Garden columnist Dan Gill answers readers' questions each week. To send a question, email Gill at [email protected]. My problem is with black stuff on my crape myrtles' leaves and bark. It ...

Dear Master Gardener: I had a hibiscus on my patio last summer and brought it in for the winter. Now it has little specks all over it and they move, so I suspect I have some sort of insect pest. What ...

Question: Our hibiscus plants have aphids in the tips of the shoots. How do we control them without affecting the bees? Answer: Curling leaves and stunted shoots are often signs aphids are sucking ...

Some flower buds on a hibiscus tree are covered in slightly sticky, tiny gray/brown insects, which are eating the petals. How can I rid the tree of them? Thank you! - Keith Answer: From your ...

Q: I have two hibiscus bushes in my back yard. They have been doing well for several years. This year, however, they have been attacked by the tiny little caterpillar. It just leaves the leaf veins.

There are aphids on my hibiscus plants. Why can't I use a dishwashing liquid instead of insecticidal soaps? There is a general misconception that any soap can be used as an insecticide. Dishwashing ...

Q: I have what appears to be aphids on my potted hibiscus. I fertilized it two weeks ago and try to water deeply two to three times a week. Short of cutting the heavily infested branches off, what can ...

Light pruning, deep watering, and a layer of mulch in fall help hibiscus conserve energy and stay protected through winter. Bring tropical varieties indoors before it hits 40°F, and cut back on ...

When plants are moved indoors, insects have a free-for-all, no longer getting dislodged by rainfall or exposed to predators.