Troubleshooting
Hydrangea problems — and how to fix them
Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
No flowers
Pruned at the wrong time — bigleafs flower on old wood, panicle types flower on new wood.
Wilting in summer
Shallow roots in hot sun; mulch heavily and move plant if possible.
Brown crispy flower heads
Sun scorch on cut flowers indoors, or natural end-of-season ageing.
Powdery mildew
Common in late summer; improve airflow.
Aphids
Common on new growth; rinse off with water.
Prevent hydrangea problems before they start
Most hydrangea issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Hydrangea problems — FAQ
Why is my hydrangea no flowers?
Pruned at the wrong time — bigleafs flower on old wood, panicle types flower on new wood.
Why is my hydrangea wilting in summer?
Shallow roots in hot sun; mulch heavily and move plant if possible.
Why is my hydrangea brown crispy flower heads?
Sun scorch on cut flowers indoors, or natural end-of-season ageing.
Why is my hydrangea powdery mildew?
Common in late summer; improve airflow.
Why is my hydrangea aphids?
Common on new growth; rinse off with water.