My hibiscuses!!!?

Question

My hibiscuses, especially 1 bush, the yellow one are showing signs of stress--yellow leaves, smaller flowers or no flowers at all. I've fertilized them 3 tmes this season, 2x with miracle gro and once with osmocoat. I water once a day, though sometimes that doesn't seem to be enough I've got them in a morning shade, evening sun position. I live in North Texas.

Help!!

Answer 1

How hot has it been there lately? These are not suitable for hot weather. Stress might be the answer. Do you mulch to keep the soil cool? Roots hate to bake.....they die off which makes water and nutrient uptake impossible. Mulch and slow deep watering every other day or two might be a better answer. Saturated soils from over watering excludes oxygen and ruins nutrient uptake.

Have you checked for spider mites? Sounds suspicious; yellow leaves and such. These mites love hot weather and can suck a plant dry if given a chance. They are nearly microscopic......feel the leaves, are they gritty or grittier than normal? Could be the mites. They are tiny spider like insects that when in mass will spin webs....not pretty webs, just a bunch of silk.

Evening sun is a killer especially if near a wall. Temperatures can get well over 120 degrees.....I measured 170 on one client's wall in the late afternoon. Her evergreens constantly had spider mites in summer.

With all the watering, the MiracleGro was washed out of the soil within a day or two. Osmocote was a better idea.

Answer 2

Isn't agent 47 helpfull?
I would switch which way I have them facing to a morning sun and evening shade. The sun here in N. Texas is brutal right now. If you are having to water daily then either you are not watering thoroughly or you have them in a pot that is to small. Also right now everything is under a lot of stress because of the high temps we have been having. It is supposed to cool off this weekend and things will feel better. Do not fertilize anymore, that will stress the plants further.

Answer 3

Is it in a pot or the ground. When I have mine in pots, they do that with the heat and when they get root bound. When you fertilize, make sure the middle number is lower than the other two. I had a hibiscus society once tell me that helps with the blooms and also don't keep it too wet, let it dry out before wattering.

Answer 4

i don,t know what you are talking about.