Help - My hibiscus isn't blooming????

Hi - I just bought a house in June and there is a mature hibiscus shrub that's about 5 feet tall. The leaves are healthy and the plant seems happy. But in the last 5 months I've only seen maybe 3 or 4 flowers. And we are in south Florida. Any suggestions on what the problem could be? We have not trimmed it at all. I also don't water it and have given it fertilizer only once. Thanks for any advice!

It's pretty typical to not see many/as many blooms during the summer heat. I'm assuming its getting at least half a days sun. Fertilizing often does seem to make them bloom more often. If the conditions are right you should start noticing more buds form now that the weather has cooled a bit.

Jon

Also, look to aphids... Little brown or yellow spots all over the buds. The bush could look healthy but the aphids are eating the bush inside out. If so, get some bayrs tree and shrub, spray leaves on top and underneath. Wait 2 days and blast the shrub with water.

Thanks to you all. It does get plenty of sun. I'll take a look at the few buds that come out for aphids. I gave the bush fertilizer several months ago in the middle of summer. Maybe I'll give it another try. I appreciate the advice!

I have a suggestion for you, consider giving the plant more water. Hibiscus like lots of water and full sun.
I used to have dozen's of 'em in my yard, but I live in an area of Fort Lauderdale that's very dry. Because of my area's dry conditions year round, I no longer grow most of them. I do have a couple of natives I am growing in closed plastic containers (no holes to allow the water out) planted in the ground. My closed containers keep the plant moist enough so they do well.
With the water problem I have in my area I have began using mostly natives in the bulk of my yard. This reduces the amount of water I need to maintain my plants.

I note, I do lectures in our area on water conservation so I feel I have to practice what I preach.

Art

I checked and you were right on, cat4. There are little aphids all over the buds that I hadn't noticed. I bought some bayrs and will try it this weekend. I'll also try trimming and watering more.