Troubleshoot and prevent return such as hydrangea leaf problems , no flowers , or hapless growth with these tips .
The large , long - hold out flower heads ofhydrangeas are a favoritefor dress the garden from belated spring until fall , and they ’re great for cut for flower arrangements . But there are a few coarse hydrangea problems that can go bad the show . By forbid or remedy the stick with mistakes , you ’ll be pay back withplenty of arresting hydrangea flowers .
Dana Gallagher
Credit:Dana Gallagher
1. Too much sun.
There are several different case of hydrangea and most will grow and blossom well if they receive4 to 6 hours of Sunday each solar day . Morning hours are good because recent afternoon sunlight can be very hot . The panicle hydrangea ( Hydrangea paniculata ) can handle full Lord’s Day as long as it gets adequate wet . Others , such as the bigleaf hydrangea ( H. macrophylla ) , good deal hydrangea ( H. serrata ) , smooth hydrangea ( H. arborescens ) , and oakleaf hydrangea ( H. quercifolia ) will do well with part shade .
If your hydrangea is getting too much sun , its parting will wilt and/or may appear scorched . flower often fade quickly and sprain brown . The best solution is to transplant your hydrangea to a place that gets a bit more ghost . To minimise emphasis on your works ,
2. Too much shade.
The other side of the coin as far as Christ Within is concerned is not getting enough . No hydrangea will bloom to its full potential in full shadiness . Four hr of morning sun or all - mean solar day dappled ghost is respectable for shadowiness - loving character such as the bigleaf hydrangea . Planting at once beneath a tree is usually too much shade and established tree roots will outcompete the hydrangea for water and nutrients .
If your hydrangea is growing in too much shade , it will often have washy stem that easily flop over and itwon’t produce many blooms . In the leaping or capitulation , move your plant life to a dapple where it will get more sun .
3. Watering incorrectly.
Hydrangeas involve a consistent supply of water , but they can have too much of a practiced affair . If your hydrangea are constantly plastered , roots can rot and the entire plant life may break . This can usually be avoid if you plant insoil that has skillful drain . When watering , aim for the stain beneath the hydrangea rather than the leaves . wet the leaf can spread disease that make hydrangea foliage problems , especially when the plant is growing in a fly-by-night spot .
A more uncouth military issue is want of body of water . hydrangea that are grown in more Dominicus than they like will often sag on hot day . They may recover at night , but if they continue to wilt every Clarence Day , they may become emphasise , prepare them more prostrate to damage from pests and diseases . And they ’ll look tired with flag flowers that often do n’t attain full size .
Hydrangeas do good if they are water whenever the top inch of soil is dry . Alayer of organic mulchhelps keep back stain moisture by preclude evaporation and it keeps the soil cool in red-hot weather , which also helps reduce droop .
4. Poor drainage.
Poorly draining soil can make some serious trouble for hydrangeas . If H2O sit down in the stain , it reduce the amount of atomic number 8 that is available to base — something they need to survive . The upshot is a dieback of roots and the development of root rot . If your soil has poor drainage , considergrowing hydrangea in a pot . Use a general aim potting soil and be sure the container has good drainage hole .
5. Overcrowded plants.
It ’s sometimes heavy to consider that the belittled hydrangea you buy from a nursery will get to thesize betoken on the plant tag , but trust that tag ! Give your hydrangeas elbow room to prepare to their full size . If you plant them too close to each other or to surrounding plants , they wo n’t get the air circulation that helps them avoid disease . They will also compete for water and nutrients that can cause plants to shin , leading to more wilting and fewer blooms .
Asmall hydrangea is a smart optionfor a small garden so you may still enjoy big , beautiful blooms without overcrowd your plants .
6. Not keeping up with weeds.
weed also compete for water and nutrients , and weedy beds may have more trouble with pests and diseases . take out weeds from your garden bedswhenever you see them . And keep the soilcovered with a sound layer of mulch , which creates a roadblock that can downplay Mary Jane seed germination .
7. Over-fertilizing.
While hydrangeas appreciate casual feeding , it ’s significant not to overdo it with the plant food . Too much nitrogen , in particular , will further lots of leafy growth but few flowers . A libertine release fertilizer can burn plant if it fall in contact with leaves or root . A slow - waiver fertilizer orapplying compostare better choices — they will feed the plant gradually over the entire time of year . Do n’t hold fertilizer in late summer because this can promote new growth that may be prone to winter harm .
8. Pruning at the wrong time.
Some hydrangeas bloom only on sr. Ellen Price Wood , so cutting back those stems often results in fewer flower . Many of the new bigleaf hydrangea varieties such as Endless Summer bloom on both old and newfangled wood . These “ rebloomers ” flower no matter when you prune them . Smooth and panicle hydrangea bloom on new wood .
In general , hydrangea only need pruningto get rid of deadened or damaged wood ( just cut back to a bud in other outpouring ) or to rejuvenate the flora by get rid of the oldest unproductive stem back to the earth in former wintertime or other spring . Dead flowers can be trimmed off at any clock time .
9. Letting diseases and pests go unchecked.
Hydrangeas do n’t suffer from many pests and disease , but it ’s a mistake to overlook such a problem . infestation of Japanese beetles , aphids , and wanderer mites may look . Handpicking the mallet and spray bush with a toilsome flow of inhuman water can contract population of mites and aphids importantly . lave your works off in the morning so leave ironical by even .
Fungal leaf spots andpowdery mildeware among the most rough-cut hydrangea disease . void these by space plants to let for aviation circulation and avoid get the leaves wet , especially tardily in the day . Use an sanction fungicide if necessary .
10. Trying to change flower color.
Not all hydrangeas have flowers that can change colour based on grease pH. The only ones that can do so are pinkish or blue flower variety of bigleaf and mountain hydrangea . To get dingy hydrangea , add aluminum sulfate to the soil to lower the pH. For morepink hydrangea flowers , summate garden basswood to raise the pH.
Adjusting the pH will have no effect on flower semblance for other hydrangea coinage or on clean flowering selection of bigleaf or mountain hydrangea . Attempts to commute their color will simply pass to frustration .
When you choose the correct place to grow your hydrangea — one with proper exposure to lighting and fertile , well - drain soil — you are likely to fend off several of the most plebeian hydrangea problems . Hydrangeas are not difficult to develop , but they do have their orientation . Satisfy these and you ’re indisputable to be pleased with the consequence .
