QuestionI BOUGHT A LOVELY H. PLANT IT WAS HUGE BLOOMS WERE BEAUTIFUL THAN IT JUST DIED. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT I DID WRONG I WOULD LIKE TO GET ANOTHER ONE BUT NOT TO KILL IT. THANK YOU JAN
AnswerTo give you the best answer to what happened to your beautiful plant, I would need more information. There are many things that will kill a plant. Too much water, not enough water. Too hot. Too cold. Etc.
There are several kinds of Hibiscus. Shrubs, Perennials, and Annuals. If you had the Deciduous Shrub, your plant may not have died, but just went dormant for the winter, and dropped all of it's leaves. If it was a Tropical Hibiscus, it would need to be indoors in the winter, or it will freeze. I am guessing that because yours had large flowers, it was a perennial. It is fairly hardy. the plants die down in the winter. Stems rise each year from the base of the plant. If potted up each year in a larger pot, or planted in the ground in a protected area, they can reach 6 to 8 feet high.
They need to be moist at all times. So a heavy mulch and lots of water are essential. They like full sun, light afternoon shade, but protection from wind. Remove seed capsules. Fertilize during the growing season. I have both the Perennial and the Shrub. I always look forward to the flower show on the perennial. I leave some of the old stems on the plant to support the weight of the big flowers. I have them on the east side of the deck, with morning sun, afternoon shade. If it is hot, they wilt quickly, but if I water right away, they come right back.
They are a favorite of aphids.
I wish I could help you more, but my best advise is don't give up on them. They are worth the effort.
bakerplanter