How to stop hibiscus from shocking the neighbors?

Each spring, when moved outside, my potted hibiscus drops all of its leaves and shocks the neighbors with its nakedness. (The leaves do grow back, then the bush blooms like crazy.)

This year, in an effort to stop the peep-show, I gave the hibiscus more light, bit by bit, over the course of two weeks. So far so good -- all the leaves are still on the bush.

This morning, I moved the hibiscus to the outside balcony, put a tomato cage over the plant, then covered the cage and the pot with a cotton sheet (for shade).

Any other tips?

Don't set the plant out for summer till the nights stay at 55F or higher for a week or more.Low temps will defoliate the tree too.

Thank you. It's back to the kitchen for it, then.

How long have you had the hibiscus in a pot? and how many winters has it lived?

I don't know a thing about them, other than I want to have a few of them this summer. Any ideas on which type of hardy I should purchase and where to purchase?

The hibiscus is the only plant that I need to still purchase. I had one last year that I was hoping was a hardy one to Zone 7, but I haven't seen any evidence of it coming back yet. Is it still too early, or should it be showing itself by now?

Sorry for all the questions. I will spend a bit of time this morning reading this forum and hopefully be able to answer my own questions.

Ruby

Ruby, the hardy hibiscus are notorious for taking forever to sprout in the spring. It is still too early in your area so relax and sometime in the next few weeks, if this warm weather continues, you will see tiny green shoots from the base of the plant. Hardy hibs are generally planted in the ground although I suspect some might pot them.

I think Weather was speaking of a tropical hibiscus which are kept in pots indoors during the winter in the colder areas.

Ardesia, that's correct; my potted hibiscus is a tropical.

RubyW, I'm trying hardy hibiscus in the garden for the first time this year. I bought 6 roots and planted them in 2 patches of 3 plants each.

We'll see what happens!

Thank you both for the info. I have someone who offered to send me seed later in the summer for next year. Yippie. I am going to go out tomorrow and see if I can find a few more to plant this year.

The person who offered the seeds to me also gave me link to access and the first picture on there was a Rose of Sharon. I hadn't realized that a Rose of Sharon was a hibiscus. So interesting. I have two of those which are about 15 years old and doing very well.

I hope that everyone is having a good weekend.

Ruby