Hibiscus trees drought disaster- last minute life support

[jeffpas]

Well these trees have been grown from seed- something I've never been successful at doing (has taken about 4 months altogether).

Unfortunately for me, we have had a freak drought this year and roasting oven temperatures in the mid 90s.

Its been absolutely bizarre, the heat seems to suck the soil bone dry in less than 24 hours. The yard is brown and even fully grown trees are starting to yellow, something I have never seen this time of year. Although as you can see here, the ground ivy seems OK.

 

Back to the baby hibiscus trees.

They were both doing quite well, up to about 12" tall, and I've been giving each a bucket of water when they droop, which brought them back within a few hours. Seems simple enough. Evidently, they needed water.

 

But then inevitably this happened and that, a few baking days and watering missed... and severe wilt and droop set in. First one, then the other. Watering does not seem to bring them back.

I'm now absolutely lost as to whether I am overwatering, or underwatering as the regular rules don't seem to apply anymore.

 

Here are the pics. The sticks are to keep the dogs and yard creatures from stomping over the trees, yes its happened in the past but they luckily recovered. You may notice one of them appears to have new leaves coming in, but again not sure what to do.

 

There are water bugs around the roots, and maybe a bit of a rot smell, but then when I dug down a bit it near the tree root it seems the soil is dry.

Immediate action is obviously needed at this desparate last stage, but what action???

Lost......

Edited June 30, 2016 by jeffpas

[jeffpas]

I'm not sure what you mean by that question. The hibiscus trees haven't had a chance to self seed, as they have not been in the ground long enough for their flowers to produce this years crop of seeds.

 

I'm sure they will self seed given the opportunity. I mentioned a locust tree in another post, there are constantly locust seedlings and maples cropping up everywhere. The locust in particular are quite weedy and grow extremely fast.

 

I hope you're not working toward another "Give up, your yard isn't for hibiscus trees".

I have to say I'm a little surprised at this forum, it seems people here have little enthusiasm to take on even small gardening challenges lol.

Buck up campers, hang in there! Every yard is a winner

Edited July 24, 2016 by jeffpas

[muttley9050]

Not sating you should quit. You say that trees self seed and grow all the time. But that's in their ideal environment. Sometimes keeping things in pots fir longer and increasing pot size over time can give you a larger healthier tree before you plant it out. This means it's more likely to thrive.

I was merely staring that maybe a bit more effort is needed in your garden for that paticularl tree than in some one else garden

[easy-lift guy]

But do hibiscus trees self seed and grow in your yard?

 

Typically hibiscus is propagated from cuttings of existing material. I do not believe the flowers produce seeds per say. I once had a customer that could grow them by simply placing the leaf stems in potting soil carport and gradually move into larger containers or give as gifts within a few months of growth.

easy-lift guy