Can't cut back diseased branch any more - now what?

[farmer d]

My Rise & Shine is a 1 yr old at over 2 ft tall.  It did have two main branches that made a nice V shaped plant.  Unfortunately one branch got some sort of infection and kept rotting lower and lower even after clipping and sealing it several times.  

Now it has rotted to about the soil level and is pretty much at the point of the V intersection with the healthy other main branch.  

My guess is that this infection/disease will soon affect the whole plant and kill it.  Any suggestions at this point?  Should I wait and see or take action while the other half is still looking great?

I'm considering trying to root a cutting but have no idea how Rise &
Shine roots.  
Farmer D

[Nievesgirl]

Hi Darren,

It may not die cross your fingers    One of my hibiscus is doing the same thing so I cut it down. So far so good. I use less water because if it is a fungus they like moisture and heat. I made sure mine dry out before watering. I had another do this and this one looks like it will die ( i think another wilt disease case)

[Charlie]

Darren, lots of times hibiscus will seal off a rotting branch at the point it intercepts another stem, thus preventing the spread. Not sure how they do this but I've seen it happen many, many times. My best guess is that your healthy branch is safe for now.

If it does not work out that way and the infection spreads to the main remaining stem, then the plant will probably die. Rise and Shine roots fairly well so you might want to get a cutting started.

Charlie

[farmer d]

Thank you Kerry and Charlie both for your insightful input.  I think that I will play it safe and take a cutting.  This will be my first so what better reason to start doing cuttings on my own.

Any advice on what section of the healthy branch and required conditions I need to provide to get it to start rooting would be greatly appreciated.

Farmer D

[Charlie]

Getting the right wood could be the problem at this time of year. It needs to be very firm green wood or this years growth that has turned brown. Wood that is more than a year old or soft green wood usually won't root (but still worth a try if nothing else is available).

Charlie