Hibiscus

I’ve had a potted hibiscus for about three years and dutifully brought it inside every year. This year it doesn’t look that great so I am going to prune it. There are a bunch of dead leaves, they are green but really limp although the soil in the pot is moist.

I have my pruning shears which i will sterilize with some rubbing alcohol before I begin. I wipe the blades of the pruning shears with an alcohol soaked paper towel spilling some on my leg (careful!!). I let the blades stand damp for a few minutes to kill any germs that may have been pn the shears, wipe dry and begin pruning. I plan to cut at least 1/3 of each branch trying to leave any new growth. I lost my nerve to cut off the limp leaves, they are green and are possibly providing some energy to the plant. Its just starting to get warm in New Jersey so the leaf issue might be temperature related as I have the plant outdoors and the night temperatures have been under 60F.
hint: rub some 3 in one oil on your shears with a paper towel to prevent rust!

November 11, 2012
Its been a year since I pruned my Hibiscus and the summer month were very productive with many blooms throughout ther Summer. I brought the Hibiscus indoors in late September when temperature were still in the sixties. Indoors the Hibiscus is displaying daily blooms, but is now dropping a few leaves. The plant is in an eastern facing window. There are still flowers blooming with more flower buds in November. A few leaves are dropping but that may be due to a decrease in watering for the winter.
March 15, 2013
The hibiscus was very productive, nearly continuous flowering. Watering once a week and near an eastern exposure window with a room temperature of 65 degrees F.

Continuous Hibiscus blooms during winter