I don't have much to suggest as I'm really in the same boat. I just brought in all my tropicals which consists of three hibiscus and one palm. I noted a funky soil smell in the room where they all had to go also. They all had to hastily be shoved into my small front room because I did the transition all in one day which included the hibiscus, palm, and all my geraniums and a few other things that over-winter inside.

Two of my hibiscus are also pretty root bound and the pots are just too small to support the weight of how big they got outside this year. I probably have two choices: repot or do a major trim. I probably should have repotted last month when they were still outside rather than shock them with a double whammy of indoors and repot. I don't have the heart to trim one of them since it is finally about to bloom.

Repot is probably the answer for me. I just bought some gritty mix online from Bonsai Jack so maybe that mixed with some other potting soil and coco coir would work. I can't find Farfand locally, so I'd have to mail order it.

Thanks Popmama, I appreciate your similar situation. Good point of how they can get top heavy... reminded me of when I bought one in plastic pot and it kept falling over. I'll use terracotta if I do downsize the pot.

I'm not sure about combining gritty mix with potting soil, I would be afraid it would take away aeration from the gritty mix. (I'm not familiar with using coco coir so can't say anything on it).

I do think its good to prune them this time of year, but I will need a refresher on where to prune regarding the nodes.

This website has info on pruning if you need it too...

http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/pruning.htm

Enjoy those blooms!

-Nancy

I'm in the same boat! I had mine in big ceramic planters, dug them out yesterday and potted them up. We had a couple of frosts but I covered them with sheets and they are still blooming. I read somewhere on GW to hose them off for 3 days or so before bringing them inside to get rid of any critters. I will probably cut them back when they finish blooming and start some cuttings too. Not sure about the smell - were you using fish emulsion outside? Maybe just rinsing them well would help? Hope it's a short winter!

julie

Thanks Dingo. I can't remember if the hibiscus got fish emulsion, the wax begonia in the room may have. I'll be rinsing those roots too and repotting.

The 3 hibiscus' roots were too dry today and leaves and bark wilted, so they got a generous drink. Also dreaded spider mites are present, so they got a Murphy's Oil spraying. I did some pruning to make them more manageable too. They will get a hose down to remove old soil once they rehydrate.

I hope it's a very fast winter too ;)

Hope that helps! Good luck!

if the plants will be warm enough to continue growing - you should be able to prune just fine - mine stay outdoors and go dormant - so i can't prune until its wake up time for them. bugs are soooo much fun NOT! if hte plants aren't in contact with the outdoors and you aren't opposed it might be a good time for a systemic pesticide over winter. if you end up with gnats - a nice carniverous plant helps a lot!

Thanks Merkity. I'm not sure about the systemic, some don't target spider mites and make populations breed faster. I hate the bad bugs, they stress me out. I do have some ladybugs that came indoors but they are not interested in the plants, they walk on the windows and ceilings.

I completely cleaned the roots so there is no tight root bound areas and hardly any old dirt. They are laying out to dry overnight. My sneakers were soaking wet and my arm half asleep from the cold, but hopefully the bare rooting will be a big step forward in the plants not stinking anymore.

I pruned and repotted one of two of mine today. The plant has already been inside for about a week. It got to go outside today for some fresh air and the repot. I used about 3 parts gritty mix , one part Maxfields potting soil and one part coco coir with a sprinkle of worm castings. The plant was completely root bound in its other pot with roots actually coming out the drain hole. I tried to cut and loosen some. I also took the opportunity to try to even out the lean of the plant when I repotted by adding more soil under one side. I'll start fertilizing next week and hope that it appreciates its new space.

I am still holding off repotting the other one since it has quite a few buds on it. I'm planning to let it bloom before I disrupt it.

Popmama, your hibiscus looks great! Love the pot too.

Mine are in their new soil (bark, perlite and Metro Mix) a few days now, one has rehydrated so far. I forgot to move them out of the direct sun so it may slow down progress a little.

Believe it or not, that pot is a plastic pot from Big Lots. I only use plastic because it will make it a bit lighter to move around a lot.

What's Metro Mix?

My eminently-blooming one is very sad. I know it's root bound too and that means it holds no water so it needs to be watered every day or it looks mopey. I am looking forward to repotting it very soon.

Popmama, I thought the pot was ceramic... what a nice illusion.

I will get more info on the Metro Mix, I can't remember which product #.

My hibiscus roots were crazy rootbound too, no wonder why they always looked thirsty and were an easy target to the mites. I enjoyed freeing them.

Sorry for the delay...

Popmoma your 2nd hibiscus looks fantastic!

http://www.sungro.com/professional-products?brandID=3&productID=112

Metro Mix 360:

Ingredients:

• Canadian Sphagnum peat moss
• Coarse perlite
• Bark ash
• Starter nutrient charge (with gypsum) & slow-release nitrogen
• Dolomitic limestone & long-lasting wetting agent