How to Troubleshoot a Hibiscus
- 1). Use a magnifying glass to inspect the foliage and leaves of the plant. Hibiscus are prey to many sucking insects such as thrips, scale and aphids. Other pests like mealybugs and whiteflies may also trouble the plant. Look for tiny insects as the culprits for yellow or wilted leaves, loss of vigor, discolored foliage and bud drop.
- 2). Check for thrips which are too tiny to really be seen even with a magnifying glass. Hold a piece of paper under the leaves or a flower and give the plant a shake. The thrips will fall off and show up as tiny black spots on the paper.
- 3). Use a few short sharp blasts of water to rid your hibiscus of most insect pests. Insecticidal soap spray can also be beneficial. Spray the plant daily with a prepared insect soap until the pests are no longer evident.
- 4). Remove any discolored leaves. Bacterial leaf spot and cankers often affect hibiscus plants. If you see any bright orange spots on the bark, prune out that infected part of the plant and destroy the material.
- 5). Remove a plant that has sudden wilt and that is dying. It likely has mushroom root rot. You can check by excavating until you find the roots. If they are mushy, discolored or have any fruiting bodies on them, the plant has root rot. Dig out the plant and remove as much soil as possible as the fungus will harbor in the earth and infect any other plant you try to grow there.
- 6). Dig a trench near the base of a hibiscus that is 12 to 18 inches deep and check the moisture level. Hibiscus should be kept moist to that level. If the soil is dry, leaves may drop and bud drop is common.