Question
I received one from my son for Mother's day - 4 big heads, healthy looking but one head, this a.m. looked "dead"  I cut it off with pruning shears and rather than throw it out put it in a glass full of water.  It recovered beautifully!  A friend dropped by at 4 p.m. and was admiring the plant and the cut portion.  A few minutes ago (i.e. 4 hours later) I glanced over at it and all the heads were shrivelled and dead!  I had not moved it or watered it - the soil was damp - and am amazed at the dramatic change!  Did cutting off the stem do this?  It was so lovely looking before and after, for some hours.  What can I do  now?  It has been very dull and cloudy - no sunny window light.I did notice tiny rust-coloured brown marks al along the stem that I cut.Some of the leaves are curling a bit at the edge but most are not.  I was so delighted with the gift as it was a plant of my childhood, growing up in Scotland.  Can it be recovered?

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,

Hydrangeas are not long-lived as potted plants and the flowers rarely last longer than a week. They do not tolerate dryness at all. Here is what I think happened to yours based on the information you reported:

The Hydrangea soil was already starting to get too dry when the first flower wilted due to dryness. The fact that it perked up when you cut it and put it in water is a clear indication that it was not getting enough water before you cut it. Then, it was just a matter of time before the other flowers suffered the same fate.

It may be too late, but you can try to really drench the soil and hope the flowers revive.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

If this information has been helpful, please click the Rate Volunteer bar below and enter a rating and nomination for me. I am a volunteer on this site so Ratings are the only compensation I receive for answering plant questions.

Need more information? Visit my website at www.HorticulturalHelp.com
or email me at [email protected] or call me at 917-887-8601 (EST)
 
Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC

Visit my website at  www.HorticulturalHelp.com