The cutting s about a foot long, and all the leaves fell except for one......I have had it in water for about 2 weeks...and now it has new leaves coming up along the length of it and tiny white rootlings in the water....It is a tropical,,,,and so I want to pot it up and keep it and a few others I might be able to obtain while we are here in Florida.. I have a nice sunroon to keep it in at home during the frosty seasons...

Thank you for your welcome advice.

sounds like you are on the right track! i still can't get roots in water - i am jealous!

My favorite directions for rooting hibiscus start out...

"Pretend it was in a hurricane. Break off and bash the end of the stem..."

And it works!

Rooting hibiscus is easy, even up North…In the Spring, I just pot cuttings in moist soil, place out of direct sun …and in about 1 month the cuttings are rooted and growing! They are like weeds! So root directly in soil

hmm that water technique i might have to give a try...

I normally root the cuttings in sand, but if water is working for you ....... "If it ain't broke........."

In general, water is a bad idea. Roots form geared to survive in the media in which they are in. Roots formed in water are not the same structures as the roots that would form in soil.
It saves time and effort, to just start in a growing media in the first place.

The problem for many is keeping the media too wet or trying to peek to see if they plant is rooted. Keep it slightly damp and high humidity (for most things), and LEAVE it alone till you see new growth evident.