A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2003 Hydrangea?

My potted hydrangea has been doing beautifully all summer long, but all of a sudden the leaves are turning yellow and falling off. The two I have planted in the ground are still green and healthy. any suggestions?? I live in NW Florida.

Hi Suzannie
I don't grow them but,
But I have some questions that
might narrow it down for someone
when they come through to ask you.

Have you done anything to the potted one??
Moved it?
Over or under watered it?
Have the temp. chilled where the potted one's roots are being chilled?
How long have you had both potted and planted ones?
Moved it by too much heat?

Maybe those will help someone!!

Happy Gardening!!
Weezie

Hi Weezie,

I haven't done anything different to the potted one. And it is in the same place I've had it all summer long. Only thing I can think of is maybe some insect has attacked it. I've seen this ugly black bug that's been around my plants lately. they are big, move slowly and they will fly. I just don't know.

I don't have any potted hydrangeas but I do have 5 that are in the ground and I do know that they like a lot of water....are you watering them enough?????? I'm stumped on this one, it could very well be bugs....do you actually see many of them on the plant itself?

Or...
maybe it's just being naturally deciduous. Mine has dropped it's leaves, as it does every autumn.

I just looked it up in my plant Book, and found that there are both deciduous and evergreen types of hydrangeas. Do you know the specific type of hydrangea that's in the pot? It could be that it's fine, just going into winter dormancy.

Mine have done that too bess, but I was thinking that with her being in florida they might live all year round without dropping their leaves, because of the temps.....I don't know....

about your hydrangea, in ft walton beach, it will be deciduous (sp). they start to die back about the time we get our first good cold spell (3 or more days in a row below 65) and by late feb, all the "old" wood (2 years old) will be so brittle that if you bump it, it will shatter. Don't worry about it, it will be just fine. the brittle wood can be left until spring to provide some protection and when you see the first green leaves, try the brown twigs and if they snap, they won't grow any more and if they start to bend, leave them, those will flower in the spring.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Bess, I don't know what kind it is, I bought it last year at Wal-Mart.

Well, I'll just keep watering it and will see what happens to it.