Hibiscus Tree indoors

Question

I have had a hibiscus tree for 5 years now, successfully moving it indoors during the cold Canadian winters. I have a feeling that I may have overwatered this year. The soil is soggy, and I’m wondering if I should be changing the soil. Will the roots rot and kill my tree, or is transplanting a dangerous idea?

Answer 1

Yes, repotting may be necessary to prevent root rot. This article has more info on root rot and how to treat it: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/disease/treating-root-rot-gardening-tips-for-housplants.htm

Answer 2

Transplanting, or repotting, is one approach, certainly. However, if your hibiscus hasn’t been in overly wet soil for more than a few weeks, root rot probably hasn’t had a chance to start. You might want to try some other treatments first, as some people feel that repotting in the winter time is not wise. I don’t know about that, but it would definitely be introducing another level of stress. Some other things you can do include 1) putting the plant in higher light, or adding supplemental electric light; 2) place a small fan so that it blows gently over the soil; 3)removing the plant from the pot and setting it, potless, on a pile of newspapers for a few days to help the water move out of the soil. Be sure to test the soil moisture all the way to the bottom of the pot, both now, to make sure the moisture is out of the soil, and in the future, to avoid this kind of problem.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/fluorescent-lighting-for-indoor-gardening.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-moisture-in-plants.htm