Hydrangea wilting

I planted this Hydrangea a couple of days ago and it’s wilting and not looking good. I’ve been lightly watering every day in this hot weather, could it be I’ve overwatered? It’s in a sunny spot, would it be better in shade?

 

I would make sure that it gets morning sun only (so afternoon and evening shade), that it is not in a windy location, that it has 5-10 cms of organic mulch and that it gets about 3.8 liters of water per watering.

Water when a finger inserted into the soil to a depth of 10cms feels dry or almost dry. The finger method will also help minimize the chances of developing root rot.

The amount of water per each watering should reach down to about 20 cms. If it does not, use more water. Water the soil and never the leaves to minimize fungal infections like powdery mildew and cercospora leaf spot. Water from the crown (the area where the stems originate from) outwards in all directions. Maintain the plant well mulched all year long to minimize loss of soil moisture when it is hot and-or windy.

Expect wilting episode to occur as temperatures get warmer. Hydrangeas tend to suffer from heat stress when temperatures are regularly above 29C more or less. Once you know temperatures are mostly above 29C, increase the amount of water. But remember to reverse the process in the Fall when temperatures go down. Once the plant goes dormant and the leaves turn brown, you can reduce waterings to once a week or once every two weeks depending on local rains. During winter, reduce waterings but be on the lookout for dry winters. If unsure of wether you should be watering, use the finger method to test the soil. Remember that the roots will be growing during winter and will need some water but, we cannot easily tell then if the plant is thirsty and needs water. So use the finger method now and then. Once there is leaf out in Spring, start watering at Spring water levels.

Hydrangea paniculatas are probably the most sun tolerant of all hydrangeas so they perform very well in full sun. But they too may droop a little until they become established in the garden. Since paniculatas have smaller foliage, they typically perform better in full sun than big leaf hydrangeas.

Heat stress will be a problem as summer temperatures arrive so be on the lookout for wilting episodes when temperatures regularly exceed 29C or so. Provided that the soil is kept moist enough, a plant that wilts can be left alone; it will perk up on its own at night. Should it fail to perk up in the morning, the soil was not moist enough so water it at that time. If the wilting episode looks unusually bad, immediately water it.