Hibiscus flowers – Hibiscus flowers falling from the plant While hibiscus flowers [1] often decorate us with beautiful blooms, these highly sensitive and temperamental plants sometimes fail to thrive. Either hibiscus flowers fall off the plant or the hibiscus buds do not bloom. However, if you familiarize yourself with the most common causes of hibiscus flower problems, it may be easier to fix the problem.
Dropping Blossoms on Hibiscus Tree
One of the most common causes of hibiscus flowers falling off plants is insect pests, especially thrips [2] . These tiny insects feed on hibiscus flower buds, causing them to fall off before blooming. Using an organic insecticide once a week as directed should help resolve the problem.
Gall midge is another common pest that attacks hibiscus flowers. This insect lays its eggs in the buds, turning them yellow and eventually dropping them. These also need to be controlled with an appropriate insecticide that targets these pests. To find out if the gall midge [3] is to blame when hibiscus buds don’t bloom, examine the fallen buds for signs of midge larvae by cutting them open or pulling them apart. It also helps to pick off any yellow buds and dispose of them promptly.
Other insect pests that can cause flower dropping on hibiscus trees include:
Spider mites [4]
Mealybugs [5]
Aphids [6]
Whiteflies [7]
Hibiscus beetle
In addition to insecticidal sprays, placing yellow sticky traps that they find attractive near the plant can help catch and eliminate them.
Other factors that cause hibiscus flowers to fall from the plant
Drooping of hibiscus flowers and buds can also be the result of a number of other factors, such as: B. Nutritional deficiencies and environmental conditions. Bud drop on hibiscus flowers is often associated with an underlying problem that can be easily remedied. For example, inadequate watering, excessive temperature fluctuations, and overfertilization can cause hibiscus trees to drop flowers. Hibiscus flowers require lots of light, high humidity and moist soil. They also need to be fed regularly with fertilizer [8] as directed.
The best way to keep hibiscus flowers healthy is to meet their needs and check the plants often for signs of problems.
Answers to the reasons why hibiscus leaves turn yellow
Hibiscus [1] yellow leaves are common and usually not a cause for concern. Often, hibiscus leaves that turn yellow correct themselves. In some cases, pruning of the entire plant is necessary.
What causes hibiscus leaves to turn yellow?
The hibiscus leaf turns yellow to signal a specific need. Many factors contribute to the yellowing of hibiscus leaves. Familiarizing yourself with these factors will help you address the underlying issue before it becomes a problem.
Nutrient deficiency causes yellow hibiscus leaves
If your hibiscus suffers from a lack of nutrients, some of the leaves will turn yellow, but will remain on the plant. This can be easily corrected by adding fertilizer [2] or amending the soil.
Watering causes hibiscus yellow leaves
Too much or too little water can cause hibiscus leaves to turn yellow. While hibiscus plants require plenty of water, especially during times of excessive heat or wind, overwatering can be harmful. Ideally, you should water just enough to keep the soil moist and not soggy.
Watering should be reduced during the dormant period. Moisten the soil only enough to prevent it from drying out completely. Inadequate drainage can also affect the hibiscus and yellow leaves are often the result. Make sure containers have appropriate drainage. Not giving hibiscus plants enough water can also cause the hibiscus leaf to turn yellow. Check the soil with your finger to make sure the plant is getting enough water. Self-watering pots [3] are also a good way to alleviate these problems.
Hibiscus yellow leaves due to temperature
In extremely hot temperatures, especially in summer, the hibiscus needs additional watering. Otherwise the plant will dry out quickly and succumb to heat stress. This can cause the hibiscus leaf to turn yellow and eventually fall off.
If the temperatures get too cold, the hibiscus also reacts by turning its leaves yellow. Make sure the plant is kept away from drafty locations and strong winds. Also, make sure to bring the plant indoors when outside temperatures reach freezing [4] .
Light-causing hibiscus yellow leaves
Light is another factor associated with hibiscus and yellow leaves. Again, too much sunlight can cause hibiscus leaves to turn yellow and develop white spots, which indicate plant burn. [5] Remove the damaged leaves and relocate the plant.
If the hibiscus does not get enough light, the plant may also respond with yellow leaves that begin to fall to compensate for the lack of light. This can be easily remedied by moving the plant to a location with more sunlight. Yellow leaves can also be an indication that the hibiscus is ready to go dormant. Allow the plant to die back by reducing watering.
Location causes hibiscus yellow leaves
After letting the plant go dormant, bring it indoors and store it in a cool, dark place for a few months. Then cut the hibiscus back and place it in a sunny window. Continue watering regularly. When the hibiscus shows new growth, give it a boost of fertilizer.
Once spring returns, the plant can be moved outdoors. If your hibiscus has yellow leaves, has stopped blooming, or looks wilted after transportation, the plant may be suffering from stress. This is a common occurrence and can be expected when moving to a different environment.
Pests that cause hibiscus yellow leaves
In addition to yellowing, the hibiscus leaf may become mottled with markings on the underside. This can be caused by pests such as spider mites [6] . If left untreated, the stressed plant will eventually lose all of its foliage. If you suspect these pests, spray the plant with soapy water or an appropriate pesticide. However, be careful not to use too many pesticides as this can also contribute to yellow hibiscus leaves.
Overwintering Hibiscus Indoors: Winter Care for Hibiscus
Nothing adds a beautiful tropical flair like a tropical hibiscus. While hibiscus plants [1] grow well outdoors in most areas during the summer, they require protection during the winter. Overwintering hibiscus is easy. Let’s look at the steps for hibiscus winter care.
Who Should Overwinter Hibiscus?
If where you live is below freezing, 32 degrees F (0 C), for more than a few days a year, consider storing your hibiscus indoors for the winter.
Indoor location for hibiscus winter care
Hibiscus are not picky when it comes to indoor storage. Remember, if you care for a hibiscus indoors, its summery, flower-covered glory will quickly fade. Unless you have an atrium or greenhouse [2] , your hibiscus will most likely look less than stellar before spring returns. It’s best to find a place that’s out of the way. Just make sure your hibiscus’s new location stays warmer than 50°F (10°C), gets some light, and is in a location where you’ll remember to water it.
Watering Tips for Hibiscus Care in Winter
The first thing to remember about hibiscus winter care is that hibiscus needs less water in winter than in summer. While watering is essential to your year-round hibiscus care, you should only water the plant in the winter when the soil feels dry.
If you water more, you may damage the roots. This will result in a significant number of yellow leaves on your hibiscus.
Overwintering hibiscus – yellow leaves normal?
You can expect to see a moderate amount of yellow leaves on your hibiscus [3] when caring for a hibiscus indoors during the winter. This is normal and the plant behaves normally. If all the leaves have fallen but the branches are still flexible, your hibiscus has just entered full dormancy. At this point you may want to place it in a cool, dark place and let it rest.
These yellow leaves are the reason you should find a secluded place to care for hibiscus trees in winter. However, taking the time to care for a hibiscus in the winter will give you the benefit of having a larger and more beautiful plant in the summer than you could ever buy in the store.
How to Care for Hibiscus Plants
Growing hibiscus is an easy way to add a tropical feel to your garden. Knowing how to care for hibiscus plants will reward you with many years of beautiful flowers. Let’s look at some tips for caring for hibiscus.
Growing Hibiscus in Containers
Many people who grow a hibiscus plant choose to do so in a container [1] . This means you can move the hibiscus plant to ideal locations depending on the season. Give the plants at least six hours of sunlight, especially if you want to see these beautiful blooms. Although warm, humid conditions are ideal for tropical hibiscus, you may want to provide a little afternoon shade if it is excessively hot. Again, containers make this easy.
Hibiscus plants prefer a snug fit when grown in a container [2] . This means they should be slightly root bound in the pot and if you decide to repot, give the hibiscus just a little more space. Always ensure your growing hibiscus plant has excellent drainage.
Temperatures for Growing Hibiscus
When caring for a hibiscus, remember that hibiscus blooms best in temperatures between 60-90 F (16-32 C) and cannot tolerate temperatures below 32 F (0 C). In the summer, your hibiscus plant can go outside, but once the weather gets close to freezing, it’s time for you to bring your hibiscus indoors.
Water hibiscus
When hibiscus are in their flowering phase, they require large amounts of water. Your hibiscus needs to be watered daily in warm weather. But once the weather cools, your hibiscus needs much less water, and too much water can kill it. During the winter, water your hibiscus only when the soil feels dry.
Fertilize hibiscus
A growing hibiscus plant needs a lot of nutrients [3] to bloom well. Use a fertilizer high in potassium in summer. You can either use a diluted liquid fertilizer once a week, a slow-release fertilizer once a month, or add a high potassium compost to the soil. In winter you don’t need to fertilize at all.
These are the basics for caring for hibiscus plants in your garden. As you can see, they are an easy-care, effective flower that will make a garden in any part of the world look like a tropical paradise.