Hibiscus A Beginner’s Intro Benefits, Uses, & Tips

“In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous” – Aristotle

Each and everything that nature has created embraces beauty and charm.

But to say that the most beautiful creation of nature is the countless number of different kinds of vibrant and bewitching flowers wouldn’t be an understatement.

The planet earth amasses numerous species of flowers with different characteristics and specifications.

One of the extensively beautiful and widespread species of flower is “Hibiscus”.

Known for its medicinal and ornamental purposes, this flower is quite a large family that has a variety of species.

The flowers of this plant family have mesmerizingly bright colored petals, and the colors that are common among these species are red, yellow, peach, white, and pink.

Hibiscus flowers have almost six hundred species, and each species has its characters, but the most beheld variety is the hibiscus sabdariffa. This variety has large, red-colored flowers and is mostly found in temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions.

The flowers have long been utilized for various benefits, including decorative, skincare, haircare, weight loss, and other medical windfalls. Some of the benefits of Hibiscus are mentioned below:

The outnumbered benefits of Hibiscus:

The multipurpose qualities of Hibiscus are mind-blowing. You can avail this exotic plant in varying ways. Take a look at the below-mentioned points to catch a glimpse of the benefits of Hibiscus:

Adorns your house: Hibiscus has gotten the privilege of being the most widely used ornamental plant for centuries. You can find this plant in almost all parts of the world, giving the gardens and balconies a beautiful sight.

Provides a base to tons of beverages: Several people from many countries like the slightly sour and tarty flavor of hibiscus extract. Vitamin C being the magical constituent of Hibiscus gives it a high nutritional value. Many hot and cold hibiscus teas are now served in many countries of the world. And people love to consume hibiscus tea with various customization’s.

Dazzle your taste buds with delicious recipes: Mexican cuisines use dried Hibiscus in many sweet and savory recipes. Dried and crushed Hibiscus can be used as an ingredient in many baked items, dishes, and other delicacies like sweets and desserts. Cakes in many parts of the world are topped with hibiscus flowers as a garnishing element.

Contributes many other aesthetic benefits: Many hibiscus plant species are utilized as a base for paper and rope-making industries. The bark and wood of this plant offer enough fiber to make sturdy ropes and canoe floats.

Stuns your skin with a timeless glow: Hibiscus isone of the most potent anti-aging agents of the present era. The plant is used in making many skincare products because of its skin tightening and skin lifting effects.

It reduces hyperpigmentation effects of the skin and evens the skin tone giving your skin the glow of the lifetime. The oily mucilaginous extract of Hibiscus is the basis of many moisturizers and furnishes your skin with the smoothest look and texture.

Boosts your hair growth and quality: Hair Care has always been the biggest concern of people, especially women around the world.

Hibiscus infused oils, shampoo’s, and tons of other products are now available in the market that help people improve hair growth and quality.

Hibiscus is rich in vitamin C and collagen that thickens and nourishes the hair making them shiny. The sticky nature of hibiscus extract makes it perfect for hair face masks and hair-boosting products.

The interconnected health benefits:

The healing miracles of this plant are also commendable, and the plant can prove to be useful for a variety of medical conditions.
From a simple grade fever to the incurable fatal ailments like cancer. Hibiscus has the power to help combat many medical conditions.
Take a glance at these points to find out the shocking health benefits of hibiscus flowers.

Antihypertensive mode: Hibiscustea is super effective when it comes to heart and blood pressure issues. Studies have shown that taking hibiscus tea daily can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure to many folds.

Cholesterol-lowering agent: Hibiscus tea decreases your bad cholesterol (LDL) and increases the good cholesterol (HDL) and hence keeps your cholesterol levels in balance.

Weight loss aid: The anti-cholesterol effects of hibiscus tea makes it an exceptionally fantastic weight loss aid. Hibiscus tea is used in many weight loss supplements and drinks. It lowers the fat storage and boosts metabolism hence contributing to weight loss.

Immune system booster: The vitamin C rich nature of Hibiscus makes it a potent anti-oxidizing agent. The antioxidants in hibiscus tea boost the immune system making the body healthy and disease-free.

Vital organs protector: Your heart, kidney, and liver are all benefited by the hibiscus tea. For kidneys, it prevents stone formation; for the heart, its lower pressure, and for organ, it detoxifies the toxins in the liver and prevents liver damage.

Anti-diabetic nature: Diabetes is a prevalent medical complication these days. The species Hibiscus sabdariffa has shown to improve insulin sensitivity hence treating type 2 diabetes. It enhances the beta-cell activity and, in turn, helps in combating diabetes.

Tips on how to grow Hibiscus easily:

The first and foremost point you should remember while growing a hibiscus plant is the environmental condition you’re going to plant it in. According to the planting conditions, Hibiscus has two types, hardy and tropical.

Hardy can grow in low temperatures while tropical grows well in warm temperatures. The general guidelines of growing the plant, however, are the same.

Selecting your planting site: If you are planning on growing your Hibiscus on a garden or a pot, make sure to keep the site exposed to sunlight. Hibiscus grows very promptly when it gets proper 6 to 8-hour sunlight.

Fertilizing the soil nattily: Proper planting conditions require smart use of fertilizers according to the wants and needs of the plant. And in the case of Hibiscus, studies have shown that soil rich in worm compost outdid the development of plants and resulted in better and vibrant flowers. Besides compost, other optimum conditions of the soil for growing Hibiscus are a slightly acidic PH (6.5-6.6).

Enabling enough space to the roots: While planting the hibiscus plant, you will have to provide enough space for the roots to grow. Dig the planting hole for roots and then put the plant in it carefully. Now put your worm compost and soil and pat multiple times to set the soil in the roots. Now provide water to dampen the soil and compost. The well-watered plant produces more bright-colored flowers.

Keeping the check and balance for water and fertilizer: Planting in favorable conditions is not enough. You have to keep a check and balance of water and soil to make sure your plant is healthy and growing properly.

Start by daily watering and then shift to alternates days skipping one day in between. And finally, once your plant is about a month old. water your Hibiscus twice a week to keep the soil soggy. Likewise, proper compost and soil, packed with nutrients and salts, should be provided to the plant every month.

Mowing your plant time to time: Trimming the plant will help you collect your blossoms at the peak of their zenith. And this will also keep your plant neat and more flowers will grow.

These conditions are suitable for hibiscus plants grown in a garden or a lawn. If you want your hibiscus collection in pots, the environment is somewhat the same. Though, you need to have certain other points to look after too.

The best soil for Hibiscus in pots:

The indoor growing conditions are a little different from the outdoor conditions. The soil that is favorable to grow the plants in a pot constitutes of potting soil, peat moss, and perlite/vermiculite in a ratio of 2:2:1.

Besides this mixture, many other potting mixes are available in the market, which is very beneficial for hibiscus growth. These mixes are HVH potting mix, consisting of coco coir, peat moss, and bark composed.

Some precautions and tips to keep in mind:

Although the plant has beyond imagination advantages and is an exceptionally useful aid for many medical and health conditions. But pros and cons work side by side, some of the cons that you should avoid if you’re a keen consumer of hibiscus extracts and teas.

Excessive use of hibiscus tea can cause liver damage.

Tea’s can interact with many medications, so it should be taken very carefully.
Diabetic people may end up lowering their blood sugar levels if they consume a higher amount of hibiscus beverages.
On A final note, teas for pregnant woman have a tendency to cause fluctuations in their hormone levels. Which stimulate menstruation or blood flow to the uterus. Studies have shown it could cause cramping or pre- mature labor. So if you’re pregnant definitely avoid this tea.