Why is my Macrophylla Hydrangea drooping and wilting? 

You are most welcome. Thank you for watching. Happy gardening. 💐

Hello. You’re very kind and I thank you. Ask away if you have any questions. Happy gardening 🌸

Congratulations on your new home; may you and your family enjoy years of happiness. Make sure you don't overwater your plants but do keep them well hydrated, especially new plantings. Good luck and happy gardening.

HI, thank you. What is your channel? I'll subscribe back. 😷

Thank you, you're very kind. 🌻

Hi, she may be a drooper, as you say. As long as the leaves are perky don't worry, she's not stressed. Remove the wilted blooms (I'll be doing the same during the coming week) down to a set of leaves that show growth near where they're attached to the stem and give you another blast of plant food for blooms (high middle number). Miracle Grow's Bloom Booster is a good choice. Are there any other options regarding planting location? If not, could you tuck her under a taller plant that will offer shade during the afternoon hours? Keep me posted. We'll make sure she's happy. :)

@@TinthiaClemant bonjour, river witch, it's always such a joy to see your postings! I'm always so glad to see that you always answer questions n provide support. Here in France we've had several heat waves in the last 2 months (June, July 2019). During the last one we had the hottest days in recorded history!! Thank God I was home to help my garden survive! Th you for any advice on how to save shrubs, plants and flowers etc. I know not to give fertiliser on dry, baked, compacted soil but with my arthritis it's just not possible to break up the soil all over (i don't know how to say this in English). I've removed the brown, dead flowers n have done deep soakings after sundown. Watering time is such a perfect time to pray, think of our loved ones near n far and esp to count one's blessings. I hope you are well n as you so rightly say "Blessed be!"

Hi, I am sad to learn about your plant and I do hope I can help. Many of the potted flowers we buy from mall kiosks or from supermarkets are forced in greenhouses to bloom well before the plant is ready and that can stress the plant terribly. Many times repotting a plant does shock them but they can still return to a healthy state if given time. There is the possibility the plant was sick when you purchased it. If the plant is still doing poorly, my suggestion would be to cut it back to about three to four inches from the soil. Keep the soil damp but not saturated. Do you live in a location where you can place the plant outside? If not, choose a sunny location in the house. You might be able to revive the plant with a little TLC. Please keep me posted and good luck. :)

@@TinthiaClemant Yes, they live in a farm. I will definitely do that. Thank you so much! I've washed it's roots, air dried and I watered it with hydrogen peroxide solution and then repotted it. I've already cut the flowers 2 days ago, but I left the wilted leaves. I guess I should follow your advice and cut it 3-4" from the soil.

My pleasure. I’m glad you found information you could use. Happy gardening. 🌻

I am pleased you enjoyed the video. 🌻

Yes, wilting due to the midday sun is common. Hydrangeas only need morning sun then shade or dappled shade. The shade cloth if it is a gardening cloth lets some rays through so the plant cane still photosynthesize. No worries. 🌺

Hi, is she in a pot? If so, set the pot on top of the dirt to wick out the water. No worries, it takes a lot of water to kill a hydrangea. Keep me posted as to how she fairs. 🌻

@@TinthiaClemant thank you so much .will try doing that and keep you posted. Thanks again !!

@@TinthiaClemant yes she's in a pot.i wish I could post before and after pics. There is a small baby plant on the side. And she's doing well but the main branch isn't.

Haha, you made me smile on what is so far a challenging day; thank you. I will help you as much as I can through the virtual environment. 🌻Feel free to connect with me via Facebook if you want to show me pics: facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011687227420

Thank you. Happy gardening. 🌻

@@TinthiaClemant 💗

Hi, it takes a lot of water to give a hydrangea root rot so I wouldn't worry. Browning on the flowers is common when the blooms start to fade and the horrible, hot and humid weather we've been having has been harsh on hydrangea blossoms this year. When you state brown leaves, are the leaves wilted and brown or do they have brown areas on them? Hold offer water for a few days and keep an eye on the plant. Does it perk up a bit in the evening? Don't go pruning anything off the plant. Please keep me posted and remind me what zone you're in. Thank you.

@@TinthiaClemant Hi Tinthia, the hydrangeas do perk up a bit in the evening. Its only during and after the bright hot afternoon is when they start wilting and drooping :( I haven't pruned anything just yet and am still holding off on watering! I'm also in located in Markham, Ontario in Canada :)

Hello and thank you for your kind comment. When your flowers fade feel free to snip the faded buds off and that might stimulate the plant to produce new blossoms. Don’t snip the entire stem, just under the blossom head. It looks nicer when the plants are in pots to not have the faded blooms. It can take an entire year for soil acidifier to truly affect a plant so when you add the soil acidifier to the pot you might not see a deeper blue right away since it won’t alter the color for any buds already formed on the plant. I use sphagnum moss as a natural soil acidifier and it helps the soil to retain moisture too. I suggest also adding compost to the soil. It is one of the best treatments you can add to the soil; great nutrients that plants love. As far as feeding goes I suggest waiting until you see new growth after you’ve transplanted the hydrangea and then add some plant food. Last year I switched to Jobe’s Rose & Flower. Lately I’m finding better results with Jobe’s. Espoma changed its formula for Flowertone and my luck with the product dropped. For blooms you want the middle number, which represents phosphorus, to be higher than the other two numbers but not super high. Hydrangeas don’t need a ton of food especially if you added compost. I’d feed once when you see new growth after transplanting and once again in late summer but do check your plant food’s label. Extended release foods don’t need repeat applications in the same growing season. I do hope I’ve helped. If I can offer more help just ask. Good luck and keep me posted. Happy gardening. 🌹

@@TinthiaClemant .... you need to rename your channel as The Hydrangea whisperer. Sorry I forgot to mention that I'm a total newbie. This is exactly what i needed to know to avoid becoming a serial Hydrangea killer (lol). I've been reading your comments and I'm learning lots of very practical information. Hydrangeas are fussy but definitely worth it. Already 👍 and subscribed. Thank you very much for your knowledge, time and assistance. May God bless you in abundance. 🐟🦋🐌🌸💐🌻🌿🍀✌

@@JoJo-nv8jy You are so very kind. I will always do my best to provide honest answers. And never fear, hydrangeas are forgiving-most of the time. 😃 happy gardening 🌻

Hello, I am unable to post pictures. What exactly happened that warranted replanting so late in the season?

Hi, do the leaves eventually smooth out? Curling leaves typically indicate too little water. To check your soil, dig down straight down, I use a butter knife, about 2 inches and remove a slice of dirt and squeeze. If the dirt crumbles there is not enough moisture. Avoid shallow watering; it is always best to give the plant a deep watering by dripping water around the plant. That way you'll encourage a well-developed root system. The next thing to check is under the leaves for aphids or other sucking insects. The leafroller is a nasty little pest on hydrangeas. He will typically be inside the curled leaf. If you find them don't panic. Remove the infected leaves but don't compost them. Burn the leaves or put them in the trash. Next clean the ground around the plant where the insect will pupae until it becomes an adult. Good luck and keep me posted. Happy gardening. 🌸

Tinthia Clemant thank you for the thorough explanation. I will keep you posted.

Hi, sometimes plants go into shock after planting. If she continues to wilt cut of the branch to the base but give her a few weeks to adjust. Always check the soil before watering to ensure you are not over watering. Good luck and keep me posted. Oh, and don't feed her until u see new growth. 😄 happy gardening. 🌸

Hydrangea roots, like many shrubs, do have what are called shallow root systems that exist within the top six to eight inches of the soil. Improper watering forces the plants to keep their roots above that depth. With deep watering techniques, you can encourage the plant to utilize the full depth available to them, and in some cases, go to 10 inches deep. The depth does not include the one to two inches of mulch you have placed over the soil. I water my plants by allowing my hose to drip at the base of the plant. I run a rate of five gallons/30 minutes (I monitored the time it took to fill a 5 gallon bucket). The nozzle is placed midway between the stem and the drip zone, and I shift the hose to the opposite side at the 15 minute mark. You can also surround the plant with a soaker hose, or use one of the systems sold at big box hardware stores. Watch to see if the water is pooling instead of soaking into the ground, which would indicate poor soil drainage. Some hydrangeas may need watering five times a week, depending the weather, the plant's size, and sun exposure. The key is to keep the soil evenly moist but not saturated. Good luck and as I mentioned in this video, I'll be posting a video on drip watering hydrangeas. Happy gardening and thank you for watching. :)

@@TinthiaClemant so, so helpful!

Hi, the hydrangea I'm showing in the video is Blue Enchantress. She's a rebloomer from Monrovia and can be identified by the dark red stems. Endless Summer are a collection of rebloomers out of Bailey Nurseries. With all rebloomers, trim off the spent blossoms before the month of August. You can also give the plant a light shaping before August. Once August arrives, put your shears away and let her set her buds for the next blooming season. Rebloomers bloom on both old and new wood, In the early spring, when she wakes up, you can give her a light pruning to remove any damaged stems and spent blossoms from the previous summer. Be mindful of the new buds that are starting to swell. Happy Gardening!

Thank you. I'm in Massachusetts? You? Happy gardening. 💐

South Central Texas now for 17 years, brutal gardening climate. Previously Southern California and then the Seattle area. Both incredible climates. But as you know, determined gardeners try and try again. 😉🍃🌸

I think I planted it in a bad area. It blooms but it is an old plant and it is just not getting any bigger.

Hi, brown leaves can be caused by a few factors: water getting on the leaf, a cold night, the shock of transplanting, or a fungus. If your plant is healthy otherwise, the culprit might be water. Try watering at the base of the plant and avoid splashing. Pinching the leaf off is fine as long as you don't remove too many leaves at one time which could shock the plant. If you look carefully between the new leaves you might see tiny buds but look carefully so you don't damage them. Be patient. Have you fed your pant? Some compost, not manure, gently worked into the soil would thrill your plant. Happy gardening. 🌸

@@smpeace2683 hi, what makes the area bad? Too shady? Poor soil? The plant might be designed as a compact type. What type of hydrangea is she? If she is blooming she is happy. 😍 🌺

Hi, make sure your watering at 5he roots and giving a deep watering. A drip method around the plant works best. Happy gardening. 🌻

Hello. Hmmm, sounds like Tuxedo, which has very dark leaves. Is the plant in full sun? Needs afternoon shade or at least dappled shade. When did you feed her last? What food? Prune off the dead blooms as soon as they start to turn and make sure she is getting adequate water. A water meter helps. What zone are you in? I look forward to your response. 🌼

@@TinthiaClemant Hello! I would like to start by saying I am an amateur who would like to have a big garden someday 😊 Endless Summer Summer Crush Bigleaf is what the tag said. I am in zone 8. I have had her for almost a month and was planted with bone meal in a big barrel type pot and she takes up 1/2 the space with 2 inches of mulch on top. She has full sun, but it is afternoon sun 😬 she gets a deep water about 4 times a week in the morning. She has produced 6 blooms in this time which are all smaller than the first two she had when purchased. She has 2 buds about to bloom. I have pruned 2 fully brown heads so far, I have 3 others that are partial brown, but I am nervous to prune all the brownish heads at the same time? I don’t know if it would make a difference to stagger prune or to clip all at once? I will definitely get a water meter! I appreciate your help!!🙌🏼

@@Eandj12199 Hello, okay let’s go piece by piece. Zone 8 afternoon sun is too hot and direct for her. Move the pot to a spot that gets morning sun. Next, when you planted her, did you add compost? If not, scrape some of the mulch off and gently work in vegetable compost. About four or five trowel scoops. Not animal manure. Just buy a small bag at you garden center or Walmart. Get some of that mulch off; I’m afraid it’s holding in too much moisture and encouraging a root rotting situation. Now, I feel you’re overwatering. Definitely get a water meter or use the method I show in one of my videos where you grab some soil about an inch down. Not the mulch. If the soil clumps together no watering is required. Last, give her a blast of food-I started using Jobe’s Rose and Flower two years ago and like it a lot. Definitely prune off the spent blossoms. The last thing to point out is she might have suffered shock At transplanting. I have a Summer Crush but the leaves are not dark. This must be a new cultivar. Be patient, hydrangeas are very forgiving. Keep me posted and enjoy the journey. 🌸

Hello, pH is the major reason for a mophead hydrangea changing color, although some cultivars are immune to pH alteration; check with the nursery who developed the particular hydrangea to see if they have information on color changes. A few popular nurseries are Monrovia (Proven Winners), Bailey, and Plants Nouveau. Now for the low down on pH and color: Blue flowers develop with acidic soil (a pH of 5.0 to 5.5) and pink flowers from alkaline soil pH (6.0 to 6.5), with purple coming somewhere in-between. However, the soil is typically amended in the early spring, before the plant produces its buds on new wood (late summer for the buds produced on the last year's growth). Amending the soil during the summer typically does little to alter the color mid-season. When did you lay down your mulch? Spring? The mulch contents can alter the soil pH since most mulch is cedar based and cedar is acidic, as are most conifer plants from which mulch is made. For some reason the dye used in black mulch is very effective in changing the pH of a soil. The soil in containers can get washed out, removing the nutrients and components that alter pH as the container is watered/rained on. You need to amend containers continually to achieve the result you want to retain. As for not retaining a color, the other reason could be the plant itself. Some hydrangea blossoms change color as the blossom ages. I have a Noblesse mophead out of Plants Nouveau that starts out white and ages to green. Another factor is the weather: rain, humidity, and high heat, along with too much sun can affect our lovely hydrangeas. Here is a link to a great article on pH and hydrangeas: cuttingedgeplants.com/blogs/about-hydrangeas/hydrangea-color-and-ph Good luck and keep me posted. Happy gardening. 🌻

Hi, I do apologize for missing your message. How are your plants doing? If the soil is moist, don't add more water. The plants might have been in shock from being transplanted. Keep me posted. :)

Hi. What zone are you in? Check out my Hydrangea 911series. Does your plant resemble my little plant from season 1? Here’s my suggestions: Using clean pruners start by snipping off the dead blossoms and removing any brown leaves. Don’t do an aggressive pruning because that could shock the plant; just take the blossoms off right below the spent heads. Then plant her in your garden-dig an ample hole about two times the width of the root ball, mix in some compost, not manure, and add a little sphagnum moss if you have it to help retain moisture and adjust the pH to a more acidic level, and water well. Keep the plant well watered, not saturated but moist, and when you see new growth emerging then you can go ahead and give the her a serving of plant food. Remember to place her in a location where she’ll get ample early day sunlight. Good luck and keep me posted. Happy gardening. 🌻

I live in zone 8. I will monitor my hydrangeas and will let you know how they progress. I will check out your video also. Thank you for your helpful advice!

@@josiemullet4579 It was my pleasure. 🌼

Mine did the same thing this summer. A local nursery told me it was the drought conditions and high humidity. I'm waiting to see what happens next summer. Happy gardening. 🌻

Tinthia Clemant Thank you so much!

Hello, yes mophead hydrangeas do not take full sun, or afternoon sun, very well. You don’t have to worry, though, once the sun has passed the plant will perk up again but it does take a toll on the plant. Be mindful to not overwater the plant thinking that it’s drooping because it’s dehydrated. You could put up a sunshade using tomato stakes and a white cloth; I’ve even used a patio umbrella to protect my plants. The bottom line is mopheads don’t like to be in afternoon sun and they will droop when the afternoon sun hits them. Next spring you could transplant the hydrangea. Start by cutting it back in the spring before the plant wakes up. Dig it out as soon as the ground warms up. Try to dig up as much of the root system as you can using a pitchfork so you don’t damage the roots then relocate the plant to a place that has afternoon shade. There’s really not much else you can do unless you just leave the plant where it is and be peaceful knowing that it will bounce back. Keep me posted and happy gardening. 🌻

What zone are you in? How much sun is she getting? Sometimes planting can shock a plant. Did you feed her after planting; always a no-no until u see new growth. Did you amend the soil with compost; not manure--too much nitrogen. Let me know. 🌺

@@TinthiaClemant I didn't use anything in the soil. First time planting one of these.

@@BaldBarber67 Hydrangeas don’t bloom in May unless they are grown in a greenhouse and forced to bloom early. It’s probably one that’s grown for a Mother’s Day gift. Dried brown blooms are normal for these. Yours might survive long term. Maybe.

Oh dear, what zone are u in and are they in pots or the ground? Shady, sunny or mixture of both? Ground too wet? Let me know, I will try to help. 😧

their in pots I transferred them to large planters. I'm in Michigan it's been cold i sit them out in morning and bring them in at night someone suggested that. i dont know what else to do.

@@jonesjasmyn3128 ok, first make sure they are getting enough water but not too much so that they are soaked. Keep the soil moist. Next, don't set them in the sun. A shady spot with morning sun works best. What type of soil did u use? Potting soil needs to be amended with compost, (not manure) Will they be going into the ground at some point? Did you get them from a florist for Easter? Florist hydrangeas are forced to look beautiful but it takes a toll on the plant. My little star of Hydrangea 911 was a florist hydrangea but she still came back. As soon as you can, get them into the ground and add compost to the soil. Don't feed them until u see new growth. Keep me posted. Good luck. 🌸

thank you I got them from Home Depot I used potting soil so tomorrow I will add composte and remove them from the sun I'm not going to put them in ground until next year if I can save them....❤

Of course. Send to riverlady1@comcast.net. Give me info such as your zone, amount of sun they receive, etc. Ill watch for your email. 🌺

@@TinthiaClemant email doesn't work

I'm having the exact problem!

Oh, I'm sorry to learn that. What is she doing?

Tinthia Clemant well she appeared dead. But today she looks alive. I gave her some food and it’s been raining a lot. I moved her to a location that is sunny in the morning and shade in the afternoon. So I’ll see how it goes this week. 🤨

@@PsyChoAnaLize Ok, just so you know, this is a bad time of year to transplant anything so be careful to keep her hydrated but don't overwater her. Hold off with any food from now on and wait until spring to feed her again. Good luck and keep me posted.