How do you care for a tropical hibiscus?

Question

I bought a hibiscus early this summer and I have never planted one in a pot before. Becuase I had nowhere else to put it, I planted it in a bigger pot, but now am worried that I may have done the wrong thing. The plant is doing well as of now, but it's only July. I kow that it is a tropical plant and the root system must not freeze if you want the plant to survive the winter, so what do I do? I can't bring it in the house because my cats will tear it up, and what about pruning? When are you supposed to do that? Are you supposed to prune it? Help!

Answer 1

where do you live. if you live in an area with freezes take it in.

as for now keep it in full sun for lots of blooms, and keep it well watered.

they wont mind bigger pots either, but he large the pot the harder to take it in.

overwintering

to overwinter first water it down with a hose. water all the leaves.

do this in the fall a week or so before frost

then the next day after hosing the plant down cut the plant down. basically prune all new growth.

this will prevent indoor flowers because indoors it will be dormat till summer when temps go in the 80s.

if your garage gets no lower than 28 or so. bring it in.

if you dont have a garage then put the plant in a room in which the cats go in the least.

for watering in the winter water only when dry.

also DONT PRUNE IN THE SUMMER. blooms only occur on new wood so if you prune  you wont see blooms till august.

Answer 2

It depends on your planting zone if it would be better off outdoors or in a pot....I live in zone 6 and it freezes and they come back.  Provide a heavy layer of mulch to protect the roots.  Planting it outdoors provides access for it to multiply and become fairly hardy.  Keep in full morning sun and some afternoon sun.  They are of the same family as rose of sharon. They grow pretty much everywhere and are quite the little seed spreaders.

Edited:

Below is the US Hardiness Zones

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzma...

Below is Hardiness Zone for Hibiscus it says zone 8 or higher

but I'm in zone 6b and they survive the winters.

http://www.strictlyhibiscus.com/hardines...

Answer 3

Our hibiscus plants reach 7' or better in the summer time.Just before the first frost we cut back the branches to about half the size of the plant.Mulch the root area at the base. When the forecast calls for freezing temperatures we string commercial Clear Christmas lights (around 200 bulbs) along the branches down to the base.Leave the lights strung up til Spring Time.Turn them on and off as needed.As a second means of protection we wrap a cheap plastic Tarp around each plant prior to freezing temps then open it back up when temp gets 40 degrees to allow sun rays to warm the plant.When winter appears to be over remove tarp and lighting add a bit of Miracle Grow or a small portion of 8-8-8 fertilizer.Your plant will grow hearty and green.I did not mention that the plants kept growing larger than the pots we were transplanting them in so we planted them in the ground some seven years ago and they are doing well.

P.S We live in zone 9