Alright, let’s talk about them hibiscus sabdariffa plants, the ones they sell for you to grow at home. I ain’t no fancy gardener, but I know a thing or two about plants, you see. My grandma, she always had a green thumb, and I guess some of that rubbed off on me.
Now, these hibiscus plants, they ain’t just pretty faces. Folks call ’em roselle too, or even Florida cranberry sometimes. They got these big ol’ flowers, real pretty colors like pink and red, and you can even use parts of the plant to make tea or jam. That’s what my neighbor told me, and she makes the best jam this side of the county, so I believe her.
- First off, you gotta figure out where to get these plants. You can buy seeds, that’s the cheapest way, but it takes longer to get flowers. Or you can buy little plants already started, but they cost more, you know. It’s like buying chicks versus grown-up hens, same kinda deal.
- If you’re buying seeds, you gotta start ’em inside, ‘specially if you live up north where it gets cold. My cousin tried planting ’em straight outside, and nothin’ happened. Wasted his money, he did. You gotta soak them seeds in warm water for a bit, then plant ’em in little pots. Keep ’em warm and wet, and they’ll sprout.
- Now, when it comes to planting them outside, you gotta wait till it’s warm enough. These plants, they like sunshine, lots of it. And they need good dirt, not that hard clay stuff we got in the back field. You gotta dig a hole, put the plant in, and water it good. Ain’t rocket science, you know.
Keepin’ ’em alive, that’s the tricky part. You gotta water ’em regular, ‘specially when it’s hot. But not too much, or they’ll rot. It’s like babies, gotta find that happy medium. And you gotta give ’em somethin’ to eat, some plant food. I just use that stuff they sell at the store, works fine for me.
Now, some folks say these plants grow big, like bushes or even small trees. I ain’t never seen one that big myself, but I guess it depends on where you live and how good you are at takin’ care of ’em. The flowers, they’re the main attraction, though. They’re big and showy, and they attract all sorts of bees and butterflies. My grandkids love watching ’em.
And like I said, you can use the calyxes, that’s the part under the flower, to make tea or jam. The tea is kinda sour, but it’s good for ya, they say. And the jam is sweet and tangy. I tried makin’ it once, wasn’t half bad, though I burnt it a little. Gotta watch that pot, you know.
So, if you’re thinkin’ about growin’ hibiscus sabdariffa plants, I say go for it. They ain’t too hard to grow, and they’re pretty to look at. And you might even get some tasty tea or jam out of it. Just remember what I told ya, plenty of sun, good dirt, and regular waterin’. And don’t forget to talk to ’em nice, plants like that, you know. Makes ’em grow better, I swear.
Prices vary, of course, depending on whether you get seeds or plants. Seeds can be cheap, a few bucks for a pack. But them little plants, they can cost ya twenty bucks or more, depends on the size and where you buy ’em. I always say, shop around, compare prices, don’t get ripped off. That’s what my husband always said, rest his soul.
And remember, these plants, they like it warm. If you live somewhere that gets cold winters, you gotta bring ’em inside or they’ll die. Or you can just treat ’em like annuals, grow ’em for one season and then start over again next year. That’s what a lot of folks do around here.
There are all sorts of varieties too. Some are pink, some are red, some are even white, I heard. And some grow taller than others. It’s like pickin’ out puppies, gotta find the one that suits ya best. But they all need the same basic care, sunshine, water, and good dirt, don’t forget that. And be patient, plants take time to grow. You ain’t gonna get flowers overnight, you know.
Tags: hibiscus, roselle, sabdariffa, plants, seeds, gardening, flowers, tea, jam, Florida cranberry
