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About Tom Alonzo
Expertise
I have been a gardener for 20 years with perennials both growing from seed and from nurseries. I went through the Master Gardener Program from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service and I answered questions on the Hotline a few years ago for the Wyandotte County Kansas Extension Service. I have also lived in the Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Kansas and Missouri and am experienced with a variety of climates, soils and weather conditions.

Experience
I have been growing perennials for over 20 years now. I am self-taught mostly except for a master gardener class. I have experimented with all kinds of perennials including many that are not common to my area. I have read hundreds of books and grown hundreds of varieties of plants and hope to make it a business some day. I have become versed in botanical names and growing conditions and what I don't know off of the top of my head I can usually easily find in my vast array of research material and botanical and horticultural contacts. I especially enjoy experimenting with growing plants out of zone.

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Perennials - potted hardy hibiscus

Expert: Tom Alonzo - 10/21/2009

Question
I do have a hardy hibiscus of -30 below and I did plant it in a pot and it turned out beautiful, better then the ones I planted in the ground. My question is now that frost has gotten it is it to late to plant it in the ground and if I don't will it be alright in the pot outside for the winter or should it be brought in if I'm going to keep it in the pot?

Answer
Hi Marcia,
Thanx for your question. If you do not anticipate that the ground will freeze solid for the next 30-45 days, I would go ahead and plant the hardy hibiscus and then I would mulch it heavily with cypress chips, leaves or straw. It will be okay through the winter. Be aware though that the plant is late to emerge in the spring and you won't see any activity from it until mid-May or so, depending upon how far north you are. In the Kansas City area, where I am, our hardy hibiscuses generally begin emergining in early May.

The other alternative is to keep the pot in a cold shed or garage (some place that does not get warm) for the winter. Water the pot once a week to keep it from drying out. Take it back outdoors in the spring after the last frost and plant the plant in full sun.

I hope this helps.
Tom

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