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Hydrangea going crispy

baytree1970R7WNg390baytree1970R7WNg390 Posts: 53
in Problem solving
A mop head hydrangea I've had in a pot for a couple of years and which has always done really well is suddenly doing badly. The leaves are all going crispy. I haven't changed anything, any ideas on what's wrong and what to do about it?

Posts

  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    You do not say what city you are in but, based on the time of the year, it is possible that it got hit by a late frost. The affected leaves may or may not turn brown and drop. They sometimes also add red or orange colors. I let them continue producing food for the roots and cut their petiole string when the leaf turns brown. Remember that macrophyllas currently have flower buds inside the stems/branches so be careful not to prune of you may cut off Spring 2021 blooms. New foliage will take 2-4 weeks to develop. Continue to maintain the soil as evenly moist at all times and keep it mulched all year around. In the future, you can mulch, water the night before and use frost cloth or blankets to protect it.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    We've had some very cold nights recently, following a mild spell in late March which brought hydrangeas, fuchsias etc into leaf.  The frost has nipped the new, tender leaves.  It takes a few days for the damage to become evident - leaf cells burst when frozen.

    Don't do anything yet; the damaged leaves will eventually fall off and be replaced with new ones.  The tips of some shoots may die back a little but they'll eventually produce new shoots from lower down.   :)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • baytree1970R7WNg390baytree1970R7WNg390 Posts: 53
    Thanks both, we have had several frosty nights here so that all makes sense.

    : )
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    That is frost damage.
    If the plant has been in a pot for 2 years, I don't think you’re going to get much more out of it for much longer, these are huge shrubs, they need to go in the ground really unless you have a very big pot,  replace compost often, feed and give lots of water,   Could you plant him out in the ground somewhere.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • baytree1970R7WNg390baytree1970R7WNg390 Posts: 53
    Thanks Lyn, I'll find a bigger pot and some fresh compost
    : )
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