Best Fertilizer For Hibiscus Plant – Buying Guide

There is no better feeling than going out to a garden full of hibiscus flowers in the morning. However, they are among the more challenging plants to grow, meaning you will need some help.

For people who are too busy to read through this article, we want to make it easier with a recommendation. Most of the time, there is nothing better suited for feeding hibiscus than the Miracle-Gro Fertilizer For Acid Loving Plants.

First of all, it has the correct ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium for your hibiscus to thrive. Next, it is among the easiest fertilizers for hibiscus flowers to absorb, which is essential for this plant.

The Best Fertilizer For Hibiscus Reviewed

Miracle-Gro Fertilizer for Acid Loving Plants – Best All-Around

Having a secret formula, this fertilizer for hibiscus plants can be absorbed almost instantly by any acid-loving plants, especially hibiscus. We do know that it has less phosphorus and more potassium, though.

Moreover, this fertilizer is also helpful for root growth. As you may know, a strong root system is especially vital for any plant’s health and its nodes.

It was due to the combination of these 2 features that we consider this fertilizer the best all-around.

However, we don’t like that there is too little content available in each box. You may need to buy them in bulk to satisfy your garden’s needs.

What we like:

• Fast absorption
• Highly nutritious
• Good for roots and nodes

What can be improved?

• Too little per box

EarthPods Premium Hibiscus & Tropical Flower Plant Food – Best For Easy Application

Being spike fertilizers, EarthPods only require you to bury them at the hibiscuses’ drip line correctly. Afterward, the water, either from your watering can or rains, will make them release nutrients to fertilize hibiscus.

As there is a protective layer outside of each spike, you will never have to worry about the smell. Also, each spike is pre-portioned, so there is no need to measure again.

The one disadvantage of this product is, in our opinion, how expensive it is compared to competitors. You may need to double-check your budget.

What we like:

• Incredibly easy to use
• No mess
• No measurement
• No smell

What can be improved?

• Expensive

Dr. Earth Organic Flower Girl Bud & Bloom Booster – Best Organic Fertilizer

There is no trace of anything chemical within this fertilizer, as its components are 100% organic. The fertilizer also does not have any GMO, sewage sludge, or chicken manure, so the smell is acceptable.

Although there is no chemical enhancement, this fertilizer has the beneficial soil microbes’ 7 champion strains. Thanks to this feature, it can slowly improve the soil quality, leading to good nodes.

Nonetheless, as it does not have an exact ratio of nutrients, you need to use this fertilizer moderately. If you are not careful, it can burn the plants.

What we like:

• All-natural
• No bad smell
• Soil improvement
• Good for hibiscus nodes

What can be improved?

• Easily burns

BioAdvanced All-in-One Rose and Flower Care Fertilizer – Best Insect Killer

Thanks to its secret formula, this hibiscus fertilizer will take care of most destructive insects like Aphids, Whiteflies, or Leafhoppers. Afterward, it can protect the plant from any pest for an additional 8 weeks.

Killing insects is not the only advantage of this fertilizer. Due to having a high nutrient concentration, it can also promote strong and beautiful blooms.

As it is quite a potent fertilizer, you need to be especially careful while using it. Overutilization will lead to environmental damages.

What we like:

• Potent pest-killer
• Long protection
• High nutrient concentration

What can be improved?

• Can damage the environment if overused

Jobe’s Organics Granular Plant Food – Best Long-Lasting

Usually, granular fertilizers are not that fast to show results due to their content being slowly released. That is not the case with this fertilizer, as Jobe’s Biozome will aggressively break materials down, providing enough nutrients.

The one weakness that we were able to determine from this fertilizer is how appealing it is to dogs. For this reason, your pup can get sick from secretly consuming this fertilizer.

What we like:

• Long-lasting
• Fast reaction
• Potent Jobe’s Biozome
• Good for hibiscus nodes

What can be improved?

• Weirdly appealing to pups

Espoma Organic Flower Tone Blossom Booster – Best Value

Requiring a reasonable amount for 18 pounds of fertilizer, we believe that the Espoma Organic Fertilizer offers the best value. You will not have to worry about not having enough fertilizer for a long time.

This fertilizer has a low nitrogen concentration and a high percentage of both potassium and phosphorus. In other words, it is especially favorable for the development of hibiscus flower buds, nodes, and stems.

Nevertheless, there is one disadvantage that can completely break the deal depending on the person. This hibiscus flower fertilizer does have a “unique” smell, which some people find very unappealing.

What we like:

• Best value for the money
• Good for nodes, flowers, and stems
• Ideal NPK ratio for hibiscus

What can be improved?

• Unpleasant smell

Schultz Bloom Plus Water Soluble Plant Food – Best For Quick Result

This fertilizer carries a surprisingly high concentration of phosphorus. To be specific, its N-P-K ratio is 10-54-10, making this fertilizer a potent boost to achieve almost instant plant blooms.

Regardless, keep in mind that its irregular nutrients ratio means that you cannot use it as normal fertilizers: the potent nutrients will burn your plant upon excessive use.

What we like:

• Quick results
• Incredibly high phosphorus concentration

What can be improved?

• Will burn if applied too much

How To Pick The Best Fertilizer For Hibiscus

What Should Be In A Fertilizer For Hibiscus Plants?

Potassium (K)

Potassium offers vital support to the photosynthesis process. This process transforms sunlight into sugars, supplying nourishment for hibiscuses.

Furthermore, potassium also plays a major role in the water delivery process to each part of the plant. In fact, it is responsible for any transportation in hibiscus plants.

Potassium ions freely float all around the plant system, latching to any chemical or important substance. Then, they are carried to the places that need them the most.

However, these ions are easily lost if the plant is stressed by phenomena like extreme temperatures, drought, or heavy blooming. For this reason, it is imperative to provide the plants with a sustainable level of potassium.

Nitrogen (N)

If there is a lack of nitrogen, you will observe the hibiscus’s growth being halted and stunted. This happens because the nitrogen shortage will lead to no protein, enzyme, and chlorophyll being created.

On the other hand, if you use too much nitrogen, it will surely burn the hibiscus plant. The sign of your hibiscus being burnt is the manifestation of crispy, dark brown leaves.

On the whole, it is best if you can limit the nitrogen percentage in your fertilizer to a tolerable level to minimize the chance of burning or stunting the plants.

Phosphorus (P)

There is no denying that phosphorus is indispensable when it comes to blooming boost. Nevertheless, you should never give too much phosphorus to hibiscus plants, as they will go into decline.

The first sign of phosphorus overfeeding is the appearance of yellow hibiscus leaves. At this point, you should stop using fertilizer and find a way to fix things.

If you continue applying phosphorus, these leaves will start to drop, and the hibiscus plant will die eventually.

Consequently, it is in the hibiscus’ best interest that you keep the phosphorus concentration to a minimum level.

How To Determine How Much N, P, K There Is?

All you need to do is look right at the 3 huge numbers embossed on the fertilizer packages. They are the NPK number, representing how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is in a bag of fertilizer.

If these 3 numbers are the same, the manufacturer has distributed the macro-nutrients equally. This type of fertilizer is what we call all-purpose fertilizers, which are not beneficial for hibiscus.

As we have mentioned above, it is not a good idea to feed your hibiscus plants with too much phosphorus. If you use all-purpose fertilizers, there will be too little potassium and too much phosphorus.

The best ratio of N-P-K for hibiscus, in particular, is 3-1-4. This ratio illustrates an average amount of nitrogen, a low amount of phosphorus, and a high amount of potassium.

What Kind Of Fertilizer For Hibiscus?

Spike fertilizers

This kind of fertilizer is convenience personified. You only need to follow the direction on the package to a T.

This direction will let you know how many spikes you should plant around the hibiscuses’ drip line. From then on, the spikes will gradually release nutrients to the soil.

Due to them having a protective layer, they are easier to handle and store than granular fertilizers. They are also pre-measured and pre-portioned; you don’t need to calculate a correct ratio.

Granular fertilizers

They will last the longest in the soil compared to other food plant types, thanks to their pellet form.

This feature means that you will not have to worry about re-application that much anymore. They are, however, a little bit harder to use than spike fertilizers.

You will need to calculate a proper ratio of granular fertilizer before mixing them into the soil. Afterwards, it becomes easier as your watering process will make the pellets release their content.

Liquid fertilizers

They are more or less an emergency choice due to how fast they can work. If you are not afraid of getting a little messy, these fertilizers are the best for hibiscus.

After all, they are usually the easiest to measure perfectly, providing the correct mixture of nutrients.

How To Fertilize Hibiscus?

In general, hibiscus plants require light but frequent application of fertilizer.

An ideal practice is fertilizing them weekly during their growing season. You should, however, not fertilize the hibiscuses during your area’s 2 coldest months.

You can also slightly increase the amount of fertilizer for hibiscus during sunny days. If there is too much sunlight, the plants will require lots of nutrients.

Conclusion

All in all, we believe that the best possible match for most people should be the Miracle-Gro Fertilizer for Acid Loving Plants. It does have just the right ratio of macronutrients and a fast absorption speed.

To pick the best fertilizer for hibiscus, you must keep in mind that potassium is the key. If you want a quick boost for the blooms, you need phosphorus, but never too much.

Last update on 2024-02-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API