Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Touch the soil to see if it is dry.
- Check if the plant is in direct afternoon sun.
- Feel the leaves to see if they are brittle or soft.
Likely causes
Underwatering
Most likelyHow to tell: The leaves look limp and soft, and the soil feels dry to the touch.
What to do: Water the plant deeply until the water runs out of the drainage holes. Ensure you are watering every 2 to 4 days during hot spells.
Heat stress
PossibleHow to tell: The plant droops during the hottest part of the day but perks up at night.
What to do: Provide partial shade during the afternoon hours. Mulch around the base with 2 inches of wood chips to keep the roots cool.
Find out what's wrong with your bigleaf 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
It is normal for hydrangeas to droop slightly in extreme heat. Worry if the leaves stay limp even after you water them.
Stopping it coming back
Keep a consistent watering schedule and apply a layer of mulch to retain soil moisture.
Bigleaf Hydrangea: drooping? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your bigleaf 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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Should I cut off the drooping leaves?
- Wait until the plant recovers after watering. If the leaves stay brown and crispy, you can trim them off.
- Can I overwater my hydrangea?
- Yes, if the soil stays soggy for too long, the roots can rot. Always check that the top inch of soil is dry before adding more water.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Bigleaf Hydrangea
- Why is my bigleaf hydrangea not flowering?
- What are the bugs on my bigleaf hydrangea?
- Why are my hydrangea leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my hydrangea leaf tips turning brown?
- Why are there spots on my hydrangea leaves?
- Why is my hydrangea losing its leaves?
- How do I fix root rot on my hydrangea?
- Why is my hydrangea growing so tall and thin?
- Why are my hydrangea leaves curling?
Back to the Bigleaf 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.