Keep your hydrangea blooming year after year with these tips.
Photo Credit : Brenda Darroch
QUESTION: I have a hydrangea that has not blossomed for three years. It has lots of green foliage, but no blooms. What could be the problem? How can I get my hydrangea to bloom? A.A., Gloucester, MAANSWER: Chances are you have a bigleaf hydrangea, Hydrangea macrophylla, which produces flowers on the previous year’s growth. This type of hydrangea can be shy to produce flowers in New England for several reasons, but can be coaxed into blooming with the proper hydrangea care. Read on to learn more about why hydrangeas don’t bloom.
Keep your hydrangea blooming year after year with these tips. Photo Credit : Brenda Darroch
Reasons Hydrangeas Don’t Bloom | Hydrangea Care & Advice
1. The plant is located in an area that doesn’t receive sufficient sunlight.
2. It may be planted too deep in the ground.
3. Last year’s flower buds are missing (cut off), or damaged by cold or fluctuating temperatures.
4. It’s a “florist” type that’s not sufficiently climate-hardy to produce flowers outdoors.
To properly care for your hydrangea, make sure it gets at least six hours of sunlight per day all summer. In the fall, don’t cut back the top growth. Protect the branches from the winter and early-spring sun, which can damage buds owing to sharp temperature fluctuations. Make sure you provide sufficient moisture so that the plant grows vigorously and doesn’t wilt.
Ask the experts at your local garden center to recommend varieties that have proven to be reliable performers in your area. Additional information on hydrangea care is also available on The American Hydrangea Society’s Web site: americanhydrangeasociety.org
