Hibicus - Ask Extension
Hi
I received a gift of Hibicus they bloomed like crazy last summer, I took them in for the winter and then in May put them back on the deck and they...
Knowledgebase
Hibicus #869544
Asked May 21, 2024, 9:11 PM EDT
Hi
I received a gift of Hibicus they bloomed like crazy last summer, I took them in for the winter and then in May put them back on the deck and they got blotchy leaves thought they were dying. Could they have been in shock from outside to the sun?
They had big white blotches and then the leaves looked like they had a white coating. But now it seems new leaves are coming back all green. Pictures attached.
Thoughts????
PS I just recently finished the master gardener course and I am trying to learn as much as I can to play it forward.
St. Mary's County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi I am trying again to attach the pictures. I had hibiscus in the house over the winter and but moved outside to the deck in May and they developed big blotchy white spots and a white covering. Could that have been shock from going from inside to outside. Thank you
Thank you for your important work as a Master Gardener- welcome to Extension!
Tropical plants that spend the winter in our dry, forced-heated homes with little sun are usually very happy to end up outside again.
However, they need a gradual acclimation to the changes from indoors to outdoors. If you put it in full sun, it's most likely that it got scalded, and the existing leaves will yellow and fall, but it sounds like new, fresh growth is already occurring, so we think you will be fine.
Just for reference, we have a page on taking tropicals in for the winter:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/overwintering-tropical-plants/
Enjoy the growing season!
Christine
Tropical plants that spend the winter in our dry, forced-heated homes with little sun are usually very happy to end up outside again.
However, they need a gradual acclimation to the changes from indoors to outdoors. If you put it in full sun, it's most likely that it got scalded, and the existing leaves will yellow and fall, but it sounds like new, fresh growth is already occurring, so we think you will be fine.
Just for reference, we have a page on taking tropicals in for the winter:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/overwintering-tropical-plants/
Enjoy the growing season!
Christine
