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Hibiscus management

soniabutler1soniabutler1 Posts: 15
in Problem solving
My hibiscus leaves are nibbled at the ends and go brown and then drop off. I have found a bee nibbling on a leaf and have researched that they do this to damage the plant so that it buds earlier. Does the damage make the buds drop off also. As for the last 2 years my buds nearly all drop off before they bloom.  Does anyone have information on  bumble bees and hibiscus plants. Every other thing I do for the plant is correct and its very upsetting that my buds drop off for the past 2 years.  Its watered correctly is not in a windy position and its fed and there are no bugs or mites on it, so I can only think it is bumble bees as I do have plenty in the garden

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  • Desi_in_LondonDesi_in_London Posts: 731
    where are you based? while there are leafcutter bees in the Uk they make regular ( and often surprisingly large) semicircular holes on teh edge of ( among others ) rose leaves. I have never had any other leaf or plant damage as a result. I am not familiar with the specific rose-mallow bee ( the hibiscus bee you are talking about) but a brief internet search suggested they were based in the Americas rather than in the UK. Photos will probably help but my instinct is that if you have correctly identified the insect concerned then its role re hibiscus is that of a pollinator so is almost certainly not going to cause bud drop . 
    Kindness is always the right choice.
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