We live in Sarasota Florida, 2 years ago we planted about 9 hibiscus in our yard. The plants have done extremely well and now average about 6-7 feet tall. Color is good, no apparent inscect problems. They get full sun from about 11am on. Although they are always covered in bloom buds, they never bloom. The buds all fall off the plant. We have always used a basic blend fertilizer but several months ago we fed them with a 15-30-15 but with no change in the results. The ground under and around the bushes are littered with unopened buds. We have tropical hibiscus in pots around the pool that are constantly blooming. Would appreciate any ideas or help before I jerk the silly things up and replace them. Thanks in advance. Fred
I'm having the same problem. What source of iron is best? Also, is there a good reference for insect/pest symptoms. I am not sure if we have them or not. I am getting some blooms on the lower branches and some partially/barely opened blooms elsewhere.
Bud drop of hibiscus can be caused by stress or thrips. If thrips, spray with insecticidal soap every 5 to 7 days. Hibiscus are sensitive to many insecticides. Clean up fallen buds. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG020 Newt
Hibiscus do not like high levels of phosphorus. The 15-30-15 fertilizer will inhibit blooming. http://loyno.edu/~gerlich/NOHS/care.html
Hi Phanie, I'm finding thrips damage on different plant material, but no pictures on hibiscus. They damage different parts of different plant material. Some damage the roots, some damage the flowers, some damage the stems, etc. There are over 5000 species of thrips, so finding just the right pics is difficult. Here's some info I found that should be helpful. http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/factsheets/tp_05_westernflower.html Here's damage to a gladiolus flower and other plant parts of other plants. http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/thrips/gladiolus_damage.htm http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/thrips/thrips_damage.htm http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/pathology/pathcirc/pp313.pdf Newt
Had same problem with my Hibiscus and all these responses explain so much. I was told to use a fertilizer with a high phosperhous content for blooms (x-55-x) and they did not bloom at all. I switched to no fertilizer and got several beautiful blooms and at the same time I was spraying them with a diluted solution of Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap for the pests (had none). I slacked on the spraying and the pests returned and the blooms stopped although I do get buds. So, back to a more balanced fertilizer and routine spraying for pests. Thanks all....
