How to Revive Wilted Hydrangeas

The hydrangea didn't get its name because of an aversion to water. The plant does, in fact, require copious amounts of it. Tell a hydrangea enthusiast that your plant is wilting and her first suggestion will be to water the shrub. Hydrangeas naturally wilt when they need water, and a thorough soaking typically perks it right up. But if you water your hydrangea consistently, you may be overwatering it. Believe it or not, there is a limit to how much water this plant can drink.

20-20-20 fertilizer

Instructions

- 1
  Allow the soil to dry to a depth of 4 inches before watering it. As a rule of thumb, hydrangeas require a deep watering once a week. Water every four-to-seven days during periods of drought.
- 2
  Wait 10 days after the first watering after the wilting to fertilize. Use 20-20-20, at the dilution rate suggested on the label, and use it in place of plain water every third time you irrigate the hydrangea. This should help perk it up.
- 3
  Take action immediately if the hydrangea's leaves and shoots wilt suddenly, despite proper watering. This is an early symptom of mushroom root rot, a fungal disease. There is no fungicide to manage mushroom root rot, so remove and destroy the hydrangea. Do not replant in the same soil.

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