What do you do to the old hibiscus tree flowers and where's the best place for them in the winter?

Question

I recently purchased a few hibiscus trees on sale at Lowes and I know pretty much how to care for them, but I am unsure of two things. What are you supposed to do with the old flowers the day after? Do you pull them off or do you let them fall off themselves? Also, i read that it is better to keep them outside in the beginning of the winter, let them die off, trim them back, then store them in the garage for a couple of months. Then you bring them inside with a lot of sun until it is warm outside. Is that true? I live in Va, so the length of time that it is cold is not that long, but I don't want them to die, they are so pretty. Thanks for answering my questions.

Answer 1

Yes, it's true, bring them inside when the threat of frost is coming. Hibiscus are a tropical plant and widely found in Florida and Mexico. That should give you an idea of the conditions that the plant likes. Lots of warmth, sun, and humidity.
When the flowers (which are good for a day, unfortunately) have bloomed, pinch them off with your fingernails, cut with scissors, shears, or clippers depending on the maturity or thickness of the stem. And, when you pinch or cut this back, new grow will appear shortly. Some people just let the old blooms fall off, but, yuck, they look awful until they do, all shriveled, brown, and ruining the look of the rest of the beautiful tree.
Most hibiscus will die if left out in the cold and get frostbite. You can pot them up in containers to bring into the garage, a very sunny spot in your home, like a sun room, protected area of a porch, or any sunny window area that is warm. And yes, cut them back when you bring them inside; it's less stress on the plant to perform.
Good luck with those wonderful trees!

Answer 2

Hi there,

You can leave the flowers on the hibiscus until they fall off. Behind the flowers that fall off, you will see a green pod. These are the seed pods. Let them turn brown/black. Squeeze them a little and you will hear a pop noise. When you hear this noise, you can cut the pods off the main plant. Hold the pod over a container and slowly open the pod.....and there are the seeds. You can plant these next year in another container or in the ground. This is sooooo much fun! I am collecting like mad this week, there are gobs and gobs of pods on our hibiscus.

At the first frost, cut your hibiscus to the soil line,
put it somewhere such as a work shop so the roots will not freeze.
We always throw something over them such as an old blanket, tarp, or rug.
When the outside weather gets around 65 next spring, bring them outside into the sun but out of the spring winds.
Mix in slow release fertililzer into the soil (read the directions).
Water the containers.

After the plants are about a foot or two tall, start a liquid fertilizer schedule such as every 14 days of once per month. You will get lots of flowers.

Answer 3

With hibiscus plants, just let the flowers drop off. They only last a couple days and they fall off by themselves, unlike roses, for example, which form rose hips.

The issue with hibiscus in the winter time is that the plants will stop flowering in the cold (around 50 degrees). They are, after all, a tropical plant. Hibiscus must be brought inside when the weather gets cold or they'll die. And, if kept in a warm, sunny location, they will flower all winter.

Hibiscus can tolerate temperatures down to about freezing without damaging the plant. But, prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures will kill the plant.

During the summer, water hibiscus regularly (or whenever you see the leaves droop) and feed with an Osmocote type of fertilizer. But, during winter, do not fertilize. Hibiscus is susceptible to root rot when overwatered and should be given just enough water to prevent droopy leaves. Also, do not leave hibiscus plant pots in a saucer over the winter or leave water pooled in the saucer during the summer. The standing water will cause the root rot.

Answer 4

Hibiscus Fertilizer Lowes

Answer 5

I pull my dead blooms off or they make a mess on my deck. I put them back into the pot tho... to help feed the soil. The ones that I have planted, I just let them fall off back into the bed usually.

I dont bring my potted ones inside. I just make sure they aren't in the North wind's course. (I am in TX) I cut back the ones that are planted... they are blocked from the North wind and come back fuller every year. Mulch protects too...