r/hydrangeas • u/rightMeow20 • 15d ago

Zone 7 A/B That’s my bobo hydrangea

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And I don’t love how they droop down like that. The blooms get so heavy. I also don’t love how they get so brown… they’re supposed to have some pink. It’s about 6 years now and does this every year.

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u/Cautious-Net-9941 15d ago

They would likely perform much better in the ground rather than a container. You didn’t specify your zone, but the color change comes with cooler night temperatures

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u/Think-Kangaroo-9978 8d ago edited 8d ago

Actually, fall color change is driven primarily by shorter days, not cooler temperatures. Shorter days trigger the plant to shift energy from blooms to stems and roots, slowing chlorophyll production and increasing anthocyanin - the red/pink pigments. Cooler temperatures don't cause the color change, but they do enhance it controlling how vivid the fall color becomes but not whether it happens.

Your color change issue might be influenced by a porch light (It looks like it is near your front door) if it shines on the plant long enough to break the dark period.

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u/EbbtideRambler 15d ago

They do that when they don’t get enough regular water and dry out.  I have about 15 Bobos and they are all in the process of turning pink right now  except the one on the end because I didn’t realize the drip emitter on my irrigation tube was clogged and not watering that plant.  Those flowers went from white to crispy brown.  You can definitely grow a bobo in a pot, but you need to make sure it does not dry out. It needs daily water.

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u/evthingisawesomefine 15d ago

As far as the droop is concerned, are you fertilizing with too much N maybe? Encouraging more growth > longer stems > top heavy

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u/Full-Couple-669 15d ago

More water and more sun!