Gary, do you know if the Hibs you had were hardy or tropical? Hardy Hibs usually pop up after a dormancy period between June and July, whereas tropicals are evergreen..Because of shorter daylight in winter, tropical hibs goes semi-dormant and either stops or slows down blooming and new growth.
Are your hibs grown in pots or ground?
I wouldn't toss out hibs..no way..lol..for one, it's expensive buying new plants every spring.
If you're growing tropical hibiscus in containers, and it gets too cold in your area, bring them inside..
Keep outdoors until temps dip in the 40's/50's. Place trees/bushes in a sunny south or west window. Oh, before bringing indoors, hose off foliage/pot. I also use Fish Emulsion as a foliar spray insecticide to prevent/kill scale and a last feeding (though FE isn't what I normally feed hibs with) 1 capful of FE to 16oz mister of water.
I also make my own organic concoction to prevent other insects..2-4 drops dishsoap, ground citrus rind and garlic in a sprayer..spray plant thoroughly.
I also use artificial lights a few hours a night.
I hope this is what you meant by a sheltered area..LOl..Toni

Hi Toni, Thanks for the note. My Hibiscus are in Pots. They lose their leaves durning winter and leaf out the next spring, but very late. By the time they start blooming it is almost "fall" again. :( I was hoping i could get them to come out of dormancy more quickly. I will try the Fish Emulsion, and move them in the Garage for the winter. Then give them a good shot of fertalizer in the early spring. I will keep you updated. Winter here does not arrive until almost Thanskgiving. Gary in Northern California,