READER’S QUESTION

WE WERE given a potted hydrangea ten years ago but found, after a recent holiday, its leaves were crispy, yet its stems were still green. I watered it a lot, but to no effect. Hugh Gordon, London SW6.

If The stems are still green, all is not lost. To help recovery, remove dead leaves. If the tips are also dead, prune the last few inches cutting into vital tissue. Also, check that the tiny buds along their length are still alive.

new growth should come from the side shoots and, in time, recovery will be full. feed it once the plant starts to produce shoots.