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Hydrangeas are often given as Christmas gifts and although they look spectacular during the holiday season, they often don’t seem to last long.
It’s a good idea to keep your hydrangea in a pot, especially if you have a balcony or patio that needs sprucing up.
In full bloom, they are some of the most beautiful plants that exist.
It’s also a good idea to have your hydrangea potted if you live in an area where the soil is poor and not suitable for growing these plants.
One thing that’s important to remember is that hydrangeas don’t like to be in small pots.
Its roots grow aggressively and will quickly fill a small pot. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as a larger pot on a patio or balcony is more stable than a smaller one.
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What are common problems with potted hydrangeas?
To grow hydrangeas well in the ground or in containers, they need three things: plenty of moisture, well-drained soil, and the right amount of sun.
The most common problems with potted hydrangeas are:
- poor drainage
- The lack of water
- insufficient sunshine
There are also common problems with hydrangeas regarding their appearance:
- brown spots on the leaves
- yellow leaves
- Oxide
- powdery mildew
Let’s take a closer look at these common problems for your potted hydrangeas.
poor drainage
Hydrangeas won’t be happy and will thrive in pots that are too small for them.
Indeed, their roots are aggressive and the smallest pot will fill up quickly. Also, small containers dry out too quickly and hydrangeas prefer a wetter type of soil.
Be sure to choose a pot with drainage holes in the bottom. If the soil doesn’t drain well enough, your hydrangea will suffer from root rot.
It’s also a good idea to put a layer of pebbles or broken pot pieces in the bottom to aid drainage.
When transplanting your hydrangea into a pot, make sure there is at least 2″ between the top of the potting soil and the top of the pot so that you can water your plant properly without overflowing.
The lack of water
Although your hydrangea will not be happy with moist roots, it will thrive in moist soil. Using a larger pot will go a long way in keeping the soil moist.
Another thing you can do to keep the soil moist is to place your hydrangea in a south-facing window. Ideally, you want full sun in the morning and partial sun in the afternoon.
You should water your hydrangea by filling the pot with water and making sure everything drains. This will keep the soil damp and moist, not soggy.
It is a very sad fact that most hydrangeas die because they are under water. If you need help watering your hydrangea, try this. Automatic drip irrigation kit.
insufficient sunshine
When hydrangeas are grown outdoors, they prefer full sun.
However, they don’t like to be devastated by high winds and will do best if protected from storms, even if placed in partial shade.
It is important that your potted hydrangea gets some sun every day. Otherwise, it will not go well and may eventually die.
If your plant has trouble finding light, try East to help control lighting.
Oxide
This is fairly easy to spot by checking the undersides of the leaves. You will notice telltale orange dots there.
Oxide is a fungal disease that affects hydrangeas. Eventually, all the leaves turn yellow and drop off.
Rust is caused by water splashing on the leaves and is a common problem with potted hydrangeas.
When watering, pour it directly at the base of the plant to keep the leaves dry.
If the problem is not too serious, you can simply cut off the infected leaves.
For more serious rust problems, you may need to use a fungicide available at your garden center.
powdery mildew
This is also easy to spot as the leaves take on a gray appearance with a layer of dust. Like rust, powdery mildew is also a fungal disease that spreads.
You may notice this especially when there are large fluctuations in temperature, i.e. when the days are hot and the nights are cold.
Water your hydrangea again at the base of the plant and keep the leaves as dry as possible. Affected leaves can be cut to prevent the spread of infection.
Another good habit to get into is to water your hydrangea in the morning, letting the leaves dry out all day before the temperatures start to drop.
If the problem persists, you can buy Neem oil from your garden center. This is organic and works well against mildew.
If you like this article, check out our article on Why does my hydrangea have small flowers?
Why is my potted hydrangea turning brown?
There are several reasons why your hydrangea leaves are turning brown:
frost damage
If you live in an area that experiences late spring frosts or even early fall frosts, new growth may be affected and turn brown or black.
If you notice your perfectly normal plant suddenly turning brown during these seasons, frost may be the cause. Established leaves may not be affected as much as new growth.
If your hydrangea is outside on a patio or balcony in freezing conditions, consider moving it indoors or covering it on cold nights.
rotten root
This is another reason why your hydrangea may turn brown or yellow. Hydrangeas don’t like their roots to be soggy and damp.
Check the soil or potting soil and make sure it is not a clay type. Also, make sure the pot you use has adequate drainage at the base.
too much fertilizer
This can burn the roots of the plant and brown the leaves. You can recognize this because the plant will bend over and have fewer flowers.
fertilizers that contain a lot of nitrogen stimulate the leaves but can also soften the stems. This affects the leaves and turns them brown.
Why are my potted hydrangeas wilting?
There are several reasons why your hydrangea is starting to wilt, so let’s take a look at them.
- Stress due to lack of water
- Insufficient/incorrect lighting
- temperatures
The lack of water
Because hydrangeas have large leaves and large flowers, they need consistently moist soil. If they don’t have that, they may start to wilt. Your plant will eventually die.
Check the soil in the pot daily and if the top inch seems dry, it’s time to water your plant.
Empty the water from the bottom of the pan, then empty the drip tray so that excess water does not accumulate there. If your hydrangea is wilting, try a Automatic drip irrigation kit.
Inadequate/incorrect lighting
Placing the hydrangea in the sun will keep the leaves healthy and prevent them from falling off.
Plants that don’t get enough light will sag and wilt. You will notice that the foliage will be pale and unhealthy and there will be fewer flowers.
For potted hydrangeas, direct sunlight can dry out the soil too quickly, so place them where they will receive filtered light or partial afternoon shade.
Your hydrangea does well with six hours of sun per day.
To get the right light for your hydrangea, try East†
temperatures
High temperatures cause rapid moisture loss. Foliage will fall off and flowers may shed their petals if it gets too hot.
In most homes, temperatures range from 65 to 75 degrees, although 50 to 60 degrees is best for you.
For warm nights, you may want to consider bringing the plant indoors, especially if the temperature exceeds 80 degrees.
Also, in sub-zero temperatures, you should bring the plant indoors or cover it.
A note to keep in mind:
You will notice that your hydrangea flowers naturally dry out and wilt when the blooming season is over.
It usually has 6-8 weeks of flowering before it wilts and wilts.
If you wish, you can cut off the dead heads to make the plant attractive.
Can potted hydrangeas come back to life?
There are ways to rehydrate a fallen hydrangea:
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Hydrangeas don’t do well in sandy soil because they dry out too quickly.
You may want to repot the plant with a mix of soil and plenty of organic matter. Compost retains water and stops excessive drainage.
add mulch
You can add an inch of mulch around the base of your hydrangea to help conserve water.
Mulch can consist of well-rotted manure, compost, or leaf mold, or a combination of these. This prevents the soil from drying out during hot seasons.
reduce fertilizer
Too much fertilizer does more harm than good. It is a good idea to apply it in diluted doses.
Water
You may want to give your plant a good amount of water.
Fill the space between the ground and the top of the container, making sure it drains through the holes in the base.
A generous watering once a week should replenish the plant’s needs, although in very dry climates you may need to water twice a week.
A good soaking also promotes rooting and is much more effective than small amounts of water.
Because hydrangeas are drought-sensitive, proper watering will keep the roots from reaching high in the ground to find water and encourage them to grow deeper.
For more information on the water needs of a hydrangea, we have produced an article on: How Much Water Do Hydrangeas Need?
Final Thoughts: What are common problems with potted hydrangeas?
The most important thing to remember when discussing common problems with potted hydrangeas is that getting overwhelmed is the worst thing you can do to them.
Most hydrangeas die from lack of water.
Choose a larger pot than you think you’ll need, and don’t be tempted to keep a store-bought hydrangea in a small pot.
Hydrangeas are spectacular plants and a delight to have on a patio or balcony.
There’s no reason why, with a little extra care, they can’t brighten up your favored space all year round.
Before you go, here are some more related articles that I encourage you to read below to solve more of your gardening problems:
How to use baking soda to grow taller? hydrangeas
How to Get Rid of Black Spots on Hydrangea Leaves?
Why Are My Hydrangea Leaves Curling and How Can I Fix It?
Why are my hydrangeas turning green?
Snowball shrub against hydrangea
Hydrangeas vs. Rhododendrons
Hydrangea tree vs bush
Hydrangeas versus lilacs
How to landscape with hydrangeas
How to prevent the leaves from burning on your hydrangea?
Written by: Valerie Holyoak