Hydrangeas are easy to grow however
you do need to take steps to prevent fungal disease. Here are some garden tips
on how to take care of your hydrangea and prevent Fungal Disease.
This past spring my brother
gave me a beautiful hydrangea. It was
very healthy with large blooms. When the
blooms were spent I did prune to remove the old blooms and fertilized the plant
to encourage new growth.
Everything was great until it
rained for three days and then the temperature dropped and the cool damp
weather caused my hydrangea to develop brown spots on the leaves and
stems.
Two days ago
it rained overnight, followed by cloudy cool weather. Then a day of heat an humidity and the fungus spread.
The brown spots were an
indication that my hydrangea was infected with the fungal disease Botrytis
blight.
Had I realized that the change
of weather could make my hydrangea suspected of fungus I would have brought my container-grown hydrangea indoors and set it in my controlled temperature room that has a
grow light. However, I did not so the
hydrangea suffered when the temperature changed. (hard rain, cool temperatures’
then high humidity all in 4 days)
I spoke to the garden center
where the hydrangea plant was purchased and they told me that you can prevent
this fungal disease by watering the hydrangea at the roots and not watering the
flowers or the leaves.
Also, you must make sure there
is good air circulation so don’t plant/grow your hydrangea close to other
plants, a wooden fence, or a wall.
Since I am growing my
hydrangea in a container I did prune to remove the leaves that showed signs of
fungal disease. I also set the plant on
a cement pedestal that would allow the hydrangea to have excellent airflow.
I shopped for a full-spectrum organic
product that would treat common garden diseases, blight, black spots, powdery
mildew, and peach leaf curl. That way I
could use the fungicide on other plants.
I bought Bonide Captain Jack's Copper Fungicide, a 32 oz Ready-to-Use
Spray for Organic Gardening, and Controls Common Diseases. The product is ready to use, but you do have
to shake well before spraying on the stems and top and bottom of the leaves. Best to spray when rain is not
forecasted. Directions recommend repeat
spraying in 14 days.
