Hibiscus Need Special Attention In Fall - Here's What To Check For Better Blooms

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If you've been enjoying your tropical hibiscus shrub all summer, then add special tasks to your fall to-do list for even better blooms next year. If you live in a colder climate, then autumn might be the best time to bring a tropical hibiscus inside, if it's in a container. If you live in a warmer place or have a hardy hibiscus, you'll need to do some mulching, fertilizing, and pest control.

Hibiscus ranks among many gardeners' favorites for its showy, big red, pink, white, or even striking blue blooms. Not to mention, hummingbirds can't resist this tropical perennial flower. Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus), gets special props, since it'll keep gardens looking gorgeous well into fall. How you care for it largely depends on whether you have a hardy hibiscus variety which can survive USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 to 9, while tropical hibiscus will only survive a winter in zone 10, which means it'll shrivel in weather colder than 30 degrees.

If you live in zone 9 or below, and you have a tropical hibiscus, then now's the time to bring that delicate shrub indoors to protect it from frost. To care for hibiscus plants indoors, set it by a bright window and give it regular doses of water, but don't overdo it and let it become waterlogged. Also, fear not if the hibiscus quickly drops all its leaves in protest after you move it inside. It's likely to recover in a sunny, warm spot.

If your hibiscus is staying outdoors — whether it's a hardy variety or you live in a warmer area – lay down a layer of mulch for insulation. If the roots die during a cold spell, it'll be bad news for flowers next spring or summer. If you get word of a particularly bad cold front on the way, use cold frost cloth or burlap to give the flowering shrubs extra protection.

Also, fall is a great time to give hibiscus one last shot of fertilizer before stopping for the winter. Hibiscus are hungry plants, so a balanced fertilizer works well. Try Jack's Classic 20-20-20 all-purpose water-soluble fertilizer. While outside, check your hibiscus for signs of aphids, which love to munch on these plants. Aphids suck sap from stems, withering leaves and stunting flowers. To get rid of these little white pests, knock them off with water from your garden hose. Then, try coating the plant with soapy water, or just add a budget-friendly bar of soap in the garden to deter the bugs from coming back.

Now that you've got your hibiscus pest-free, mulched, and fed, give it one last thorough soaking before the ground gets hard with cold. Then, cut back on regular watering for your hibiscus. In winter, hibiscus needs less water, so make sure the top layer of soil feels dry before watering. If you bog down roots with too much water, this can damage the plant and might nix spring flowers.