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msjam2

Is my hibiscus tree dead?

msjam2
18 years ago

Due to strong winds, this tree fell on this side a week ago, (the bamboo stick snapped) so I moved the whole tree closer to the wall, but it's not looking very good. Is this tree dead? Am I wasting my time?

{{gwi:891806}}

TIA,

msjam

Comments (3)

  • bruggirl
    18 years ago

    It's not unusual for hibiscus to lose leaves when they're transplanted.

    You always need to cut a tree back by 1/3 if you transplant it, especially in the summer. You can do this now. It won't hurt the tree. Just trim the top limbs back by 1/3 of their length. You need to be watering every other day very thoroughly. It looks stressed, but I think it can come back. Scrape your fingernail on a limb and see if it's green. I think you can save it, but you're going to have to water it a lot in this heat. If you don't get an inch of rain, water it.

    If it's mulched, pull the mulch back and squirt some dishwashing liquid around the tree from the trunk out to the drip line. DON'T use antibacterial soap or Dawn, just regular old Palmolive will do. Also, sprinkle a cup of epsom salts around the tree, again, from the trunk out to the drip line. Then water slowly and thoroughly, even if you have to stand there sprinkling it for 5 minutes or so. Preferably, do this at night, so it will have time to recover during the cooler time.

    After you water it well, mulch it well, and continue watering every other day. Don't give up on it! It may take awhile for new leaves to start coming out, because it will be trying to set roots. The epsom salts will help it make new roots.

  • msjam2
    Original Author
    18 years ago

    Thank you thank you thank you!! The limb is still green, I am so happy, I hope it recovers. The tree has lost all it's leaves now and I am off to the store to get epsom salt.

    Thanks again.

    msjam

  • bruggirl
    18 years ago

    Anytime. Let us know how it goes. :)

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