Hibiscus not hardy in your climate must be overwintered indoors.
Tennessee consists of U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 6 and 7, not quite warm enough for tropical hibiscus varieties to survive year-round outdoors. Therefore, unless you are growing a hardy hibiscus variety that can overwinter outside in the garden just fine, all other hibiscuses grown in Tennessee are usually grown in containers and brought indoors for the winter months. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Bring your potted hibiscus indoors before the first expected frost in the fall. In Tennessee, the first expected frost is in the beginning of October, so bring your hibiscus indoors in late September or early October just in case there is an early frost.
2. Stop watering your hibiscus and wait for the leaves to drop off. It is now dormant.
3. Place your dormant hibiscus in an area that is between 40 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Your garage or basement may work.
4. Water the hibiscus so the soil is slightly moist. Then, every couple of weeks, check the soil. If it is dry 2 to 3 inches deep, water it again so the soil is again slightly moist.
5. Move the hibiscus to a sunny area of your home in the spring and start to water it again. This is a good time to prune it as well.
6. Transition the hibiscus to the outdoors after it begins to grow back and the danger of frost has passed. In Tennessee, this occurs sometime in April. Set the plant outside a few hours the first day, then a few more the second and in four or five days, the hibiscus is ready to stay outside once more until the fall.
Tags: expected frost, first expected, first expected frost, hibiscus indoors, slightly moist, water again