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Hydrangea problem

leewbarrq7JiaSxzleewbarrq7JiaSxz Posts: 2
in Plants
Hi all

My first post on here. I've got 2 hydrangea plants I bought last year. One is slowly flowering but this one looks brown and crispy. It's watered well but not water logged. Planted in acidic compost. I pruned in early Spring like I did with the other and I can't find any help on line.

Thank you


Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited August 2021
    Those look like the old flower heads.
    I take it they're both in more than just compost though? That isn't enough for plants in pots long term.  I'm also assuming they're in pots due to the compost reference:)

    Most hydrangeas aren't great kept in pots long term either. I'm afraid very few are suitable unless the container is huge. 
    I should have added - if they've been in sun, and/or are in an exposed spot, it's easy for them to get a bit of damage. Shadier, cooler sites are best for them  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • leewbarrq7JiaSxzleewbarrq7JiaSxz Posts: 2
    Thank you.

    They're actually new flower heads. I cut off the spent heads in spring and these formed before turning brown and dead in appearance.

    You are correct about the pot. Would you recommend putting in a large planter with some soil and cutting off these heads for them to flower before the year is out?

    Regards
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If those are the new flowers, then you're unlikely to get more buds forming - not at those stems anyway. Might be better to wait and see. The weather this year has been quite tricky for shrubs like hydrangeas. You may not have seen, because I edited my post - but a shady site is best for them too
    A soil based compost is what you need - one of the John Innes types which you can get at GCs or even DIY stores. It's essentially a formula, and there are different ones. Just pick one suitable for shrubs  :)
    There won't be a lot of nutrients left in there for them, and that can also be a problem when they're trying to form buds. With pots, each spring, you need to refresh the soil too - just remove a couple of inches from the top layer and add some fresh. A mulch of bark or similar is also useful to help retain moisture, especially through drier spells  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JacquimcmahonJacquimcmahon Posts: 1,039
    Hi I grow them in pots with few issues. Good feeding, top up compost every spring. I would simply take off the dead heads and give them a good feed to try to recover. You will not get new flowers on the same stems this year but if there is new growth coming from below you may get some late blooms. Just as proof that pots can work I have attached a photo. I thought I would get no blooms after late frosts this year but I cut off the brown damaged buds, fed and watered and this is what I have today. ( plants are now 5years old and clearly happy)
    Marne la vallée, basically just outside Paris 🇫🇷, but definitely Scottish at heart.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It does depend quite a lot on location too.  :)
    All new buds were frosted here in May - still no sign of any new ones  ;)
    Some definitely can be potted, but without knowing what they are, and without the right care, it's not always easy. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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