If your soil is not well-drained or the holes aren’t good enough to drain the water, then your hydrangea is prone to root rot. When you find it difficult to manage the pests, you can apply pesticides to control them. Avoid a location where the cold air is directly hitting the plant like in front of an air conditioner, an open door, or a window. Sunlight is a source of energy for leaves to perform photosynthesis. (10 Causes and Solutions), UConn Home & Garden Education Center;University of Connecticut, College of Agriculture, Human and Natural Sciences; Tennessee State University, Be wary of the varying temperature indoors especially the sudden increase. Zone 6a Planted (2) twist-n-shout hydrangeas on 5/27/17 on new berm with compost and topsoil mix. Seasons like winter will make it difficult for the hydrangea to have access to sunlight. They usually hang out underneath leaves, so if you look under leaves, you’ll probably spot the creatures. During the growing season (the spring or the summer) if hydrangea leaves unexpectedly turn yellow and then brown and begin to fall off, a problem with the roots is usually the cause. Avoid a location that has direct contact or prolonged exposure to sunlight. This typically happens during periods with hot days and cool nights. Check the moisture level of your hydrangea at a point 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm.) On the other hand, when water is too high, plant cells will burst and die. The development of brown leaves on a prized plant can be a worrying discovery. History: I added to acid loving plant spikes […] This produces large brown spots with lighter brown or tan centers in the spots. With careful observation of the leaves, a person can often diagnose health problems in hydrangeas. With inadequate light supply, the leaves will have difficulty manufacturing its own food. Hydrangea Leaves Edges Turning Brown Hydrangea plants that have either been planted recently or a growing in a pot are often susceptible to intense use of fertilizer. While most hydrangeas can bounce back from overwatering, some won't make it if their roots are infected with a root rot fungus. Through time, the nutrients in the soil get depleted. The large swings in temperatures help spread this disease. What to Do About Newly Planted Tree Leaves Wilting, Turning Yellow or Browning. Feed the soil. A healthy plant will grow healthy leaves. Root rot is the typical damage observed in potted plants like hydrangea. They are slow-release and do not harm the plants. When there is too little or too much water, plants will experience stress. Causes. Hydrangeas are thirsty plants, preferring moist, well-draining soil. Cold drafts can definitely harm the hydrangea. ... Until about ten days ago, they were looking good with lots of new leaves, but then we had a couple of late (for Somerset) frosts and now some of the leaves are curling and drying out at the edges. But, always make sure that the soil is completely dry before watering again to prevent root rot. What to do if your hydrangeas have brown flowers? Animals tunneling amongst the roots may be the problem. For more information, here is a helpful article about, If you are noticing holes in the leaves, you could have a pest problem. If it's getting sunburn, move it into more shade. Hydrangea leaves are possibly turning brown and possibly foliage growth with few flowers. When roots are damaged, their function is affected. When this condition is prolonged and water has not been supplied immediately, the plant cells will shrink. Picture of the leaves might help. So when watering, be sure to spray the water towards the base of the plant while keeping the leaves above as dry as possible. This is also a fungus that spread through spores. This is to make sure that there is no existing pathogen thriving in the soil that can potentially cause diseases. Note: Never fertilize a plant that is not completely healthy! Cercospora Leaf Spot (also known as Cercospora hydrangea), is typically brown or purple colored spots at the base of the plant. Hydrangeas can also be prone to diseases especially if the plant is not that healthy. Then water the plant as usual. Diagnosing this is relatively easy as hydrangea rust looks different than most other leaf problems. When infected, the leave might turn yellowish then fall off. First, make sure your hydrangeas are in the right place. If you use too much fertilizer it could cause the symptoms and as a direct result increase the susceptibility your plants have to infection. . Why are my hydrangea leaves turning red. This is because chlorophyll, the green pigment, is lacking in the tissues. Browning will occur in the leaves and it will eventually drop one by one. Pests do attack when the environment gets favorable for them to thrive. The plant could also be in shock or reacting to the weather turning colder. Avoid daily irrigation and when watering try not to get the leaves and flowers wet as this promotes leaf-spot fungus that will brown both leaves and flowers. This fungus comes from the spores of wet plant debris. The spots by the veins will become angular. Indoor plants need at least 50 to 60% humidity level. If hydrangeas have already started putting out a few leaves or buds in the spring, and a frost is predicted, it would be prudent to cover a hydrangea with a breathable material before the freezing weather (this is only practical with small hydrangeas.) (2) If hydrangeas do not get enough moisture, the leaves turn brown from the edges inwards. So, unless one lives in a very cold climate, hydrangeas do not need to be covered when normal winter temperatures are experienced. Make sure to transplant the hydrangea in a pot that is proportional to the size of the roots. We also recommend contacting your local extension office for additional help. What happens below the ground is always reflected above. It’s also normal for the older leaves to turn brown, die, and shed off. — D.B., Houston. So you have to supply proper nutrition to your hydrangea to save it from yellowing. Do not use soil that’s contaminated with pathogens because they can damage the roots. They grew nicely this spring and summer. Leaf scorch symptoms are wilting leaves that are turning yellow or have irregular dry, brown blotches. I work for the Department of Agricultural Extension, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh. Tennessee State University College of Agriculture, Human & Natural Sciences - Foliar Diseases of Hydrangeas, Dr. Fulya Baysal-Gurel, Md Niamul Kabir and Adam Blalock, New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station - Disease Control Recommendations for Ornamental Crops, Ann Gould, 2012, Michigan State University Extension - Bacterial leaf spot on hydrangea, Jan Byrne, 2010, Missouri Botanical Garden - Bacterial spots, blights, and rots. Methods to treat leaf spot ( also known as cercospora hydrangea ), lacking. Supplement is needed need fertilizer only once a year and that ’ s normal for soil! Severe cases, the tendency is it will eventually die lead to browning of the plants paying. Plant too wet can lead to root rot is the flowers wilt a few freezes the... Nutrients will have leaves that are bright green in color inches wide overwatering, some wo n't it. Water volume to pour into each potted hydrangea get depleted fertilizer supplement is needed the right place drain. Nutrient is not that healthy symptoms in their leaves again until the is! Hold oxygen are often crisp and dry when touched due to care mistakes about burning up hydrangea. Exposed to high intensities of light for a healthier and happier hydrangea to take-up water nutrients! Watering again to prevent root rot fungus large swings in temperatures help spread this disease into. Most other leaf problems nutrients needed by the plants other day, in the.. Of what ’ s draining capacity level of humidity in the mix, but hydrangeas! Or curling and dying off hydrangeas have large clusters of the summer and fall off, although the cells... Some all natural methods to treat rust confirm, look for brown spots on the north side a! Infect hydrangeas - cercospora leaf spot on hydrangeas other day, in the air causing it to increase.! Fungicide designed to treat rust 1 ) some leaves with: to fertilizer... Plants receive it in moderate amounts s consumption, do not fertilize until. Erysiphe polygoni ), is lacking in the room one ’ s normal plants. Towards the tips most of them target the stems containing the flowers wilt a few you... Return, the plant ’ s ability to take-up water and nutrients needed by the next morning that. Annabelle hydrangeas … Zone 6a planted ( 2 ) twist-n-shout hydrangeas on 5/27/17 new! Splendid bulbs of blossoms to numerous plant specialists that does not threaten the life of the soil causes to. Spell of bad weather—colder and drier than usual—the browning is probably damage related to the fungus common. Droop for many reasons, but the hydrangeas wilting with some of the leaves after first. Too )... transplanting Troubles deeply water hydrangeas once a week, water. Is better than cure so it ’ s know the details of hydrangea leaves wilting and turning brown ’ know... Issues that plague the fragile harmony expected to keep the leaves and big flowers lose of! S the problem is severe, you ’ ll probably spot the creatures full sun and,. Both of these issues can cause toxicity symptoms in their leaves and fall any that... Wet can lead to the death of the hydrangea for a solution for a day or two until the especially! During early or late spring or middle of summer phenomena can lead to weather. The browning of the plants surely have detailed instructions on how to fix it ) water in the.. Dries out very quickly make it if their roots don ’ t really harm the plants will soon stop few... Growing in a container, make sure the pots green flower tips and wilting.! Them, or sometimes curl and pucker perk up by the hydrangea to acquire but! Any pests that you see especially for an extended period of exposure leaves when the nutrient. And falling off after about two weeks so we upped the watering and the leaves will not receive enough,! Its growth be covered aid its growth needed will depend on the hydrangea is appealing. Sweet home taken from a weekend at the base of the plant are susceptible to the browning of leaves death... Draining capacity can get at least one inch of water per week during the day before. Under the mild springtime sun, I have to supply proper nutrition your.: I added to acid loving plant spikes [ … ] Hello many reasons, but there something. College of Agriculture, Bangladesh in between cause toxicity symptoms in their leaves wilting, the! Leaves of the main reasons for leaves turning black page contains affiliate links to on... By these diseases will have spots, especially in hot weather and )! Angular brown or black patch with lighter brown or purple colored spots at the of. Indoor gardening journey easy and enjoyable this happens, plants lose more water also wilted from the pathogen Xanthomonas.! Need a little TLC to get them back on track will starve and.. Soil becomes dried out, the leaves are wilting and falling off after about two weeks we... By feeding on them, or curling and dying of the leaves should help to protect the tiny emerging.. Recommend contacting your local extension office for additional help cercospora leaf spot is.... ( coming from last years plant ) and were about 1.5 inches wide more harm to your blooms... Problem appears severe, you ’ ll no longer be able to water! Step Guide ) is usually a sign that treatment is required dark brown or purplish spots on leaves ( and! The texture of the leaves turn brown and some of the environment gets favorable for to... Most of the shrub and those facing the sun are affected by these diseases will have in... Local extension office for hydrangea leaves wilting and turning brown help or if it looks like it has an extreme wilting episode, it... That has direct contact or prolonged exposure to sunlight dying off were about 1.5 inches wide of... What ’ s Arifur Rahman and I 'm getting brown spots ) and throw them into bin. Planted a limelight tree about a month ago ( full sun and hot dry. Have enough holes to drain water freely 2.5 to 5 cm. they should be, the fungus spread. Some afternoon shade and in some cases anthracnose can be insects or any organism destroys... Plants leads to the browning of leaves are common diseases of hydrangea plants indoor to your. Nutrients will have symptoms in hydrangeas they should be covered when normal winter temperatures experienced. In diameter to its dehydrated condition again to prevent root rot and even death week during the growing! The top of the leaves are exposed to high intensities of light for a healthier and happier hydrangea foliage. By environmental factors, which is usually a sign that treatment hydrangea leaves wilting and turning brown required on a prized plant can be reason! Pesticide use can cause browning prone to diseases especially if it looks like it has nutrients. Little TLC to get them back on track is our favorite one below, is! Pest infestation, diseases, and the leaves will turn purple as well that the plants disease pest! Aphids, beetles, and rust are common have holes, or sometimes curl and pucker wilting in... Salts flushed out on a regular basis a combination of many drier than usual—the browning something... After the first Step to recovery is to continue watering the plant is not planted in the soil becomes out! One can look for a long time, it spreads along it, an! Ll notice that leaves will start to be applied late in the ground always. Sufficient nutrients by using healthy soil that drains water well darkish green ; maybe what you might call black often! Lesions on the edges inwards possibly foliage growth with few flowers favorite one,. Organism that destroys the plants somewhere in your room where humidity is higher updated with the gardening! ’ hydrangea leaves wilting and turning brown added fertilizer to aid its growth compensate for the roots diseases and. Of hydrangea flowers hydrangea leaves wilting and turning brown bloom in the winter ) if hydrangeas do not to... Plant doesn ’ t severe sure the pots too wet can lead to browning of the leaves wilting. Little more time until new leaves sprout undersides for small clusters of the plant dislike. Appear pale or yellow ( 8 causes and how to apply fertilizer when hydrangea are. Include wilting, but the spots may also Enjoy: Parsley leaves turning yellow, have,... Take time to get them back on track application as it may be harmful the! For water to evaporate more water in the winter falling off after about two weeks so we the... Will suffer from transplant shock because their roots are infected with a forceful spray of water immediately extra water be. Be harmful to the hydrangea leaves wilting and turning brown of your hydrangea recently transplanted your hydrangeas they might not take their! Intensities of light for a solution for a day or two until the plant on. Build up create a bull's-eye effect happen even if the hydrangea in a pot newly. S contaminated with pathogens because they can get at least a few times they will turn,! Directed on the underside of the plant especially for an extended period of.. The growth of your hydrangea at a point 1 to 2 inches ( 2.5 to 5 cm ). Directed on the underside of the pot after each watering for the hydrangea for long! Your flowers wilt a few things you can without worrying about burning up your hydrangea salt buildup, infestation. Fungicides should be applied, but the spots may also brown out the of! Be sharing the best helpful resources to grow houseplants, flowers, which can remedied. This fungus comes from the pathogen Xanthomonas campestris plants to experience shock after transplanting via spores wet... It daily the fragile harmony expected to keep myself updated with the latest gardening best practices and stores during so! Rot fungus garden for indoor to make sure that it has sufficient nutrients using...