These care wind for a potted hibiscus in winter will help you keep it healthy indoors until springiness .
Hibiscus are amazing , high flower - power shrubs thatgrow well in containersand can provide years of enjoyment . However , tropical hibiscus(Hibiscus rosa - sinensis)is not a fan of cold-blooded weather . If temperature drop below freezing where you live , you must bring your container - set hibiscus indoors over the winter . as luck would have it , keeping them happy through the cold month in the house is n’t difficult . Here ’s what you want to know .
Note : this guide refers toH. rosa - sinensis , commonly known as tropical hibiscus . Rose of Sharon ( H. syriacus)and hardy hibiscus ( commonlyH. moscheutos)are unlike species that are cold-blooded - intrepid to varying degrees .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Hibiscus Winter Care Guide
If you were growing a potted hibiscus on the patio over the summer , you have a read/write head initiate on keeping it live over the wintertime . When bringing a tropic hibiscus indoors , it still needs lots of light , but belike will take less pee and no fertilizing . The other important affair is keeping an center out for pests .
Light
tropic hibiscusdo best in full Dominicus , and that ’s often a challenge when bring plants indoors . Lower light level not only cut growth , but decrease the dynamism of the industrial plant , making it difficult to agitate off any pest or disease takings that might uprise .
At the lower limit , find a rough drawing - free S or west facing window that gets unassailable sunlight even in wintertime . If you endure in the north where the day are little and the Lord’s Day lose much of its intensity in winter , append with a grow light in the morning and eve to keep your hibiscus happy .
Soil Moisture
Just like outdoors , hibiscus produce indoors like an evenly moist – but not soggy – territory . Drainage is crucial , which can be challenge when bringing plants into the house . You might not comment where the drain pee lead when the plant is on the patio , but you sure will when it ’s on your living room carpet . If you do n’t have a large dish antenna for the smoke , try improvize with an aluminum roasting tray or a shallow charge card storage bin .
emergence of course slows in wintertime , especially if the light point are less than ideal . As the flora acquire more slow , it will use less water andneed watering less frequently than in summertime . hold in the grease with your finger by sticking it as deeply as you could into the soil . It should find damp but not pissed . If it start to dry out , give the hibiscus a tenacious deglutition .
Fertilizing
While your tropic hibiscus enjoy a honest fertilizing during the summer months , winter is a dissimilar story . The plant call for less plant food because it is n’t producing much , if any , Modern development . Applying fertilizer in winter just scourge product and potentially builds up salts in the potting mixture .
abbreviate back on fertilizer as autumn overture , andstop fertilize in winterunless you see signs of a nutrient inadequacy . When the weather has warmed enough in give to set your hibiscus back outdoors , start fertilizing again .
Quarantining
If you have other houseplants , you may desire to quarantine your hibiscus for a week or two before setting it near them . Pests and diseases can hobble a drive indoors whenbringing plant in for the wintertime .
If you have the outer space , set your hibiscus in a freestanding way , even if the light is n’t very bright , and ascertain it closely for a week . If all is well , then introduce it to the residuum of your plant and give it the premium windowpane spot . If not , see the next surgical incision .
Watch for Pests
Hibiscus growing outdoors are often given a helping paw with pests by hard rain , bright sunshine , and even birds . Healthy and vigorous flora are better able-bodied to resist disease and shrug off pests , but in your theatre in the winter , they are more vulnerable . Scouting for pests and problemsis important to catch them early before they significantly affect your hibiscus .
Use a brilliant twinkle and check the undersides of the farewell , stems , and bud weekly . Look forspider mites , aphids , thrips , and other vulgar pestilence . If you spot any , address with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap . Or examine setting the plant life in your tub and using a strong spray of weewee to wash the pests off your plant . You may need to do this more than once to all clear up the problem .
Prune If Needed
While hibiscus add indoors do n’t grow rapidly , they can continue to elongate and send out new branches and shoots . Don’t hesitate to prune your hibiscusfor shape and size of it , even in winter . Hibiscus flush on new wood , so pruning wo n’t prevent anthesis , only possibly check it .
Moving Outside in Spring
No matter how nice a slur you gave it inside , add up spring , your hibiscus will be very ready to get out into the sunshine , just like us . After sitting indoors all winter , yourplant ask to be hardened offby bit by bit acclimatize it to the open air . get by setting it outdoors in a spot out of direct sunlight . Give it an hour more each day of full sun until , after 10 days , it ’s ready to be put back into its summer home .
Of naturally , wait to set your hibiscus outside until temperature have warm to above 50 ° F at night . institute it back indoors for any abbreviated spring cold-blooded snap bean . Once it has been harden off , resume regular summertime fertilizing , and remember it will need more frequent tearing than it did in wintertime .
