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[Cherie]

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[Charlie]

Hi Cherie,

Moving hibiscus indoors should not cause leaf drop by itself. I'm wondering why you chose last week to move them in. If it was in reaction to a much colder night or two the cold snap could well be the cause of the leaf drop. As you mentioned, spider mites are a common cause and could be the problem here, too. Change of humidity to drier and a change in light could have triggered it but the change would have had to be drastic. The main way hibiscus have of adjusting to conditions is to drop leaves or grow new ones so it can be a puzzle to figure out just what they are adjusting to.

If you can post some photos that might help to figure it out.

Charlie

[Cherie]

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[Charlie]

Sorry to have to say it, but this is pretty much exactly how spider mites look. You can usually see them on the undersides of leaves that are turning yellow but they are small and are best viewed with a magnifier of some sort.

The 3-in-1 does not work very well for spider mites, unfortunately. Horticultural oil sprays and baths are somewhat better. Everybody has their own technique but for me the easiest way to "bathe" them is to take a plant outside, turn it on its side, and use a hose to force a hard blast of water against the undersides of the leaves. Then turn the plant 1/4 turn and blast the leaves again, then another quarter turn, blast with water, and a final quarter turn. Then gently lift the wet and heavy bush upright and let it dry before bringing it inside. You usually have to do this 2-3 times in one week to get rid of the mites.

Charlie

[Cherie]

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[blupit007]

Cherie,

  Sorry about the mites... I had the same situation as you last year when I had to bring all mine inside. I live in CT so I feel your pain.  Mine all made the trip indoors last week.  I have been gone all week so I don't know how they fared the change.  No reports of ugliness from my mother, so I am assuming they are doing fine. 

  I had spider mites last year also.  I tried a ton of different things, but found one works exceptionally well.  That is the water blasting method that Charlie speaks of.  Just do it in the day time when the temps are above 50, and bring them in as soon as they are dry.  After you can also spray with warm soapy water.  I don't have experience with that part, but know some people who swear by it.  Take a spray bottle, put a small drop of dish detergent in it, then fill with warm water.  Spray the underside, top, and the trunk, everything.  The soap will smother the mites, much like the oil spray you can buy... just another option.
 
  I also have had luck with Bonnie Hort oil spray.  But the soap is safer to spray indoors if need be.

Good luck,
Kristen