Hydrangea experts....help!

[Kim&Chris]

I planted "Endless Summer" pink hydrangeas in a raised garden bed using organic soil. It's in a location where it gets the morning sun and afternoon shade.

Fast forward, and I'm seeing a lot of brown edges on the leaves. Also some brown dots. I've googled 'til my fingers are numb, tried everything, etc. I water regularly - not too much or too little. I fertilized with Miracid. It's in a location with plenty of shade.

Can some of you share your tips for healthy & happy hydrangeas? I don't want to lose the plant.

Funny sidenote: my mother has the most unbelievable deep blue hydrangeas you'd ever see, and she doesn't even water them, haha!

 

[citruscurtis]

I never water my hydrangea... though shade 100%...I don't think the raised bed is working and this Oregon weather... and the plants are over 40 years old and the 4 plants are each the size of a recliner

 

[citruscurtis]

Just talked to another... she said that in a pot you count 20 seconds every day and she suspects ozone layer depletion for harm to leaves and the Coast seems to be the only place she sees them thriving

 

[citruscurtis]

Oregon State University has great information... and I was told that I am not an expert because my plants were one of a kind and why they won so many ribbons... so follow the OSU giidelines

 

[ddluvsdisney]

I am no expert but have a bunch of hydrangeas. The ones that are huge are mostly in shade and I never water them. My plants that get more sun aren’t as big.

 

[evilmommie]

I planted "Endless Summer" pink hydrangeas in a raised garden bed using organic soil. It's in a location where it gets the morning sun and afternoon shade.

Fast forward, and I'm seeing a lot of brown edges on the leaves. Also some brown dots. I've googled 'til my fingers are numb, tried everything, etc. I water regularly - not too much or too little. I fertilized with Miracid. It's in a location with plenty of shade.

Can some of you share your tips for healthy & happy hydrangeas? I don't want to lose the plant.

Funny sidenote: my mother has the most unbelievable deep blue hydrangeas you'd ever see, and she doesn't even water them, haha!

Where are you located? I live in CA & FL and have hydrangeas in both states. They act very differently based on the weather. My hydrangeas in CA took serious patience, as it took them a long time to get establish. 4 yrs later they are doing wonderful. Versus my hydrangeas in FL, they grow like weeds. LOL I never water them, but they get rain weekly.

 

[BayouQueen]

I run into trouble with my hydrangeas when I over-feed. Also, I’d used Miracid and my daughter told me she’d had better luck with the regular Miracle-gro. Mine look better since I switched to that.

Hydrangeas can be tricky. Some years mine are gorgeous and some years blah. I hope yours turn around for you, @Kim&Chris. They’re such lovely flowers.

 

[auntfrannie]

I never have to worry about sun exposure or fertilizer...the deer eat them before they get very big!

 

[_19disnA]

Hydrangeas can be fussy and may/may not do well. Had some at a prior home and they never did well regardless of what we tried. They needed CONSTANT watering even after being well established which was a huge nuisance. Relatives have a few in another state that do well in the shade. I would look around to see what type of bushes/plants/shrubs your neighbors have that do well in your area and try those instead. Many plants are beautiful when they flower, but may not work in your particular location.