Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Tropical Hibiscus?

I Just brought in my hibiscus because teps dipped to 35 degrees. It lost alot of leaves, but still has buds on it. How do i get the leaves back on it. Is watering the key. (it is in a warm area)
Tropical Hibiscus?
My hibiscus always do that too. I sit mine in front of large south facing windows and continue to water and fertilize them over the winter. I have blooms all winter long. Don't over water them but make sure to check on it regularly. The heat in the house and the direct light tends to dry them out quickly. I put my plants back out on the patio in the spring and they again adjust very quickly. They usually loose the existing leaves and start over. I have had the one plant for five years. Enjoy the winter blooms!
Reply:Needs lots of sun!
Reply:Tropical hibiscus loses leaves and flower buds when the temperature gets below about 45 degrees F. Now that you brought it in, it should start to grow back. But, because of the shorter days in winter, it won't grow anywhere near as fast as it did in summer.



This slower growth also means that the hibiscus doesn't need anywhere near the amount of water that it did in summer, even if it's in a warm, sunny location indoors. Hibiscus is extremely susceptible to root rot, particularly when inside during winter. If that occurs, the plant will die.



I would suggest giving it a good watering (soak the soil) and letting it drain completely - don't let it sit in pooled water, like in a saucer or something. Then only water it when the soil is dry. It's okay to wait until the leaves get a little droopy (don't let it go long in this state, though). A bit of drought is a lot less harmful than too much water.

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