Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I thought hibiscus was a pacific island/asian tropical plant
(Hawaii comes to mind). Hardly something you'd see on a savannah
grassland. Not native to Africa. Just seems to be a popular
sulcata food/snack yet not even native for them. I'm getting
tired of mine dying every winter and having to be replanted
each spring. I left one in the pot on the front porch and just
feed him the flowers. As for permanent plants, I've gotten
into things that will live and grow outside. Any hibiscus he
can reach is destroyed immediately.

There are a lot of different species of hibiscus. I know some of them will tolerate very cold temperatures--my aunt had one in her yard in Grand Rapids, Mich. My dad has several non-tropical varieties, all of which are thriving, and we can get down in the 20s, so obviously I can't grow the tropical kind. Whether or not all these species are OK for torts is another matter. I do give Moxie a variety called "Rose of Sharon" (don't know the scientific name) and he loves it.
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Jeannie

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa (Bella)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Bess)
1.1 Rubber Boas (Isaiah & Esther)
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise (Moxie)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (George)
2.0 DSH Cats (Amos & Silas)
1.0 English Springer Spaniel (Jimmy)
and...
2.0 Kids w/ 0.0.1 California King Snake (Rex), 0.1 Leopard Gecko (Geico), 1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa (Lucas)
1.0 Husband (no pets, lol)

If you don't mind having houseplants, hibiscus seem to grow really well inside. I'm notoriously bad with houseplants and mine are growing like crazy, blooming too. They also look nice alongside my little bay tree and ficus.
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Do they get really big inside? Do they actually bloom? I've considered growing them indoors, but I didn't think it would work very well. If I could get a variety that didn't get huge, that would be great. It really wouldn't matter too much if it did bloom, Moxie seems to like the leaves just as well.
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Jeannie

0.1 Baja de L.A. Rosy Boa (Bella)
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake (Bess)
1.1 Rubber Boas (Isaiah & Esther)
0.0.1 Hermann's Tortoise (Moxie)
1.0 Leopard Gecko (George)
2.0 DSH Cats (Amos & Silas)
1.0 English Springer Spaniel (Jimmy)
and...
2.0 Kids w/ 0.0.1 California King Snake (Rex), 0.1 Leopard Gecko (Geico), 1.0 Mexican Rosy Boa (Lucas)
1.0 Husband (no pets, lol)

I have mine sitting on the window seat of a westerly facing window. There are lace curtains that filter the direct rays. I water mine every two or three days, or more if the leaves start to droop. They did okay when I had them sitting on the floor by the east window, and again when I moved them on the floor by the west window, but they really started going to town after I moved them up onto the window seat of that west window and soon were blooming. Come to think of it, my bay tree had the same reaction. Hmmmm, must be that west window. I do fertilize them periodically, but not very often. It not only looks nice, but the plants help raise the humidity level in the livingroom which is where I keep my parrots.

Hope this works for you too.
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My Hibiscus "die" also when my area undergoes a "Freeze". However, they always come back in the spring with a lot of evergy. May I suggest not replanting? Or, bring them indoors during the cold times. If they die on you give them a chance, you might be surprised!

Tortuga