Tropical hibiscus will need indoor home for winter
Q: We bought a hibiscus to keep on the patio this spring and we’ve enjoyed it all summer long. I was talking with my neighbor and she informed me that it won’t survive the winter if we leave it outside. Is that true and if it is, what do I do to keep it alive, it’s been such a treat! — L.P., Albuquerque
A: If the hibiscus is a “tropical” (Hibiscus rosa sinensis) variety then yes, your neighbor is correct, and it’ll need to be brought in for the winter season. Since you’ve grown is successfully in a container all summer long I’m betting that’s the type you have. And with the weather changing so rapidly you don’t have a lot of time to get this project done.
First you’ll need to choose a spot indoors that’ll offer as much light as possible to set the plant and is roomy enough for it. Then make sure that the spot doesn’t have a heater vent blowing directly on it or coming up from beneath it. Air flow is good but hot air isn’t.
OK, having determined a good spot it’s time to tend to the plant itself. Since it’s lived so happily outside you can bet there are a few critters that are living with it. You need to do your darndest to eliminate them beforehand. You certainly don’t want to import spiders, aphids, earwigs or roly-polys in to your house. So, it’ll best to treat. Purchase a ready-to-use houseplant pesticide and spray the plant from stem to stern, inside and out! Get the plant thoroughly drenched with the pesticide. Next, spray the soil until it’s completely damped with the spray. In 10 to 15 minutes gently pour water on the soil to wash the pesticide through the soil. It should collect in the pot’s saucer and I want you to leave the “puddle” there for at least an hour. That way the soil will absorb more of the treatment, eliminating nonwelcome pests.
OK, now pour away the “puddle” and wash and dry the saucer clean. Next wipe off the pot removing any grime, webs or leftovers as best as you can. Cleanliness is your aim.
Allow the plant a bit of time to dry and consider giving it a bit of a pruning. I’d recommend taking off at least a good third, up to half of the growth the plant has put on this year. A caution, you will want to leave a few sets of leaves as you trim so the plant is still able to photosynthesize.
With all that done you can now bring the plant in, set it on its saucer, and allow it time to settle into its new home. Since it’s not having to deal with the weather, so to speak, everything you did for it while it was living outside changes.
The hibiscus probably won’t use as much water as it did when it was outdoors but it won’t want to live dry either. Get in the habit of sticking a finger in the soil and testing for dampness. If the soil feels dry to the touch then you will want to dampen it. You certainly don’t want the hibiscus sitting in a puddle for long indoors; just don’t allow it to get too dry either.
Getting used to watching the foliage will help you monitor the plant’s health. Remember that droopy leaves can sometimes be deceiving. Oddly enough droopy leaves can mean a plant has been overwatered, too! You’ll want to be patient and attentive until the plant gets used to being inside for a while.
All of this tending for your hibiscus needs to happen soon as the weather in October is like riding a rollercoaster! It’ll get nice again surely but don’t sit on your laurels and let it catch you unprepared. Then, too, if you have other patio plants that need to come in — all of the preparation thoughts will work for them too!
It’s time to get hopping and get those tender plants in for the winter! Happy Diggin’ In!
Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send your gardenrelated questions to Digging In, Albuquerque Journal, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103, or to features@abqjournal.com.