What's killing my hibiscus

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haighr Laurel, DE(Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2014

Something eating the leaves and something making it wilt like it's dying. It is happening to all varieties in different areas of my yard.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jul 05, 2014

if you shake those branches hard, does anything fall out?
it sure looks like some kind of worm (maybe army) or caterpillars. there is one, i think tobacco budworm that likes hibiscus. i would get some Bt quickly (brand name Thuricide), mix it up with water and spray. that will kill them when they ingest it and it's organic....won't hurt anything else.

as far as wilting, are these inground or in pots? hibiscus grow really fast and will fill up a pot in no time and require a lot of watering.

i think i'd cut these all back, spray and re-pot if need be. one good thing, they are tough and should come through fine.

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haighr Laurel, DE(Zone 7a) Jul 05, 2014

I will pass this info along. Thanks

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LoveForests FU, United States(Zone 9b) Jul 08, 2014

Spray your hibiscus with a strong spray of water, every once a week, or every two weeks, (during the summer months)

Spray them with a mix of Dawn Liquid and water, after you spray them with a strong spray of water.

Then, ... mix a "weak" solution of 'Bayer Advanced' and pour it near the trunk of your Hibiscus.

Good luck and Take Care :]

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haighr Laurel, DE(Zone 7a) Jul 15, 2014

Thanks for the help.

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LoveForests FU, United States(Zone 9b) Jul 16, 2014

You are welcome :]

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Wolfie1038 CROSS, SC(Zone 8b) Jul 21, 2014

I just had this problem this past week also. After examining them closely, I noticed little green worms. They are sawfly larva that was deposited in the plant flesh in spring. They LOVE to eat!

I mixed 1 tablespoon of Dawn dish liquid (do NOT use anti-bacterial) with 1 gallon of water, put it in my sprayer and sprayed the top and bottom of all the leaves until it was dripping off. It apparently suffocates the little devils!

You also might give Neem Oil a try. It will stop their eating, breeding, drinking, laying eggs, etc. It doesn't kill on contact, but it messes with the their system...and they forget to eat! They will stop eating as soon as you spray them, but they won't die right away. Eventually in a day or two they wind up starving to death.

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jul 21, 2014

that's the other one i couldn't think of! and Bt won't work on them.

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haighr Laurel, DE(Zone 7a) Jul 22, 2014

I will go spray mine right now.

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