My Hibiscus Is in Transplant Shock

Signs of Shock

• The most obvious sign of shock is wilting and leaf discoloration. Leaves will turn yellow at first and will start wilting from the edges when a plant starts to go into shock. If the shock is allowed to progress, flowers will also begin to droop and fall off. In the most extreme cases, spots will begin to appear on the flower's stalk. If you see any of these signs less than 24 hours after the plant has been moved, your hibiscus is in shock.

Treating Shock

• The best way to treat shock is to create a highly humid environment for the plant. In order to do this, mist the plant thoroughly, paying special attention to the leaves. Then place a plastic bag over the top of the hibiscus plant. The bag should fit loosely over the plant (you don't want to cut off air) and will be at least semi-transparent (fully transparent will work best). After a day, remove the bag. The leaves should look a bit greener. After treating with the bag, water the plant like normal for two to three days.

Monitoring the Plant

• After you remove the bag, keep an eye on the plant and look for signs of healing. The leaves should rehydrate immediately and start looking plumper. Spots and wilting should disappear in 48 hours and the plant should look completely rejuvenated in three days. If the plant does not spring back to life, it may have been too damaged by the shock to be saved.

Preventing Shock

• If you need to move the plant again, there are several things you can do to prevent transplant shock. First, prepare the area you are transplanting the plant to and put an equal mix of topsoil and soil from the area you are transplanting the hibiscus from. Once you have replanted the hibiscus, water it immediately. If possible, try to transplant the hibiscus in the morning, when the sun is not at its warmest, especially if you are transplanting in the spring or summer.