SOH: Save Our Hibiscus

by Kaylin
(Rochester NY)

I inherited this tree from my grandparents.

I was told it is a Chinese Hibiscus/Chinese Rose Bush. It was down in a basement for years near a window and is now in a brightly lit apartment, we don't know much about its care schedule before i received it.

The leaves have started yellowing and dropping pretty quickly which I suspect has to do with watering even though I've only watered 3-4 times in the last 2ish months I've had the tree.

Just wondering if stopping the water is enough or if more needs to be done to correct as the yellowing seems to be speeding up and more leaves are dropping. Please help as I don't want to lose this family heirloom!

Comments for SOH: Save Our Hibiscus

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 28, 2021

Not enough light
by: Jacki Cammidge, Certified Horticulturist

So you say it was previously in another location, where it may have looked bright to you, but it was probably struggling.

Then when you moved it, it went into shock.

Often, if you are patient, leave it alone and just give it maintenance fluids, oxygen and neglect, it will recover on its own.

This hopefully will be one of those cases.

Clean the dead / yellowing leaves up, just in case there's something else more sinister going on, but I suspect in time it will start to send out new growth.

For now, don't fertilize it or over water it, especially if it continues to lose leaves (no leaves, no need for water, right?)

If you have such a place, that is bright but shaded from full hot sun, put it outside for the summer - these plants can't take any frost, remember.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Ask the Horticulturist.