Is there a way I can use seeds from these dead Giant Hibiscus Flowers to germinate new plants next season?

Question

Giant Hibiscus:   Curious that when a flower opens, then closes/dies, can you use it for seeds to germinate to grow new plants?

Glenita · Answer

Seed Pods should come on and you can replant them that way . At least mine make seed. The bloom itself is just mulch.

Jim Ginas · Answer

@ Glenita:   ok, so I took some piccs and did a Google Search for Giant Hibiscus Seed Pods......  are the Seed Pods what is behind the flower so when the flower falls off, you see a small ?? POD?

Sharron W · Answer

The 'pod' is what you see in the center of each flower. After the Bloom drops off if you wait about two-3 weeks the Pod will turn brown and begin to crack open, revealing black seeds that almost look like a small Pomegranate kernel. If you plant them they will grow....however on the hybrids I don't expect they will grow the same plant...but on the saucer hybicus I know they will...
Trivia, in ancient times Red Hybicus was used to make an herbal tea, believed to have mystical powers; it was forbidden to be drunk by anyone other than the royalty of Egypt. In other parts of the world it was used to dye clothing purple, and again was reserved only for the wealthy....

Jim Ginas · Answer

Great post Sharron.   Thanks much!
(( So INSIDE the flower,  not in the grren leafy part that the flower falls out of.   ??** I expect if I plant BOTH parts so I don;t throw away the wrong part, it will grow.   :)    ))

Jim Ginas · Answer

Do I plant in just like a miracle grow type soil on a small planter pot?  assume inside now and thru the winter so next spring I can transplant?
 - how deep into the soil, or does it matter?

Douglas Hunt · Answer

Jim, here's a very good primer, with photos, on the whole process: http://trop-hibiscus.com/hibseed.html

Jim Ginas · Answer

I knew you'd come thru Doug!   Thanks!

Sharron W · Answer

There you go! a Nice tutorial....And yes Jim it's the part that remains after the flower falls off....but if you look closely at the photos above you'll see the imprint in the middle of the flower....

Glenita · Answer

Sharron is right.  I have some dark pink ones. I love these flower's , just wish they bloomed all summer.

Jim Ginas · Answer

ok,  thanks!  So these aren't supposed to bloom all season?   That is fine,  i was thinking I was doing something wrong!

Nest for All Seasons · Answer

Jim - you can also split or layer hibiscus for more plants!

Sharron W · Answer

@ A Nest....what do you mean by split or layer? I just cut mine down by half cause teh grasshoppers ate the leaves into lace and it had finished the bulk of it's blooming...I expected that it would bloom again towards fall...

Jim Ginas · Answer

ditto Sharron.     I like that thinking though!

Nest for All Seasons · Answer

You can split the rootball to make new plants or just bend stems down towards the ground, lightly scrape the bottom side of the stem (to expose it) and cover the exposed area with soil.  PLace a rock or brick on top to hold it down and the stem with produce new roots.  Next spring, you can cut off the newly rooted stem and move it.

Sharron W · Answer

@ a Nest....OH Yeah I gottcha....I knew about the layering...just not what to call it...and only on the hardy version that will come back in the spring...which for my area is only the saucer hybicus...everything else has to be greenhoused...which I hope to have one day...LOL

Nest for All Seasons · Answer

Don't we all Sharron!!!  It's totally on the 'before we get a mansion, I'd rather buy a little greenhouse' wishlist.  Did that just make sense?!?

TaniaC · Answer

Very interesting! Thanks for all the info guys♥...I'm gonna go plant me some hibiscus, Well at least when this horrid drought is over=)

Sharron W · Answer

@Tania we're getting rain and have for two weeks now, but it's in the form of severe storms which scare me....so I wish it would settle down and just rain....without all the blowing and thunder/lightning....LOL.

TaniaC · Answer

@ Sharron, we just got some rain for the first time late yesterday evening but not enough to really do anything.. that was probably the first rain that we have had in 2 weeks or more... This has got to be the worse Summer I have ever seen here... everything is dying :( and they are talking about a water ban here so I won't even be able to water my plants that were finally just starting to look so pretty in my garden :(.... Please send some of that rain this way..:)

Jim Ginas · Answer

So I planted these Giant Hibiscus seeds 4 weeks ago in my sunroom (heated and the regular size Hibiscus plants I brought in last fall are doing really well and blooming, as are my gardenias, and tomato and cucumber plants!), BUT to-date, have NOTHING growing from the GIANT Hibiscus seeds. ?? Is there a certain point of the season when they will germinate or should they have already started?? ** FOUND my ANSWER in Doug's link last season. could be approx 4 weeks, AND 80-85 degree heat! (Heating pad??) (plus dry seeds need soak overnight and slight nick on back of the seed.

Lisa Ray/Life Can Be Simple · Answer

If you did this,isn't it going to be right with the original one,I am lost for sure

Jim Ginas · Answer

Lisa R: I have five 3-4 foot Hibiscus plants that are doing really well, one being a Giant Hibiscus. (all looked bad last year and help last season from Hometalk friends to bring them back from barely any growth.). The seeds from these plants, plus the seeds from the Giant Hibiscus plant are not germinating. I saved them in envelopes in a closet in the garage (50+ degrees during the winter). I planted them over 4 weeks ago now assuming they would germinate into new Miracle Grow soil, keeping the soil moist, but none have germinated. I'm just experimenting to learn so its not too big a deal, BUT I should be able to get growth.

Lisa Ray/Life Can Be Simple · Answer

I had thought of trying the seeds from mine to,I just didn't see how she explained the scrapping and all,not my cup of tea I guess,keep us updated if you see progress,my grows over 6 ft tall and she is a real beauty,just want to be able to get another start from her.

Jeannie Sommer · Answer

I have to say I love my Hibiscus it is my favorite flower. I just wish the flowers would last longer then a day but there is always another flower opening up but when the flowers dye and fall off there is a pod left on and if u leave it on it will dry and pop open with seeds in it I take them and sprinkle the seeds out onto the ground so that I have more growing for next year.

Jeannie Sommer · Answer

every plants has thousands of seeds to re-use

Connie Tidwell · Answer

can you show a pic of seeds and where they are located

Elaine · Answer

I am going to try using my seeds this year for the first time.  Just had my Hibiscus for the first year and took the seeds out of the ugly pod that the beautiful flower leaves behind.  Pull it apart, and bingo, there they are hiding.  Take them out and either put them back into the ground where you want the plant or wait over the winter, and start them in the spring in the house to see if they grow, or put them in the 'hard' ground in the spring and watch for God's miracle.

Is there a way I can use seeds from these dead Giant Hibiscus Flowers to germinate new plants next season?

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Is there a way I can use seeds from these dead Giant Hibiscus Flowers to germinate new plants next season?

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