How to care for hibiscus in winter? Master these methods to overwinter safely

Hibiscus is a famous flower in China, and it is very commonly cultivated in South China. The flowering period is long, almost never ending all year round, with large and brightly colored flowers and abundant blooms. So, how do you care for hibiscus in winter?

1. Maintain temperature

The suitable dormancy temperature for hibiscus in winter is 5°C to 15°C. If the room temperature is higher than 15°C, the plant will not be able to enter full dormancy, which will inevitably affect flowering the following year; if it is lower than 5°C, it is also prone to frost damage. In addition, when watering, pay attention to the water temperature. If the difference between water temperature and air temperature is too large (more than 5°C), it can easily damage the root system, so it is best to let the water sit in the sun for a day before use, and use it once the water temperature is close to the indoor temperature.

2. Fertilize appropriately

Potted hibiscus likes loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil, but winter temperatures are low, and the plant's demand for fertilizer decreases accordingly, so fertilization should be controlled starting in October. A thin layer of dry fertilizer, such as coarse cake powder or sauce residue powder granules, can be sprinkled on the surface of the potting soil. Reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer to avoid excessive vegetative growth of branches and leaves, which would then affect physiological dormancy. If the leaves turn yellow, water with a 0.3% ferrous sulfate aqueous solution to improve the soil's physical and chemical properties.

3. Control watering

During the winter when hibiscus is kept indoors, the potting soil should be on the dry side and avoid being wet, so watering should be controlled, and the potting soil only needs to be kept slightly moist. Generally, water once every 5 to 10 days, and the amount of water should not be too much, so as to avoid root rot caused by a low-temperature, high-humidity soil environment. In winter, the northern climate is dry, and phenomena such as pale yellow leaf color and dry leaf edges often appear, so attention should be paid to increasing indoor air humidity. Methods such as spraying and washing the branches and leaves or covering with plastic film can be used to increase the air humidity around the plant and create suitable humidity conditions for its growth.

4. Prune reasonably

Pruning can adjust the tree shape, form a reasonable tree structure, control unnecessary vegetative growth, and promote fuller tissues, so hibiscus should be heavily pruned at least once from half a month after being brought indoors until just before being taken outside the following spring. Generally, branches are left about 10 cm, and the rest of the branches are cut back; after budding, 2 side branches are selected and kept on each branch, and the other small branches are cut off. For older plants, extremely heavy cutting back can be carried out, that is, only 2 to 3 buds are kept at the base of each side branch, and all the upper parts are cut off. When pruning, pay attention to the inward or outward orientation of the retained buds so as to control the future growth direction of the branches.

In addition, after hibiscus is brought indoors in winter, if indoor ventilation is poor and light is insufficient, it is susceptible to aphids and scale insects, so attention should be paid to improving the ventilation and light transmission conditions of the indoor environment, combined with chemical control. When a small number of scale insects are found on the plant, they can be gently brushed off with a brush.