An althea plant, more commonly known as the hibiscus, is one of the prettiest flowers in the plant world. With bright blossoms that flourish under the right conditions, and a plant that will grow into a nice round bush, you can truly bring life and vibrance into your home or office.
The trick to getting the best from your Hibiscus syriacus is to ensure it gets plenty of fresh air, sunlight, and a proper watering schedule, especially when it is still young.
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An Althea Plant Is Good for Homes and Offices
The althea plant can breathe fresh life into a room in your home or office. With strong, pink petals that are also edible, this plant can not only purify the air in your room as most plants do, but it can also be made into great teas, jams, and sauces. All parts of the hibiscus plant are good for you and can provide antioxidants and antibacterial benefits that will keep your immune system clean.
This flowering bush grows rather large, so you will want to provide it with plenty of space in a large pot to get sunshine from a nearby window. Keep the window open as often as you can so the plant can get the natural nutrients from direct sunlight and fresh air.
While it might be a bit unconventional, having a hibiscus in your home or office can certainly improve your health, your mood, and the overall ambiance of the room.
Are Althea Plants Good for the Feng Shui Flow of a Room?
The hibiscus plant is also referred to in some circles as the Rose of Sharon, a name that comes from the Bible and is literally translated as “flower of the field.” This flower has been around for millennia, and it has always been a symbol of good luck across cultures.
It is no wonder then that the althea is considered a lucky plant in feng shui. It is a plant known in eastern medicine for lifting spirits and ushering positivity and fortune into your space. Keep it in the north or the east of your home or office for maximum healing energy.
For a more thorough discussion on feng shui and its fascinating energies, I have linked this master class article on how to use Feng Shui for those interested in diving deeper.
Are Althea Plants Easy to Grow and Maintain?
Once established, althea is a hardy plant that will return to full bloom every year. It just takes a bit of love and care.
How Do Althea Plants Grow?
The hibiscus grows well in full sun to partial shade with fresh air and plenty of soil to expand its roots. You should repot the plant every spring to a larger location for the first three years.
What Kind of Soil Does an Althea Plant Need?
This pretty plant needs light soil or soil with a bit of clay to ensure good drainage. You can also place rocks or pebbles in the bottom of your pot to make sure the hibiscus does not sit in water and develop root rot.
How Much Light Does an Althea Plant Need?
The althea wants full sun to truly come into all its colorful glory. Too little sun will cause the flowers to wilt and fade.
At the same time, too much sun or sun that burns too hot will burn and crisp your leaves. You may need to play around with the plant’s location a bit to figure out the right balance.
How Much Water Does an Althea Plant Need?
The Rose of Sharon needs plenty of water in its first few months of life. Aim to water it twice a week to ensure the entire soil and root system is fully watered, which can take up to an hour. Also, be sure the water is fully draining from the bottom. After it has established itself, you can switch to watering once a week or whenever the soil is fully dried out.
Watering any plant can be tricky, so to get more in-depth information, check out my other article for signs, tips, and tricks to avoiding watering mistakes.
Other Conditions that Are Important to an Althea Plant
You won’t have to worry about fertilizing your althea plant as long as you allow it plenty of direct sunlight and fresh air, and you shouldn’t have to deal with pests as long as you don’t overwater the plant. You can prune back any crispy or wayward branches or parts of the plant in early spring before the blossoms begin again.
Althea Plant Decorating Ideas
For decorating your house or office with an althea, you’ll want a large, open space near a bright, sunny window that is open. You can even keep it near a doorway or sliding glass door, so it has access to natural light and air.
Once you have picked a spot for your hibiscus, you can surround it with other large plants or with an array of other, smaller, colorful pots of flowers, creating a garden effect indoors.
Do Fake Althea Plants Look Real?
If you worry you won’t be able to keep your althea alive, or if you simply don’t have time to care for a plant like this large bush, you can totally go with a fake version.
Thanks to modern technology, you can find a high-quality, artificial hibiscus to fill the space in your home or office just as well as a real one would with little to no upkeep required! And you can still reap most of the benefits, like feng shui symbolism and improving your mood.
If you’re worried about not being on trend with a fake plant, check out my piece on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.
Whatever you decide, you can’t go wrong with an althea plant, real or fake. It is such a lovely treat to have in your home that it will brighten up any space.
What do you think? How do you decorate your home or office with a hibiscus plant? Let me know in the comments.
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