I have a Mandarin Wind hibiscus, from my dad's funeral 2 weeks ago.?

It's leaves are turning yellow and dropping off, it is still blooming and getting new baby leaves, is that ok? If not, what can I do? I really want to keep it alive!

I have a Mandarin Wind hibiscus, from my dad's funeral 2 weeks ago.?
Hi:


I am really sorry to hear about your loss.





The Hibiscus is a perennial in most zones. It is an evergreen from zones eight and up in the United States. If you live in a zone where it gets colder temperatures, it is normal for the Hibiscus to drop its leaves. If you have new growth, and it is still blooming, you should be fine.





One way to check and see if your plant is in shock is to take your fingernail and scratch the surface of a branch. If it is green, your Hibiscus is healthy. If it is brown, it may be in shock. This doesn't mean it will die out. Add some six month slow nitrogen release fertilizer to the shrub and that should help. Make sure you keep it watered.





Hope this has helped some. I will link you to my site map as this has everything that is on the website on this page. Browse through and see if you can find other information that may help you. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at the website. Good luck to you and have a great day! I will link you also to my tropics section as this has a page on Hibiscus!


Kimberly


http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...





http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:The hibiscus is a true beauty! Hibiscus in general are tropical perennials, but I have known some people who grow them year round in a house and keep them green. Yellowing leaves are a result of several possible factors. As pointed out, it may be shock...which I think is probably the answer. When you moved the plant to your car from inside, did you cover the plant? Even a small time exposure to cold will cause it to react. Are you providing the same environment as it got before you moved it? Say if it was getting bright sun and now you have it in a semi shade area. And as a general rule, houseplants from my experience, will grow a bit more slowly during the winter months (not all houseplants, but I find that the shrubby ones and tropical ones will such as hibiscus, and brugmansias) You don't need to water it too much, just enough to keep the soil moist. Fertilizer may help. I would suggest a balanced fertilizer (equal NPK numbers such as 10-10-10 or similar in ratio). Too much nitrogen will cause the plant to leaf out and blooming will suffer. I would not suggest fertilizing in the winter months as growth is slowed down and if you do fertilize, you are moving the plant out of its dormant cycle and forcing it to grow against its biological clock. I am pretty sure the leaves will stop falling off soon. As soon as it has accustomed to your current environment, it should start taking off again. Also, like all tropical plants, this one loves humidity. Try placing it on a bowl of stones and water, but do not let the water touch the bottom of the pot. This will increase humidity. Or try misting the plant. Don't mist so that there are large droplets of water on the plant, just mist so that there is a fine mist of water. You need to increase humidity, not water the leaves.
Reply:That's what they do. Don't worry. Heat and humidity encourage blooms. Set it outside, full sun next spring.





You can take cuttings and root in water or with rootone in soil.





Sorry about your dad.

dermatitis