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29.5.15

Hibiscus Plant Pests Problem and Growing Tips and some Budgie love bird health care

Red Layered Hibiscus flowering plant
Hibiscus plants are grown for religious purposes as it is often sad that a home growing this flowering plant attracts good luck and God's Blessings. This is due to the fact that it is loved by Ganesha, the Elephant Headed God,  and also used as offering in temples. Hundreds of species of types of different hibiscus flowers! Its difficult to grow one for years and I wonder that's why it is so auspicious! 
Especially as winter sets in the plants are always attacked by white flies, aphids or pest, I don't know why but due to low sunlight and high water content, is one of the reason, that many hibiscus plants grown on window sills in pots  do not make over the long chilly winters.
Rare Hibiscus flowering plant
From health benefits to symbolic religious importance Hibiscus is grown every where for their large sized blooms. Its great dye additive for hair and growing healthy hair.
Not only had I planted many many different types but also once there was time when our garden was full of colored  hibiscus flowers. Except for a few now, as we lost many due to pests and age. There were heavenly whites, soft baby pink, cheery yellow, vibrant vermillon red , orange and even pinkish purple! Then we also added to these shaded ones , the famous golden on yellow and red white, which still brings a smile on my face, I had learned the trick of taking care of hibiscus plants and once you know this growing them becomes easy and what is best is they give out majestic large sized blooms!
The only care, white pests, aphids, or powdery mildew, and then the black ants start feeding on these. Thoroughly watering these plants and giving them bath would keep my hibiscus plants fresh and they would over come  the attack by pest as I placed these pots under full sunlight. What more the hibiscus plants love full sunlight for maximum hours and even bloom only under full sunlight!
This awesum advice by Debadutta Misra one of our readers of Garden Care Simplified for tips of Hibiscus Plants, Thanks Debadutta Misra!
“ Rizwana, the pests are not aphids but mealybugs who have tremendous affinity for hibiscus. They are actually pink in colour, however they generate a lot of white powder like substance which is loved by ants like the milk from aphids. Mealy bugs are slow and don't spread from plant to plant but are transported by ants who spread it to all stem ends. The powder like coating actually also helps the mealybugs survive any pesticide. however they are susceptible to potassium based soaps like dishwashing liquid. After spraying with soap solution a mild pesticide along with repeated thorough physical cleaning totally removes the pests. However after that keep lining the pot edge and the area with gamaxene (lindane powder) for several days to kill the ants and prevent them from bringing back mealybugs. And always be on the lookout for them and clean as soon as noticed again followed by gamaxene. If you plan to grow hibiscus put gamaxene around the plants every 15 days even if mealybugs are not there.
I Had also got one medicine that was strong and saved many but we also lost many as the treatments do kill pests but so also the plants are affected, and then I have just stopped using any artificial mediations for my plants, sunlight I have observed is the best for flowering plants and this is also a natural protector from plant pests. Trimming the infected parts, washing and then shifting places often works wonders to your hibiscus plants.
Yellow hibiscus flower
Yellowing and dropping of leaves in hibiscus plants  indicates less watering, strong sunlight, and less root space in pot. The hibiscus grows roots fats and need to be repotted. I used to trim some roots as they get entangled making a mess and even after transplanting the hibiscus roots would not find space. Just take care to transplant it with love and then they bless us with awesum blooms!
Its an emotional plant, Hibiscus, and does well with communicating!
Meanwhile I really have to thank God for the miracle that Goldie, our pet budgie love bird,  is fine, I had lost hope after two surgeries still her eye was swollen third time, and the boil developed puss, she had stopped eating and I was really scared that she would l go blind, prayed and prayed and also my friends from face book were all along praying, but God is great and really very Great! I wish her good health! Its was a bad time...., sleepless night for both of us...and I am so thankful that God listened, and blessed her.
I wish other budgie lovers  would know as this would help save their loved pets love birds. I did that which I would never do, helped in surgery and then fed her medicines, and took care to see she ate , as love birds stop eating and then gradually lose out. She is a survivor as when we had bought her two years back she had a tumour like swelling near stomach . Fresh air is necessary for budgie health and so also time out, letting them fly in controlled environment out of their cage. Games, challenges and different types of food, mixture of green leafy vegetables and seeds, is what keeps them interested otherwise they get bored!  I call her " Golden Monk" as she is disciplined and well natured humble one!
Boil near love bird budgies eye

Dried skin near Goldie love birds eye


Under the morning sun in fresh air, Goldie love bird
Hope this helps!
All the Best from Rizwana!





5 comments:

  1. Hello,

    Thank you for posting on request..

    Now rainy season has started so not sure if I should keep it in shade Or outside for sun (chances are it will get more water due to rain).

    1. Do you think I should move it outside even if the rainy season has started?

    2. Also, there are lot of new green leaves now but once the leaves get bigger, they have yellow spots and curl inwards. Is less water the reason?
    I am afraid of watering it too much because the pot is big and soil at the bottom will remain watery resulting in root rot.

    3. My pot is 2 feet wide and 2 feet in depth.. after how many days should I water it if I water it thoroughly?

    The pot is made of cement and sand and it gets sunlight for 2-3 hours in the late morning.

    Regards.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Anonymous!
    1) I have my plants under the sun and they enjoy the rains,except I have to check the water does not get clogged in pots, but they really love rains and the sunlight!Still check out by moving your your plant may have personal needs.
    2) I feel the soil is not rich, must be too much or too little fertilizer.Too much or too little water , results in leaf drop.
    3 ) Insects [pests, clean the plant thoroughly. Sometimes wrong fertilizer.
    4) Yes I do water my large containers daily and in really hot summers twice a day. You will have to check how your plant loves this.Sunlight is fine, two three hours, think the plant is not happy, are you too much stressed, check your emotions!
    They respond to us.
    Hope this helps!

    ReplyDelete
  3. The leaves doesnt drop.. I am aware yellow leaves turn weak and drop itself when plant is stressed or there is a root problem but here, the leaves doesnt become weak and are straight as good leaves.. the only thing is, they have tiny yellow spots on them (in large quantity). On some branch tips it has melybugs (cotton like substance) but not too much and I am going to clean that one too.

    I will now move the plant out a bit so it gets sunlight for the whole afternoon and see if it makes any difference. And yes, will try to be more happy.. atleast in front of the plants :)

    Regards.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello, your posts are very informative.
    Would love to know, how do you bathe the plant. Considering that pollution levels are too high in mumbai. Which leads to a thick layer of dust on the leaves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Damodar thank you for liking my Blog posts.
      Yes dust keeps accumulating on leaves, I sprinkle water ,showering them once in few days, to keep them fresh.
      Just avoid showering plants in full sunlight or afternoons, as the leaves burn and drop.
      Hope this helps!
      All the Best from Rizwana!

      Delete

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