Tropical Hibiscus

[jimtx]

Have 2 tropical Hibiscus .. both are blooming like crazy but some more leaves are turning yellow every day .... any suggestions? Doesn't appear to have too much water.

Thanks,

Jim

[Ann B.]

Jim,

You may have aphids on your hibiscus. Check really closely around the new growth area. You should be able to see them if you do.

The only other thing I can think of is that you may need to fertilize, but I don't do that often.

Are they getting enough sunlight? Mine have the leaves turn yellow when I bring them indoors in the winter, and I assume it is lack of light.

Anything else you can tell me?

[telecaster]

When I bought my trop tree type and brought it home I repotted it and mulched it and thought I was being very kind to it and it started yellowing and dropping leaves,,they can be very finnicky..
So I took it out of direct sun for a couple weeks and maintained regular watering and it is doing great..in other words they tend to react to the smallest change...just give it a little while

[Ann B.]

Most of them are happy campers, and after a while, they tend to stay that way. The biggest problem I have had is with them drying out. That is when mine will start getting yellow leaves and dropping.

Also, aphids are a big problem, but insecticidal soap works great for that.

Currently, I have most of mine in partial shade under pecan trees. In the winter, I bring them into my garage or patio and do my best to keep them watered. They don't like it in there as much as they do outdoors, and they will not bloom for me as well without as much light, but somehow, they pull through, and as soon as I can get them to just a little more light, they flourish.

They don't mind wet feet at all which really helps when propagating them from cuttings. I have never tried rooting them in water because it is so easy in soiless mix. I like to use the polymer crystals in all my hibiscus plants. They really do seem to like being kept in really moist soil.

When we went through a drought last spring, I put saucers under them and filled the saucers with water. They seemed to really like that.

Getting them to root from cuttings is easier as long as it is warm enough. Last winter, I tried to root some in my greenhouse, but I rarely heat it unless it is going to freeze. The cuttings lived, but there were no roots until the weather warmed up. I was amazed that the cuttings didn't die without roots, but as long as the soil was kept wet, they seemed to hang in there. Some of the leaves dropped, but I didn't give up, and they rooted. All of them! And that fascinates me.

I find it helpful to split the semihardwood stems vertically so they can absorb more water. Maybe, it is just me, but it seems to help...

Also, they seem to do just fine with the sustained release fertilizers which makes me happy! Less work to feed them!

Have FUN!

[BeesKnees]

Yellow leaves on the bottom, too wet.

Yellow leaves on the top, too dry.

Lee