Question
Hi there
My cousin was babysitting a hibiscus tree for a year until i moved because my parents didnt want it in the house. I have had the tree for about a month now. Between my boyfriend and I the tree was watered whenever we remembered or it it started to look unhappy. Unfortunately we are a little forgetful and i noticed the tree looking droopy almost a week ago (sunday) so I watered it. it never perked up. all the leaves are still green, but they and the stems are droopy. I unpotted the plant (wednesday)and checked out the soil. it was a little too dry for comfort and the soil below the roots was a little too wet. so i added rocks at the bottom to help it drain, mixed the dry and moist soil, repotted the plant and watered it. that was midweek now its saturday and still no improvement. i peeled back a little bit of bark and its green underneath (closer to the base of the branches),  there are not insects on the tree or spots to indicate mold or fungus, nor was there any foul smells when i unpotted it. so is it too far gone?

Sarah

Answer
Hi Sarah,
Thanx for your question.  Sometimes it takes a long time for a plant to recover from the abuse this poor plant has gone through.  Although hibiscus will tolerate some drought it sounds like it got too dry for this plant.  However, if the leaves are still green and alive so is the plant and it will just be a matter of weeks after consistent watering that the plant will survive.  If you noticed no foul smell when transplanting then you probably do not have a root  rot issue.  Just keep the soil well-watered but well-drained.  It may take a while and then again, it may be too late and the plant is simply going through the final stages before it dies completely.  I hope this helps.
Tom