My hardy hibiscus are in their second year and I am having two problems: 1. Occassionally just one stalk on a plant wilts. Water is my first thought, but the soil is moist. Comments? 2. Some buds are yellowing and then falling off or yellowing, turning brown then falling off. Some buds are beginning to bloom on the same plants. What to do about the dying buds? Thanks so much!

Probably Thirps then unless the plant is being stressed from someting else like location or drought. Thirps get inside the buds and do their damage. Orthene sprayed on the top and underside of the leaves will work both as a contact and systemic insecticide.

Gabi, Not that I dissagree with what you wrote one bit about repotting, but I do have a question about the plant not getting nutrients. Would it matter really all that much if you're using VF-11 as prescribed as a foliar feed? The plants soak up the nutrients via leaves, not roots. When I feel up to spraying the VF-11 and not wasting it via roots, my plants tend to perk up better and faster, than just letting it run through the soil to the saucer. Could this be a temporary fix until she decides which way to go in terms of how to repot? Since repotting may cause the plant to make more roots instead of flowers for some time into the future it may be better to try foliar feedings and more water just long enough to get flowers, then repot. I'd go with the catch pot, When I do catch pots I tend to stand a PVC pipe all the way down to the bottom of the pot up to the top of the catch pot then about an inch of aquarium charcoal, then an inch or so of gravel, then place the pot next to the pipe on the gravel, make sure the pipe is on the bottom of the catch pot. I then pour gravel all the way around the inside pot to keep it in place. The reason for the pipe is I run a dowel into the pipe all the way down so I can see the water level in the catch pot without disturbing anything. Since you don't want the water level above the bottom of the inner pot, you should mark the dowel where the water should not go. It works much like a hydroponic pot. You can also water from the pipe.

I understood her to ask if it could be a known variety that has that characteristic to help you troubleshoot. Based on the info provided try increasing the watering by 1 extra time each week to see if that makes a difference. Also the brown margins on the petals could be related to insect damage. Possibly mites or thrip. I would spray with Neem oil. Remember if its full hot sun the oil can burn leaves if done before the heat of the day. Some other helpful info would be the kind of fertilizer and if its in a container.