I believe every gardener has a funny story about how they first discovered a particular plant. My stories are… Well… Always a little embarrassing!
I first learned about hibiscus when I ordered what I thought was a regular fruit tea at a local cafe. I took a sip and was surprised by the tart but sweet surprise! Upon asking the waiter what kind of fruits were in there, I was told that I was actually tasting hibiscus tea.
So, yeah… I discovered hibiscus as a fully grown adult….
Hibiscus Leaves Turning Yellow — Is It Normal?
In the garden, pretty much all your plants are susceptible to stress and damage.
As a response to that stress, they often exhibit leaf discoloration. However, I definitely wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s completely normal.
It’s an alarming sight and immediate action is needed to alleviate the stress on your hibiscus.
Reasons Why Hibiscus Leaves May Turn Yellow & Fall Off
4) Poor Watering Practices
An improper watering routine or poor understanding of your plant’s water requirements can lead to serious issues.
Underwatering dries out your hibiscus, whereas overwatering is likely to cause root rot. In both cases, leaf discoloration and yellowing is to be expected.
3) Major Temperature Shifts
If you recently moved your hibiscus indoors and outdoors, there’s a high chance that it’s struggling to adapt to the change in environment.
Indoor conditions differ significantly from outdoor ones, and the sudden temperature shift can easily stress the plant, triggering discoloration in its foliage.
2) Poor Lighting Conditions
Inadequate lighting can be another serious underlying reason behind leaf yellowing. If you have your hibiscus indoors or in a shaded environment where it doesn’t receive much sunlight, the leaf discoloration is no surprise.
For lush, vibrant foliage, adequate sunlight exposure every day is essential!
If you keep your hibiscus in an underlit environment for an extended period of time, the leaves may even begin to turn brittle and shed rapidly.
1) Natural Aging Process
Like we humans inevitably experience whitening of the hair in old age, plant leaves similarly turn yellow due to the natural aging process.
It means your hibiscus has had its run and isn’t able to maintain that fresh, lush look anymore no matter the resources you provide.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an “issue” that can be solved; it’s simply a natural occurrence. So, just let your hibiscus turn yellow and shed leaves in peace.
Hibiscus Leaves Turning Yellow & Buds Falling Off
Again, there’s no single diagnosis for this issue, and a plethora of underlying reasons could be triggering the discoloration and bud shedding.
Try to identify the underlying cause as it will help you come up with a good course of action for fixing the problem.
In most cases, however, bud shedding and discoloration are symptoms of nutrient deficiencies that could possibly be stressing your plant.
Should I Cut Off Yellow Hibiscus Leaves?
In my opinion, yes, you definitely should!
Cutting off the yellow leaves will not only help maintain the aesthetic appeal of your hibiscus but also improve air circulation and encourage fresh growth.
An important note to keep in mind when pruning, however, is to not remove too many leaves at once, or else you’ll worsen the stress on the plant.
Final Words
If you notice your hibiscus leaves turning yellow, instead of taking the problem at face value, try to identify the underlying cause behind it. E.g.
If your entire garden soil is nutrient deficient, sooner or later your other plants could be affected too.
Once you’re sure about what’s going on, take necessary action to resolve the issue before it’s too late.
