One of the most common questions that I get asked by gardeners is, “Why are my hydrangeas turning green?” A hydrangea will turn green if it has not been properly maintained. It is possible for your hydrangea to go through a process known as “bleaching”. This process involves washing the leaves off the roots with water and then rinsing with another solution. After the rinsing the roots will be left in a lighter tone than before.
However, the biggest reason why your hydrangeas are turning green is because there are visible signs of fungal spores in your hydrangea. The reason why the spores are visible is because the water that is used to clean the hydrangeas will wash away some of the larger spores, which can remain tiny and invisible to the eye. The tiny spores are what will cause the problem. If you know that your hydrangea has become infected with these spores then you need to take action immediately.
Once you have identified that your hydrangeas are infected with fungi you should take action to remove the spores from the roots. Fungi will typically grow and multiply at an alarming rate. Once the fungus gets to be established it will spread rapidly to other hydrangeas nearby. This means that if you are trying to grow a large quantity of hydrangeas then you need to ensure that each of them are treated quickly so as to prevent the spread of the fungi.
To begin you should remove any damaged or dying hydrangeas that are on your landscape. Cut the hydrangea’s growing stems back to their base, or stems, and allow all roots to run freely. You should also check under rocks and logs that might have become damaged and which may have started to turn green because of algae or decay. If you find rotting or damaged wood under your hydrangea’s then you should take immediate action to remove and kill any and all dead or decaying plants.
It’s also important to remove any rotting, brown or blackened roots that have sprouted from the roots as soon as possible. Do not wait until the affected area gets more dark before you do this. By doing this you are allowing the roots to absorb more sunlight, therefore increasing the possibility of the plant dying out or of becoming too wet and therefore withering out.
If none of these methods help in removing the rot or rotting roots then you should consider using a fungicide. You can either buy it in the store or make your own by mixing a few tablespoons of essential oils of varying strengths together. Put some in a spray bottle and spray down the whole roots system. You should start to see an improvement in coloration within a few days.
If neither of the above methods help in getting rid of the problem then it’s important that you look to the cause of the problem. Firstly, check the soil in the bottom of your hydrangeas. There could be some sort of problem there that is blocking the water from draining properly and causing it to become stagnant. If you look for rot or holes in the soil you will often find it easier to treat the roots of the hydrangeas. If you are having trouble finding holes or cracks try using a magnifying glass to make the hole bigger so that it is easier to see the problem.
If none of these methods helps or if the damage has been done to your hyrangeas by another root system it is time to get your hyrangeas turned green again. Some hyrangeas, especially those that are starting to grow horizontally can simply be cut off and discarded. Others require transplanting to grow in the correct direction. There are many books and websites available on how to care for your hyrangeas to help keep them healthy and happy.
