Home - Garden
Gardening Mistakes That Are Preventing Your Hydrangeas From Blooming
By PEG ALOI
There are a few different types of hydrangeas, all with slightly different care needs and ideal growing conditions. Occasionally, they may fail to produce flowers.
You may have heard advice along the lines of “Just add more fertilizer,” but the problem is often slightly more complex than that. Think about what type of hydrangea you have.
Whether your plant flowers may depend on the type of hydrangea, where you plant them, sun exposure, soil type, growing zone, weather, the timing of pruning, and fertilizer.
The bigleaf hydrangea is most associated with failure to bloom, and the reason is usually cold weather. To help it survive winter better, plant it near a warm, sheltered spot.
Pruning is a factor, too. The Old Farmers Almanac recommends pruning bigleaf hydrangeas in late summer after they've stopped flowering.
Soil is important for garden plants. Panicle and oakleaf hydrangeas like a rich, loamy, moist, slightly acidic soil with a boost of compost in the fall and mulch in the winter.
Choose the right fertilizer and apply it in spring once buds have formed. A general-purpose fertilizer is sufficient for most hydrangea types to get healthy leaves and flowers.