Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Quick answer
Leaf drop on your Hibiscus has a few possible causes, and on this plant the likeliest is winter leaf drop indoors.
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How to tell
In autumn and winter, shorter days and dry indoor heat make Hibiscus drop some of its leaves, often after it comes in from outside. The stems stay firm and green.
The fix
Give it the brightest spot you have, water a little less while growth is slow, and keep it away from radiators. New leaves follow in spring.
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How to tell
It started dropping leaves soon after you bought, moved, or repotted it.
The fix
Pick a suitable spot, keep care steady, don’t fertilize, and let it adjust over a couple of weeks. Many plants settle once conditions stop changing.
How to tell
Leaves yellow and then drop, and the soil stays wet for days after watering.
The fix
Ease off watering, check drainage, and inspect for rot in the roots if it feels soft.
How to tell
Leaves drop after the soil has been bone dry for a while. Watch for wilting leaves first.
The fix
If the soil is bone dry, water thoroughly, then check it more regularly so it doesn’t dry out that far again.
How to tell
It sits in a draft, near a cold window, or next to a heater, and leaves fall after a cold snap or a sudden temperature swing.
The fix
Move it somewhere with stable, draft-free temperatures.
How to tell
It quietly sheds its lower and inner leaves over weeks while new growth stays small and pale. Hibiscus wants bright light and some direct sun.
The fix
Move it to a sunnier spot, over a week or two if it has been somewhere dim.
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