It was planted properly, that's not in question. I was wondering about rocks also, I did remember digging out a large rock. I was wondering if I should trim back to 2-3 stalks so it could focus it's energy. Sorry, I am going rounds with another ignorant pro on this forum about root pruning :)

i would dig it up and put in a pot with no clay and see if it grows. clay soil is too heavy. is it in a raised bed?

It is not in a raised bed, there is another (about 5ft from it) that is doing fine. They are both in heavy clay soil. I can try this in the winter, it was huge when planted.

Again with the insults. Let it go. You are barking up the wrong tree, the advice in the other forum was spot on. Good luck with your hibiscus.

im surprised one is growing in clay. do u fertilize them?

No, I have never fertilized them. I just water when it's really dry. Here is the blooming one.

oh thats beautiful. whats that one called? Maybe give the little one some fertilizer, might give it a boost. :)

what does the other one look like?

it looks the same (when it bloomed). It just looks like 2 inch tall sprouts I will have to take a picture of it (if you can even see it in a picture!).

im finding these perennials are more problems than the tropicals.

Cindy plant them in the ground.

Being the ignoramous mentioned above, my question would be, "Why can't how they were planted be a question?" It certainly has tons of potential to be limiting. If one plant was rootbound when planted and the other wasn't, a difference in vitality should be expected. Are you sure the plants are genetic equals? Vigor is a genetic trait. Did you correct root issues when planting and backfill with native soil only? If not, that's an issue. Lots of rocks to look under for reasons ........... and we know the plant surely doesn't deserve to carry the burden of fault.

Al

They were both terribly rootbound and both had encircling roots (which I corrected). I backfilled with the native heavy clay (the hibiscus were $50, no money for unnecessary soil amendments).

Plants that are terribly root bound stay terribly root bound unless you physically get into the root mass and correct that condition; this, because there is nothing magic about planting out that corrects existing root problems. Pruning encircling roots doesn't correct root congestion. So, given the fact that you didn't really prune roots as they should be pruned prior to transplanting (because you unequivocally "don't believe in" root pruning), it's likely a case of root congestion severely limiting your plant - same as it would in a pot. This is much more apt to occur and the symptoms more apt to be severe in clay soils because of the roots reluctance to move out of the planting hole into surrounding soil.

Al

I removed the encircling roots (like you are supposed to). I did not bare-root it, I wanted it to live.

..... but wait a minute ...... now I'm REALLY confused! You observed there was severe root congestion, but you left ALL the severe root congestion in the middle of the root ball, didn't correct any crossing, girdling, j-hooked roots, or roots growing back toward the center of the root mass in the main root ball because you're afraid of bare-rooting, but you still claim to have transplanted correctly. How can that be? Wouldn't a proper transplanting by a pro or skilled gardener have corrected those issues? FWIW, I learned long ago that NOT addressing those issues at planting out time is a sure way to ensure the opportunity to observe their effects at a later date.

You didn't bare root and correct the congestion in the root mass because you wanted it to live ...... how's that working out for you?

Al

It bloomed the first year, the other one had even more congested roots and it always blooms

You seem to have all the answers, but don't know how to fix the problems. Dig it up and look at the roots. You'll find the one performing poorly has all it's roots confined within the limits of the planting hole perimeter and the one not struggling as badly has managed to push some roots into the surrounding soil.

Al

I can dig it up as soon as it goes dormant in the fall, but not until then.

Good plan. Good luck.

Al

cindy, please start a new thread with your question.