What is wrong with my hydrangeas?
CeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (22)
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agoRelated Discussions
What's wrong with my hydrangea?
Comments (9)It may just be preparing to shut down for the end of our very long growing season. Only God knows when the wholesaler forced it to leaf out... usually they pick rather early & abnormal times so the plant looks nice in store shelves by late March or April. As a result, your shrub may just be reacting to reduced light leves and slowing down. As our very long growing season starts to end, previously greenish stems begin to transition to brown colors as they harden and prepare for winter. Some hydrangeas do this before others. Some do it more brownish than others. I can't speculate much on what else happened while it was being cared for by the coworker. Leaves on some of my hydrangeas recently turned light green so I amended the soil with acidifiers (greensand and aluminum sulfate that I had handy); other leaves are showing signs of drying out but the plants always do that as they are getting ready to shut down so, unless you see new issues, I would not worry much. Consider that too much watering causes root rot which makes leaves wilt/droop continuously 24/7 and your plant's leaves look mostly fine. I said mostly because in picture 3, I see one leaf that may either be dirty, has some mite webbing on top of the leaf or has a touch of powdery mildew -- see the grayish color on the top of the bottom large leaf on the right side of the main stem. I could not clearly tell which of those possibilities but -good news- this issue was not in other leaves. If it is PM, it could be the result of overhead watering so water the soil instead of the leaves. You may also want to check the soil pH too in case that explains the leaves turning light green. It is a common problem in potted/often watered hydrangeas. Or it could be that the leaves are just getting reading to dry out as the plant shuts down between now and December. This newly purchased shrub will n-o-t be in sync with the other ones that you have this year. So do not worry but keep an eye on it. Post again if another symptom(s) develops. Lastly, I would add a small layer of organic compost so the water & soil moisture last a trickle longer in the pot. It will also supply some minerals as it slowly decomposes. Enjoy the new purchase! Luis...See MoreWhat is wrong with my hydrangea?
Comments (9)No, the frost could have damaged them still. The damage can occur when the leaves are still in a leaf bud. Tiny things, almost invisible and hard to distinguish from a flower bud. After leaf out time, the damaged area would have looked normal (just an example), may have dried out, or may have been infected by something (fungus, etc). You can cut the petiole of the worst offenders if they bother you but it is not something that would kill the plant or something that can be undone. Iron deficiency shows up as light green leaves or yellow leaves whose leaf veins remain dark green. Your pictures do not show that symptom. Make sure that the leaves are not getting watered via overhead watering to prevent fungal issues. Also, make sure the plant only gets morning sun (afternoon/evening shade). I could not tell if there was mulch but it will help keep the soil evenly moist and will reduce the number of waterings....See MoreWhat is wrong with my Hydrangea?
Comments (4)If last year's stems fail to leaf out and all growth in Spring comes from new stems, this hydrangea may require winter protection to bloom reliably. It probably develops invisible flower buds in late Summer or early Fall at the ends of the stems. These buds should then open in Spring but, if it gets too cold and the stems get killed, you get no blooms. Winter protection in the Fall would help with that. I put chicken wire around some of my hydrangeas and fill the inside with mulch. A few weeks after my average date of last frost, I remove the winter protection and use the mulch elsewhere. If you are pruning it at some point, consider that the invisible flower buds develop in late Summer or early Fall but they then open in the Spring. Thus it is best to prune no later than the end of June so no flower buds are pruned off. If you have any old stems in Spring that do not leaf out by the end of May, prune these all the way down by the end of May....See MoreWhat's wrong with my hydrangeas?
Comments (6)Inconsistent watering, lack of mulch and competition for water/food may be the problems. Another possibility is too much wind if it is windy in that location. Hydrangeas like soil that is consistently moist and periods of dry soil, wet soil and dry soil again will make the leaves brown out and fall. Use the finger method to determine when to water and when not to work: insert a finger into the soil to a depth of 4" and water if the soil feels dry or almost dry. Mulch helps keep the soil moist longer and protects the roots when it is too hot and too cold. If you notice that the leaves are browning from the edges inwards, the plant has start to abort the leaves due to lack of water so water. A single watering should get the soil moist down to 8" or so....See MoreCeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years agoCeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years agoSydney (Zone 5B, DSM, Iowa)
4 years agoluis_pr
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoCeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years agoluis_pr
4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agoCeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years agohyed
4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agohyed
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agohyed
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agogardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoCeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoCeresMer Zone 7a NJ
4 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESWhat's Wrong With My Plant? Leaves Often Hold the Clues
Learn how to identify common plant ailments by reading their leaves
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHave a Ball With Hydrangeas
Even if you don't tinker with the hue by changing the soil, hydrangeas have an entertaining range of uses in all kinds of landscapes
Full StoryFLOWERSWhy You Should Give Hydrangeas a Place in Your Yard
The exuberant mop-headed beauties evoke dreams of an endless summer by the sea
Full StoryFLOWERS AND PLANTSHydrangea Arborescens Illuminates Garden Borders and Paths
This long-blooming eastern North American native shrub finds a home in landscapes around the world
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Oakleaf Hydrangea
Consider this full, flowering shrub for year-round beauty in the garden as you plan your fall plantings
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESCalifornia Gardener's June Checklist
Update your hydrangeas, catch up on tomatoes and more ways to enjoy your California garden in June
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESSo Your Style Is: Cottage
Cheerful, laid back and welcoming, cottage style feels like a giant hug. Find out how to make this appealing look work its magic
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES8 Deer-Resistant Elegant Evergreen Shrubs to Plant This Fall
Who knew that such beautiful shrubs could be deer-resistant?
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGNThe 7 Best Plant Types for Creating Privacy and How to Use Them
Follow these tips for using different kinds of plants as living privacy screens
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESTop 10 Interior Stylist Secrets Revealed
Give your home's interiors magazine-ready polish with these tips to finesse the finishing design touches
Full Story
luis_pr