Tropical varieties typically have dark, glossy leaves and smaller flowers. Their flowers are more likely to be bi-colored, but some solid color varieties do exist. Temperatures below 25 °F (−4 °C) will prove fatal to these plants. Hardy hibiscuses have rougher, duller leaves and huge blossoms. They are more resistant to cold temperatures than their tropical contemporaries.
Do not give it a nitrogen at this time - nitrogen will encourage new leafy growth that will only be damaged by cold weather or lost during the winter.
These few extra steps in the fall will help them rebound in the spring to return with a flourish of lush green foliage and beautiful flowers. Once you have mulched the soil you will no longer have to perform these actions.
Spread a 2- to 3-inch depth of organic mulch over the root zone but keep the mulch a few inches away from the stems. If it already has mulch around it, loosen the mulch with a rake and add new mulch, if necessary, to bring the total depth up to 2 to 3 inches (5. 1 to 7. 6 cm).
These lights can be utilized in conjunction underneath frost cloths or they can be used on their own.
To dig up the hibiscus, push the shovel into the soil 6 to 8 inches (15. 2 to 20. 3 cm) away from the stems, all the way around the hibiscus to sever the root. Then lift it with the tip of the shovel.
If harmful insects are noted, gardeners should apply a suitable pesticide. [3] X Research source This is best done a few days before bringing the hibiscus indoors, especially if one has family members that are prone to allergies.
Wiping down the container that the hibiscus is in with a damp rag will also help to reduce the amount of dirt and allergens that are brought inside.
Since hibiscuses bloom on new stem growth, fall pruning will help them bloom more profusely the following spring and summer. To get even more flowers, pinch the tips of the new stems after they get to about 8 inches (20. 3 cm) long, and again when they reach 1 foot (0. 3 m) long. Pinching will cause more branching, resulting in an abundance of new stems and flowers.
However, if the plant tag is lost or if the plant was a gift from friends, this article will provide some tips that apply to most hibiscuses.
Plants that spend their winters in a room with no windows or in one that has low lighting will benefit from having their own lamp. However, gardeners should take care to keep the device far enough away from the plants that it doesn’t burn them. Hibiscuses kept in outbuildings will likely need a heater of some type to keep them warm enough to survive but even a tiny space heater will adequately serve this purpose.
In the wintertime, Chinese Hibiscuses (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) will only need to be watered enough to keep the soil from drying out, while Mallow cultivars (Hibiscus moscheutos) will require moderate levels of moisture. Gardeners should be aware that the Mallow types do not handle drought or being overwatered very well.
