How to Winterize a Hibiscus Plant
Hibiscus plants are perennials that can live 20 years or more. In warmer parts of the country, hibiscus plants bloom all year long outdoors. In colder areas of the country, most people treat their hibiscus plants as annuals enjoying their beauty all summer and then just let their hibiscus die once the frosts falls. You can easily winterize your hibiscus in a cold climate and have its beauty last for years. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Winterizing a Hibiscus
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Fertilize your hibiscus weekly the month leading up to your planned date to close your garden down for the season. Move the hibiscus indoors before overnight temperatures fall to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Remove any dead leaves and decaying flowers. Use a plant wash solution to clean the plant of any bugs such as spiders that might be nesting in the plant branches or on foliage. Make a wash solution by adding one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid into a 30 oz spray bottle with tepid warm water. Spray the plant down and allow the plant to dry completely outside.
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Cut the hibiscus plant's branches off the plant's main trunk back by one-third. Trim the main stem of the hibiscus plant back as well so that it is approximately the same relative length as the trimmed upper branches. This trimming will clean up the plant and make it a size that's more manageable as an indoor plant.
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Place the hibiscus plants in a cool location (such as a basement) near a window where it can receive direct sunlight. You might also want to supplement with artificial light over the winter if necessary. Use a simple fluorescent light and hang it over the plant. Keep the light on for at least 8 hours every day.
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Expect leaves to yellow and fall off after you bring the plant inside. This is part of the dormancy period. The plant will grow new foliage the next growing season.
Allow the potting soil to dry out completely between watering. Use a light plant fertilizer in the water like 20-10-20 and saturate the soil. Allow the plant soil to dry out completely before re-watering. If your indoor environment is dry, use a spray mister to lightly mist the leaves occasionally.
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Bring the hibiscus plant back outdoors next spring after Mother's Day. Put it in a location where it will get full direct sunlight for most of the day. Your hibiscus will produce healthy green leaves initially as it re-energizes for the summer season. Expect to see big beautiful flowers bloom on your hibiscus in mid to late June.
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