Help with Hibiscus!

[Killer-Cat]

Help with Hibiscus! It is dying for some reason and I need some help. You can't see much in the pictures but it has dropped a lot of leaves for some reason, I did go on vacation for 3 days and my sister forgot to water my plants while I was away but even after I watered him for a couple of days he is still dropping leaves. I have a repti sun 10.0 UVB light and that should be fine, I just need some help and tips to keep him alive and well to grow out the top of the cage and other areas. Thanks for any help or tips you might give me.

 

[Traildrifterphalanx]

I'm no hibiscus expert, I have one in my enclosure as well, but from my understanding the UVB bulbs do not give off the proper wavelength they need, and require a separate plant grow bulb.
I've had mine for about a month and it's looking healthy still, but it's been near a large window. It's since moved to a darker room and I'm considering getting a grow bulb for the upcoming winter months

 

[Kiyomitsu]

Hi, i think this will fix your problem philips 75w agro-lite i use that as a heat lamp and also for my plants in the front get a dimmer for it because if you have it right on top it will be too hot i have mine hanging like a foot above my cage so i hop e this helps also you can get them at home depot and walmart

 

[nightanole]

You need LIGHT, lots of LIGHT. I can only keep mine alive with a dual T5HO fixture plus a wide flood halogen. And even then i have to have 1 in the cage, and one in window/outdoor sun, and rotate them yearly.

And just to make you jelly...

 

[rkudulis1957]

I ordered a double grow light from ebay but it lays on top of your cage it is real nicei think it was 65 dollars but it was what I wanted because my flowers was dying I've got 2 ficus 1 pothos and 1 more plant in my cage I had no light in the cage.

 

[JacksJill]

Over watering can kill a plant as easily as not watering. Make sure you have good drainage and that the mister isn't keeping the soil constantly soggy.
As mentioned ^^poor lighting is probably the problem. Get a second plant and rotate them monthly so one can be outside or near a window.

 

[listen2justin]

@nightanole WOW! I admire your plants. i have a quad fixture with 12% and a plant bulb from todd so i tried to experiment and put a hibiscus in my cage. planted with grow stones, organic soil, and lava rock for good drainage. after a month, i had some bulbs and a couple of flowers... then shortly after the leaves started dropping. i just put it outside last week, and now it's dead.

 

[jamest0o0]

Hibiscus need a TON of light, I think the only thing that could possibly sustain them indoors for long periods of time is a jungle dawn megaspott led. Otherwise they need to be cycled outside even with good plant bulbs.

Another thing, they are susceptible to pests, more-so than regular plants ONE. Spider mites will yellow leaves, aphids, mealybugs, etc can also be issues. Give it a good look over.