Problems with hydrangea
Identify what's wrong by where it appears and what you can see.
Where is the problem?
Start by selecting the part of the plant where you see the problem.
Start with the symptom
Or pick from the symptoms most often seen on hydrangea.
Common problems with hydrangea
The problems recorded on hydrangea, the most common first.
11 problems
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Scale insects
Brown or white bumps stuck to stems and leaf veins, with sticky leaves below. -
Underwatering
Crisp, dry leaves and flopping growth in dust-dry soil. The quickest problem to fix. -
Wrong soil pH
Yellowing and poor growth in soil too acid or too alkaline for the plant. -
Cold and frost damage
Blackened, glassy shoots after a cold night. Tender plants collapse; hardy ones grow out of it. -
Fungal leaf spots
Round brown or grey spots with darker rims on leaves, spreading in wet weather. -
Heat stress
Afternoon wilting, dropped flowers and stalled fruit in a hot spell, even in moist soil. -
Iron deficiency (lime-induced chlorosis)
The youngest leaves turn yellow with sharp green veins. Usually a sign the soil is too alkaline. -
Poor drainage and waterlogging
Water that sits around the roots after rain. Plants yellow, stall and rot at the base. -
Rabbits, deer and other mammals
Plants bitten off cleanly or browsed, with droppings or footprints nearby. -
Sun scorch and sunscald
Bleached, papery or brown patches on the leaves and fruit that face the sun. -
Vine weevil
Notched leaf edges from adults, and plants collapsing as grubs eat the roots.
