new to hydranga need advice

[notarealgreenthumbyet]

hello, bought a hydranga for my daughter's balcony garden and put in terra cotta planter on sunny balcony, now developing reddish brown spots on leaves, what is this?

[The Helpful Gardener]

That would be a fungus, not a particularly destructive one, but it will make the plant look a little unsightly. I'd try milk and water (one cup to one gallon) at first; just spray it on once a week or right after it rains. If that isn't strong enough to get rid of the problem, then try neem oil. But as this isn't a really threatening issue I'd stay away from stronger stuff...

Scott

[yellow fin]

Would skim milk be ok or do you need the fat to get rid of fungus

[The Helpful Gardener]

Heck, use chocolate!

The type of milk is not an issue; the germ you are trying to cultivate (Lactobacillus spp.) is one of the most common and will start on any type of milk product (yogurt is already cultured and may not work as well).

Scott