Various factors can cause your indoor hydrangea to die. Most of them are because of your watering manner and drainage of its pot. However, insufficient light, pests and diseases are also involved in your indoor hydrangea dying.
Before addressing this issue you need to make sure of one thing: “Is your plant dying or going dormant?” Most people confuse a dead hydrangea with a dormant one. I discussed it in my other post, please read it to help your dead (actually dormant) hydrangea come back after winter next year.
Nevertheless, if you ensure your gift Hydrangea is dying, as a horticultural consultant with PhD in Plant Protection Science, I’m here to help you save your poor plant. as I told you various factors including your watering manner, drainage of its pot, not adequate light requirements, pests and diseases would also kill your indoor hydrangea. Let’s check the following together:
Indoor Hydrangea Dying Because of Root Rot
Although your potted Hydrangea cannot tolerate drought conditions, it will suffer in wet soils. Its roots need to breathe and gain oxygen from room among soil particles. In soggy soils, there isn’t any air to breathe the roots and they will die.
To prevent:
- First, remove the decorative foil or paper so the pot can drain.
- Check the pot drainage holes, if it is a cachepot without holes, transfer your plant to a pot with enough holes or read the following posts to know how to deal with this problem:
- Your plant has to plants in soil with good drainage.
- Water it regularly to keep the soil consistently moist but avoid waterlogged soil. some people kill their potted Hydrangea by low watering. To prevent over or underwatering, water it only when the top 2-4” (5-10cm) of soil is dry, or plants are wilted. You should water the entire soil area until water runs out of the base of the pot. This indicates that the soil is thoroughly wet. You should apply water at the soil level if possible to avoid wetting the foliage.
Indoor Hydrangea Dying Because of Low Light
Most indoor Hydrangea belong to Hydrangea macrophylla. You have to place your indoor Hydrangea where it receives bright light. Outdoor-grown hydrangeas tolerate light shade, but your indoor plant needs plenty of light but not intense, direct sunlight.
If you grow it in low light conditions, its leaves will turn yellow, drop, and finally die.
Indoor Hydrangea Dying Because of Nutrient Deficiency
Some people forget to feed their gift Hydrangea. You have to fertilize your indoor hydrangea weekly during active blooming and once a month after bloom. You won’t need to feed them at all in early fall.
Indoor Hydrangea Dying Because of Pest and Diseases
Pests such as aphids, spider mites, and scale insects can weaken hydrangeas by feeding on their sap. I recommend reading my other post “9 tiny bugs on houseplants” to detect the culprits and get rid of them.
Diseases like powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, and leaf spot can also significantly impact hydrangea health. Indoor Hydrangea are more sensitive to diseases than outdoor varieties.
Indoor Hydrangea Dying Because It Isn’t a Houseplant
I have to tell you about your lovely gift Hydrangea is not a real houseplant, so, if you keep it indoors, it is not good for much more than temporary decoration. Are you thinking of planting it outside?
You must know that indoor Hydrangea varieties are sensitive to cold weather and cannot tolerate outdoors in winter. However, all Hydrangeas require the short cold days of winter for flowering in the next year. Very confusing! So, what must we do with our indoor Hydrangea?
Read the following posts to find out how to plant your potted Hydrangea outside to flower next year.
In conclusion
If you ensure your sad indoor Hydrangea is not dormant, check its roots for any sign of root rot. If you have a heavy hand in watering or your plant pot doesn’t have enough drainage holes the risk of root rot is high. Putting your plant in a low-light place can also lead your indoor Hydrangea to die. Pests and diseases can also cause problems for your indoor hydrangea. Please ask me in the comments if you have any problem with your indoor Hydrangea.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.