Hibiscus loses leaves / sheds all leaves: this is how you can save it

Whether as a houseplant or in a stand-alone position in the Mediterranean garden, the hibiscus is a welcome guest in all its types. The characteristic flowers, supported by the lush green of the leaves, are a dreamlike sight that can be seen anew every year. However, if the leaves fall off in bulk at one time, there is cause for concern that the hibiscus is not doing well and something needs to be done about it.

causes

Causes of leaf loss

In Germany, marshmallow is offered in a large number of types, the best known of which are the garden and rose marshmallow. While the garden hawk gets along in the garden without any problems and is actually very robust, it is the Chinese rose hawk about a sensitive plant that is often supplied in the wrong pots and substrates will. This leads to numerous problems, which first show up in yellowish and then falling leaves. In general, hibiscus species that can be kept outdoors are more robust than the indoor varieties, but severe leaf loss should always be treated with caution.

The following causes are to be mentioned:

• dryness
• Waterlogging
• inadequate cut care
• Change of location
• Leaf and yellow spot disease
• Chlorosis
• Pests

Please note, the loss and a yellowish color are not always immediately a cause for concern, because the plants lose their leaves from time to time, especially in winter. However, if the leaf loss happens quickly and unexpectedly, there is usually a problem that needs to be resolved.

dryness

Do not let it dry out

Drought is never recommended for marshmallow species as the plant quickly begins to suffer. This is due to the growth habit, which requires a lot of moisture in order to lose the nutrients from the substrate via the roots to the leaves and flowers. Too frequent dry periods are shown first in the loss of flowers and buds, then yellowish drooping leaves that gradually fall off. It is important to keep all species of hibiscus moist enough to support growth. The rule here is: the faster the problem is recognized, the less damage is.

Proceed as follows:

• check the moisture of the plant substrate for dryness
• when only the top layer is dry, water can be sufficiently poured with soft water
• If the leaf loss is severe and the soil is very dry, pruning must be carried out immediately, as the plant can no longer recover
• It is essential to water sufficiently after the pruning
• Fertilize as usual

Watering the plant should be done at least every two days in summer, especially when it is warm and dry. In winter, the room hibiscus should only be watered slightly, but not the garden hibiscus. The pruning enables the tropical plant to take up the lost energy from the dry period and convert it into fresh shoots in the coming season. The pruning is really only necessary when the plant is almost dry.

Waterlogging

Avoid waterlogging

Like so many tropical plants, the marshmallow should not be kept too dry or too wet. Above all, waterlogging is harmful to the roots. If the leaves turn yellow and are about to be shed, check the location in the garden or the saucer of the pot for too much water. Waterlogging causes the roots to rot and the plant perishes, as nutrient supply is no longer possible. If a room hibiscus is waterlogged, proceed as follows.

• repot the hibiscus
• take the plant out of the pot
• remove the wet substrate around the roots as carefully as possible
• cut off dark and putrid smelling roots
• Be careful not to remove any light-colored roots, the plant needs them to grow
• prepare a pot with fresh substrate
• this should have drainage holes
• also set up a drainage made of perlite or quartz sand on the floor
• Now put the plant back and water it regularly and not too much

Note: If the location of the garden hawk is well chosen, the plant will not suffer from waterlogging, as Hibiscus creates a wide and dense network of roots. This absorbs a lot of moisture and thus escapes waterlogging.

Location

Guaranteed for falling leaves: wrong change of location

Hibiscus species are known to get used to their location quickly and often disapprove of changing when the leaves are shed. This applies above all to indoor plants, because the garden hawkish is extremely seldom transplanted due to its size and the network of roots. If you have to move the rose marshmallow, the location should either be the same as the previous location or have the following properties to support the growth of the tropical plant.

• full sun
• Avoid midday sun
• Avoid cool drafts through doors, air conditioners or windows
• normal room temperature
• Room temperature should be cooler in winter

Cut

Wrong or too little cut

Hibiscus species should be pruned regularly so that the numerous old shoots can be removed. These are mainly found near the ground and should be thinned out especially after the first fresh shoots have emerged. This will save the hibiscus from spending too much energy on the old wood, which will result in a lack of nutrients. Because of this, the leaves turn yellow and then fall off. When thinning out, make sure that you only remove the old wood from the previous year and not the fresh shoots. This is because there are new flowers on them during the flowering period in late summer.

illness

The leaf and yellow spot disease

Leaf and yellow spot disease are actually two different diseases that present with similar symptoms and both of which result in the loss of leaves. Leaf spot disease manifests itself as irregularly occurring spots in a brownish hue. The reason for this is a fungal attack, which you can contain as follows.

• remove any infected leaves on the spot
• then dispose of them in the household waste
• the compost for disposal is unsuitable as the fungus could multiply there

Disposal in household waste is necessary for both diseases, as they do not only affect mallow plants, but almost all flowers and plants. Yellow spots appear as intense yellow spots on the leaves. These come from a virus that could quickly spread to other plants, which must be avoided at all costs. Proceed as with leaf blotch, but isolate the plant from other specimens as well. This is necessary because otherwise the virus could spread to other specimens and infect them.

Chlorosis

Fight against chlorosis

Chlorosis is an iron deficiency in the hibiscus. Often this is caused by too little or the wrong fertilizer. Choose a suitable quality flower fertilizer, for example from Compo, and give the plant fertilizer every week from March to October. Chlorosis can also occur if indoor hibiscus is not warm enough. Then just choose a warm location for the plant. Garden hawk can suffer from chlorosis due to a lack of nutrients, which can be counteracted with bark mulch. This supplies the plant with nutrients and sufficient moisture.

Pests

Spider mites are dangerous in winter

If your rose marshmallow's leaves appear translucent and faint, and cobwebs can be seen under the leaves and shoots, your hibiscus is serving as a food source for spider mites. These pests feed on the nutrient-rich plant sets of the hibiscus and deprive it of its vitality. Spider mites often appear in winter when the heating air creates a dry indoor climate. Spray the plant regularly with soft water, and if the infestation is severe, do the following.

• Wash the plant with water
• Dab cotton swabs with alcohol and thoroughly remove the spider mites
• then ensure cooler temperatures in the room and higher humidity
• check the plant regularly for further infestation