Hi Really tough to give advice for your climate but since you're growing as a "Houseplant" Coleus is VERY hardy and adaptable only thing they will not tolerate is cold and drying out . I'd keep it in shade until it starts to grow and then decide how you want to maintain it. IN tropical climes some varieties will become trees but very easily pruned into whatever . Be sure to keep it warm and well watered The prunings will also become new plants very easily just stick in water or a bit of soil with or without hormone In a week or so you have a new plant lol I use them extensively outdoors because they come in a gazillion colors and forms and you only have to buy one plant lol Excellent choice for a new addict ?? lol gary

It is a Brassavola nodosa hybrid which means that orchid was a parent or is strongly represented in the pedigree. If you want to know more about Brassavola nodosa just google it to find culture notes and images. You can leave it in the current pot or tie it to the eastern side of a tree with a stocking or similar and remove the tie once the roots establish on the tree. Not all trees have suitable bark so, hopefully, the locals will suggest suitable trees. In the ground in not a good place. In the pot or on a tree, the plant must receive enough sunlight to grow and flower. Eastern side of a tree is suggested so that plant gets morning sunlight to get the "machinery" going early in the day. Avoid situations with blast furnace heat in the afternoon such as North Westerly aspects here, South Westerly aspects there.

If you do decide to pot up, only go one size up. Maybe to a 10" pot (check the bottom to see if the plant has roots coming out, or carefully tilt the plant out to check the rootball). These can be kept outside all summer in a sunny location, although I noticed they may do better with some afternoon shade. They can be overwintered inside. When inside, you could choose to keep it under alot of bright light and in warmth and it may continue to flower all winter (albeit, much less). Alternately, you can keep it in a cool bright location and let it rest. In either case, don't water it much (perhaps once every couple weeks while inside). Also make sure that you try to provide alot of humidity for it as it can become a spider mite magnet. Also note that any change in its conditions (location, amount of light, water, and temperature), will often cause some of the leaves to suddenly turn yellow and drop off. Don't panic and just ignore it. Once you stablize the new site and your watering practices, it'll regrow the leaves and they will become accustomed to that new regime. When you move it out in summer, it'll do the same thing, but by then, you'll know why. ;-) One thing to be careful of is since yours is grafted, sometimes the grafts can snap off way to easily. Nowadays, I give mine a slow-release all-purpose balanced fertilizer and will occassionally give it some Ironite and epsom salts (1tbsp per gallon of water). Good luck. I bet it's beautiful!

I live in Zone 8 Summerville Sc and have several varities of Hibiscus. I am a novice to many and have several tropicals. One of my tropicals returns like a perinnial every year going on three years. I have green leaf growth of up to 4 inches. it usually comes to full maturity by the middle of June. I have others I have rqaised from seed and they are in full bloom. I use 10-10-10 standard fertilizer and Preen time release fertilizer on my potted hibiscus. My soil content is varied. I use sand and rich top soil mix with 10-10-10 mix to Mirical grow potting mix to regular SC soil with with 10-10-10. The reds love the first mentioned mix and I they are full of buds. I counted 50 on one group. I have 50 hibiscus I have raised from seed and I started late. They are about 3 inches tall. Do you know how tender they are at that stage. Can you trnsplant them into pots that young? I have never tried it.