Right here’s the way to transition your tropical crops indoors as soon as temperatures drop

“There was a cool night time not too long ago, and I’m questioning after I ought to usher in my tropical crops which are in containers on my deck. Considered one of my favourite crops is a hibiscus.”

— Jeff Blumquis, Plainfield

It’s best to maneuver your tropical crops inside when temperatures drop beneath 50 levels Fahrenheit. Many will do poorly in chilly, wet climate. Begin the method by inspecting the crops for insect pests equivalent to aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs. Spray the leaves with a powerful stream of water to knock most insect pest off the foliage. Mealy bugs could be wiped off the leaves with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. Clear up the crops by pruning out any yellowing leaves and lowering the crops’ dimension as wanted.

Regularly acclimating the crops to indoor circumstances could make for a smoother transition, if in case you have the time to take action. Begin by shifting the crops into the shade for a number of hours a day and regularly enhance the time the plant is within the shade over a interval of seven to 10 days till the plant is within the shade all day.

Quickly altering climate circumstances within the fall could not enable this method. If there’s one chilly night time, with a protracted interval of heat climate predicted to comply with, then you’ll be able to convey the crops again exterior after the chilly night time to increase the show. An important factor is to get the crops inside as temperatures drop beneath 50 levels Fahrenheit. In fall seasons, when there’s a extra gradual drop in temperature, you push the boundaries by leaving the crops out later, with night time temperatures dropping into the 40s, as they may have acclimated to colder climate. A lightweight freeze over a few nights can kill these crops.

Since you’re bringing your hibiscus inside for the winter, I assume that it’s a tropical hibiscus rising in a pot. In case your hibiscus has shiny, deep inexperienced leaves, and enormous orange, purple, yellow, pink, peach, salmon or double flowers, then you definitely possible have a tropical hibiscus. Many tropical hibiscuses have multiple colour in a bloom.

Hold your plant in a comparatively small pot, as hibiscus flowers finest when its roots are crowded. Strive giving your plant a relaxation for a number of months once you convey it in by minimizing pruning, lowering watering, and shifting to it to a cool room with shiny mild. Don’t push it to flower over winter and save outdated foliage.

It’s possible that some leaves will flip yellow and fall off because the plant adjusts to a brand new atmosphere inside. Different tropical crops could do the identical factor as a response to the dramatic change in atmosphere. In March, lower the stems again, transfer right into a sunny location and enhance watering. When new progress seems, begin fertilizing calmly each couple of weeks. 5 to 6 hours of full daylight day is essential for these crops to carry out properly whereas inside.

For extra plant recommendation, contact the Plant Data Service on the Chicago Botanic Backyard at [email protected]. Tim Johnson is senior director of horticulture on the Chicago Botanic Backyard.