[Arid_gardener] Re: Arid_gardener Digest, Vol 51, Issue 9

[VYNNIE MCDANIELS]

HI Suze - 

I would recommend, patience.  

If they've only been in the ground a few years, they are likely still adjusting.  
Here are a few qualifying questions with recommendation:
 Were they 1gal or 5gal when planted? 
 Are there other plantings near by that receive drip as well? 
How are they mulched and how thick of a layer?
 What is the exposure?
(afternoon shade - by 3pm - preferred)
How was the original planting hole prepared? 
(3x hole, mostly amended soil, pumice)
What is the drip watering cycle?
1-2 days/wk, 1-3gallon/1hr)

For fertilizing, I like to use an organic (mild) fertilizer, and apply regularly (monthly or quarterly).  I use a foul manure blend monthly (about a cup per plant), pull back mulch and rough it into the soil.  I then add composted mulch monthly to encourage soil habitat.  

This may sound excessive, but is fairly effortless if you're a casual weekend gardener.  It's just having the materials on site ready to use.  After about year, the hibiscus I've planted have become pretty self sustaining.  I still get the occasional yellowing, veining, and leaf drop, which all pass with the season.  (I don't expect them to look perfect all year round.)

Since hibiscus is a tropical, they do require some care and attention (or trusty neglect) in our arid environment.  A good resource for hibiscus Q&A is Master Gardener Wayne Hall:
AZWHALL at ATT.NET

Best of gardening to you!

- VYNNIE



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Today's Topics:

   1. Question from Home-Hort WWW page (loafer at cox.net)


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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:23:34 -0700 (MST)
From: loafer at cox.net
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
To: 
Message-ID: <200804102323.m3ANNYrq017463 at Ag.arizona.edu>

suze
85050
loafer at cox.net

We have 2 red hibiscus plants. One is not blooming, has had buds for over a month, leaves dark green healthy looking. Other plant is larger, blooming. However, leaves are sparce and lighter green, blooms are not as red or as large as last year. I've fertilized with manganese, Feb and this week, 4/9/2008. What do you recommend?




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End of Arid_gardener Digest, Vol 51, Issue 9
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