Need info on Hibiscus

I recently bought a Hibiscus Tree and other than the basic instructions that were attached to it I have no idea what this plant needs to really thrive. I've noticed that it loses leaves daily! They are turning yellow and then falling off, but just today I looked closer and realized that everywhere a leaf fell off a new one is sprouting. So, is this typical?
The picture I posted is what it looked like when I first bought it. I kept it inside in a very bright room. It started losing leaves indoors so I thought maybe it would prefer being outside. It now sits out on my deck which gets morning sun. That didn't help. There are hardly any leaves left on it, but as I said, new ones are sprouting!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Doreen in PA z/6

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by judi comisky on June 20, 2009 at 7:39pm

Hi Doreen, to me it sounds like it went into a shock when you first brought it home, I've had the same kind of hibiscis and it would drop leaves they are more of a tropical plant, not hardy in z5, the weather has been so crappy here in pa. I wouldnt be too worried about it a sit is getting new growth. I have also tried to winter one of these over by bringing it into the house, it droppedd all of its leaves then and they started to come back and then I lost it. But I really feel like you needt worry about this beauty!! Hope this helped! Judi

Permalink Reply by Doreen on June 21, 2009 at 7:36am

Thanks Judy. I couldn't find a "Hibiscus" group to ask questions in. I see pics posted of them but didn't actually find a designated group for them. Is there one?
I think mine will be ok, I just wondered if dropping leaves was "normal"? Especially because they turn yellow first. I thought perhaps it was because it seemed to need watering every day, but then I transplanted it into a bigger pot and it still kept dropping leaves. It seems to be done blooming at the moment too.

Yes, I am hopeful because I see new leaves sprouting all over. Will see how it goes! :)

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by judi comisky on June 21, 2009 at 8:33pm

Hi Doreen, by the way, we just moved a hibiscus tree form "Blue Bird" I got it from Cottage Farms last year and it is relativy small yet, . it went into shock, dropped all of its leaves, I even cut it back to promote new growth, my husband was sure that it was gone, and guess what...It is coming back the leaves are sprouting and it looks beautiful. Judi
te>Doreen said:

Thanks Judy. I couldn't find a "Hibiscus" group to ask questions in. I see pics posted of them but didn't actually find a designated group for them. Is there one?
I think mine will be ok, I just wondered if dropping leaves was "normal"? Especially because they turn yellow first. I thought perhaps it was because it seemed to need watering every day, but then I transplanted it into a bigger pot and it still kept dropping leaves. It seems to be done blooming at the moment too.

Yes, I am hopeful because I see new leaves sprouting all over. Will see how it goes! :)

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by Doreen on June 22, 2009 at 10:07pm

Hi Judi - that's great to hear! I am sure this one will be fine because as I said, it has new sprouts at each spot where a leaf fell off. I'm just wondering if it will happen again.

judi comisky said:

Hi Doreen, by the way, we just moved a hibiscus tree form "Blue Bird" I got it from Cottage Farms last year and it is relativy small yet, . it went into shock, dropped all of its leaves, I even cut it back to promote new growth, my husband was sure that it was gone, and guess what...It is coming back the leaves are sprouting and it looks beautiful. Judi
te>Doreen said:
Thanks Judy. I couldn't find a "Hibiscus" group to ask questions in. I see pics posted of them but didn't actually find a designated group for them. Is there one?
I think mine will be ok, I just wondered if dropping leaves was "normal"? Especially because they turn yellow first. I thought perhaps it was because it seemed to need watering every day, but then I transplanted it into a bigger pot and it still kept dropping leaves. It seems to be done blooming at the moment too.

Yes, I am hopeful because I see new leaves sprouting all over. Will see how it goes! :)

Thanks again!

Permalink Reply by judi comisky on June 23, 2009 at 8:58pm

Hi Doreen, it shouldn't happen again until fall. I see that you are in z6, I believe that this plant is not hardy in that zone so at that time if you have room you can take it into your house and let it winter in the house.. It will most likely *drop* its leaves at that time. Hope this is helpful. Judi

Permalink Reply by Doreen on June 23, 2009 at 9:20pm

Yes, that was my plan - to bring it inside in winter - if it lasts that long! Crossing my fingers.
When I first bought it it wasn't quite warm enough outside to put on my deck. I kept t inside for at least 4 weeks before I put it out. It dropped leaves inside AND outside, and I hadn't repotted it yet at that point. So, I'm not sure what set it off but I'm keeping a close eye on the new leaves to see if they turn and drop off prematurely. I hope not!
My next thought is perhaps my water is causing it to happen. I have a R.O. system which I use to water all my plants. Maybe, although it's good to do that, this still could have been a shock to the plant simply because it was new water? What do you think?

judi comisky said:

Hi Doreen, it shouldn't happen again until fall. I see that you are in z6, I believe that this plant is not hardy in that zone so at that time if you have room you can take it into your house and let it winter in the house.. It will most likely *drop* its leaves at that time. Hope this is helpful. Judi

Permalink Reply by leeann suso z5b pa on June 23, 2009 at 10:09pm

Doreen,
Here is a link that has information about growing tropical hybiscus in northern climates.

http://www.trop-hibiscus.com/gindr.html

Permalink Reply by Doreen on July 20, 2009 at 6:48pm

Good news! Since my last post I moved to a new house and my Hibiscus apparently LOVES it's now environment!!! I'm posting pictures of the plant when I first bought it, sitting in a room at my old house where I grew all my plants because it is a very bright room, the pictures I took when it wasn't doing well and I put it out on the old deck to see if maybe fresh air and morning sun would make it happy (NOT!) and a picture of it now in it's new home, not direct sun, in the shade of a large Maple tree. I have no explanation for the turn-around but I'm thrilled for it!

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Permalink Reply by Doreen on September 10, 2009 at 7:06am

Since I first posted here on my new Hibiscus plant back in June things have gone really well! I figured out what it likes and doesn't like and it's absolutely BEAUTIFUL now!!!
Now, my question is.........I got seeds from it. What do I do with them? Any special care to get them to grow or do I just plop them into soil like any other seed and expect results? How about the seasons? Is it best to sow them in a pot now, indoors for the colder months and then take them out in Spring or doesn't it matter?
I'd appreciate hearing from someone who has done this before or knows more than me about it!

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