A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Plants and Flowers Forum Hibiscus in Winter

I live in Michigan and have a beautiful hibiscus I'm growing in a container outside. I know with the harsh winters here, it should be brought inside for the season. How should I care for it indoors until the weather permits it to be outside again?

You can do one of two things. Put it in a cool area, water sparingly and let it go dormant (it will drop all or most of it's leaves), or put it in a sunny spot and grow it as a houseplant (it will still drop some leaves due to the changes in temps and humidity.) If you let it go dormant, it will take longer for it to start growing again next year. Either way, you just remove any dead wood in spring and set it back out.

Our springs can have a few very cool days. What's a safe temperature to set it back outdoors?

It will perform better with temps at or above 50, but it will be safe at 40.