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Sep 3, 2015 12:07 PM CST
Thread OP
Lincoln, Ne
We purchased a potted tropical hibiscus plant in May..it was blooming and then got spider mites..lost most of the leaves..we nursed it back to health..kept fertilizing it with a recommended fertilizer from a known hibiscus nursery. It bloomed a few times after that and has continued to grow new leaves and is now one of the healthiest hibiscus plants we have ever had...but it has not bloomed now for over 2 months..it continues to get new leaves though..but is not even producing buds. No signs of aphids or any other problems...why is it not producing buds? thanks
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Sep 3, 2015 3:02 PM CST
Name: Jay
Nederland, Texas (Zone 9a)
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I'm no expert on tropicals but 2 months without flowers does not seem like a long time. Most plants need time to rest between blooming periods.
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Sep 3, 2015 4:29 PM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
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Well, tropical Hibs here bloom just about constantly unless we have a cold snap. Did you by any chance have a few cool nights? I know one fellow from Kentucky said he'd had nights down into the 40's a week or two ago. If you are a "Huskerfan" I'm guessing you're in Nebraska?

It sounds like you've taken really great care of that plant, and all the new growth should be getting ready to make some buds but you do need to keep it warm-ish if cool nights are forecast. It still IS a tropical plant. Bring it in the house, or throw a sheet over it. Sudden chilling for a night can set things back.

Maybe you can afford to 'stress' it just a little bit. Cut back on watering it eg. if you are watering every day, cut back to every second day. Space out your fertilizer regime too, as the weather gets cooler. When you bring it in the house for the winter, give it a nice sunny window, watch out for the spider mites to return, and it will very likely bloom all winter for you.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
Avatar for Huskerfan
Sep 4, 2015 9:35 AM CST
Thread OP
Lincoln, Ne
Thanks to Jay and Elaine for your input. Elaine..yes we do live in Nebraska and a couple of weeks ago we did have some lows in the mid 50's. I will stretch out the time between watering and fertilizing a bit and see if that helps and will watch for those cooler nights.We do have a nice sunny widow for it when colder weather comes. Thanks again.
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Sep 4, 2015 12:37 PM CST
Name: Anne
Summerville, SC (Zone 8a)
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They are also wanting full, blazing hot sun.
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