Question
QUESTION: HELP! Does my hibiscus have frostbite? Over the past 3 or 4 days I've noticed it has been looking sick. I work so much, today is my first day I don't go in during the morning so I can take pictures. My neighbor has this exact plant and his is doing fine. the only difference is that mine is exposed in the open and his is underneath a tree, so I'm wondering if the tree is providing protection. Should I move this plant? here are pictures

http://desiraidesigns.com/plants/hibiscus/

ANSWER: Hi Desi

These plants are hardy to zone 8 and they dislike frost and even a slight frost can kill the top growth. It will reshoot in the spring if you protect the roots with a mulch. They are not reliable in frost prone areas and need protection. You say that you have it in the open; that is not good at all because they need a warm sheltered position and full sun to thrive. They also like a mild but wet winter and humus enriched soil. The best thing to do is move in  late spring/early summer with as much as the root ball as possible, to a more sheltered position.

Your neighbors' plant is under a tree, so that plant has protection and with yours been in the open, it might have been dried by the wind and that is another thing that may have caused the plants reddish-brown shriveled leaves.

These plants are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn. They flower from August to October and your plant is dying off sooner than usual.

It could be frost burn or it could be because it is in the open without the protection of a warm wall or other plants; Or both.

If you are getting you are getting frost in America as we are in the UK at this time of year, you could move it indoors and plant out in late spring after the last frost but make sure it is hardened off.

As you can see from the above information, this Cotton Rose(Hibiscus Mutabilis)  is borderline hardy; just like the Passiflora Caerula is in the UK.

I hope this information is a helping hand and ask any more questions if you need to.

Kind regards

Jonathan

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hey thanks for the info. Should I cut it back to the ground?

If not can I cut some of the stem(s) and root them for next year? How would I go about rooting them? Sand and rooting hormone?

Answer
Hello

I am truly sorry for the couple of months you have been waiting for my answer but my computer has been playing up and I have only just managed to get it fixed!

If you could give me an update on its state of health and I will gladly help out and advise you on what to do.

I have learned more about Hibiscus as I have obtained a Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis as a houseplant and it has the same needs as other half hardy Hibiscus.

The plants need the sun and not shade from trees or walls. They are best planted at a south facing wall where it has the sun in summer and the warmth and protection in winter.

They need moisture and should be mulched in spring. Do not let them dry out as this will cause bud drop and it may lose a lot of leaves in summer.

Hibiscus are grown from tip cuttings in spring as new growth resumes and need to be dipped in powder and then placed in a sandy compost mixed with a polythene bag over the top of the pot and secured with a elastic band to maintain humidity.

They root in about 5 to 8 weeks but this depends on the TLC they are given and the conditions.



Each year after flowering or in spring, prune the plant back by half and cut out the dead wood. The Hibiscus family flower on the current seasons wood.

If frost threatens in spring, cover the plant with fleece for extra protection.

They will not survive all winters and may need digging up and potting into a large container and brought underglass until the late spring.

After the stay indoors, you need to harden it off then transplant it into the ground near a south facing wall.

Water well until it is established and cover with fleece if heavy frost or snow is forecast in late autumn and winter.

I hope this information helps and please give me an update on your plant so I can advise you further if need be.


Happy gardening.

Jonathan