Winter storage in cold zones

Hi folks
I have so many Hibis now that you generous folks have sent to comfort my Step-Father.
Mom would like to see them keep over the winter.
I live in Philadelphia PA
I need your advice.
Thanks so much!!
Michael

Hi Michael,
I live in 5B, I don't have enough space with proper lighting to keep them all growing in winter. The best established (in pots) ones go in the basement where I have minimum to moderate light coming from a small southern window (window well on outside). Sometime around the end of August I will give them a dose of systemic (I use Bayer) and enjoy their blooming beauty until I hear of frost coming.... or it's starting to get below 40 for nights in a row. I cut them back by at least a third (nice cuttings to root if you're into that sort of thing)...., move them around to the basement entry (garage door) - they get a little less sun there and I feel I'm transitioning them to a lot less light. I also start easing them off the fertilizer about the time I give them systemic, so by the time I have them in the "holding area" outside the basement they are completely off food. Then when I know the frost is coming (or I'm tired of lugging the hose around the house to water them) it's usually night time (dark) and it may even be raining, but that is the time I move them in.... (has nothing to do with the hib, just I always seem to wait too long and then get freaked by the weatherman). I also spray with some kind of horticultural bug spray before moving in. During winter try to keep the pot damp to dry but not totally dry and not soggy. There will be leaf drop and maybe even total leaf loss, but unless they are dry for too long a period they will return next spring. In spring, slowly acclimate from shade to sun and slowly start to fertilize again. There have been Springs and Falls where I bring them in and out of the garage door each day and evening, but I have so much stuff now, that would be a lot of work- now when they are in, they stay (unless I have something extra special) This is just what I do here in Kansas and it has worked for me on the most part. I have lost a few, but probably due to my own neglect. I'm sure someone else will offer up their "techique". -B

Thanks so much!
Good info!
I have several that are large standards from HD
They are 3 trunks woven together.
I was considering cutting them to about 18 inches tall.
This would give me ease of storage and a smaller 'bush' type plant.
Do they respond well to severe cuttings?

NO, don't cut drastically, let me understand.. you are taking the braided standards and cutting the "trunks" to 18 inches? That will not work. I thought you had the bush type.... Let me send this, DON'T CUT, yet... I'll elaborate.

One that I lost last winter (it's first winter in the basement) was a standard braided stem form! Darn! Could have been me, cause I lost the first tropical hibiscus I ever had, too. It was in it's 4th or 5th year. Now I'm getting in over my head, Michael... I just don't think it would survive cutting the trunk... are there any nubs or evidence of wanting to sprout branches on the trunks?

Ill keep your warning as noted. ;)
Im just a no nothing with hibis as yet.
Im gonna get good with em ;)
Thanks.

I am a bit of a mad scientist.
How well do they graft?
I have about 13 varieties and could graft them all to one tree.
I love grafting plumies and adeniums.

Grafting... got anything really strange you've grafted? I've seen you around DG Michael, are you into Aroids? I would just move the standard in, as is this year.. Maybe a trim, but not much and see if it makes it. If you can give it enough light (south window and warm temps) it will grow and bloom during the winter, but requires more water and I gave some 1/2 strength fertilizer occasionally on the 4 or 5 I kept upstairs last winter. In the basement I don't consider them dormant like a bulb, but more comatose, alive and not really growing. As spring approaches, you can see they want to grow, that's when I start being a little more generous with water. I guess we have to find the happy medium of light and water whether they are comatose or growing.

yes comatose and suffering like an over wintered brug
They always came back from the dead lol.
Infested with mealies though god I hate them....
Ill give it a go.
Yes I have many many grafted plumies and adeniums.
Ill start another thread on that soon.
Thanks for asking ;)

I'll watch for your grafting post. You will have fun learning the hibiscus, they have similar care as a brug. Love to eat and drink. I try to keep the brugs comatose in winter, too. They bloom sooner in spring that way. Kind of tricky with the watering, but I love living on the edge!

Michael, Check David Franzman's website; he has some info on the advantages/disadvantages of grafted hibiscus. www.atouchofthetropics.com.

Hibiscus are magnets for aphids and whitefly when you bring them into the house for the winter. I would suggest you top dress the plants with some worm castings. I have found there are few if any insects on hibiscus treated this way.

I'm sold on worm castings for critters too. I mix some in for brugs and anything that I'm bringing in for winter.. I never thought to top dress with it.... dah! Funny what we spend money on, isn't it? lol Thanks ardesia for the tip!