7 Causes for Your Hydrangeas' Sagging, Along with Easy Solutions to Revive Them
Hydrangea blooms adding some vibrant color to your garden during spring, summer, and even fall? Absolutely! But, if your hydrangeas are drooping, you better take action. Let's find out what's causing your hydrangeas to wilt and suggest a fix.
Drying Out
Expert gardener Jane Dobbs, head of Allan's Gardeners' gardening team, says your hydrangeas could be drooping due to inadequate water. "Moisture makes hydrangeas thrive," she explains. "If the soil gets too dry around the roots, the plant's turgor pressure drops, leading to droopy leaves and stems."
To combat dehydration, check the moisture level about 5 cm below the soil surface, then water early in the morning deeply once or twice a week. A lightning-fast tip from Dobbs is to add mulch to the soil to help retain that precious moisture.
Taking a Bath Too Often
Just like Goldilocks, we need to find the perfect balance when watering hydrangeas. Excessive watering, as Lucie Bradley, gardening and greenhouse expert from Easy Garden Irrigation, points out, can be as damaging as under-watering.
Here's the lowdown: over-watering can cause hydrangea roots to drown, eventually resulting in drooping leaves turning yellow or brown.
To revive your drooping hydrangeas, stop watering and allow the soil to dry out before watering again. Bradley says to use the "knuckle deep" test: push your finger into the soil, and only when it's dry at that depth should you water again. Simple, right?
Poor Drainage
Another common issue Bradley points out is poor drainage. You should check the soil your plant is growing in to ensure there's good drainage. If your soil is heavy, similar to clay, incorporate organic matter like compost, leave mold, or well-rotted manure. If that doesn't help, mix in sand or gravel to lighten it up.
Too Much Sunlight (and Conversely, Too Little)
Your hydrangeas need a little TLC when it comes to sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can cause your hydrangea to lose moisture rapidly, causing droopiness. However, not getting enough sunlight can also make your hydrangea weak and unable to support flower heads, resulting in drooping blooms.
To be on the safe side, provide your hydrangea with morning sun or filtered sunlight. If that's not enough for your climate, protect your plant from intense afternoon sunlight, especially in hot weather, using shade cloths. On the other hand, if your hydrangea isn't getting enough sunlight, move it to a sunnier spot when it's dormant, typically in the fall or early spring, and use a mirror or reflective film to redirect sunlight in the interim.
Nitrogen Overload
Be careful with fertilizers containing high amounts of nitrogen, as they might cause more harm than good. Dobbs explains that an over-abundance of nitrogen can promote rapid vegetative growth that is weak, causing flower heads to be too heavy and droop. Don't forget that too much fertilizer can also negatively affect your hydrangea's roots, reducing their efficiency in water uptake.
The solution? Cut back on the fertilizer and use a balanced fertilizer instead, along with a slow-release fertilizer to avoid overfeeding your plant.
Weak Stems
Finally, large flower heads can put a strain on weak stems, causing them to droop. Stake drooping stems or prune excess blooms to prevent weak stems from buckling under the weight.
In no time, you'll have your hydrangeas back in tip-top shape, bringing some beauty to your garden once more. Happy gardening!
**(Additional Info) Hydrangeas are sensitive plants that require specific care to thrive. **
- Hydrangea Preferences: Prefer acidic soil (pH 5.5 to 6.5) and partial shade, especially in hot climates, where they tolerate sun only in the morning. However, they grow best with consistent, even watering, good drainage, and a mix of soil types, including sand, clay, silt, and loam[1][3]. If your hydrangea starts to show drooping leaves, investigate the cause to avoid further damage.
- Identifying Underwatering: Check the soil around your hydrangea's base. If the soil is dry or the leaves are drooping, it's time to water your hydrangea[1][3].
- Potential Nutrient Deficiencies: A lack of water is not the only thing causing your hydrangeas to droop. A deficiency in nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and boron can also cause similar symptoms[2][4]. Check your soil pH and provide a balanced fertilizer to ensure proper nutrient availability to your hydrangeas.
- Reblooming Drought-Tolerant Native Hydrangeas: Evergreen and oakleaf hydrangeas are native to the southeastern United States, making them ideal for those looking for a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant hydrangea[1]. They naturally thrive in varying soil conditions and require less frequent watering.
- Drooping as a Resistance Mechanism: In the event of extreme temperatures, drooping can be a plant's natural response to conserve water[2][3]. Hydrangeas are prone to heat stress when exposed to intense sunlight. Move your hydrangea to a cooler, shaded location, ensuring it is still receiving partial sun when necessary.
(Sources of Enrichment Data) 1) "Hydrangeas | Princeton Tony's Nursery" (https://tonysnursery.com/product/hydrangeas/) 2) "7 Possible Reasons Why My Hydrangea Droops" (https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/spaces/garden/flowers/hydrangeas/hydrangea-drooping-problems.htm) 3) "How to Care for Hydrangeas" (https://www.gardenguides.com/33862-care-hydrangeas-3252257.html) 4) "Watering Hydrangeas: Know the Right Technique" (https://www.gardenguides.com/166066-watering-hydrangeas-right-technique.html)
- The vibrant colors of hydrangeas in a home's outdoor garden derive from their preference for consistent, even watering, good drainage, and a mix of soil types, such as sand, clay, silt, and loam.
- An expert gardener, Jane Dobbs, suggests that insufficient water could be the cause of a hydrangea's drooping. She advises checking the moisture level about 5 cm below the soil surface, and watering deeply once or twice a week if the soil is dry.
- To maintain a healthy hydrangea lifestyle, it's essential to avoid an over-abundance of nitrogen in fertilizers, as it can lead to rapid vegetative growth that may weaken flower stems and cause them to droop.
- Home-and-garden enthusiasts seeking a low-maintenance, drought-tolerant hydrangea option could explore native varieties like evergreen and oakleaf hydrangeas, which are known to thrive in varying soil conditions and require less frequent watering.
