Growing hydrangea, gardeners can face such a nuisance as yellowing of foliage. The leaves of the flower are sensitive to environmental factors (humidity, lighting, soil composition). The article discusses the main causes of dryness and decay of green mass, as well as methods to combat the problem.
Causes of Leaf Drying
Many gardeners, even those who have been growing flowers for a long time, are interested in the question of why hydrangeas dry and fall leaves. Similar changes in the appearance of plants can occur for several reasons. This is mainly affected by the quality of care provided by the gardener.
If you notice a slight change in the color and structure of the crown, then you must immediately begin to address the cause. Actions taken on time will help keep the bushes healthy and beautiful.
Did you know? The word "hydrangea" is translated from the Latin language as "a vessel with water." The name was due to the plant's demand for moisture.
Dry ground
The main reason why hydrangeas dry and crumble leaves is because of dry soil.. If the root system is deficient in moisture, then it ceases to develop and supply nutrients to the stems of the bush.
Hydrangea is a moisture-loving flower. Therefore, it is important not only to adjust the quality and interval of irrigation, but also to choose a quality place for planting. To save the plant from drought, weekly irrigation of the soil will help, using 15 liters of water for each bush, as well as spraying the crown. You should also make sure that the flower is in partial shade, preferably after lunch.
Low humidity
Hydrangea, which prefers to grow in moist areas, has difficulty surviving dry air. For this reason, over time, the edges of the leaves begin to fade and dry. If you do not start salvation in time, then the leaf plate will die and crumble. If you decide to save the bushes, then you can do this in several ways.
It all depends on where the culture is grown:
- if you planted hydrangea in the open ground, then spray the crown every day with a hose or spray gun;
- if you are saving a potted flower, put a humidifier in the room and ventilate the room every day.
Did you know? On the holy festival of Buddha, believers decorate temples and houses with hydrangea. This flower is considered sacred in Indian culture.
Excessive humidity
Many gardeners are faced with the fact that the flower dies from excessive soil moisture. Sometimes such an event leads to questions, because a culture that prefers to grow on nutrient and moist soils cannot dry from watering. However, it is not.
The root system of the plant is not as developed as in other crops. Therefore, waterlogging leads to the fact that the roots begin to rot and die. This is due to the fact that a sufficient amount of nutrients does not get to the leaves. There is a way to revive the bush.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Dig up the plant.
- Remove the part of the root system where there are signs of decay (they should be brown).
- Sprinkle the cut areas with crushed activated carbon.
- Transplant hydrangea to another place, just make the hole smaller than the previous one.
- Cover for 7–10 days with plastic wrap. Open it every day to ventilate.
Incorrect lighting
An excess of sunlight negatively affects the development of the plant. If direct sunlight will fall on the bush, then it can wither and die completely. Therefore, it is recommended to plant shrubs in partial shade, where in the first half of the day they will be lit, and in the second they will be protected by shade.
It is better to plant seedlings next to fruit trees or tall bushes.. They will perform a protective function for treelike or panicled hydrangea.
Poor fit
Quite often, the leaves dry and fall off if the planting was not according to the rules. It is necessary to carefully choose seedlings, as well as monitor the condition of their roots during planting.
Also try carefully to choose a seat so that the plant feels comfortable. Thanks to this, the shrub will intensify its growth and better bloom.
Root system damage
The hydrangea roots are rather weak, so try not to damage them during planting.. Violation of the structure of the roots leads to the fact that the bush does not take root well and is sick.
Never cut the root system when transplanting. Only diseased or damaged by rot (or disease) areas can be removed.
Important! To strengthen the roots and make them more resistant to negative environmental factors, soak them before planting for 3 days in a Zircon solution (50 g per 5 l of water).
Errors in choosing a landing place
Gardeners often make the following mistakes when choosing a seat:
- planting in alkaline soil;
- sunny area;
- lack of protection against drafts.
Preliminary selection of a place will help to solve the problem. It is necessary to determine the composition of the soil in advance and take care of the tall plants in the neighborhood.
Causes of Leaf Withering
A fairly common situation is when hydrangea leaves begin to fade. It could be by due to drafts or poor soil composition.
Landing near tall plants or barriers will help solve the problem. You also need to carefully choose a seat. If the earth does not meet the requirements of the flower, then it must be prepared.
Drafts
If hydrangea is often exposed to drafts, then very soon the leaves will wither and dry. Many gardeners make a mistake when they do not take into account this feature of the flower. As a result, the plot becomes less attractive.
To protect the bushes from drafts or strong gusts of wind, it is recommended to plant plants near barriers or buildings. Alternatively, you can plant next to tall bushes. If you grow high varieties of hydrangea, then during planting, attach the plants to the support. It will protect the bushes from deformation of the crown.
Bad soil
Hydrangea prefers to grow on loose, light and nutritious soils. If you plant seedlings in heavy or dense soil, then moisture will linger inside the soil. This leads to the fact that the flower begins to "suffocate" and disappear.
Also consider the composition of the soil in which you will plant garden hydrangea. Soil acidity should be no more than 7 pH. Preliminarily study the composition of the soil in order to prepare it for the planting procedure. If this is not done, then the death of hydrangea cannot be avoided.
Special substances will help to fix the problem with poor soil.. If the acidity is too high, add wood ash (500 g per 1 m²). Peat and sand (10 kg of each substance) will help to make the soil more loose. The entire volume is distributed over 1 m². With reduced acidity of the earth, you need to add lemon juice to the water for irrigation (5 drops per 1 liter). Perform the procedure for 5 days.
Temperature changes
If hydrangea undergoes a frequent change in temperature (night and day), then the ends of the leaf plate turn black and die. To restore the appearance of the crown, it will be necessary to normalize the temperature regime.
Optimum temperature - from +20 to + 23 ° С. If most of the foliage has already deteriorated, then you need to trim the affected areas.
Important! If hydrangea does not bloom, then it is necessary to create conditions for its rest. To do this, lower the temperature to + 13 ° C for 10 days.
How to save hydrangea, which wilted
If the hydrangea bush is withered, then some gardeners try to revive them. Garden varieties need to be rid of frozen parts of the plant in spring. If the crown was affected by rot, then you will need to cut the shoot 1 cm more than the affected area. The areas remaining after the cut must be treated with wood ash or powdered activated carbon. This will avoid open wounds, where the infection can get.
If indoor hydrangea wilted, then the plant should be placed in a room at a temperature of +23 to + 25 ° С. After that, cut off the affected areas of the bush and treat it with Hom (20 mg per 5 l of water). In cases where there are no green leaves left on hydrangeas, you do not need to despair. Water the plant every day. Literally after 3-4 weeks, the sleeping kidneys will awaken, and the green cover will be restored.
If you notice that the hydrangea bushes began to fade or turn yellow, you need to analyze the quality of the care provided and understand what exactly you are doing wrong. After that, you can solve the problem. In addition, it is possible to revive the plant.