It is mid-August and both people & plants are enduring sweltering humid days. Hibiscus are tropical plants, used to humidity but not all-day direct sun & alternating dry/wet soil.

Try to provide shade from noon to early evening, Trees, taller shrubs, trellis, shade cloth, whatever it takes. Hibiscus do not tolerate 100F days in all-day direct sun.

Water regularly, try to avoid soils moisture bouncing back and forth to extremes. Slightly damp is all the plants need, but it needs to be consistent. In other words, just flooding the garden once a week and then letting it dry out.. is bad!

Mulch heavily. That helps keep the soil cool and retails moisture. If you see mildew or fungus on the mulch, stir it up with a rake. In case of major fungus infestations, use fungicides or replace the mulch.

Air! We all want more hibiscus plants and keep adding to our collections. Then the plants grow. Pretty soon, they are all jammed together. When planting, leave plenty of room for plants to grow & spread, then prune to keep adjacent plants from intermingling their branches. This spacing allows air circulation and really cuts back on the spread of insects or fungus infections.

Look after yourself also, wear a hat & cool clothes, drink plenty of water, take regular breaks. Although it might seem obvious, avoid heavy gardening work in the hot parts of the day.

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Slugs can be a persistent problem for hibiscus plants, causing significant damage by feeding on the leaves, flowers, and stems. These nocturnal pests leave behind ragged holes in the foliage and a slimy trail, which is a clear sign of their presence. Here’s how to manage slugs on hibiscus effectively:

Identifying Slug Damage

Slugs generally feed during nightime, so you might not spot them during the day. Signs of slugs eating your hibiscus:

• Irregular holes in leaves and petals, often with smooth edges.
• Slimy trails on the leaves, stems, and surrounding soil.
• Damaged young shoots and flowers, particularly in moist conditions.

Preventing and Controlling Slugs

1. Handpicking: Manually remove the slugs, easiest to do at night with a flashlight. Dropping them into a container of soapy water is one way to dispose of them.
2. Barriers: Copper tape, eggshells, or diatomaceous earth sprinkled around the base of the plant can deter slugs. They dislike crossing sharp or dry materials.
3. Slug Traps: Set up beer traps by placing shallow containers filled with beer at soil level near your hibiscus. This is a shallow tray filled with beer. Slugs are attracted to the beer, fall in, and drown.
4. Natural Predators: Encourage natural predators like birds, frogs, and ground beetles to inhabit your garden.
5. Organic Slug Baits: Iron phosphate-based slug baits are effective and safe for pets, wildlife, and the environment. Scatter the bait around the base of the plants.
6. Moisture Management: Slugs prefer moist conditions. Avoid overwatering. Wwater in the morning to allow the soil to dry by evening.

Long-Term Solutions

• Remove Hiding Places: Remove debris & fallen leaves. Rake mulch to aerate and expose hiding slugs to sunlight & dry air.

Slug Safety

Slugs are not generally poisonous or toxic to humans and are relatively safe to handle. However, they can carry harmful parasites or bacteria. So, it is a good idea to wear gloves when picking them off hibiscus, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards.

Although it is very difficult to completely eliminate slugs, these methods can reduce slug damage to your plants.

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