Hello, counselor4444. Insufficient water sometimes causes the blooms to brown out early but other times it may be normal for a given particular variety. Hydrangea colored blooms do not stay the same color for the length of the blooming season and will change from initial shades of blue/pink to greens, browns, other shades of blue/pink, etc. Whites cannot be changed to blues/pink but they will change to greens, light pinks/blues, etc on their own. There is a difference between a soft brown caused by color change and a ugly brown caused by lack of water. Can you take a picture perhaps?

Initial color on colored blooms can be controlled by ammending the soil but the blooms will still change to green, brown, etc later in the year. Changing the initial color on colored blooms requires knowing if your soil is acidic (Ph Levels below 7) or alkaline (Ph Levels above 7). Acidic soils will result in hues of blues while alkaline soils will produce hues of pink. Ammending with lime makes sure you get pinks because lime makes ther soil more alkaline. Ammending the soil with sulphur compounds (aluminum sulphate for example) makes the soil more acidic so you get blues. Of course, if you want blues and your soil is acidic then you do not have to do anything.

Your plants' roots are probably still growing in the potting container's soil so the initial colors you now get will depend on the Ph Level of that potting soil. Once the roots "break" outside of that potting soil into your garden soil or your own potting soil then acidic/alkaline ammendments begin to influence new blooms.

If the blooms get ugly or you do not like the hues, you can deadhead them but be careful doing any cuttings/pruning because flower buds for the next year could be forming in your plants if your plant variety blooms on old wood. The link below will take you to a good website and discuss pruning and deaheading in detail.

You did not mention it so I assume that your plants are in the ground, not in containers so, as far as feeding them, 1/2 cup of manure or cottonseed meal in early July will be enough. Then sprinkle some coffee grounds sporadically throughout the year. To make sure that the plant goes dormant in winter, stop all forms of feeding at the start of the Fall. These plants are not heavy feeders like roses so you do not have to fertilize them often.

To determine if you need to water, insert a finger into the soil to a depth of 3-4 inches. If the soil feels almost dry or dry then water it (the soil not the plant or the leaves). Check daily at first and observe how often you end up watering. The make a habit of watering on that frequency. Increase the amt of water in summer and back down in the fall. Water a little in winter when the ground has not frozen and it has been dry.

Does that help you, counselor4444?
Luis

Here is a link that might be useful: Pruning and Deadheading Hydrangeas

Counselor4444, Luis is absolutely right. I think that once your hydrangea is in the ground, the roots are growing well and the plant is properly watered, it will look so much better next season. My Limelight had the same issues last year. The blooms were UGLY. They were not lime enough, and many petals turned brown quickly. This season, it is blooming spectacularly and the blooms are lime :-) No more brown petals either!

This is the ugly duckling phase.... it will turn into a beauty with some initial TLC! Good luck.

Exactly right. Last year's plants r lovely. The one I hav planted this year; petals going brown. Just persevere.

Hi All, I am having the same problem with my limelight hydrangea bushes. I planted them about a month ago. I planted them next to blue and pink hydrangeas.

The blue and pink ones are doing fine but the limelight has turned an ugly brown and all of the green leaves have fallen off or turned to brown? Is it dead or dormant? Is there anything I can do to revive it?

Hard to say without being there to see and touch. Maybe. When brand new, they are made to bloom earlier than normal, which means that blooms will brown out earlier than normal but the leaves will dry out when sunlight is reduced and cold spells start bringing temps below freezing for a long enough time. So yes, they may go dormant early but also make sure they are getting enough water (insert a finger into the soil to a depth of 4" and see if the soil feels dry, moist or wet). Once dormant, reduce watering to once every two weeks or so, depending on local rainfall. Make sure you get water on the root balls and then water outwards. Keep them well mulched. Stop watering if the soil freezes and restart when you see leaf out in Spring. Stems that do not leaf out by the end of May can be pruned all the way down in May.