Form Past few days you have noticed that hydrangea leaves turning black from the edges spreads inward into middle or even full leaves become black and you don’t know what is causing it to change, let me tell you the solution before that these plants are basically shrubs with large flower heads, easily grown and comes with a lot of variety which has different colors. To Fix the black leaf problem it could be anyone the reason told below.
Most Common reason for hydrangea leaves turning black is due to frost damage, temperature change, Over exposure to sunlight, Excessive Fertilizer, Soil Nutrition deficiency and much more. In Some cases the reason behind hydrangeas leaves turning black are edges is because of insect or fungal infection.
I will explain the solution with the most common reason to the last resort if the problem didn’t solve from the first solution.
1. Frost Damage
This Temperature change may have affected your plant, with too much moisture, water droplets on the foliage in winters or early spring causes hydrangea leaves to turn black from edges. Nowadays with climate change some places get too much heat and some get freezing cold climates.
The Best way to counter frost damage on hydrangea is to cover it with horticultural fleece, that is used to protect plants from further damage because of frost. It is lightweight blankets & easy to use.
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Tuff Stuff Red (Mountain Hydrangea)
2. Too Much Sunlight
As you know hydrangeas don’t usually need direct sunlight to grow and it can easily thrive in shade to partial shade indirect sunlight. If you transplant or change the location to a heavy sunlight area then it would be causing the hydrangea leaves to turn black.
Too much sunlight will burn the leaves from the above and it basically starts to get burned from the edge and slowly reaches to the whole leaf. The Leaves will look like green-blackish in color. Just change the location to shade for some days and see if it works or not else check the next answer.
3. Overwatering
Hydrangeas plants like to be watered but don’t give them too much water as this causes drainage issues in soil and wet soil for a longer period will create root rot problems. This promotes black spots, black leaves, brown leaf margins, discolored dry leaves.
Check symptoms if your hydrangea plant is overwatered and causing the black or brown leaf spots. If this is not the issue then check the next answer.
4. Too much Fertilizing
Overwatering does have its issues, but what if your plant is over fertilized? The ratio or concentration of salt in the potting mix is higher or lower which is causing the problem. Too much fertilizer can burn the leaf that may result in hydrangea leaves turning black on the edges and slowly spears to make the whole leaves black.
Test the soil and rectify the issue that is causing the problem. See whether soil is acidic or alkaline , with that said you may also need to make sure your plant is not suffering from nitrogen or magnesium deficiency that’s why a soil test is needed.
Soil tests only do if the other 3 solutions didn’t work or see the next answer, some people have perfect soil but may have been infected with fungal or insect problems(most probably).
5. Insect Problem
Aphids are the insects which produce honeydew-like liquid that sooty mold likes, another fungus that grows and gathers this liquid from branches, leaves of hydrangeas which result in most parts of the leaves to turn black. Aphids only suck the sap juice from the leaves but old covers the leaf and makes it black.
To solve this problem with aphids and sooty mold , use insecticidal soap made to remove these insect problems.
Wrap Up
I hope you get the answer on “Hydrangea Leaves Turning Black” , and if you like to read more articles check below.
Jade Plant Losing Leaves(Reasons & Solution)
Reference
http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/FactSheets/hydrangea-diseasesand-pests.php
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