Hibiscus – Indoor House Plants

Tropical Hibiscus are good performers indoors and out.With a little care they can reward you with beautiful blooms through all the seasons. In this brochure we are assuming that you will be bringing your hibiscus in and out at the right times, due to our climate conditions.

How to maintain Hibiscus:

Sunlight:

Hibiscus need a lot of sunshine to do well. During the winter, place it in the sunniest place you have, probably near a south-facing window. When the sun begins to intensify in the spring, you may find in necessary to move it back from the window, at least during the hottest hours of the day. But in any season, it will always need bright light to bloom well.

Watering:

While your hibiscus is actively growing, water it abundantly as soon as the soil is dry to the touch. Depending on growing conditions, the size of the pot and the size of the plant, that can be as often as every 4 days or as infrequently as every 2 weeks.

Temperature:

Normal indoor temperatures suit this plant fine. Although it can tolerate temperatures as low as 30 or even 28˚F (-1 or -2˚C) for very short periods, it won’t like them. To keep yours growing all year long, you’ll need temperatures above 50˚C (10˚C). Many people find it easier to grow a bit on the cool side (about 60˚F/15˚C) over the winter, as this reduces watering needs and helps keep insect pests at bay, but that isn’t an absolute requirement.

Humidity:
Avoid exposing your hibiscus to dry air: it’s the major cause of the bud drop so many indoor gardeners complain of and it also contributes to leaf yellowing and insect infestations. Yet the air in most homes is desperately dry during the heating season. That’s why it’s is better to use a humidifier or humidity tray to satisfy this plant’s needs over the winter months.

Fertilizing:

This plant is a heavy feeder. It enjoys regular fertilization, but unless you’re growing it under artificial light, it’s still best to encourage it to slow down a bit during the winter by not fertilizing it between October and the end of February. During the growing season, use the fertilizer of your choice, reducing the rate to a quarter of the recommended dosage.

Repotting:

A hibiscus blooms best when it’s a bit underpotted. In most cases, repotting into a slightly larger pot will only be necessary every 2 to 3 years. Any houseplant potting soil will be fine. The best time for repotting is late winter (late February or March).