HELP SAVE MY HIBISCUS TREE

Question

I have a hibiscus tree that I have had for about 14 years. We have it planted in a huge planter. It is brought outside in May and brought inside in September or October (depending on freeze). It is well over 7 feet tall, we have to trim it down before bringing it in the fall. Usually we have a good handle on watering over the winter, but last year was a bad year with health issues and deaths in family. Anyway, the tree didn’t get the water it usually does, and when we brought it outside in May and watered it and fertilized as usual, it is not coming back. I have checked the branches and they bend not snap off, so I don’t know why it isn’t doing anything. Is there something I could do to kick it in gear, as I have had it for so long and it has always come back. I hate to think that this died too. Any advice would be helpful. I don’t want to give up on it.

Answer 1

It can take awhile for a plant to come back from drought stress/water deficit. Metabolism shuts down, roots may have died back and the plant has to recover before it can take up adequate water and nutrients and get growing again. Give it time, don’t overdo chemical fertilizer which can exacerbate the problem.

There is an advertiser on Gardening Know How that has an excellent product that I have used with great results for stressed trees and shrubs needing root stimulation and revival. Growth Products is the company, Essential Plus 1-0-1 is the natural materials based formula with kelp, humic acid, amino acids and nutrients that promote root growth.
http://www.growthproducts.com/pages/golf.asp?tables=featured&product=2
The Contact Us page on the website will get you information on where you can get it or order it.