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Over fed hydrangea?

EmeraldandZoldEmeraldandZold Posts: 9
in Problem solving
My potted climbing hydrangea is suddenly looking quite limp and the leaves are turning brown from the bottom up. It's been healthy until this week. I suspect either the recent heatwave impacted it, or more likely, I've over fed it? 

I added hydrangea feed around the base around 10 days ago and perhaps I apploes too much? 

Is there any way to counter this, should i remove the dying leaves or just leave it and hope for the best? Would appreciate any advice!
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Posts

  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    edited March 2022
    Are there any drainage holes in the bottom of the pot, and is it on 'pot feet' to lift it off the ground?
    I'm pretty sure it will be a watering problem.
    Either not enough, or too much because the water can't drain.
    Sunny Dundee
  • EmeraldandZoldEmeraldandZold Posts: 9
    The pot has drainage but isn't on feet. I may have over watered it last week with the warmer weather
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    EmeraldandZold said:
    The pot has drainage but isn't on feet. I may have over watered it last week with the warmer weather
    They are pretty tough shrubs, so it should recover. I would remove those 'ties' the garden centre puts on them.
    Sunny Dundee
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It'll struggle to stay in a pot for long. Are you planting it out, and do you have a shady wall or large surface for it to grow on?
    They want to be very big plants, and are at their best when allowed to do so  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    It doesn't look like drought or over watering to me from the picture. Over watering would normally cause the leaves to yellow and underwatering would affect the whole plant. The leaves look damaged only in certain areas, so I'm wondering if the fertiliser you use has touched those leaves and then reacted to the sunlight. Some fertilisers cause leaf burn and other problems if you don't just water the leaves. I'm sure it will recover after looking a little rubbish for a while.

    They are big lovely plants when mature and we have one that covers most of the front of our house and it's been there for 45 years. The multiple stems at the base are about as thick as my leg, so they do get big. We have never fed it but it is in the ground, which is where eventually it will do better for you. In summer when in flower it sounds like a motorway with all the bees buzzing about. 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    Climbing Hydranga Petiolaris is one plant that I would not grow in a pot. It will take a few years to fix to a wall and then it will flower. Doubt it will flower in a pot needs more of a root run.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Balgay.HillBalgay.Hill Posts: 1,089
    I missed the fact it is a climbing Hydrangea.
    Far too big for a pot.
    Sunny Dundee
  • EmeraldandZoldEmeraldandZold Posts: 9
    thevictorian said:
    It doesn't look like drought or over watering to me from the picture. Over watering would normally cause the leaves to yellow and underwatering would affect the whole plant. The leaves look damaged only in certain areas, so I'm wondering if the fertiliser you use has touched those leaves and then reacted to the sunlight. Some fertilisers cause leaf burn and other problems if you don't just water the leaves. I'm sure it will recover after looking a little rubbish for a while.

    They are big lovely plants when mature and we have one that covers most of the front of our house and it's been there for 45 years. The multiple stems at the base are about as thick as my leg, so they do get big. We have never fed it but it is in the ground, which is where eventually it will do better for you. In summer when in flower it sounds like a motorway with all the bees buzzing about. 
    This is what I suspected
  • EmeraldandZoldEmeraldandZold Posts: 9
    Thanks for all the advice. I bought it to grow up a fence on a patio terrace, it is in a large pot but perhaps a honeysuckle or jasmine may be more suitable and I'll move this to to a border so it can run riot 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Most honeysuckles won't thrive in pots either, and from what I understand, many of the jasmines wouldn't either [can't grow those here]
    Pick a clematis or rose for your pot  :)
    Make sure the hydrangea has some shade, and a good amount of moisture. They don't like very sunny conditions.  :)
    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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