Hydrangeas are one of the most popular flowering plants in the garden with large, colorful flowers and lush green foliage. Unfortunately, gardeners face Hydrangea leaves turning yellow issues more often. There are many possible reasons behind it including nutrient deficiencies, irregular watering routine, temperature shock, and certain other factors.
This article will discuss why hydrangea leaves may turn yellow and how to fix the problem. We will also explore the different types of hydrangeas and their specific needs to help gardeners get the most out of their plants. Stay connected till the end!
What Causes Hydrangea Leave to Turn Yellow
Sometimes, yellow hydrangea leaves can mean your plant is attempting to determine its requirements. In other words, it is a means of communication with your plant, telling you something may be missing. Here are the major causes behind limelight hydrangea leaves turning yellow:
1. Nutrient Deficiencies
Hydrangea is a perfect addition to your garden, but if it starts to turn yellow, it can make it look bad. One of the reasons for the yellowing of your plant leaves is nutrient deficiency. Hydrangea needs a constant and heavy supply of nutrients to ensure proper growth and health of the plants. If there are signs of yellowing of leaves, ensure their nutrient requirements are complete.
Some nutrient supplements such as nitrogen, magnesium, and iron are important for the proper growth of plants. Thus, if any of these supplements are not available in the right amount, you need to provide these supplements to ensure proper growth. If your plant faces iron deficiency, you will observe yellow leaves however the veins of the leaves will remain green. This situation in plants is known as chlorosis. If there is nitrogen deficiency, your plant’s growth will not grow properly. If the whole leaf of the plant turns yellow, it indicates nitrogen deficiency.
Root rot: Root rot happens due to a fungus, which badly affects the plant’s roots; this happens when the plant is overwatered. When there is poor drainage in the plants, you will see the yellowing of leaves. Root rot spreads very quickly, and you need to keep an eye all the time before it damages the plant completely.
Hydrangea Mosaic Virus: Another viral disease turns the leaves yellow and mottled through this disease. You will have to remove this disease with the help of some tools and sanitize those tools after working to prevent the spread.
Tomato ringspot virus: Tomato ringspot virus causes the yellowing of leaves, which spreads through nematodes. You need to control the nematode population in your garden to prevent leaves on Hydrangea from turning yellow.
2. Watering Problems
Too much or too little water is dangerous for the proper growth of the plant.
Overwatering: Overwatering of leaves causes the plants to suffocate, and the leaves will turn yellow. Hydrangea likes to keep the soil and roots moist but not wet. Overwatering leaves water in the plant without proper drainage, and the plant starts to wilt.
Underwatering: Underwatering is another major problem, every plant needs a specific amount of water to keep them hydrated. If there is less water available for the plant, this will result in wilting and drooping of the leaves. Underwatering increases the plant’s stress and requires more water for proper growth.
3. Wrong Lighting Conditions
Sunlight plays a key role in the growth of the plant, its absence or excess can cause the plant leaves to turn yellow. Hydrangea requires partial sun, half under and half in the shade. The leaves will get scorched if the plant is under direct sunlight without proper shading. You need to place your plant under shade to prevent the plant from dying.
Without light for proper growth, there will be no photosynthesis, and the plant will become wilted due to lack of nutrition. It would help to keep the plant half in the shade and half under the sun. You can also put your plant in place with the afternoon sun to stay cool in the morning.
4. Temperature Shock
Temperature shock can cause the Hydrangea leaves to turn yellow. These plants are not comfortable in winds and cold temperatures. It is best to keep Hydrangea in a more protected place to prevent temperature shock. You can place the plant near a house or residential area to protect it from the wind. If the Hydrangea is potted, you can keep it inside the house to prevent it from wind and cold temperatures.
5. Change in the Soil’s pH
The pH of the soil is important for the legitimate development of the plant. Therefore, test the pH before planting Hydrangea to ensure that the conditions are ideal for the plant’s growth. The leaves will begin to become yellow if the pH isn’t moderate. If the soil is basic, you can maintain the pH by adding citric acid.
| Reasons behind Hydrangea Leaves Turn Yellow | Symptoms | Ways to fix |
| Excessive Watering | Leaves turn light green and afterward yellow. | Change the plant’s watering plan and give water as indicated by the timetable without delay. |
| Underwatering | Uniform yellowing of the whole leaf surface | Increase the water timing from the schedule. Some weather requires more time, and moderate water in one weather can be dangerously low in the other method. |
| Lack of Proper Sunlight | Yellowing and falling of leaves | Move the plant to a sunnier place to ensure proper growth and photosynthesis. |
| Soil Not Acidic Enough | Yellowing and withering of leaves | Utilize very much disintegrated fertilizer to bring down the soil’s pH and make it acidic to satisfy the acidic requirements. |
| Nutrient Inadequacies | Yellow, brown, or black spots on the leaves | To ensure proper growth, supply the hydrangea plants with sufficient nutrients that complement the plant supplements. |
| Insect Infestation | Leaf scorch and yellowing | Pesticides are used to kill pests if they are detected after careful examination for signs of them. Use pesticides that don’t hurt the plant. |
| Diseased Plant | Leave yellowing and dropping. | Use different fungicides to keep various bacterial and fungal diseases away from the plant. |
| Excessive Heat | Yellowing and falling of leaves | In this situation, place the plant in a partially shaded place to avoid direct light from the sun. Water the plant more frequently and keep the air and soil moist. |
| Excessive Cold | Large yellow spots on the leaves | Ensure your Hydrangea is placed in the right spot and keep it under the sun for a while to ensure maximum sun absorbance. |
| Dry Air | Leave yellowing | If the air is dry, you can impose artificial rain on the plant to keep the area moist and airy for proper plant growth. |
How to Prevent Hydrangea from Turning Yellow
You don’t need to worry about the cure if you prevent these diseases from affecting your plant. You can prevent leaves on hydrangea from turning yellow by:
Choosing the Suitable Location
You need to keep the hydrangea in partial shade and in the right place for it to grow properly. These plants dislike sitting in sunlight that is either too much or too little. The ideal measure of the sun is fractional daylight, which requires 6 hours of daylight during the day, and afterward, you can put them under conceal.
Water Deeply and Irregularly
Hydrangea leaves turn yellow due to overwatering and underwatering. Hydrangea leaves need water deeply but irregularly, they need to keep their roots deep in water for proper growth. If the plants are waterlogged, leaves turning yellow is common.
Fertilize Annually
Fertilizing the Hydrangea is important as there are multiple nutrient deficiencies, and keeping your plant healthy is impossible if no nutrients are available. Fertilizers replenish the soil and provide the basic nutrients for proper growth. In the growing season, fertilizers are necessary for budding and flowering, and they need a nutrient boost for the perfect performance of these plants.
Adding Pesticides
If you see any viral, fungal, or bacterial diseases, add pesticides or fungicides to remove these diseases and other pests from your plant. These pests and diseases permanently damage the plant and it can’t grow properly. This results in wilting and then the death of the plant. These fungicides and pests keep the plant healthy and ensure proper growth with perfect performance.
Tips to Prevent Hydrangea Leaves From Turning Yellow
It’s best to keep some tips in mind to stop your Hydrangea leaves from turning yellow; some of those tips include:
- Keep the plant partially shaded and away from the sun, and ensure diffused sunlight.
- Control the soil’s moisture level, so that you can prevent the plant from drying out or having excess water to grow properly.
- Keep in mind the soil’s acidity and prevent soil leaching due to the increase in the soil’s acidity.
- You need to maintain the budding and flowering of the plant by giving them mixed fertilizer for proper growth.
- If the weather is rainy, you need to add the wood ash under the bush of the plant to keep the plant safe from adverse conditions like heavy winds, overwatering, and water accumulation through the rain.
- Proper pruning and the removal of weak or dead plant parts encourage the growth of the plant during the flowering season.
- On the off chance that the environment of your area is freezing, during ice or snow cover the plant with burlap or different covers to safeguard them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Hydrangea leaves turning yellow can be caused by several different factors. It is important to accurately identify the cause of the yellowing to determine the best action. Providing the plant with the right fertilizer is important if the yellowing is due to a nutrient deficiency. If the yellowing is a sign of disease, taking immediate steps to treat the plant is important. Lastly, if the yellowing is due to environmental factors, it is important to adjust the plant’s environment accordingly. With the right care and attention, hydrangeas can thrive and produce beautifully colored blooms each season.
FAQs
1. How to Save Overwatering Hydrangea?
If your Hydrangea is turning yellow due to overwatering, you need to stop watering your plant and check if a proper drainage system is letting the water out. The leaves will turn yellow if more water is in the plant than required. If there is no proper drainage and the water is retained inside, repot your plant to save it from wilting and dying.
2. Should You Cut Off Yellow Leaves?
Yellow leaves are useless, you can cut them if you want. If there are yellow and green leaves, nutrients are not focused on the green ones. If you remove the yellow ones, the plant can completely and easily focus on the green leaves without thinking about the yellow leaves and their survival when they are of no use.
3. How Should You Apply Fertilizer When the Hydrangea Leaves Are Yellow?
You need to apply the fertilizer equally on the base of the plant and then keep it carefully. There is a proper instruction manual on the fertilizer that you need to follow for the proper growth of the plant. You must ensure the fertilizer is spread evenly on the surface, and the quantity spread must follow the table’s instructions. Water the plant properly after applying the fertilizer so that it reaches the roots of the plant.
4. Why Are My Hydrangea Leaves Turning Yellow?
There are several reasons why your Hydrangea leaves turn yellow. It is either due to excessive water or sunlight. Some other causes are lack of nutrition, such as nitrogen, iron, and phosphorus. It might also be due to viral and fungal diseases like root rot.