Hydrangea droop

Question: My hydrangea leaves drooped on one bush and the bush that is right next to it looks just fine. The leaves have not perked up for three days. I’m including a picture of the hydrangea located on the north side of my house next to the bush that’s fine.

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 08, 2024, 6:31 PM EDT
response: I am wondering what would cause my hydrangea to droop. It has had tge exact exposure as tge healthy plant beside it. It happened suddenly and now after our 2.5” of rain it still is droopy.

responder: Diane M  Replied August 09, 2024, 6:49 PM EDT
response: Did this hydrangea receive driving rain, more so than the other?  Are the flowers extra-large so that the weight causes the drooping?  Does a downspout send out water near this plant?  Would herbicides have been used near this hydrangea and possibly hit some of the leaves?  Do you see evidence of an animal browsing or eating roots?  These are all possible causes.  If none of these have occurred, check for insects or broken stems and let us know what you find.

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 09, 2024, 7:29 PM EDT
response: Did this hydrangea receive driving rain, more so than the other? No, the two plants are in the exact same place, on the North side of the house   Are the flowers extra-large so that the weight causes the drooping? No, this hydrangea has small flowers    Does a downspout send out water near this plant? No, there is no downspout    Would herbicides have been used near this hydrangea and possibly hit some of the leaves? None that I used  Do you see evidence of an animal browsing or eating roots?  I don’t see any evidence of gnawing.   Are you able to see the photos? I am mystified.  :( Sent from my iPhone   On Aug 9, 2024, at 5:49 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:   Did this hydrangea receive driving rain, more so than the other?  Are the flowers extra-large so that the weight causes the drooping?  Does a downspout send out water near this plant?  Would herbicides have been used near this hydrangea and possibly hit some of the leaves?  Do you see evidence of an animal browsing or eating roots?  These are all possible causes.  If none of these have occurred, check for insects or broken stems and let us know what you find.  Need to reply to the expert? Click the link below, or simply rep

responder: Diane M  Replied August 11, 2024, 5:53 PM EDT
response: We can see the photos.  This issue is perplexing, because the common causes are not occurring with your hydrangea.  Check the soil to see if it's lower  than surrounding soil so that water pools there.  Overwatering causes hydrangeas to droop, and we've received significant rain lately.    Even small differences in the environment, such as slight variations in wind exposure or proximity to other plants, can affect how each hydrangea responds to stressors such as heat and water availability. Check for signs of overwatering or underwatering, examining the soil and root conditions, and looking for any signs of pest activity or physical damage.

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 11, 2024, 6:15 PM EDT
response: Thank you  Sent from my iPhone   On Aug 11, 2024, at 4:53 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:   ﻿

responder: Diane M  Replied August 11, 2024, 8:40 PM EDT
response: Good luck with your hydrangea.  Hopefully, you can determine the cause of the problem.  I'm sorry we didn't have a definitive answer for you.

responder: The Question Asker Replied August 11, 2024, 8:55 PM EDT
response: I am hoping that the plant will survive the winter and come back next spring.Thank you for responding. Sent from my iPhone   On Aug 11, 2024, at 7:40 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:   ﻿