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Something is Eating My Hibiscus


Gold Post Medal for All Time! 858 Posts
August 15, 2008
A pretty hibiscus flower.

Question:

I just planted two small hibiscus plants outside this early fall season, and something has cut off (or eaten) all the small branches and leaves from the plant. Are there any animals or birds that would devour this plant? Do you think it'll come back next spring? How can I prevent to from happening again?
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Hardiness Zone: 6a

Donna from Sterling Heights, MI

Answer:

It sounds like you have deer in your neighborhood. As days grow shorter in the fall, it's common for them to leave the woods in search of food. They happen to love hibiscus. Whether yours will come back again in the spring depends on how much damage was done and whether the plants had enough to time to settle in and establish good roots.

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June 4, 2020

My hibiscus plant is losing 1 branch every day. The branches go from looking healthy to be dead overnight. The leaves don't turn yellow. I have 2 plants side by side and the problem is only with 1. I had this problem last summer and I lost the plant.Hibiscus Branches Dying?

 

I had put down several treatments and nothing works. When inspecting the branch, I can see tiny holes as if something went in.


Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks.

Hibiscus Branches Dying?
 
Hibiscus Branches Dying?
 
Hibiscus Branches Dying?
 
Hibiscus Branches Dying?
 
Hibiscus Branches Dying?
 

Answers


Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 105 Posts
June 4, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

You have a problem in the soil and it is called root knot needies and they are eating the roots of your plant. You will need to get the tree out of there and see if you can save it by taking the knots off the roots of the plants. I have had these here on the islands and it is almost impossible to save the plant. The bugs live in the dirt and attach themselves to the roots of the plants and just suck the life out of your plants. Basially there is not a lot you can do for this but remove the plant and see if you can save it.

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Now you will need to treat the soil and not plant there again for at least 6 to 8 months until they go away. They are hard to kill and harder to keep gone. They will come back from time to time from all of my experiences with them. There are certain times of the year they will not bother you and then they wake up and feed again. They are so small it is hard to see them but you can tell they are there when the root of your plants are eaten away like yours are.

 

Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 140 Posts
June 4, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

This is called " Cankers". This is dying plant tissue. As it gets worse, the limb becomes dry and brittle.

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You could try to remove those disease pieces in order to keep the rest healthy!

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
June 4, 20200 found this helpful
Best Answer

This problem sure sounds like root rot (several causes and not all relate to too much water).
You may be able to save the plant if you dig it up and really trim it back and remove anything that remotely looks like diseased.
You'll probably have to treat the ground and not plant anything in that area for several months.

I would recommend you ask your county extension agent about this as they can give you the information you need to keep this from happening again. They are a valuable resource for solving plant problems.

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www.gardeningknowhow.com/.../what-is-extension-service.htm

 
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November 26, 2009

Varmints are digging into the mulch we spread around Hibiscus and Hydrangea plants. They are digging into the top and the side and looks like they are eating stems and maybe even bulbs. We thought to cover with screen wire hopefully that will let winter sun in and block the varmints. Any advice you can offer will be appreciated. Thanks.


BJ

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By BJ from mid MO

Answers

December 3, 20090 found this helpful
Best Answer

Forget the hot sauce. Make a mix of: 1/3rd each of black pepper, crushed red pepper like they put on pizza & ground red pepper. Then mix in about 1/8 cup of dry hot mustard. Put into something you can sprinkle it from water well, if the ground needs it & then sprinkle it, then leave it alone for at least a week. It chases off pretty much anything that sniffs. All animals sniff to find what they want & most of them have long memories. I have had it work for cats & dogs for up to 4-5mos.

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When I water this area, I run a slow hose to soak the ground, rather than spray with a nozzle It's pretty amazing, but when you mix it, do it outside & be up wind of it. Mix slowly, this can get in your nose. It's pretty bad, & you don't need to cover the ground, just sprinkle it around. Make sure you cover the entire area. It's great stuff. I got this from Jerry Baker. He has books on stuff for the garden from your kitchen.

 
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July 15, 2019

What can I use to eliminate what is eating the hibiscus leaves? They are new bare root plants, that are not blooming yet.


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Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts
July 15, 20190 found this helpful

Get yourself an insecticidal soap that is organic. It covers a wide spectrum of insects

 
Anonymous
July 15, 20190 found this helpful

Thank you Judy!

 

Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks
July 15, 20190 found this helpful

You can use Neem Oil (insecticidal soap) and use as directed - can be used for all types of plant bugs or diseases - sold at all garden departments in stores.

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Or you can mix 1/2 teaspoon of blue Dawn Dish Washing (1/4 teaspoon if concentrated form) i(even a few drops of soap) with water in a pint to quart spray bottle, shake bottle and spray early in the morning or before the sun hits the plant.
Do not spray in hot sun.
Repeat everyday for at least a week.
Use Neem if plant does not improve.
Neem Oil is organic insecticidal soap.

homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-insecticidal-soap-hibiscus...

 
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