Hydrangea alert!

Last post 21-08-2012 12:40 AM by courierdude. 7 replies.

• 20/08/2012 06:43 PM

  Claire Location: London Joined on: 20 Aug 2012 Posts: 5

  Reply | Contact I discovered gardening roughly 2 months ago. I bought a beautiful blue/pink hydrangea that thrived in a pot on my balcony for about 1 month, so much so that I "set it free" in the garden of my flat so it could spread out. It has been in the ground about 2 weeks and a lot of the petals are turning brown/green. Do I need to be worried? It is in a reasonably shaded spot, plenty of space, I'm watering it every day, fed it once since putting it in the ground. Any hints/ tips very gratefully received!

• 20/08/2012 07:19 PM

  In reply to

  courierdude Location: cambs/suffolk border Joined on: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 216

  Reply | Contact maybe you have left some air pockets under or around the plant? maybe you are overwatering even? id check that it is in the ground firmly and poke around with a thin bamboo to see if there are any areas around the plant that are not packed with soil. bear in mind that a plant in a container will need more water than one in the ground. your plant needs a period to adapt to the new type of soil its roots will reach once they reach past the boundaries of the container soil and seeing that you live in london, unless you have put some nice compost in the hole in which you have planted your hydrangea roots might be having trouble penetrating that heavy london clay. maybe its failing because of the weather even? isnt really the best time to be replanting anything in this heat. or it could just be a watering on a hot day issue? plants regulate there temperature much much slower than humans. a cold drink that is good for us doesnt have the same effect on a plant and might even shock it. finally-you might have planted on top of a weevil who is having a good munch on your roots.. energy follows thought

• 20/08/2012 07:26 PM	In reply to
  Claire Location: London Joined on: 20 Aug 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact Thanks so much - that is really helpful. I haven't a clue (yet) so the poor thing could be suffering any number of assaults. Do you think the brown petals mean some kind of distress then? I just need to work out what it is? Yes, the soil around the area it was dug into is very compacted and hard. Should I dig it all up a bit?

• 20/08/2012 09:14 PM

  In reply to

  courierdude Location: cambs/suffolk border Joined on: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 216

  Reply | Contact well i dont know much about hydrangeas and their particular quirks but id say the lack of compost, clay soil and watering could well be the reason your plant might be suffering. though not knowing your plant it could be something as simple as your flowers dying because it is their time. take a look at this link and have a read about your plant and im sure someone more knowledgeable will be along to answer your query http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/index.html energy follows thought

• 20/08/2012 09:20 PM

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  Beespoke Location: Cumbria Joined on: 05 May 2011 Posts: 29

  Reply | Contact Hi there, I think you should leave it where it is now.  Continue to water it -slowly - so that you can see the water soaking into the soil around the plant's rootball. The weather recently has been hot and dry in London hasn't it?  I think it is probably a case of being shocked with the move and the recent dry period isn't helping. In the autumn/winter/spring - spring is probably best - get some good mulching material like homemade compost or leaf mould to give the soil around your hydrangea a good feed.  If you do this annually the soil will gradually improve as the earthworms do the work for you.  Your hydrangea will enjoy this and provided it has plenty of moisture will give you another good display. Best of luck and don't despair!

• 20/08/2012 09:20 PM	In reply to
  Claire Location: London Joined on: 20 Aug 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact thank you courierdude i will look.

• 20/08/2012 09:22 PM	In reply to
  Claire Location: London Joined on: 20 Aug 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact thank you beespoke for your encouragement!

• 21/08/2012 12:40 AM

  In reply to

  courierdude Location: cambs/suffolk border Joined on: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 216

  Reply | Contact id have to say that i would act sooner than later. hard dry clay and over watering are not a good combination for keeping a hydrangea happy, especially if you want to avoid root rot. if youve only just planted it 2 weeks ago i cant see any reason why another replanting wouldnt benefit the plant as opposed to leaving it in the ground to die. if we have another long growing season like last year, whatever you do now might show some signs of encouragement before winter arrives. energy follows thought