QA

Question: Why Did My Hydrangea Not Bloom

The primary reasons hydrangeas don’t bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer. Hydrangea varieties can be of the type that blooms on old wood, new wood or both. Old wood is the current year’s growth and new wood is next year’s (spring) growth.

What do you do when hydrangeas don’t bloom?

If you have a hydrangea that won’t flower, you may have pruned it back too far the year before. Often, hydrangeas that aren’t producing flowers have been pruned in early summer and late winter.

Why are there no flower heads on my hydrangea?

They had cut back most of the hydrangea bushes onto their old woody stems thus removing the spring flower buds which form on the new green softer growth. The next year I was careful to leave the few dead heads that had flowered over winter to protect the new growth from frost.

Do coffee grounds make hydrangeas bloom?

Impact of Coffee Grounds Coffee grounds turn soil more acidic, helping hydrangea blossoms turn blue rather than the typical pink or white. The acidity of the grounds provides the key element, though aluminum sulfate or eggshells also produce the same effect.

What is wrong with my hydrangea?

The problem is caused by a fungus that spreads via spores in wet or humid conditions. To control leaf spot, avoid watering your hydrangeas from overhead, and again, remove and destroy diseased plant parts. If summer rains make the problem worse, try a fungicide such as Immunox (always follow label directions).

What happens if you don’t prune hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood do not need pruning and are better off for it. If you leave them alone, they’ll bloom more profusely the next season. Just remember new growth may come, but that new growth will be without blooms next season.

Is Miracle Grow good for hydrangeas?

All-purpose Miracle-Gro fertilizer is well suited for hydrangeas. Mix the Miracle-Gro fertilizer with water according to package instructions for the size of your hydrangea shrubs. Apply the Miracle-Gro fertilizer every other time you water, about every two to three weeks.

Do hydrangeas bloom every year?

Do hydrangeas rebloom? The plants only bloom once annually, but there are reblooming hydrangea varieties.

Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?

Hydrangeas like morning sun, but do not do well if they’re in direct, hot afternoon sun. Partial shade in the later parts of the day is ideal for these beauties.

Should I cut off dead hydrangea blooms?

You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth. However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place.

Will hydrangeas grow back if cut down?

They are best pruned in fall or winter. Even if you cut canes back to ground level during dormancy, the shrubs will grow back and produce blooms in spring.

Why is my endless summer hydrangea not blooming?

There are a few main reasons that you may not see blooms on your hydrangea bushes: sun exposure, over-watering and over-fertilizing. Endless Summer® hydrangeas prefer morning sun and afternoon dappled shade. Also, over-watering and over-fertilizing your plants can inhibit bloom production.

How often should I put coffee grounds on my hydrangeas?

If you’re looking to harness the benefits of coffee grounds related to improving the quality of the soil, you can use them in composted form 2-3 times a year. If you want to alter the pH of the soil, you may need to use them more often, scattering them over the soil of your hydrangea.

Are eggshells good for hydrangeas?

If you want pink hydrangeas, crushed eggshells may be one way to get them. Eggshells will slowly break down and reduce the acidity of your soil—making it harder for hydrangeas to absorb aluminum.

What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas?

A good all purpose 12-4-8 or 10-10-10 composition will provide all the fertilizing hydrangeas need. Either a chemical source or organic matter can be used successfully. Applying a once a year slow-release chemical formulated for shrubs and trees is the simplest solution to hydrangea care and feeding.

What month do you prune hydrangeas?

Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer, but no later than August 1. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds. Tip-pruning the branches as leaves emerge in spring can encourage multiple, smaller flower heads rather than fewer larger flower heads.

How do you revive hydrangeas?

Directions: Bring a kettle or pot of water to a boil and set aside to cool slightly. Place the hydrangeas on the cutting board and use the sharp knife to cut the end of the hydrangea at a 45 degree angle. Place the hydrangea(s) in the vase filled with hot water. Let sit for a minimum of one hour and voila!.

How do you bring a hydrangea back to life?

To revive hydrangeas water them generously, apply a mulch of compost and protect hydrangeas from direct sun and too much wind. Prune back any frost damaged or sun burnt growth to promote healthy growth.

Do I cut down hydrangeas before winter?

You can trim off the dead hydrangea flowers before winter, but cut these just behind the flower head so you don’t disturb the developing buds along the length of the branch.

Do hydrangeas bloom on old or new growth?

Old Wood Versus New Wood Some hydrangea species bloom on last-year’s growth, which is often called “old wood.” This old wood contains the flower buds that will open with the coming summer. Pruning in winter or spring would remove the flower buds, leaving us with a bloomless plant this year.

Is vinegar good for hydrangeas?

To increase the acidity of your garden’s soil, use vinegar! For each gallon of water in your watering can, add one cup of white distilled vinegar and pour on your hydrangeas. The acidity of the vinegar will turn your pink hydrangeas blue or keep your blue blooms from turning pink.