Hibiscus has yellow leaves

The right cut of the hibiscus

Becomes a hibiscus not cut, its shoots grow long and unbranched. The flowers get smaller every year. Some plants also get yellow leaves, which then fall off.

Experts advise the marshmallow, as the plant is also called, to be pruned sharply every second or third spring. Shorten the shoots in half. It has few flowers in the year of cut. In the other years you can look forward to large and abundant flowers.

It's too hot for the plant

Since it is a tropical plant, the hibiscus needs a warm and sunny place. Find a bright location for it and ideally place it at a west or south window. There it is often too warm in the pots for the roots. Consequence: The hibiscus sheds the leaves to reduce evaporation.

Protect the delicate roots. Use a generous planter and don't put the plant on top of the heater. Tip: Put some large stones in the bottom of the decorative pot and pour some water into them. The evaporating water cools. Make sure that the bottom of the pot does not come into contact with the water.

The marshmallow needs plenty of water in summer, but the roots should never be in the water. Water less in winter.

Change of location often leads to yellow leaves

In nature, plants are in one location for their entire life. Every change means stress. The indoor hibiscus usually reacts by stopping the supply of the foliage in order to save energy. Most of the time it just throws off the buds. If you move the pot to another place or turn it after cleaning the windows, this can lead to problems.

Mark the location with an adhesive strip on the pot and on the window sill. This measure makes it easy for you to put the plants back in their usual place. Leave the pot in place even in winter. The hibiscus loves to hibernate warm. In a cool room he throws off the leaves. Choose a room that is between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius in winter.

Chlorosis leads to leaf loss

If your hibiscus has yellowish discolored leaves but green leaf veins, it suffers from this deficiency disease. Possible causes are a location that is too dark, soil that is too wet or incorrect fertilization.

Check to see if the soil is wet and look out for a musty smell. With these signs it is important to repot the hibiscus immediately. Cut away any rotten roots. If the soil is slightly damp, the roots are fine. Add complete fertilizer or iron fertilizer to the next irrigation water. The marshmallow needs weekly from March to October fertilizer. Think about whether the plant is too dark.

Spots on the leaves

If you see yellow spots on the leaves, your hibiscus is infected with a virus. If the spots are brown, it is a fungal disease. The exact causes are unknown.

Cut off all the stained leaves and dispose of them in the household rubbish, not in the compost. The disease is contagious and can spread to other plants. Tip: Isolate diseased plants and wash your hands thoroughly if you have tampered with them. Also disinfect the scissors. In this way you avoid infecting other plants.

Pests weaken the marshmallow

In most cases, it is spider mites that affect your plant. Sometimes it is aphids that weaken them. The infestation occurs more frequently in winter when the air is very dry.

The most effective way to get rid of the pests is to spray the hibiscus once a week with lukewarm water. In particularly difficult cases, you can use soapy water. Be sure to splash the underside of the leaves with water or soapy water.

The perfect care at a glance

Care of the hibiscus
measure	instruction
Location	Sunny, at the south window.
cut	Every second to third spring.
temperature	16 to 20 degrees, do not heat the pot, do not place on the heater.
to water	Only when the upper layer of the earth is dry.
Fertilize	March to October with whole or iron fertilizer.
Repot	If the pot is too small or the soil got too wet.
Fight diseases (leaf spots)	Cut off affected parts of the plant and dispose of them in the trash.
Fight pests	Spray with soapy water.