Hibiscus is my favorite potted plant, and today I want to share my tips on how to take care of potted hibiscus in cold weather.
Many years ago, I shared this post on easy potted hibiscus care. It is one of the most popular garden posts we’ve had to date! And I’ve had many readers write in saying their hibiscus has really thrived with these tips.
In this post, I briefly touch on winter tips, but it’s only a small summary.
Many have asked for more details on how I’ve kept my potted hibiscus for so many years, so I’d like to share that today! This tips are all trial and error. They are things I have found to work best for all types of hibiscus.
I live in Texas, so our cold weather won’t hit until end of November or later, but if you live in the north, it’s probably happening soon!
How To Take Care Of Potted Hibiscus In Cold Weather
1. Make sure your pot is large.
If your hibiscus is in a small pot and is filling it out, I recommend repotting into a large one before winter. I’ve been growing potted hibiscus for eleven years, and small pots have always struggled surviving being moved inside during cold weather. The roots need ample room, and there will be less possibility of root rot. Be sure to learn more about proper potting of hibiscus in this post. Now, if you have a large well-established hibiscus, it can stay in it’s pot. Only if this hibiscus is large and doing well though.
2. Water really thoroughly before moving inside.
After moving to a large pot, or if it’s already in a large one, now is the time for a good watering. The day before I move my pots inside, I water very thoroughly.
3. After watering, allow a good day of sunshine.
I also let them sit in sunshine after the through watering. This helps the leaves soak up good sunlight and absorb the water through the stem.
4. Add a thin layer of potting soil.
I have found after watering and good sunshine, a fresh layer of potting soil is really good for the hibiscus. It will lightly feed the plant through the winter and make sure all roots are covered.
5. Put the potted hibiscus indoors.
Now you can bring your hibiscus inside. I always put mine in the garage, but if you don’t have one or don’t have space, bring it inside. Hibiscus plants do not do well outside in freezing weather. They will die, so protecting it from the elements is key!
6. Make sure it gets sunlight and LIGHT watering periodically.
While you keep the hibiscus indoors, make sure it gets sunlight and light watering occasionally. I don’t have windows inside my garage unfortunately, so every week or so (if weather permits), I bring my pots outside. I do a light watering while it is outside in the sunshine. If the day is nice, I let it stay outside all day. Even if the weather is below freezing, it can be out in the sun for a few hours to soak up some rays.
7. It’s OKAY if it goes dormant.
There have been a few winters where my hibiscus has gone dormant because we had really bad weather, so I wasn’t able to get it outside as much. The first year this happened, I was worried my plant was dead! It wasn’t though. If your plant does this, don’t worry! It will come back. Bring it outside in the spring, cut down the dead branches a little, start watering and do a little plant food. The most important part of your plant going dormant is to make sure it has a nice large pot to protect the roots.
These are the exact tips I use on how to take care of potted hibiscus in cold weather! I have a few hibiscus plants that are over four years old now. The only time mine die during the winter months is when they have a small pot, and I over water them OR they don’t get any sunlight.
Just make sure to follow these tips this winter!
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I planted my hibiscus in the ground and it is out of control and taking over my garden. Once the weather gets cool, if it ever does, I am going to have to pot them and follow these tips, thanks for sharing!
Oh wow! I bet it is pretty, but it can take over everything! I hope these tips help you!
I don’t grow plants
They can be tricky!
These are great tips! I love easy to follow gardening tips like this, makes me feel like I can do it!
Thanks! They are really easy to follow 🙂 Hope this can help you!
Can I cut my Hybiscus down in the fall. It is really too tall to bring inside?
You can give it a little trim and it will be fine. I wouldn’t cut back too much though in the fall
I have 2 hibiscus and a Rose of Sharon. I live in Northern Idaho. My Rose of Sharon is planted in the ground and has come back in great fashion. My 2 hibiscus in large urn type pots did great last year but have not come back after winter. They are a full bush of brown sticks with no leaves. Some of the branches are brittle and can snap easily. Others are brown but still have the ability to bend slightly and are not easy to break. How do I bring them back. Thanks in advance, id
Since some of the branches are still bending, it sounds like they will be okay. I would make sure they are getting full sun all day. Add a little bit of fertilizer to them, then water well. Water them often, making sure the pot is draining well. They should eventually start sprouting some new laves. Many times, hibiscus will go dormant pretty hard in pots, but have trouble coming back without the nutrients they typically get in the ground. Since your climate is much cooler compared to mine in Texas, it will take a little longer. Sunshine, water, and fertilizer should help!
I was recently gifted a hibiscus plant by grateful client. Never tried one of these before. I’m keeping it potted, and will be kept indoors over cold months. I live in Pennsylvania. I will be reporting in a larger ceramic pot with sufficient drainage, in regular potting soil.
I am concerned though. My plant appears to have enough room in pot currently, but as soon as a bloom opens, it’s dropped off in a day or two. Every morning I have a few leaves that have yellowed. Unopened buds appear regularly but some drop off right away. The blooms I do get are beautiful, short-term. I don’t think that it’s being over-watered, nor left to dry out. I was concerned initially, when our weather had been 90+ and tropically humid. But it is a tropical plant. It’s not in direct sunlight, although it gets a full day of sun. Should I remove the yellow leaves? They seem to fall off easily, and they are not outer leaves, so much as inner locations. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. The client who gifted to me actually has a plant business, but referred me to Google for any advice. Not helpful!
You don’t need to remove the yellow leaves. This is common for a hibiscus plant. Also, the blooms don’t last long, usually not even a full day. Sometimes in the summer, blooms will fall off before they even fully emerge. It sounds like yours is doing normal for this time of year 🙂 The only thing a hibiscus needs is a lot of water in the summer, and to be taken inside during the winter. As long as the pot is a good size, you will be fine.
I live in Texas too. Born and raised in Hawaii so love my hibiscus. thanks for the information on repotting. I may have to repot one of my five. I bring them in to our sun room. the temp out there doesn’t normally get below 55, sometimes 48 but then I open the door and let some of the house heat into the sunroom. I also have been trimming them back a little. That seems to give them a better start in the spring. I water once a week but not a lot. I normally start to fertilize again in March so when the temp is warmer they are ready to go. they are definitely a delicate plant. They don’t like the texas high temps that much either.
Hi Karen! That’s true, they are not a fan of our really extreme Texas heat! I have had to baby mine all summer since it has been so hot and dry!
brought mine in and has new leaves they curl up and split looks awful dont know if this is a disease or normal
Yes this is normal. In fact, it is very normal for it to go dormant while inside too. Hibiscus loves and needs so much sunshine which it can’t get inside. But the roots will still be healthy
I don’t have a garage , where in the house would you recommend wintering the hibiscus? Somewhere with light, but will the heat affect it? Thank you,
I would do it somewhere near a window where it doesn’t get too hot from the heat during the winter. I have done mine by the back patio door and also my office
Our garage is not heated; we live in CT where we will experience freezing temps for most of the winter. Will my potted plant still be okay in the garage if I follow these steps?
It is usually okay even though it is still freezing in the garage. Mine goes dormant in the garage, but comes back to life the minute spring hits. For added protection, you can wrap it with some burlap while in the garage on really cold days and make sure it is away from cold windows. You can double check with your local extension agent too to see if they have any extra tips
My plant as about 4 feet tall and I brought it in for the winter. It continued to bloom into December. Now there are no more buds an most of the leaves have fallen off. Is this considered dormant? What next? Continue to water and leave it in front of window?
Yes, this just means it is going dormant. Continue to water very lightly and make sure it gets sun
I have a single carport with 2 open sides. Will this be enough shelter for tropical hibiscus to keep it from killing it.
I live in north Georgia.
My elephant ears got frost bit but came back fine in spring.
Low temps down to teens sometimes.
I would bring it inside during extra cold spells, but it will probably go dormant in the car port. If you keep it there, I would make sure it wrap it in burlap to protect from wind chills
I have 2 hibiscus plants that I have over wintered in our garage for at least 4 years now. I live in western Kansas where it is hot and windy. The leaves on my plants just aren’t a pretty green like when I first bought them. I have to water mine everyday in the summertime. I try to fertilize once in awhile but don’t know how often. I have heard if you fertilize too much, you have a bushy plant and no blooms. How often do you fertilize your hibiscus plants…and what kind of fertilizer do you use?
Thanks
I use our homemade plant food and typically do it every 2 weeks in the spring and early summer. I don’t use it went temps get above about 85 in the day. Or below 55 at night. When plants have been potted for a long period of time, they don’t have much nutrients in the soil. When spring comes, I would consider repotting them with some good quality potting soil
Thank You So Much. I have tried to keep a Hibiscus over the winter living in New Jersey it is a problem. I am going to give it a try down my basement. It is a little warmer down there.
Good luck!