How do I take care of a braided hibiscus? I live in northeastern Oklahoma and the leaves are yellowing.?

and dropping. The plant is in a large pot with drainage. How much water does the plant need?

How do I take care of a braided hibiscus? I live in northeastern Oklahoma and the leaves are yellowing.?
Indoor hibiscus need a lot of bright light. They actually do well outdoors in the summer, like on a patio. Remember that the brightest indoor light is about the same as shady outdoor light. Once you have the light right, be sure your potting mix is well draining and you are not over or underwatering. Water thoroughly so that water runs out the bottom drain holes when the soil is dry to the touch. You should test for dryness by poking a finger in about 1 inch. When it feels pretty dry to the touch, it is time to water. Avoid the use of softened water; untreated well water or rain water is the best. You can use city water if it is not overly chlorinated. Hibiscus benefit from regular feeding, anything you give it is OK but follow label directions so as not to overdose. If you are watering too much, the plant may suddenly lose a lot of leaves or just die. If you see the plant wilting and the soil is still moist, suspect root damage from overwatering. The idea is to soak them - then let them dry out. But not TOO dry! The plant should get dry but not to the point of wilting. Some air in the root zone is important too.





I would not be too concerned if your plant loses some leaves when you move it from one spot to another, like from an outdoor summer vacation to its winter spot in the house. I have had them drop virtually every leaf and then have enough energy to sprout a new batch of leaves. Still this can be a challenging plant to grow. It really does better outside or as a greenhouse plant, probably preferring higher humidity than we do and it can be hard to find the right spot indoors. Oh, and watch for bugs. Mealy bugs like hibiscus.
Reply:Try placing it outside in a filtered shade area, part sun/part shade. you can bring it indoors in winter, or prtect it from freezing with mulch/hay in winter. I have one outside here in NEO as well, and it's doing great for a brown thumb like me!
Reply:Usually when the leaves are yellow it means too much water. How much drainage does your pot have? If it's a large pot, say 16 or more inches in diameter you should have about 2-3 of drainage. If you think you have proper drainage, try loosening the soil around the plant, the water might not be making it all the way to the bottoms and sitting in a pocket. As for how much water, it varies, some people believe in a good soaking once a week, some water everyday. Living in Oklahoma, your weather is hotter, so it's best to check it everyday. You might need to experiment.