In March I bought two Hibiscus and planted them both within five feet of each other in the garden out back. For the first two months they both did very well and grew big, beautiful flowers. Then, suddenly, one of them lost most of its leaves when the other was still doing great. I thought it was doing to die but instead for several months now it has just remained unchanged. It doesn't die - it just sits there with only a few little green leaves! Meanwhile the other one is growing and getting bushier as expected. The "no leaves" Hibiscus even has the occasional flower. It just looks so pathetic though. Could anybody tell me what I might do to help my ailing little plant? They are both exposed to identical rain, sunlight, and soil conditions. I just can't imagine what I need to do. Here's a photo of the good one: // image link broken And the "sick" one: // image link broken
Hi Jesse, welcome to the Stew from north Texas. Why not post an intro of yourself in the Welcome to GardenStew forum so we can all get to know each other. I suggest you dig the hibiscus up and check the roots to see if they had become pot bound before you planted it, if they have the whole thing will come up basically in the same pot shape it was when you planted it. If a plant, especially one that grows large, stays in a pot too long the roots start wrapping round and round themselves since they have no place else to go, it's called girdling. If they look like they haven't done any spreading out, then start pulling them apart some before replanting.
