Lost hibiscus...

I have had three hibiscus that I have grown from seed since March or so, but two of them suddenly started dropping leaves, and now they are brown (I am assuming dead). I have let them dry out between watering, and I fertilized them once a few months ago. I don't think it was the fertilizer that did it, as they didn't show any adverse signs to the fertilizer. They are about 4 inches tall. Does anyone have a theory as to why they could have died so I don't do the same thing next time?

Thanks in advance!

Can you post a picture? If they're already dead it might be hard to tell from the picture, but sometimes looking at the plant and the container it's in can give some hints as to things that could have gone wrong. Also if you could give a little more info about the conditions you were keeping them in (indoors/outdoors, sun/shade, etc) that would be helpful.

I have been growing them indoors in temperatures ranging from 20-25C (68-77F), and they have been in a brightly lit room, but not in direct sun. I have been growing them in standard 4" pots.

Sorry about the poor quality pictures. :(

Another picture

And the last

The first thing I thought of is that they needed more direct sunlight.
I've had problems before with young hibiscus and other plants dying. They're very susceptible to funguses, etc at that stage.
That being said, I know there is a product that is recommended to help seedlings thru this; I'll look it up tomorrow - too close to bedtime right now.... ;)
Barb

welcome to the world of growing hibiscus from seeds. Out of 700 seedlings last year in a greenhouse setting I still lost many of them this way.Could never really figure out the problem.Might have something to do genetically with the individual plants.Were yours growing slow and weakly before they died?

Kyle

Are you using those plastic cups as saucers? They might be holding water in the bottom and that would certainly encourage fungal problems.

Good point Ardesia. Since hibiscus hate wet roots, I almost never use saucers. If I have to, I'll use a moisture meter to make sure the soil down in the pot is dry before watering.
Red, when seedling die like yours are doing, it's probably from damping off - a fungal condition. There are many different funguses that can cause this. There isn't any certain cure.
I finally found a website that gives good info on the prevention of damping off.
Even though, this doesn't always work, I've used the bleach solution successfully with a 2' -3' plant that I overwatered during the winter in my greenhouse. It lost all it's leaves and, as far as I could tell, was on deaths door. It came back!
http://www.internationalhibiscussociety.org/seed_bank_seed_raising_info.htm

Good luck!
Barb

Thanks for all of your input!

ardesia - I do use the plastic containers as saucers although I empty out any excess water after they have been sitting for a few hours (I usually don't have to empty any out).

Eclipse - They seemed to be growing well until they started to die. They would grow new leaves and gain some height at which time the lowermost leaves would yellow and fall off. I have a sabdariffa which was planted at the same time and it is still doing well - lots of leaves, not many problems with leaves falling off.

Beach_Barbie - After reading a bit of information from the link, I might have been letting the soil get too soggy :( Also, I had them sitting in a south facing window for the summer and the leaves just turned very splotchy and light, so I moved them into more indirect sunlight. That is when I noticed them start to go downhill.

Oh well. I have lots of seeds to try again!