Hibiscus After Blooming

[ntaylor]

My hibiscus plant was so magnificent this year -- hundreds of dish-sized red blooms, but I think the show is over for the year. At some point I'm sure I'm supposed to cut it back. When? I need help!

Thanks.

[Cereus-validus.......]

Leave the flower stems alone. Hibiscus will continue to bloom until frost. Don't cut them back until the stems begin to die back on their own.

[David Ross]

If you have a tropical hibiscus, don't cut it back until spring. You don't want any tender new growth on the bush when winter comes.

If you have blue hibiscus or other hardy mallow, do some "summer pruning" now. This is a light trimming, which may promote further flowering.

[Stewart Robert Hinsley]

I think (from "dish-sized red blooms") that the OP has one of the hardy herbaceous perennial hibiscuses (section Muenchhusia - H. moscheutos, etc.) Alyogyne ("blue hibiscus") comes in a variety of colours, but I don't think there's a red form, as opposed to pink or burgundy.

I presume that these are cut back after the stems have died. I see no harm in dead-heading the plants so that they don't put (more) energy into producing seeds, but perhaps someone with actual experience of the plants would disagree.

[ntaylor]

Thanks to all. Your advice helps a lot. The hibiscus has already started round two of blooming (to my amazement). It is hardy, and I don't know enough to know what's making it so gorgeous.

I'm most appreciative for your guidance.