Can hibiscus be saved?

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Laurel401 Daytona Beach, FL Jun 26, 2022

It's 11 yrs old & has obviously been neglected. I am in Daytona Beach on beachside; perhaps salt air damage?? I would love to save it if possible. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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ZilyZily Castro Valley, CA Jun 26, 2022

I sure think so! Do you have die back? Snap a few branches and see if they snap or bend. Ones that snap easily, usually are dead. The inside will be dead. But live branches to the tips will be green inside and have give as you bend them.

If you have die back, prune the dead branches back to the living part.

I would water it well. Wait 2 days so it is no longer dehydrated, then use fertilizer at half strength in water. A higher nitrogen fertilizer, (nitrogen is the 1st number) will promote green growth. Keep watering regularly to sustain many leaves. Fertilize it every couple of weeks with half strength (never to a very dry root ball as the plant will drink up the water too fast and if too much fertilizer you can really burn the roots.) Your plant is very stressed so you need to be gentle to get it thru.

When you get good growth, you can switch to a bloom inducing fertilizer which will have a lower nitrogen 1st number. Many are labelled for blooming. I think there is actually fertilizer specifically for hibiscus.

I bet your tree snaps back quickly and by summer's end, you get flowers!

Post #10537644
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ZilyZily Castro Valley, CA Jun 26, 2022

I looked up fertilizing hibiscus and learned some new things! Maybe these links will help.
https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-fertilizer-for-hibiscus/#:~:text=Hibiscus%20plants%20use%20relatively%20large,or%2017%2D5%2D24.
and
https://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/feeding.htm

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Laurel401 Daytona Beach, FL Jul 02, 2022

Thank you so much! I really want to save it; thank you again.

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