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Smooth Hydrangea · Hydrangea arborescens

Why are my hydrangea's leaf tips turning brown?

Brown tips on your smooth hydrangea are almost always a sign of dehydration or heat stress. Check your watering schedule to make sure the plant is getting enough moisture during dry spells.

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Check these first

  1. Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
  2. Check the weather report for recent heat waves or drought.
  3. Examine the roots for signs of damage or overcrowding.

Likely causes

  1. Underwatering

    Most likely

    How to tell: The leaf tips and edges turn crispy and brown while the rest of the leaf looks dull. The soil feels dry and pulls away from the edges of the pot or ground.

    What to do: Water the plant deeply until moisture runs out the bottom or saturates the surrounding soil. Aim for 1 inch of water per week, increasing to 2 inches during extreme heat.

  2. Fertilizer Burn

    Possible

    How to tell: The tips turn brown suddenly after you have applied a heavy dose of fertilizer. The rest of the plant may look wilted or scorched.

    What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of plain water to wash away excess salts. Avoid fertilizing again until the plant shows signs of new, healthy growth.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your smooth hydrangea

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

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When to worry

Minor browning at the very tips is common during the hottest weeks of summer. Worry if the brown patches start moving inward toward the center of the leaf.

Stopping it coming back

Apply a 2 inch layer of organic mulch around the base to retain soil moisture. Water early in the morning to reduce evaporation.

Smooth Hydrangea: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your smooth hydrangea and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Does tap water cause brown tips?
Sometimes, if your tap water has high levels of chlorine or fluoride, it can cause tip burn. Try using collected rainwater instead.
Will the brown tips turn green again?
No, the brown tissue is dead and will not recover. You can trim the brown edges off for aesthetics, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue.

Guides to these causes

More problems with Smooth Hydrangea

Back to the Smooth Hydrangea guide

This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.