[Laurie2]

One of my hibiscus has leaves that are turning yellow. The plant is blooming and overall has responded well to the pruning I gave it about a month ago.

But, every day, more and more yellow leaves appear. (I have been pulling them off, but I know I need to find the cause.)

Yesterday, we had lunch at Cane Garden and sat by a hibiscus with the same problem. - - That hibiscus could have used a good pruning. Getting a bit gangly. . .I wonder if anybody would notice if I have my loppers with me next time I go there for lunch......

Anyway, does anybody know what to do about yellowing leaves on hibiscus.

[shcisamax]

I have the same problem. One on the east side of the walkway is doing splendidly and the one on the west side of the walkway is turning yellow. I was told it could be either too much water or not enough.

[Bjeanj]

The Alabama Cooperative extension says yellow leaves are caused by stress, caused by root damage, lack of water, or over fertilizing.

[Rons Landscaping]

It is usually to wet, or to dry, check the moisture around the plant.

[Uberschaf]

Frost damage.Thats a hard plant to damage with over water or drought.

[PaPaLarry]

My guess, is too much fertilizer!! They also need lots of potassium!

[billethkid]

Originally Posted by PaPaLarry

My guess, is too much fertilizer!! They also need lots of potassium!

You can always cut them down to the ground. You will be amazed at how fast they will grow in one season.
They are NOT a cold hardy plant and are easily damaged by temps below 30 for any appreciable amount of time.

[Laurie2]

Thank you. It is in an area fairly close to other hibiscus that are not having such a big problem with yellow leaves.

I think this might have happened last year, too. It is an orangey-red one and has been in for a while. I have a fairly new yellow-flowered one and it is doing great. It even seemed to bounce right through the freeze we had with no damage at all. Made me wonder if some colors are tougher than others.

Or maybe it is like real estate -- location - location - location. It seems like sometimes just a very short distance can make a difference in how a plant does. -- like what shcisamax said about the sides of the driveway.

I think the one at Cane with the yellow leaf problem is the same color flower as the one I have with the problem.

I sure like hibiscus though. So beautiful and not an expensive plant here. And I get to lop 'em in half in the spring.

[Bjeanj]

Just curious; I had hibiscus up in Indianapolis, and I ended up not liking them as much when they dropped their spent flowers. Made a real mess underneath the plant. Do they do the same in FL weather, or just keep blooming, or what?

[Laurie2]

Originally Posted by Bjeanj

Just curious; I had hibiscus up in Indianapolis, and I ended up not liking them as much when they dropped their spent flowers. Made a real mess underneath the plant. Do they do the same in FL weather, or just keep blooming, or what?

The one you had in Indy was probably a hardy hibiscus. I had one of those, a while back, not in Indy but in Ohio, not too far from Indy. The hardy hibiscus can come back every year in that area and can get pretty big. It is not nearly as showy as the hibiscus we have here in Florida. My hardy hibiscus was given to me by a friend who had one that had babies. (I think hardy hibiscus might be a cousin to the Rose-of-Sharon that also produces lots of little ones.(But I might not know what I am talking about.) Anyway, it was pretty but not nearly as pretty as what we can have in Florida.

When in the Midwest, we can sometimes buy a showy hibiscus in a pot, bring it home, plant it, admire it for the summer, and then ZAP goes Mother Nature so we start all over next year. Hibiscus and Mandevilla vines used to get a little temporary time in my Ohio yard. But buying a house in Florida turned out to be a solution for wanting lots of color in the landscape, most of the year.

I think all hibiscus are deciduous. I might have to pick up a few leaves here, but our mower guys mow and edge and also blow the stuff off the rocks in the landscape. -- (I still feel a little guilty about those rocks, instead of mulch, because I know the plants' tootsies have to get pretty hot. I do scrape the rocks back from them to assuage my conscience a little. But, secretly, I have started to kind of like the rocks. They are all shades of brown and beige and have their own pretty look. Besides, they were here when we bought the house. And the plants look happy enough.)

I am linking something here about the different kinds of hibiscus. Like I said, I probably have no idea what I am talking about, but the guy who wrote this article maybe does. -- But I do find his photograph of the hardy hibiscus to be an unfortunate shot. The poor thing has to be so embarrassed. Her buggy leaf is showing.......I know exactly how that plant feels. I never like pictures of myself -- unless they were taken in the late 1970s, but most of those photos are all faded and yellow now. (Sigh)

Well, enough from me. I have lots of work to do today and that sometimes makes me show up here and go on and on about something.

I sure do like my Florida hibiscus. But I have a newsflash for that one making all those yellow leaves,. --I am going to lop it waaaaaay down in a day or two. Maybe it needs a little strength back. It is kind of old and is probably tired from producing those big orangey-red blooms and needs to rest a little. -- I know I can't hurt a hibiscus. Another reason why I like 'em.

Tough Love Laurie

How to Grow Hibiscus | Today's Homeowner

[Villager Joyce]

Too much or too little water? How do you tell which?

[PaPaLarry]

I've found out after living here for 9 yrs, that if you keep them away from the wind, you might have a chance with them. By the lamp post they look nice during spring, summer & fall, but when winter comes, and the cold breezes, (plus the frost) they seem to just die off.

[Ozzello]

Hibiscus has a LOT of pests that like them as much or more than we do. From nematodes to mealy bugs and aphids. Could be one of these.. nitrogen or iron deficiency, pH is out of wack.... no pat answer for 'yellow leaves' , you must bring the mountain to Mohammad or Mohammad to the mountain.