Will A Dead Hydrangea Come Back?

Jul 31, 2024

Hydrangea is a bush-type plant that blooms in spring and summer. During winter and fall, they withdraw. So, seeing a dormant or dead hydrangea is a common thing. Hydrangea is a popular gardening plant with a gorgeous bloom.

Now, does your hydrangea look dry and dead? Are you looking for an answer to “Will a dead Hydrangea come back?” If you are, this is the right place for you. Let’s see if a dead hydrangea can be revived or not.

Is My Hydrangea Dead or Dormant?

It is a common mistake among beginners to identify a dormant hydrangea as dead. They may look the same, but there is a big difference between dead and dormant hydrangeas. A dormant or dying hydrangea can be revived but if the plant is dead, you should give up. So, you must have a clear idea about how to identify if your hydrangea is dead or dormant.

To check the status of your hydrangea, scratch the stem surface. If you see no green stem under the skin and there are no sprouts, then your plant is dead. If you see a green stem and no sprouts, the plant is just winter stressed or dormant. You can easily recover a winter stressed hydrangea by following some simple steps.

What Causes Death of Hydrangeas?

Hydrangea normally sheds foliage and stops new growth in winter. This process continues until early spring. If the plant doesn’t show any growth or blooming even in March, it’s a bad sign. It will indicate that your plant is dying or is already dead from the extreme cold of the winter or poor conditioning. The death of hydrangeas can be caused by several factors that include

Cold Place
Too Bright Place
No Proper Watering
Pruning at the Wrong Time
USDA Hardiness Zones

How Do I Tell If Hydrangea is Dead?

A dying hydrangea shows some symptoms before it dies. First of all, it will look like a dormant plant. To figure out the exact reason for death or that condition, you need to watch them carefully.

Fallen leaves and withered flowers are indications that your plant may be dying or already dead. But they are just indications and not hard evidence of death. Check for stems and growth to confirm the situation.
Stalled growth is the earliest sign your plant shows of death. But you can only see it in the growth season. Stalled growth has some other signs as well, such as dead leaves and flowers. Withered stems are also an indication of stalled growth.
Dead stems are the ultimate sign of your plant’s death. Scratch the surface of a stem and look for green flesh. Your plant is already dead if there is no green layer under the skin.

How to Revive a Dying Hydrangea?

You have to follow the signals the plant gives you. Look for the following signs and take action according to them to save your dying hydrangea.

Dropping Foliage

One of the indications of serious drought conditions is dropping leaves with wilted flowers and brown foliage. Too much heat can also cause these issues, but there are some more reasons behind it. Lack of proper watering, too much nitrogen in the soil, too dense soil causing failure to retain moisture, and soil draining too fast can also cause it. To cure this problem,

Water the plant at least once a week with a good drainage system.
Choose a potting mix that is rich in organic elements.
Don’t use fast-draining sandy soil.
Relocate the plant to a location with partial sunlight.

Yellow and Dried Foliage

Yellow leaves that seem dry or wilted indicate too much sunlight. Yellow on one side and natural green on the other side is a sign of too much sunlight. To solve this problem

Move the plant to a location where it won’t get direct and full-day sun.
If the plant is potted, then take it to the east or west-facing window. It will get them shaded light in the morning and noon.
Trim the shoots that have badly affected leaves and flowers to encourage new growth.

Brown or Black Foliage and Flower

If your plant is frost-damaged, it will show brown or black foliage. Often, hydrangeas with a hardiness zone of 8 or more suffer this problem if it is put in an open place near windows or a garden. To save your hydrangea from frost damage, take the following steps:

Trim the branches till the damaged part. Be careful not to trim the wood part. Otherwise, it will prevent further growth.
Don’t fertilize the plant in the late summer.
If the temperature drops under 40°F, bring the hydrangeas with a hardiness of 8 or more indoors.

Rotting Roots

Root rotting is a common fungal disease in hydrangeas that are overwatered. Hydrangeas love moist soil but waterlogging will be fatal for your plant. If the root rotting is severe, the plant will die, and there is nothing you can do. So, it is better to dispose of those plants. If the rotting is not that severe, you can do the following:

Remove the plant and check the condition of the roots.
Remove dark, mushy, and soft roots that are infected.
Change the soil of the pot; use a natural element rich soil.
Dip the roots in fungicide before planting in the new soil.
Clean the pot using fungicide if you are using the same container.
Use terracotta or clay pots and make sure it has multiple drainage holes.

Conclusion

Without proper care, hydrangeas will not last for long. As a plant lover, always take proper care of your plant. Watch your plants closely and try to understand the indications your plant is giving.

If you follow the signs and take action on time properly, you can save your hydrangea. Just make sure the temperature, sunlight, and moisture of the soil are under control. Looking after these three factors will dramatically increase your hydrangea’s longevity.

FAQs

Should I cut off dead Hydrangea blooms?

If the branches of your hydrangea are infected or dead including the leaves and flowers, you should trim the dead area.

Why does my Hydrangea look dead?

Scratching the stem surface, if you see a green area under the skin, then your Hydrangeas are not dead. They are just winter-stressed and can recover easily.