Outdoor plants that grow in tropical and subtropical climates are known as hibiscus plants. In warm, temperate climes, though, hibiscus plants also thrive as houseplants. Hibiscus come in hundreds of different types, and with the right care, they can all bloom indoors.
My hibiscus can it be kept indoors?
Every indoor plant has its optimal location where it will flourish. Hibiscus prefers to be close to a light window so they may get as much sunlight as possible. Your home’s sunniest window is the ideal location for them. Less sunlight won’t kill them, but they might not flower.
Is there a difference between hibiscus grown indoors and outside?
Hardy hibiscus plants are another name for perennial hibiscus plants. The temperature needs are the primary distinction between the hardy and tropical varieties of the plant. The tropical hibiscus needs a warm environment all year round. While the resilient hibiscus can withstand low temperatures, it will wither away in the winter and then reappear in the spring. You can take the right care of your hibiscus plant if you are aware of the kind that you bought. You should prepare to take additional precautions to protect your new plant if you reside in a chilly area.
Check the health of your plant’s leaves. Tropical hibiscus are identified by their deep green, glossy leaves. A resilient hibiscus has leaves with a heart shape and a drab tint.
- Hardy hibiscus plants are another name for perennial hibiscus plants.
- Tropical hibiscus are identified by their deep green, glossy leaves.
Verify the plant’s blossom color. The Tropical Hibiscus website states that hardy hibiscus blossoms have red, pink, or white flowers. Bright salmon, peach, orange, or yellow blooms can be found on tropical plants.
Examine the flower’s form. The hardy hibiscus has enormous buds in the middle of its flowers that range in size from roughly 2 to 4 inches, as opposed to the tropical variety’s double blossoms.
Think about the time of year and the store where you purchased your hibiscus plant. You have a hardy plant if it’s freezing outside and you bought it from an outside exhibit. A greenhouse or warm climate are required for the tropical hibiscus to thrive.
Verify the plant’s blossom color.
Hibiscus plants—can they be left outside?
You recently purchased a tropical hibiscus, and now that fall has here and winter is quickly approaching, you’re not sure what to do with it. Fear not, I’ve been there! I used to bring my favorite hibiscus inside and outside every year when I was living in Iowa. You can succeed if I can. How? Read on!
Keep Hibiscus Indoors During the Winter First off, you’ll need to move your hibiscus indoors to protect it over the winter if you reside in a region where temperatures often dip below 50F (10C). Being tropical plants, they can’t withstand exposure to below-freezing conditions. (However, a hardy hibiscus, which you may find in the perennials area of your neighborhood garden center, can survive the winter outdoors. It will enter dormancy in fall, rest throughout the winter, and then begin to grow again in the late spring, with flowers appearing in the summer.
Before winter, learn how to bring hibiscus indoors. The good news is that bringing your tropical hibiscus indoors before winter is rather simple. Simply carry out these easy steps.
First, trim the stems of your tropical hibiscus. Take out up to 25% of the new growth. You won’t have to spend much time cleaning up a lot of yellow, fallen leaves by taking this simple step (this naturally happens as a result of shock when the plant goes from indoors to out). Even if there will still be some falling leaves, there is no need for alarm. It’s entirely normal.
After cutting back your hibiscus, you can move the entire pot inside if it is potted. Dig up your plant if it has been growing in the ground, then put it in a container. Use potting soil specifically designed for container plants. Additionally, avoid using garden soil at all costs. While garden soil works well for growing plants outside, it doesn’t drain well indoors. It may also encourage pests to enter by hitchhiking.
Optional: Speaking of pests, if you’d like to deter them from entering your home, give your hibiscus a prophylactic treatment or two. Insecticidal soap and neem oil are popular sprays that are safe to use on a plant you are bringing indoors. Find out more about protecting tropical plants before winter.
Indoor Winter Hibiscus Care The most important thing to understand about hibiscus plant care is that it prefers light. In actuality, it likes light, not just a lot of it. Because of this, your plant will thrive at a prominent location inside your house. Have a large, bright window? Bingo! Another option is a sizable patio door. not enough daylight? You’re in luck since hibiscus will thrive in the wintertime when grown under a shop or plant light. (Tip: An effective, traditional store light will do; there’s no need to spend a lot of money on a fancy, pricey plant light. I’ve always used that.) Your hibiscus will be happy in the winter if you give it more light.
When the top inch or two of the potting mix feels dry to the touch, water your hibiscus (just like you would any other houseplant). I’ve always discovered, and I’m willing to bet you will as well, that hibiscus demand a lot less water indoors throughout the winter than they did when you were growing your plant outdoors. Thankfully, that makes maintaining it simpler! I ended up watering my Tropic Escape hibiscus once a week or so when I brought it indoors for the winter. However, a number of elements, such as how hot or cold your home is, the humidity levels, the size of your hibiscus, the size of its pot, the type of potting mix, etc., will affect the precise frequency you’ll be watering.
Note: During the winter, keep your hibiscus away from both warm and cold drafts. This contains vents for heating. Hot (or cold) air bursts can create brown or fading foliage.
More positive news You shouldn’t stress over it. Let your hibiscus enjoy a peaceful winter’s nap. You can wait until spring, around March, when the days (finally!) start to get longer.
Seasonal Flowering Although I detest to say it, don’t count on flowers during the winter. Since your plant is dormant and may not have enough light to flower unless it is located in an extremely sunny area, you probably won’t see many. My plant only produced three or four blossoms each winter while I maintained it in my dining room in Iowa, a few feet from a north-facing bay window.
By the way, don’t worry if your plant does produce buds but you see that they are falling off. This also makes sense. In response to stress, hibiscus are infamous for losing their flower buds (such as being grown inside).
Thus, a little forethought, a sunny location, and routine watering are all that are required to bring your tropical hibiscus inside for the winter.
How long do indoor hibiscus plants survive?
Hibiscus thrive in environments that humans find appealing, making these tropical plants ideal for indoor growing. If you adhere to a few straightforward guidelines, growing hibiscus in pots is not too difficult. Hibiscus plants in pots can live for 40 years or longer, which is not at all uncommon. Here is a quick guide to caring for indoor hibiscus. These advice is best suited for Northerners, but it may be used everywhere indoor culture is required.
Placing
Tropical plants like hibiscus require warmth and, perhaps more crucially, light to thrive. They require a few hours of direct sunlight each day to continue flowering and appreciate mild heat. Put your plant in a window that faces south or west for maximum light. A window to the east could also be used. Avoid chilly drafts that can cause hibiscus frostbite over the winter. You also need more light in the winter. I use straightforward fluorescent lights that screw into standard sockets and are sometimes referred to as low energy lighting. Place the light as close to the plant as you can for the greatest results. Use planters to shield the roots from intense heat during the summer.
Watering
Although hibiscus enjoys the water, do not allow it to stand with “wet feet.” To prevent root rot, the soil needs to completely dry out in between waterings. After watering the planter, check to make sure there is no extra water left. Pay close attention to this when growing plants in chilly areas where the temperature is kept below 60°F (+16°C). In the winter, it’s crucial to avoid watering plants with cold water. During the colder months, I always provide warm water, between 95 and 102 F (+36 and +40 C). Check that the water isn’t getting too hot with your hand.
Fertilizing
Hibiscus needs weekly regular feedings from March to October to produce a lot of flowers. Every time you water, you can employ water-soluble formulations. I typically flush with clean water after watering with fertilizer nine times. This will stop the pot from becoming too salty. In order to avoid damaging the roots, never fertilize dried-out plants. Put the pot in a bucket with roughly 2″ (5 cm) of water to first rehydrate the soil. Breaking water tension with a dab of ordinary dish detergent will help the water penetrate the dried-out soil more effectively. Return the pot to the planter after 30 minutes in the bucket. You can fertilize when the soil is thoroughly damp once again.
A low-phosphorous fertilizer should be used: The optimal ratio is N (Nitrogen) 20 P (Phosphorous) 5 K (Kalium) 20. Few blooms but numerous excellent leaves result from an excess of phosphorus. Additionally, hibiscus require trace nutrients, particularly iron and magnesium.
Soil
Hibiscus prefer a loamy but not very dense soil. The best base is regular, high-quality potting soil with [leaf] compost added. Personally, I make my own mixture using leca, vermiculite, and a mixture of 1/3 coarse peat, 1/3 composted bark, and 1/3 composted [cow] dung. Less than 10% of the final mix should be made up of leca, sand, or another filler. Rather than being fine, the soil ought to be coarse. Avoid soil that consists primarily of fine peat since it has a tendency to compress in pots, leading to poorly aerated roots.
Replanting
Strong roots can be found in hibiscus. Healthy roots are crisp and robust, ranging in hue from white to tan. Replanting often takes place in the spring, from February to March. Frequently, at that time, you may see roots poking through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. There are occasions when the roots can be seen wrapping around the inside of the pot after the root ball has been gently removed from the pot. These roots need to be adequately freed up and possibly cut shorter. Remove all soft, dark-brown roots completely. It makes no difference if part of the roots separate. If there are too many roots, a root trimming may need to be done. Replant in a pot that is one size bigger than before.
Pruning
The optimal period to prune hibiscus is between August and October, however some people have had success with spring pruning. Pruning is done to promote budding, as hibiscus flowers grow on new shoots, as well as to create a more aesthetically pleasing plant. Try to grow three to four major branches to give your plant a nice appearance. These ought to stand tall and strong. Trim the main branches by one-third, and get rid of any branches that are developing sideways or with weak development. During the replanting process, you could choose to root prune. Never cut more than one-third of the root mass. Here, it is advisable to err on the side of caution.
Pests
Spider Mites are the most prevalent pest on hibiscus that benefit from a dry indoor climate. Showering the plant with lukewarm water in a forceful blast at least once a week is the best technique to get rid of them. Make sure to wipe the leaves’ undersides. Spraying water on a daily basis could be helpful. Similar methods of treatment apply to aphids. Use soapy water or commercial insecticides if you have a serious pest problem. Please be aware that spider mite infestations are facilitated by insecticides with the active component imidacloprid since they love it!
Yellow Leaves
Every hibiscus occasionally has yellow leaves. Typically, a few yellow leaves just indicate that it’s time to replace those leaves because they are getting old. Your plant is stressed if it has a lot of yellow leaves. Underwatering, severe environmental changes, or insect infestations, particularly spider mites, are the most frequent causes of plant stress.
Bud Drop
Frequently, dryness or strong pest assaults cause bud drop. It is unknown why some double flowering hybrids are more susceptible to bud drop than other hybrids. Attention! Hibiscus that is still in the bud stage shouldn’t be twisted because the buds will nearly always come off. When turning a plant that contains buds in order to promote more equal growth, no more than 1/4 turn should be made at a time.
——————— Disclaimer: The above counsel should only be used as a general guide. Despite making every effort to be accurate, the author disclaims all liability for any unfavorable outcomes that may result from using them.
Can hibiscus plants endure the winter inside?
A. Your hibiscus needs to be brought inside far in advance of the first fall frost. Before bringing the plants inside, inspect them for insects. Whiteflies are often drawn to hibiscus. It’s typical for your hibiscus to shed all of its leaves quickly after being brought indoors; do not be worried. They’ll start to develop again soon. If given access to mild temperatures and strong light, hibiscus can overwinter well indoors. As is recommended for all houseplants, give the plant continuous moisture but don’t let it stand in water. If your plant is still flourishing in its original potting soil, you should repottie it in the spring with a high-quality potting soil. Late winter is the ideal time to cut back any lanky growth and start fertilizing every two weeks with a well-balanced fertilizer. After all threat of frost has gone in the spring, your hibiscus can be gradually adapted to the outdoors in full sun.
How is a potted hibiscus maintained?
For the first several weeks following planting, all hibiscus plants require thorough watering every other day or two. After that, during the first growing season, water perennial hibiscus twice a week. If it doesn’t rain for several days in a row, water once a week from the second growing season onward. These plants are virtually impossible to overwater.
Water your tropical hibiscus plants whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. They need constant moisture. (Put your finger in the ground to verify.) As the plants grow, containers may require watering 3 to 4 times per week at the start of the summer and daily by the end. In chilly months, you will need to water your plants less frequently.