This is my first year with Tropical Hibiscus, and I need some advice. The weatherman is talking about the possibility of a frost early next week. Should I bring them in, is covering them good enough for now? It's still in the 60's during the day. When I do bring them in, do I just treat them like a house plant, or should they go somewhere with less light. Do they go dormant, or just keep on going? Don't mean to sound stupid, but I've really never had plants inside, usually they go to my mom's but she's overloaded this year! She's not had Hibiscus before either. These are so neat, I would hate to lose any. What is my best bet for making it through the winter?? Any advise would be most appreciated.
Deb
Wintering Over
Deb,
Last year I brought mine in, I put them in my front window. I am like you didn't really know what to expect. I did discover that I couldn't treat them like other plants I wanted to go dormant. I did have to keep them watered or they really dropped there leaves. But once I realized that and watered them they did great all winter. I hope that helps and maybe somebody will come along and help us both out with more info because I am bringing mine in again this weekend.
Deb, we are going to get a frost tomorrow night. Dang, I'm not ready for it. I've heard that tropical hibiscus will suffer, if not die, if left out at 55 degrees or less. I still have one more to bring in tomorrow that has suffered through some low temps, but I don't think it would make it after tomorrow nights temps. Tomorrow will be a very busy day around here. Still have ears and brugs to get under cover. I hope our weathermen are totally wrong.
mine made it to the mid 30s last night I only covered the brug that has buds opening!!! dang i need to get these plants in or coverd i guess!!!
I kept mine in the basement window last yr and it dropped most of its leaves i thought it would be a goner but nope it still has budz!!!!
Thanks, it's been getting down in the upper 40's at night, I guess I should get them in to be on the safe side. So far Christmas Frost and Antique Treasure are still blooming. These are already in big pots, but they are the pots they came in, I'd kind of like to repot, at least to something nicer looking than the nursery pots, should I go bigger? The pots they're in are probably about 8" or 9" across and 1' high. I just don't want them to get too big to handle.
Thanks again,
Deb
I had hoped my question would be answered here- I tried a search to see if they had been covered before in any threads, but I am at a loss! I have 2 large Hibiscus that I over Winter each year in a sunny & warm spot. They are fairly potbound after a couple years. Can the roots be pruned to keep the plant at a manageable size? Or must I give them up to someone in a warmer zone? I am sure there are experienced folks out there...
I would think that you could root prune them and also take off some of the top at the same time. Having never done this, I hope someone who has will come and post. With brugs, we root prune and remove about a third of the flowering region branches at the same time to help avoid serious wilt.
Brugie- do you root prune the Brugs too?
Tropical Hibiscus do not suffer damage if the temperature remains above freezing. However, they usually suffer some damage if the temprature goes below freezing for more than a few hours.
JRush, yes, if they have been in the same pot for a couple of years, there isn't much left in there but roots, so they have to be pruned and new soil added to the pot. Otherwise, I think we would be watering several times a day.
This is where I got my information from. I was a few degrees off but would rather be safe than sorry and not put my plants through anymore stress than necessary.
http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/gindr.html
If you have a tropical hibiscus, remember it is a TROPICAL. They will not tolerate more than a night or two of light freezes. Even one hard freeze (below 25) could kill the plant. These plants are native to sunny, warm and usually humid tropical places.
They detest cold, rainy weather and cold, wet soil. They will not reliably survive outdoors north of zone 9. In all other areas, it may be a good idea to bring them indoors BEFORE temps regularly drop below 40-45 F at night to avoid any damage.
Treating your tropical hibiscus correctly will give you years of enjoyment. But remember, they are not immortal! Some are spent after 4 or 5 years in a pot and should be tossed away at this point. Try some of the many and never ending new hybrids being developed!
Tropical hibiscus can suffer leaf loss and some extra sensetive ones can actually die at temps in the 40's.A good rule of thumb is when the nights get down in the low 50's it's time to bring them in.Cold wet soil can kill tropical hibiscus.So if we get a rainy spell then nights in the 40's the leaves wilt as if the plant is dry.If this happens the roots have been damaged. Let the soil dry out and water sparingly for a few days till new hair roots form.
Thank you so much for all the information - Both of my Hibiscus are rootbound at this point, and the flowers become much smaller when it starts getting too cold for their liking. I keep a constant watch onthe thermometer these October nights - and drag them in if it gets around the mid 40's. Now I know how to approach the pruning - I appreciate all the advice!
Thank you all for all this information. Hopefully I will be successful in getting these to survive the winter!! Do they need any special fertilizer or plant food or anything? Or will they be happy with just their water? I haven't done anything special with them, but they have all been blooming like crazy all summer. I'd like to have them to enjoy again next year!!
Deb