Q: My hibiscus plant produce buds but no blooms. Do you have a solution?

Q: I have two, three year old hibiscus plants. They are in full sun with a southern exposure. The foliage is dark green and very healthy. I fertilize about once a month with azalea fertilizer. The plants produce buds but no blooms. They fall off before opening. Do you have the solution?

A: You have placed your plants in the best area as full sun and southern exposure are perfect for growing hibiscus. There are several possible reasons for bud drop on hibiscus. Fertilizing every month is a bit excessive, 4 times a year is generally considered very generous. Excessive fertilizer will cause the plant to put out lush foliage often at the expense of blooms. Stop the fertilizing until next spring. Water fluctuations (too much or too little) can cause bud drop and we have certainly seen plenty of rain. Check the soil, hibiscus like moist well-drained soil but not wet soil. Most varieties of hibiscus prefer temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees and fluctuations above or below the optimum temperatures can cause bud drop. In addition, some varieties are especially susceptible to bud drop if environmental conditions are not perfect – the result of extensive hybridization. I hope this helps.

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Posted: June 14, 2017


Category: Florida-Friendly Landscaping, Home Landscapes
Tags: Hibiscus


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