What else can I do to save my overwatered hydrangea?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Hi gardenweb friends! I know it seems like I only come here when I have questions, but I do read everything you all have to say so often, and don't usually post if I don't have a question, because I don't feel like I'm as big of an expert as the rest of you here, like rouge and garden gal and ken, LOL....I had a Berry White hydrangea tree planted in a double pot system sitting on my deck at the ccamper. When I went up after a long weekend of rain, the leaves look wilted and I knew I was in trouble.I did not water it because I knew it had been raining I didn't want to over water it. The next day I remembered out of a deep sleep, that maybe I hadn't put holes in the bottom of the outside pot. I immediately ran outside and dumped over the pot and sure enough, it was full of water. So I knew the plant had been drowning.I took the inside pot out, it was a burlap bag, and sat it out on the deck to hopefully dry out. The next day I looked, and leaves were actually now crispy not just wilted. I took the tree and planted it in the ground, hoping that it would wick away the excess moisture. Now I'm wondering what else can I do? I'm guessing I should cut off all the leaves and sadly, the blossoms, too. Should I leave the branches? I do believe the plant is actually still alive, just in big trouble...
Thanks for any suggestions, I do so value your input and consider you all treasured friends (even if you don't know me, lol).

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

5 years ago

there is nothing you can do .... to make it LOOK good for the rest of the season ... so stop thinking up ideas to make it look good ...

i hope the soil drains properly.. you have to water it in to settle the soil ...

and then otherwise.. wait until next spring.. and see if it recovers ... you might see good signs in fall ... who knows ...

its incredibly stressed ... fert is not a response ...

thx for the kind words ...

ken

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Comments (6)

hydrangeahead Central WI 4b
Original Author
5 years ago

I did plant it in a spot that does NOT get full sun, to hopefully mitigate MORE stress...
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hydrangeahead Central WI 4b
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm not even worried about making it LOOK better this year, I was just wondering if I should cut the leaves and flowers to help it recover and have a better chance of living....
hydrangeahead Central WI 4b
Original Author
5 years ago
...I accidentally scraped the trunk with the shovel, and it still has all the appropriate layers of green inside, so I'm thinking I can probably leave the branches as they are?
mzdee
5 years ago
I potted an Endless summer hydrangea late season last year. It was an end of season clearance buy. Well I made the mistake of putting it a pot with moisture retaining potting soil. Needless to say after weeks of heavy rain, the hydrangea was in trouble. I chalked it up to loss as it withered and looked worse by the day and left it to it's own devices. Lo and behold, early spring 2021 there were new shoots all over. I promptly yanked it out of the pot and put in the ground. Don't give up on it. It will do what shrubs do. Adapt or not.
hydrangeahead Central WI 4b thanked mzdee
spswash
5 years ago
Leave your poor plant alone! Over watering by itself will not kill a hydrangea. Sanding water will kill it. If you can't stand the withered leaves you can cut them off but they will fall on their own. Take off the old blossoms just to where they are connected to the branch. Find a nice shady spot - some indirect sun is OK and leave it alone!! Check once a week or so to make sure the soil is not dry and water if it is. It should leave out in the spring after winter. Keep it from freezing in the winter - garage or porch should work. Be patient - might recover - might not. You have nothing to lose by trying and it will serve as a teaching moment! lol That is how we experts learn.
hydrangeahead Central WI 4b thanked spswash