Buds falling off Rose of Sharon

I have ROS's about 20 years old and 10 to 12 feet high.

Last year and this about 50% of the buds are falling off without blooming. These are full buds - just before they open as blooms. Any ideas?

Are you having a drought? If they are under stress from lack of water they will compensate by droping flower buds.

Not a drought but last year there was a drought and I have not been watering. So I will water!!

Do you know what kind of fertilizer I should be using? Maybe both would help.

Thanks!

I wouldn't fertilize while the plant is under stress. Also, its getting late in the season and you don't want to force alot of tender new growth that won't have time to harden off before fall. At this point just a deep thorough watering once a week if the ground is dry is sufficient. Rose of Sharon generally do not require alot of fertilization, but in spring you can apply some general purpose 5-10-5.

It's thrips, they just love flowers and they nver seem to get enough. I used bloom gaurd by ortho, spray it on after a really good drink. The only thing they don't seem to go for are the marigolds and leaves. Also, if you can move them, relocate them to another area in your garden that helps, I don't know why but it does, good luck

I wouldn't unnecessarily spray your plants unless you have positively identified the culprit. I am not an advocate of spraying willy nilly, you need to know exactly what it is you're spraying for. I never heard of thrips on rose of sharon but that's not to say its not impossible. If you do have an insect problem, simply moving them will not make the insects disappear either. Besides, trying to move a 20 year old shrub is all but impossible. I would carefully inspect the flower buds (with a magnifying glass if necessary) to see if there is any sign of an insect problem, look on the underside of the leaves as well. If there is an insect problem, then we need to identify the offending critter and then select the appropriate spray.

My suspicion is that the problem you are having is physiological in nature and a result some sort of stress on the plant, too dry, too wet, too hot, and not insect related.

I live in WI and my 5yr ROS haven't any leaves and is still bare. They're on the north side. I have a 3 in 1 rose of sharon on the east side that just started to have leaves about 2 weeks ago. The ones on the north have decorative stones around them. Do you think they are dead? The branches bend and and some break and are brittle and are dead.The past 4yrs the north side always started leafing in late July.Do you think I need to be a little more patient?

sowluv, yes...be patient. It sounds like your ground is not yet warmed up enuff to stimulate the leaf growth. (The ones on the east are probably just beginning to leaf out cuz they get the sun more than the ones on the north.)

Irmdell, mine are dropping buds as well, actually "nearly-opened" flowers, and I'm sure it is cuz of the lack of rain. I also think that becuz of our colder than normal winter (you're not that far from me) it may have stimulated the bushes to produce more flowers, and like Jerseyguy suggested, tis a physiological thing. If you're getting the rain we're getting today (and the next few days) I bet you'll see a big difference.

My ROS's are probably 15 yrs old and I've never sprayed them, fed them, or worried about them, and they are huge!

I have rose of sharon out the ying yang. white, purple, pink, palest pink w/ maroon throat and several others. All of them are dropping their partially opened buds. I am from Atlanta and our rain has been heavy, heavy this year. So I don't think it's from drought. I had the idea that it was from to much rain. Not so, if yours are dry. I have no insects either.Maybe stress. to dry or to wet?

I have a 3 yr.old ROS and is very full and every branch has about 20 buds. Only a few of them are blooming. It is very healthy with a wet spring and now is dry but I water it regulary and only fertilized it once this summer. I live in the Boston area. My neighbor's are all in bloom and are bautiful.Anyone know why? Also I would like to know if the roots are very deep as I would like to move one of them.

Welcome to DG, barbie!

I'd suggest if you want to move them to wait till they are dormant. Much easier then. If you want to add them to another space and leave what you have there then pull the volunteers when they pop up in the Spring. (Very easy to do.)

As for the buds...I imagine in a couple weeks those buds will be braggin'! Give 'em a bit more time...could be that they are in a bit more shady spot than your neighbors, or vice-versa.

Dont'cha just love those Rose of Sharons!? (I noticed my neighbor-lady's up the road was begatting double flowers...mine are only singles. Am thinking of going up there and saying Howdy!)

Again, a big Welcome to DG! ô¿ô