Hydrangea leaves turn black and dry
Content:
For a very long time, hydrangea has been considered one of the most widespread and popular plants, which is an adornment for any personal plot or flower bed. It looks great with other plants and also looks great in single planting. The bushes are quite vigorous and extensive, have large and carved leaves. During flowering, the plant is covered with a huge number of large inflorescences, which can be painted in a variety of colors. Of course, hydrangeas do not leave indifferent almost any gardener and florist, as well as a landscape designer.
Introduction
Gardeners in general can pay enough attention to hydrangeas, although this plant is considered one of the most unpretentious. In general, it is not difficult to take care of the plant, but one way or another sometimes gardeners may encounter some problems, due to which the appearance of the plant and its general condition can deteriorate to a noticeable extent. Such problems include the following circumstances:
- diseases of the leafy part of hydrangea
- control of pests and insects that can damage hydrangeas at any stage of its development and growth. Of course, all this requires that the gardener select full-fledged measures to combat these negative manifestations. Despite the fact that hydrangea has a very high immunity and resistance to stress, some natural, climatic and external circumstances can provoke a number of diseases and infections that manifest themselves precisely in the external characteristics of the plant itself. It depends on the gardener how quickly the problem will be detected, and all the necessary measures will be taken to get rid of it. In a neglected state, diseases can harm not only the upper, green part of the plant, but also move to the root system, due to which, over time, the hydrangea weakens and then dies altogether. So you should be very careful about any external negative manifestations, otherwise it will be impossible to save the hydrangea later. In this article, we will talk about the most common diseases of hydrangea, as well as talk about the causes and how you can competently and effectively deal with them so that in the future the disease does not lead to the final death of this amazing ornamental plant.
Description of leaf diseases, main causes
In general, diseases leaves in hydrangeas, they occupy almost the most leading positions among many other diseases that occur. There are several reasons why hydrangea leaves can become deformed, yellow, blacken or crumble. Among the most basic reasons should be identified such as:
- if the leaf blades of the hydrangea began to turn yellow very actively, then this indicates that the plant suffers from an excess of moisture. Even despite the fact that this plant reacts well enough to abundant watering and moisture, nevertheless, if water accumulates in the soil, then over time the plant loses its decorative and attractive appearance, since any troubles and influences are primarily reflected in the external the properties of the plant, that is, on its leaves or inflorescences
- you should also pay attention to the level of soil acidity. If it is low enough, the grower can fix it by adding some lemon juice to the water while watering.This procedure can be repeated several times, exactly until the condition of the plant improves and stabilizes.
- the bush must be protected from too strong gusts of wind and from drafts, since it does not react very well to these manifestations. In addition, hydrangea is too susceptible to sudden changes in temperature, so here it is recommended to be more careful and not allow this, otherwise there is a risk that the plant will wither, very bright signs of diseases will appear, which, if neglected, will already be very difficult to get rid of.
- the bush should not be planted in places where too bright sunlight or direct sunlight falls. The fact is that hydrangea feels great in partial shade, especially next to shrubs or trees, from which this very shadow falls. If he is in the sun for a long time, then it is worth taking care of creating an artificial shade. Otherwise, the plant will begin to dry out, its decorative properties and characteristics will deteriorate, and this will play too cruel joke with its general condition.
Often the reason why the leaves turn yellow profusely may be that the plant simply does not have enough mineral and nutrients. In this case, attention should be paid to their introduction, and it should be not only active mineral mixtures, but also organic compounds, which also contain a huge amount of useful components, trace elements and macroelements, which are very important for the development of the plant, for improvement its inflorescences and create even more ornamental shrubs. the leaves should be constantly examined, and in general, the general appearance of the plant should be monitored. If the florist noticed a grayish bloom on the leaves, then this may be a sign that the plant was infected with powdery mildew. As a rule, you can get rid of it if you treat the plant with insecticides in time. But here, too, one should be careful, especially in studying the instructions for use and the selection of the necessary concentration of substances.
Hydrangea leaves can also dry out. Here, experienced gardeners also highlight several significant reasons to which you need to pay attention. So, the main reason why hydrangea leaves can dry is precisely that the plant lacks moisture, and this symptom is especially manifested in the dry summer period, when the sun is very aggressive and there is no rainfall. Secondly, dry air can be the culprit for dry leaves. Most often, gardeners are faced with this problem when they plant a hydrangea in a closed or semi-open type greenhouse. Here it is best to ventilate the greenhouse, let the air cycle, then the general condition of the hydrangea will improve. Thirdly, it sometimes happens that the tips of hydrangea leaves begin to dry out after the gardener transplanted the bush to a new place, and at the same time violated the rules of agricultural technology. In order for the plant to recover and adapt faster, it is necessary to treat the hydrangea with a drug called Zircon for seven to ten days. The gardener will need a lot of patience, because the bush will definitely not recover too quickly, but if you sustain this moment, then even after such stress, the plant will give an excellent result, and the flowering will be abundant and attractive.
The general health and condition of hydrangeas is always influenced by the lack of useful and nutritious components. Especially hydrangea reacts to this when the inflorescences are just beginning to form, or when the bush has already begun to bloom. In this case, it will be necessary to apply fertilizers at least once a week, only with such a frequency the plant will quickly replenish the balance of its substances and will be able to demonstrate excellent growth results.Of course, the appearance of the bush will noticeably improve, so you should pay attention to this and not neglect feeding.
Sometimes the gardener asks the question of why the blackening of the leaf plate occurs. First, he needs to understand what kind of blackening he is dealing with. It can be sluggish or dry blackening, each has its own reasons and, accordingly, each blackening can be dealt with in different ways. If the gardener is faced with dry blackening, then he may notice that very large spots are formed at the very edges of the leaf plate, painted in a brown tint. Gradually, the leaves become weak, dry, wilted, they can crumble rather, which suggests that unfavorable transformations are taking place with the plant. Experienced gardeners distinguish the following among the reasons for dry blackening:
- sunburn - here the bushes should be very carefully protected from direct sunlight and from direct sunlight, since otherwise burns will occur regularly, and after a while, the plant can be completely lost. Also, the same point applies to those plants that are initially grown in greenhouse conditions.
- the gardener uses very hard water for irrigation. Gardeners are usually limited to ordinary water, which is collected immediately before watering from under the column. Experienced gardeners recommend that you definitely defend the water, bring it to room temperature. Also, melt or rainwater is ideal for watering hydrangeas. In this case, the plant will not experience a shock from each watering, and after settling the water, it gets rid of a number of negative substances that it contains, which is also an undoubted advantage.
There is also the so-called sluggish blackening (popularly called "wet" blackening of leaves). The main sign of this blackening is that the leaves become much darker in color, and also look like wet, limp. There are several reasons for this type of leaf blackening. Firstly, the reason may be excessive waterlogging of the soil, when the plant simply cannot cope with the huge amount of water that is regularly applied under the bush. Secondly, drafts and sudden temperature changes can also provoke such an unfavorable state of the plant. In addition, sometimes it happens that summer is not at all happy with its weather conditions, and in this case it is recommended to protect the root system by mulching it with humus, peat or sawdust, cut grass - anything that is within reach of the gardener himself. The third reason is that the soil does not have the most favorable composition, so before planting shrubs, it is recommended to check that the soil is loose and nutritious, light, so that oxygen can easily circulate in it. If suddenly the soil is too heavy, then it will retain moisture, and the plant will not be able to receive enough nutrients and necessary substances for the plant to function normally, grow and develop.
Chlorosis
Chlorosis is one of the diseases that can develop as a result of a lack of iron in the soil and, accordingly, in the plant's body. The leafy part begins to gradually turn yellow, and the veins can retain their green tint, but, one way or another, the bush is already losing its decorative properties and looks very painful. In general, chlorosis can manifest itself in very different ways. The leaves may stop growing, they decrease in size, their color ceases to be bright and juicy, the plate itself begins to curl and deform, and the buds become less decorative, which also indicates that the plant was affected by a disease and needs help from the gardener. There are several measures to combat and additional prevention of chlorosis, which are worth paying attention to.So, you should carefully monitor the characteristics of the soil, since for planting a hydrangea, it must be prepared, it must be nutritious and loose, so that oxygen is regularly supplied to the root system. It is also worth adding regularly acidified moisture, because thanks to it, the necessary and, most importantly, the correct balance of the soil will be preserved. If suddenly the disease still began to manifest itself, then it is best to immediately carry out treatment with iron-containing preparations. Among them, the most effective are such as Ferovit or Antichlorosis. It is best to apply the preparations on the leaf, so that it is sooner absorbed into the plant and gives a faster effect, since due to the peculiarities of the root system, the necessary effect can be expected too long, and during this time the plant can become even more sore.
Leaves are also affected with a disease such as septoria. Dark brown spots appear on the leaves, which begin to noticeably increase in size, as a result, expanding and affecting the entire leaf plate entirely. Then the leaves turn yellow, deform, curl and, as a result, die altogether. If the treatment of septoria is not started in time, then it can lead to the fact that the plant completely discards all the deciduous part. Also, with the spread of this disease, not only the leaves themselves, but also shoots, petioles, and inflorescences can be affected. Of course, it is not just necessary to fight septoria, but even necessary, otherwise there is a great risk that the plant will cease to exist altogether. Among the measures to combat septoria, we will single out such as:
- leaves that have already fallen off, it is recommended to regularly collect and immediately destroy so that the bacteria that are located on them do not spread to healthy plants
- if the shoots were affected by a disease, then they must be cut off, and the cut sites must be treated with garden varnish in order to protect them from bacteria or fungal spores
- in the spring, it is recommended to process the plant with Bordeaux liquid. Also, for an even greater effect, you can use some chemicals, including substances such as Ridomit Gold and Profit. But it is also worth remembering about safety precautions and that the gardener must use any chemical or biochemical preparations in accordance with the instructions for use. Otherwise, you can harm not only the plant, but also yourself. If the hydrangea is grown in greenhouse conditions, then it is worth constantly monitoring and regulating the humidity of the air, since for this reason, diseases that are dangerous to the life and health of hydrangeas can often form.
Rust
Rust is another fungal disease, due to which a rusty coating begins to form on both the leaf part and the flowers. Rust occurs most often due to the fact that the bushes are planted too close to each other, as well as due to the improper composition of the soil - an excess of nitrogen is noted in it, and this is what provokes the formation of some diseases, due to which the plant loses its attractive appearance and may even simply die in the future. In order to get rid of rust, it is recommended to treat the bush with copper oxychloride, and you can also use a solution of Bordeaux liquid, as it is considered no less effective in combating rust and any of its manifestations. You can also purchase some drugs in specialized stores - Ordan and Topaz, Falcon, which are used in accordance with the instructions for use in order to avoid mistakes in use and prevent the general health of the shrub from deteriorating.
Of course, hydrangea is often attacked by pests, which also cause the bush to become less attractive, its deciduous part becomes too vulnerable and not decorative.It is, of course, important to understand in time what kind of pest attacked the plant, and to take all the necessary measures in time to fight these pests and insects. Otherwise, the flower will begin to gradually wither, change its appearance for the worse, and in the future will completely die if you do not give it the necessary support.
Downy mildew
Downy mildew - it can be determined by the fact that large oily specks begin to appear on the leaves, which gradually spread to the shoots, which begin to turn yellow, and then darken. After that, a yellowish bloom forms on the leaves, and most often powdery mildew is found on plants that grow not in open ground, but in greenhouse conditions. In order to get rid of the pest that provokes downy mildew, it is necessary to carefully process the leaves and shoots with a mixture that includes soap and copper sulfate. The main thing is to carry out the processing on time and also to determine the disease in time, then the chances of saving the plant only increase, and this is very important, because not every gardener wants to lose the plant, and not everyone wants the hydrangea to lose its attractive decorative qualities. The amount and concentration of the solution should also be observed, otherwise you can cause even more harm to the plant, so you should not abuse the treatments, but too little of them will not bring absolutely any benefit.
Pests
Spider mite - this pest is very fond of settling on the lower part of the leaf plate, and enveloping the plant with cobwebs. At first, the leaves are brown in color, and then they become marble, gradually dry up and crumble. If you do not start treatment in time, then after a while the hydrangea will completely throw off all the foliage. The spider mite is very insidious, since it can reproduce in a short time, and it survives even in not the most favorable conditions. The most important thing is that it is located on the leaves and feeds on the juice from them, which is why the external qualities of the plant suffer so much. They usually fight spider mites with specialized means, one of such drugs is Thiofos.
Green leaf aphids are another very dangerous pest that do not mind settling on hydrangeas and causing irreparable harm to them. Aphids suck out all the juices from the green part of the plant, but instead of themselves they leave unpleasant sugary secretions, which become an excellent breeding ground for fungi. Aphids multiply incredibly quickly, the leaves turn yellow, curl and crumble over time, which leaves a bare bush with branches instead of a beautiful hydrangea bush, which are also a priori already infected with the pest. You can fight green leaf aphids with the help of professional insecticides, they are used only in accordance with the instructions. The sooner the gardener starts treating the shrub, the higher the chance that the treatment will be truly effective, and the result will not be long in coming.
Slugs can also attack the plant, especially if the hydrangea bushes are planted too close to each other. Slugs are very harmful to the plant, they can quickly eat up foliage, which leads to the development of other problems. You can use molluscicides, which are a granular preparation that spreads over the soil and releases all the necessary substances so that the slugs die as a result.
In addition, you can protect the plant if it is properly prepared for the winter period and for the onset of frost and cold weather. If you do everything right, then in the future there will be no problems with the plant. In the spring, the flowers will come out of their dormant state, and in the summer they will bloom perfectly and delight the eye of the gardener both in a single planting and in group flower-bush compositions.But sometimes gardeners wonder what to do if suddenly the hydrangea does not cover for the winter, and its appearance has noticeably deteriorated. Of course, any mistake is quite difficult to fix, but still this task is quite feasible if you take some special measures. In order for the hydrangea to be protected from fungi and spores that provoke them, it is worth treating the bush with Bordeaux liquid solutions or copper-based solutions. The affected foliage, branches, shoots must be removed and destroyed, and after 5-7 days, the treatment with the above preparations is again carried out. The gardener should also pay special attention to the composition and general condition of the soil, and if the acidity is too low, then a lemon solution is added to the water used to irrigate the hydrangea. You should definitely follow the external characteristics of the bush, constantly cut it off, form the crown, and prevent it from thickening. Even if one year of flowering is skipped, the chances are high that the plant will show incredible flowering results the next season.
Conclusion
Hydrangea is an incredibly attractive and charming flower that responds well to the attention and care of the gardener. You should take care of the flower correctly, observing all the rules and requirements of agricultural technology. If you take care and notice any deviations in the general condition and external characteristics of the plant in a timely manner, then the hydrangea will certainly become one of the main characters of the infield, and will also become the main decoration of a summer country garden or plot, composition, landscape design, flower beds.
As we have already noted, the leaves change their appearance, turn yellow, dry out and crumble for several reasons. Among them are the following circumstances, which are worth paying special attention to:
- the leaves turn yellow, which may indicate that there is too much moisture in the soil. Although hydrangea is a plant that responds well to watering and moisture, if water accumulates in the soil, the hydrangea can lose its attractive appearance and, accordingly, this will affect the leaves, inflorescences, and the flowers themselves
- the bush should be protected from external influences - from direct sunlight, drafts, sudden temperature changes, as well as from too strong wind
- the flower should not be planted in an open place where direct sunlight falls. Too scorching sun can cause the leaves to get severe burns. also, the leaves may turn yellow due to the fact that the plant does not receive a sufficient amount of useful and nutritious components, so regular feeding in the form of mineral and organic substances should be carried out. The gardener should regularly inspect the leaves and the general condition of the plant, monitor its growth and development. In this case, it is worth evaluating. What exactly does the plant lack, and provide it with all the necessary preparations and substances for processing. Of course, if you take all the necessary measures in time and give the plant what it needs, then in the future the hydrangea, in gratitude, will delight the grower with abundant and incredible flowering. You can use some photographic materials and videos in which experienced gardeners can also familiarize themselves with the causes, consequences of dryness and blackening of the leaves, as well as find the most optimal ways to combat such negative manifestations on the external characteristics and properties of hydrangea.