my hibiscus seems to be dying, any ideas?

[nina_15]

My leaves are still green, but they are falling off and what i do have left, which isn't much are all wilted. I'm not sure whats going on, it was going good and then all of a sudden, seems to be dying... any ideas?

[Charlie]

The potting soil is probably too wet and fungus are growing in it and entering the plant through the roots. These fungus reproduce and then clog up the water pathways inside the plant and prevent water and nutrients from reaching the leaves so the leaves wilt and then fall off.

The good news is that in this photo not all the leaves are wilted so there is still some healthy parts to the plant that might survive. There are different ways to proceed. You could wash all the potting mix off the roots and then repot the hibiscus with fresh potting mix that is only lightly wet. Or you can just let the potting mix dry out more before watering again and hope that solves the problem. Some people have success by watering 1 time with 1/5 liter of normal bleach mixed in 4/5 liter of water and soaking the rootball in an attempt to kill the fungi growing in it.

This is a serious condition for the hibiscus. Often they die when they get this problem, but sometimes not. You can either wait to see what happens or take drastic action to try to save the hibiscus. No guarantees with either approach.

The other cause of wilted leaves in a pot that is well watered is exposure to cold temperatures near freezing. Even a short time in such cold temperatures will cause hibiscus leaves to wilt. However, when the plant warms up the leaves usually become crisp again within 1 day.

Charlie

[blupit007]

Oh no!  This is what my Belle looked like 2 weeks ago.  I also saw white fuzzy mold on an old stump from an old cutting spot.  I did the bleach treatment, but it may have been too late.  I hope yours fends better.  I now have no leaves left, and the mold came back.

[davidwood]

A coupe of years ago i had a similar problem and i did both the actions Charlie advises. I gave the cv a good soaking with the bleach first and then 2 days later I pulled it and thouroughly hosed all the roots and re-potted.

Things you need to remember and easily forget are, make sure you either use a new pot or give the old one a good clean before re-potting. Also because you have very few leaves on the plant it will require very little water till you start to see new leaves.

What i did with mine was kept it in a warm toasty place,I hardly watered but sprayed what leaves there where with SupaNova [SuperNova  to the Hibiscus grower is the same as a bible to a priest,you just have to have it],  when i saw new leaves appear I pruned it.

The above is the info i have picked up by reading this forum for 2 years, and thankfully it works. Good luck.

[blupit007]

Do you think it is too late to spray off and re pot Belle?

[motherof4]

I would try kristen....is her wood still green??..lynette.....I am still learning too

[Charlie]

Right, if the scratch test shows green wood it is worth a try to repot. Gently wash the roots of all existing dirt and then repot into fresh potting mix that is completely moist but not dripping wet. You can test for the right amount of water by taking a handful of the potting mix and squeezing it. A few drops of water should come out but not a stream of water when you squeeze it hard. If no water comes out you should add a little bit more so that squeezing it will release a small amount of water.

Charlie

[davidwood]

I don't see why not, everyone must do what they think right but there is know way i could sit and hope that I had killed the fungus in my mix,not when there was a chance I could be sure I got rid of the fungus by cleaning and re-potting. Ok as Charlie says it still might die but I think its got a better chance that way.

Charlie would also be the one to advise about the pruning,was i right to wait or should you do it at re-potting.

[Pachrian]

Yay, I scratched some bark off my dead Saffron and there's green underneath. Keeping my fingers crossed...

[Charlie]

Well said, David. I'm glad it worked for you.

Good luck to anyone with a similar problem!!

Charlie