ground.

  • Syl31628149 Syl31628149 on Mar 31, 2018

    Hibiscus blooms on ends of branch so pruning way down will make 3 or 4 branches come out of each cut.

  • Lorraine Romano Lorraine Romano on Apr 01, 2018

    Thank you Janet. I believe that may be the problem although, I do have it in a huge pot.

  • Missy Burch Missy Burch on Apr 01, 2018

    Yes, we regularly prune ours.

  • David Womack David Womack on Apr 03, 2018

    Remove soil with plant from its large pot and rough up the edges of the rootball like you are setting out a rootbound plant. When you put it back in the pot fill in the new root growth areas around the perimeter of the pot with a porous mix of composted manure, organic top soil, and coarse sharp sand. Fertilize with long term osmocote and water with a Blossom Booster fertilizer

  • David Womack David Womack on Apr 03, 2018

    Trim the hibiscus and stick green cuttings from tips and below in gallon pots of miracle grow potting soil, water immediately and place in fairly heavy shade. If it is warm and they stay moist not wet they should root giving you fresh young hibiscus. Keep any dead tips or stems trimmed out of your plant and don't hesitate to trim a wayward tip. It can give you an additional plant for your yard or to pass along. When you prune this plant to thicken it up you should prune just above healthy leaves if possible but below where you want your renovation pruned plants flowers and foliage to be. It. Needs space for the fresh growth and branching that will provide your future blooms to cover the frame of your plant.