What are the growing conditions for this plant? Can it be grown strictly in the house. I have a very small one, I grew it from a cutting I received. It took about 6 months to root, and now it appears there could be a flower bud on it. This plant is all of 3 inches high. Should this bud be pinched back to allow it to grow more.

Having a 3 inch hibiscus is unusual. No need to cut it back just yet. When it has grown taller (a foot or more) and has finished flowering, then you can prune it's main growing stem to encourage branching and a fuller plant.

Hibiscus can be grown year round indoors provide you have a very sunny window where you can place it.

Be careful not to repot prematurely because that will retard growth and flowering. Wait until the soil dries out within a couple of days following a thorough watering before moving it up one pot size.

Be alert for spider mites, aphids, and white flies. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Regards, Will Creed, Horticulturist Horticultural Help, NYC Email: wcreed@HorticulturalHelp.com

You may also find some helpful information on my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com

Some other thoughts - although hibiscus won't survive outdoors in Canada for the winter you can put it out in full sun for the summer - work up to this slowly - you should also cut it back hard each year. They can last a long time. Enjoy!

I bought a topiary hibiscus 2 summers ago and planted it out in the yard, not knowing any better. Come fall, I learned I had to dig it up and bring it indoors. I did so. It busted into bloom immediately, then all the leaves fell off. Spider mites killed it. Or so I thought. In the spring, I took it outside again, and planted the skeleton in a bed, thinking it would make a great perch for my little parrot. Raccoons uprooted it 3 times. My parrot chewed on it.

Then, it sprouted leaves. I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought it had been dead for 4 months. I dug it up and put it in a large pot. The leaves came back, but it didn't bloom all summer.

In the fall, I brought it back indoors. All the leaves fell off. Following some advice, I put it in a much smaller pot and the leaves came back. I moved it to a sunnier location and it's still pretty happy. I still battle with spider mites and it hasn't bloomed since last year, but it looks pretty good for having been dead last winter.

My point?

I don't really have one. I just thought you might like to hear that these plants are tougher than they look.

Karen.

Thanks Karen. We have had hibiscus for years inside, and use valentines day as the pruning date. Cut it back hard. After it recovers, it blooms almost continually. Battled aphids for years until I got really nasty and used cygon. No problems since and that was two years ago.