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As the summer
comes to an end and autumn approaches,
the days get shorter and cooler
temperatures signal the time
to ready your plants for winter.
Don’t wait until frost
warnings occur to bring them
inside. Try to have all of your
plants acclimated to the new
indoor environment by the end
of October. Avoid the temptation
to move your tropicals back
outside if it suddenly gets
warm, because they will have
to re-acclimate when you bring
them back inside again. With
a little extra care even exotic
hibiscus can be over-wintered
inside the house.
First, it’s
a good idea to prune approximately
one-eight to one-fourth off
the total height. This helps
reduce the shock that the plant
receives with the change of
conditions when bringing them
indoors. Check the plants for
signs of insects and treat them
with insecticidal soap
or pyrethrin spray
as well as a systemic
insecticide that will
provide protection for up to
six weeks. Put them in a very
bright location that receives
no less than 6 hours of light
per day. If the winter is very
cloudy, supplement with an artificial
light source. Because they are
tropical plants, they will need
good humidity which can be achieved
by using a humidity
tray. (Use a saucer
that is at least 3-4 inches
larger than the pot and fill
with 1 inch of stones. Pour
water over the stones until
they are half covered. Place
the pot on top of the stones.)
Fertilizer should be continued
throughout the winter, but at
a rate of once per week. You
will find the plant will not
utilize as much water in the
winter because its growth has
slowed. Generally, plants should
be watered every 4 to 7 days
depending on location, pot size,
soil type and plant type.
If you have
any questions about winter care
of your plants, our staff will
be glad to help you.
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