Planting, Growing, and Pruning Hydrangea
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With immense flower heads, hydrangeas flaunt an old-fashioned charm from summer to fall. See our Hydrangea Growing Guide for information on how to plant and care for these flowering shrubs.
About Hydrangeas
Unrivaled in the shrub world for their beautiful flowers, these elegant perennial plants are easy to cultivate, tolerate almost any type of soil, and produce abundant blooms. Colors beguile with clear blue, vibrant pink, frosty white, lavender, and rose blossoms—sometimes all blooming on the same plant!
Hydrangeas are excellent for various garden sites, from group plantings to shrub borders to containers. Varieties abound (it seems breeders present us with more options every year!), and gardeners’ expectations of bloom size and color are boundless. Pay attention to the species defined below to know how your hydrangea will grow, as each require different care. When you know what to expect, delights will be magnified.
Enjoy this ode to the beauty of hydrangeas and learn how to grow hydrangeas in our guide below.
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Planting
Most hydrangeas prefer partial sun with full sun in the morning, followed by some afternoon shade. This is especially true for the Bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla). Some varieties are more tolerant of full sun. Most hydrangeas will thrive in fertile, well-draining soils that receive plenty of moisture. PennState suggests adding mulch to the soil if your soil drains too quickly. Add compost or aged manure to enrich poor soil.
When to Plant Hydrangeas
Autumn is the best time to plant hydrangeas, followed by spring. Plan to plant in the fall before the first frost or in the spring after the last frost. This shrub should have plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before the heat of summer or the extreme chill of winter, which makes the cooler shoulder seasons the best times to plant.
Plant the shrubs in the early morning or late afternoon. It’s generally cooler then, and the plant is less likely to wilt due to extreme heat.
How to Plant Hydrangeas
- Space hydrangeas anywhere from 3 to 10 feet apart, depending on the type. Always space plants based on their expected size at maturity!
- Gently remove the hydrangea from its container and inspect the root ball, snipping off any dead or rotting parts. Roberta Clark of the UMass Amherst suggests, “Before planting, check the root quality of container-grown plants and loosen the roots if they appear pot bound or to be circling the container.”
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide. The base of the plant (where the stem meets the soil) should be level with the top of the planting hole.
- Set the plant in the hole and half-fill it with soil. Water generously. After the water is absorbed, fill the rest of the hole with soil and water again.
How to Grow Hydrangeas from Cuttings
Hydrangeas can easily be grown from cuttings. They root readily, and the process makes for a great lesson in propagation. Here’s how to do it:
- Find a new branch on a well-established hydrangea—a branch that has not flowered and bears three or more pairs of leaves. (New growth will appear lighter in color than old, and the branch will not be as rigid.)
- Cut 5 to 6 inches from the tip of the branch. Discard the bottom piece.
- If the tip cutting has at least two pairs of leaves, remove the lowest pair of leaves flush to the stem or at the node. If the remaining leaves are large, cut them in half, removing the tip half. Dust the cutting’s end with rooting hormone and, if desired, an antifungal plant powder. This will encourage rooting and discourage rotting.
- Fill a small pot with moistened potting mix. Plant the cutting, sinking it up to the first pair of remaining leaves. Water lightly to eliminate any air gaps around the stem. Cover the pot and the cutting loosely with a plastic bag (to maintain humidity). If necessary, use chopsticks or kebab skewers to prop up the bag so that it does not touch the leaves; if it touches the leaves, they might rot. Place in a warm area, sheltered from direct sunlight and wind. Water when the top layer of soil is dry.
- After a week or so, gently pull on the cutting. If you feel resistance, roots have formed. If there is no resistance, check for rotting.
Layering Hydrangeas
For bigleaf hydrangeas, in summer, dig a trench next to the plant, near a branch that easily reaches beyond the trench. Where the branch contacts the soil, remove an inch of the outer bark all around it. Bury the bared portion, pinning it with a florist’s pin or a gentle weight, leaving 6 to 12 inches of the end of the branch tip uncovered. Water regularly. In early spring, the branch should be ready to be removed from the mother plant and transplanted!
Growing
Watering Hydrangeas
- For the first 2 years after planting and during any drought, be sure your hydrangeas get plenty of water. If possible, water in the morning to prepare hydrangeas for the heat of the day and to avoid disease.
- Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. Deep soaks 3 times a week (with a soaker hose or the like that keeps moisture off flowers and leaves) encourage root growth more than frequent sprinkles.
- All varieties benefit from consistent moisture, but bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water. If the soil is too dry, leaves will wilt and flowering will be hampered.
- Add organic mulch underneath your hydrangeas; this will help keep the soil moist and cool, add nutrients over time, and improve soil texture.
Fertilizing Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas in rich soil seldom need fertilizer: Too much encourages leafy growth over blooms. The best way to determine your fertility needs is by using a soil test.
Apply fertilizer based on your specific hydrangeas. Each variety has different needs and will benefit from different application timing.
- Bigleaf hydrangeas can benefit from several light fertilizer applications in March, May, and June.
- Oakleaf and panicle hydrangeas do best with two applications in April and June.
- Smooth hydrangea plants only need fertilization once, in late winter.
Winter Protection
- In the fall, cover plants to a depth of at least 18 inches with bark mulch, leaves (not maple), pine needles, or straw. If at all possible, cover the entire plant, tip included, by making cages out of snow fencing or chicken wire and loosely filling the cages with leaves. (Do not use maple leaves, as they tend to mat when wet and can suffocate the plant.)
Pruning Hydrangeas
Many of our readers’ questions involve pruning hydrangeas. And no wonder—it’s confusing and depends on the variety of hydrangea. Luckily, as long as you know which type you’ve got, it’s easy to figure out what sort of pruning technique to employ. (The more common garden hydrangea shrub is the bigleaf variety) Learn the essentials below.
| Hydrangea Type | When to Prune | Where Flowers Appear |
|---|---|---|
| Bigleaf (H. macrophylla) | Summer, after flowering | On old growth |
| Oakleaf (H. quercifolia) | Summer, after flowering | On old growth |
| Panicle (H. paniculata) | Late winter, before spring growth | On new growth |
| Smooth (H. arborescens) | Late winter, before spring growth | On new growth |
| Mountain (H. serrata) | Summer, after flowering | On old growth |
| Climbing (H. anomala ssp. petiolaris) | Summer, after flowering | On old growth |
Bigleaf (H. macrophylla), oakleaf (H. quercifolia), mountain (H. serrata), and climbing hydrangeas (H. anomala spp. petiolaris) are pruned AFTER the flowers fade in the summer. These varieties bloom on the previous season’s stems (“old wood”).
- Flower buds actually form in the late summer and flower afterward in the following season, so avoid pruning after August 1.
- Only cut away dead wood in the fall or very early spring.
- To prune, cut one or two of the oldest stems down to the base to encourage branching and fullness.
- If the plant is old, neglected, or damaged, prune all of the stems down to the base. You’ll lose the flowers for the upcoming season but also rejuvenate the plant for future years.
- It’s best not to deadhead (remove faded blooms) on the big mopheads; leave them over the winter and cut them back in early spring (to the first healthy pair of buds). It’s fine to deadhead the lacecaps; cut down to the second pair of leaves below the flower head.
- When growing H. macrophylla (and H. serrata) varieties in Zones 4 and 5, do not prune unless absolutely necessary, and then do so immediately after blooming. Otherwise, remove only the dead stems in the spring.
Panicle (H. paniculata) and smooth (H. arborescens) hydrangeas are pruned BEFORE flower buds are formed. These varieties bloom on the current season’s stems (“new wood”).
- Prune in the late winter when the plant is dormant. This means that if the buds are killed during the winter, the plant will produce new buds in the spring, which will produce blooms.
- In general, prune only dead branches and do not prune to “shape” the bush.
Read more about how to prune hydrangea types.
How to Change the Color of Hydrangea Flowers
The colors of hydrangea flowers can be changed, but not instantly. Color correction takes weeks or more, and not every cultivar is changeable: White flowers are not affected by soil pH, the condition that imparts the blue and pink hues. Some bigleaf hydrangeas—especially mophead and lacecap types—and mountain hydrangea cultivars change color based on the soil pH.
Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers; soils with a pH greater than 6.0 produce pink flowers. Do a soil test to determine the existing pH and amend as indicated to change it.
A plant should be at least 2 years old before undergoing a pH change; this will give it time to recover from the shock of its original planting. Also, note that it’s easier to change blue flowers to pink than pink to blue.
See How to Change the Color of Hydrangea Flowers for more information.
Types
For a more detailed overview of the many types of hydrangeas, check out Hydrangea Varieties for Every Garden.
There are two main groups of hydrangeas:
Group 1: Plants that Bloom on New Growth (This Year’s Stems)
The following hydrangeas, which form their buds in early summer on new growth, will flower reliably each year, requiring no special care.
- Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata)
- ‘Grandiflora’ and ‘PeeGee’ are large old-fashioned, floppy varieties; ‘Tardiva’, ‘White Moth’, and ‘Pee Wee’ fit the scale of small gardens. ‘Limelight’ produces cool-green flowers and grows to a height of 6 to 8 feet.
- Smooth hydrangeas (H. arborescens)
- Look for the cultivars H. arborescens ‘Grandiflora’ and ‘Annabelle’, which produce many large (up to 14 inches across), tight, symmetrical blooms in late summer.
Group 2: Plants that Bloom on Old Growth (Last Year’s Stems)
If you live in Zone 8 or warmer, choose plants from this group. Gardeners in cool climate zones will find many of them a challenge, because they set flower buds in the fall. Although hardy to Zones 4 and 5, the buds are prone to damage by an early frost in fall, a late frost in spring, or excessively cold temperatures when dormant in winter. This, along with untimely pruning, can result in inconsistent or no flowering.
- Oakleaf hydrangeas (H. quercifolia)
- You can expect an exceptional fall color from ‘Snow Queen’, ‘Snow Flake’, and ‘Alice’.
- Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla)
- We love ‘All Summer Beauty’ (mophead), which has profuse, dark blue flowers that turn pinker in soils with near-neutral pH. If buds are winter-killed, the plant will form new ones in spring and still bloom.
- ‘Nikko Blue’ (mophead) is vigorous, with large, rounded, blue flowers.
- ‘Blue Wave’ (lacecap) produces rich blue to mauve or lilac-blue to pink flowers.
- ‘Color Fantasy’ (mophead) has reddish or deep purple flowers and shiny, dark green leaves. It grows to about 3 feet tall.
- Mountain hydrangeas (H. serrata)
- ‘Bluebird’ and ‘Diadem’ are early bloomers. In acidic soil, ‘Preziosa’ produces blossoms of an extraordinary blend of pale shades of blue, mauve, violet, and green.
- Climbing hydrangeas (H. anomala ssp. Petiolaris)
- ‘Firefly’ boasts variegated foliage.
Harvesting
Cut fully mature hydrangea flowers in the morning after you have watered the plant.
Immediately place fresh stems in cold water to prevent wilting.
- Recut the woody stems at a slant underwater.
- Remove the lower leaves on the stems.
- Arrange them in a vase and place them in a cool location, out of direct sunlight.
- Check the water level and quality daily. Change the water if it becomes cloudy.
- Mist the blooms with water. Soak wilting blooms in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes to revive them.
Use dried hydrangea flowers to create a wreath or other decorations around the house:
- Cut the flower heads when the flowers have matured and developed a papery consistency.
- Remove leaves from stems, and hang them upside down in a warm, dry, dark, airy room.
- When completely dry (usually a couple of weeks), store in a dry location out of direct sunlight.
- To enhance flower color, spritz dry flowers with diluted fabric dye.
Here are four alternative ways to dry and preserve your flowers.
Gardening Products
Pests/Diseases
Pests are rare but can appear when plants become stressed. Protect against pests and disease by choosing resistant cultivars, and follow our tips on caring for your hydrangea.
Diseases: Botrytis blight, southern blight, bacterial leaf spot, fungal leaf spot, powdery mildew, Armillaria root rot, Phytophthora crown and root rot, Pythium root and stem rot, Rhizoctonia root and stem rot, rust, and viruses.
Pests: aphids, foliar nematodes, root-knot nematodes, stem and bulb nematodes, and spider mites.
Hydrangeas Not Blooming? 5 Reasons Why
A more common problem is hydrangeas that don’t bloom. Here are five common reasons your hydrangea isn’t flowering:
- As discussed above, you need to know the variety of hydrangea, as some types are pruned before flowering, and some are pruned afterward. Without knowing this, you risk cutting off its buds (aka blooms).
- There’s a reason “hydra” is in the word “hydrangeas.” These plants need soil that is always moist (but not wet). Water correctly.
- The perfect location for a hydrangea receives a few hours of direct sun in the morning and dappled sunlight in the afternoon. Too little sunlight or overly intense sunlight affects flowering.
- Are you getting lush green leaves without blooms? Then, check your fertilizer. Do not use a fertilizer high in nitrogen; use one that’s high in phosphorus (P) in the early spring and midsummer.
- Weather and climate are important issues. You must pick a variety that works for your climate zone. And even then, a late spring frost that happens right when the plant is budding could kill the buds. If a frost is forecasted, cover hydrangeas shrubs with a sheet until morning.
Wit and Wisdom
- The word “hydrangea” is derived from the Greek words hydor, meaning “water,” and angeion, meaning “vessel,” referring to the plant’s seed pods, which look like small water jugs.
- In the language of flowers, hydrangeas symbolize gratitude for being understood or frigidity and heartlessness. See more flower meanings.
- Oakleaf hydrangeas are the state wildflower of Alabama.
Catherine Boeckmann
Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener
Comments
Hi Judy, we're sorry to hear about this. When did you plant it? Often transplanting can stress a plant. Hydrangeas need a lot of water, though brown leaves could be caused by too much water as well. They like morning sun, but only about 4 hours is sufficient, so placement may be an issue. Check to make sure the soil is moist, see if the plant is getting too much sun, and if your soil doesn't have enough nutrients, add compost or some diluted fertilizer. You still have green so that's a good sign. —The Editors
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wHEN PRUNING IN FALL DO YOU CUT OFF ALL THE LEAVES ON STEMS
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Root bound hydrangea please tell me how to replant into the ground. It is in a pot but not doing well. I live in New Zealand temperate climate.
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My Endless Summer hydrangea bloomed beautifully until the polar vortex winter several years ago. It still grows and has lovely healthy foliage, but it won’t bloom no matter what I try. Should I just take it out and plant a different one?
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Have you tried a phosphorous fertilizer or epsom salt? A master hydrangea gardener I know told me that epsom salt is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas. You can just sprinkle a handful around the base of each plant and water like crazy to keep the soil moist and help the salt gradually continue to nourish it.
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My plant has black spots on the leaves what do I need to do.
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Black spots on hydrangea leaves may be caused by a number of diseases by fungal, bacterial, and viral pathogens. Common diseases include the Cercospora leaf spot (a fungal disease common in moist conditions) and Anthracnose (a fungal disease which also favors high humidity or precipitation). Remove infected leaves and all plant debris, including fallen leaves, regularly throughout the growing season. Remove any nearby weeds. Prune out any dead/diseased branches, and be sure to disinfect any tools that you use to prune, etc. Provide good air circulation and drainage and avoid overhead watering. Fungicides may help as an early application in spring when symptoms first appear, but would not help this late in the season. Check with your local Cooperative Extension https://www.almanac.com/cooperative-extension-services">https://www.almanac.com/cooperative-extension-services for advice for the best fungicides to use for your area and purpose. Here's an article on anthracnose, in case it helps: https://www.almanac.com/pest/anthracnose">https://www.almanac.com/pest/anthracnose.
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We planted 3 macrophylla, may not be spelled right, lol with big green leaves. The nursery & tag says shade. I set up a sun shade and water every other day making sure the soil is wet to depth off one inch but not soaking wet. My problem is the leaves are curling or spotting a light tan color. It still has a lot of green but I fear it's spreading. What is the problem and how can I take care of it?
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Are you watering the roots or leaves? Water on leaves may cause curling or sun can burn leaves with water on them.
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My hydrsndra looked sad so I cut it way back would I be best to did it up Plant new one in spring . My stems were rot Tom could break off with my hands. Feedback please Thank you
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I bought a hydrangea plant that was obviously a rooted cutting (it was very inexpensive!) and had 2 stems coming off of it. Within a week one stem withered and died, but the other is doing fine, so I have a flourishing single stem hydrangea plant. Is there a way to persuade it to branch out horizontally?
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Marci-
After your hydrangea has flowered, you can prune the stem back about halfway. This will encourage new growth and for the bush to branch out.
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Hello, I live in Western Canada and my hydrangeas are wilting. For the first month, they were awesome but then they started to wilt. We give them water, fertilizer. They don't get too much sun however it's been very windy for the past weeks plus now it's raining hard. Could that be the cause of them not doing well? Should I move them? Please help as I don't want to lose them
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There are several reasons why your hydrangeas are wilting. Hydrangeas require consistent moisture and excess wind can cause them to lose water through their leaves at a faster rate. That will lead to your plant drying out much quicker. Depending on how much you have been watering them, too much water coupled with soil that does not drain well can lead to root rot. Wilt can be a sign of root rot. As far as moving them, if they are planted in the ground this is not the time to be transplanting them, but if they are in containers, you can certainly move them to a location that is more protected from the wind and gets the correct amount of sun. Also, depending on the variety you have, be careful not to over-fertilize your hydrangeas as too much nitrogen can lead to some wilting and affect blooms.
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The leaves on my hydrangea are dying. They look liked they are burnt. I live in Florida and was surprised to even see them here. I had them in CT and never had a problem. They get morning sun and shade in the afternoon. Is it just to hot for them?
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Leaf scorch happens because hydrangeas get too hot. The placement doesn't sound unusual; morning sun is all they need. But the temperatures are probably too lot for this plant that enjoys the cooler side of life. Also, water management can be a challenge. The "hydra" in hydrangea means they need to be watered consistently. They have a very large leaf surface area which results in higher water loss. In addition, hydrangeas lack the ability to regulate water loss under drought stress conditions. This can readily lead to wilting and the resulting leaf scorch.
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They look so beautiful.
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Can hydrangea grow in large pots?
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Hi, Mildred, thanks for your interest—and your patience! Yes, you can grow hydrangea in a pot but it should be a very large one if you intend for the plant to be there for a while. At some point it might become pot bound and need repotting or perhaps root pruning. But if you start with a small plant in a large pot, that should not be an issue for a while. Remember, too, if it is in a pot and outdoors in a cold zone it might benefit from some protection. A container does not provide the same protection from freeze/thaw cycles as an underground/in-ground plant would enjoy.
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Can you divide a hydrangea? Mine is overgrown and needs to be divided?
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Hi, Julie, Yes, you can divide a hydrangea. Look for natural separations in the rootball; it's a lot like dividing a perennial flower. Shoots emerge from the perimeter of the plant and these should have their own root systems. Separate them by hand or with tools. Mid- to late fall is the second-best time to do this, by the way. The best time is very early spring, when the "new" plants have the whole growing season to become established.
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I was given a hydrangea bouquet to put indoors in a vase. I was wondering if any part of the plant including the leaves is toxic to a pet cat?
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Yes, hydrangea leaves are toxic to cats and dogs. Typically it causes mild indigestion or vomiting, but can be more dangerous if large amounts are consumed.
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I have a hydrangea received it for mother’s day. I had it on my windowsill Watered it when needed,now it is all dried up like it’s dead. Is it supposed to be like that ? I really don’t know how to take care of it. HELP Please
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Hi, Artimisha, We can't be absolutely sure about your plant but this is what we think: Yours is one of the plants (there are many) that are grown (often the word used is "forced") to be ready to sell on a holiday—in this case, Mother's Day. The plants get care in the nursery that will bring them to flower at just the right time, usually the week before the holiday. (This happens with Easter plants, too.) But because the plants are forced, as opposed to being allowed to grow at a slower, more natural pace, once they leave the nursery and get into someone's home, where the light and humidity are different, for example, they begin a slow decline. This is the state that your plant is in. There is not a lot you can do. Read about planting/transplanting above. You could try it; some survive, but for others, it can be a shock to the system that is their end.
The thing to remember is that the plant was chosen and given in love, and it brought you a lot of joy and good memories. Those do not go into decline.
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Hi, I planted a climbing hydrangea about 7 years ago. It grows vigorously every year as I patiently wait for it to flower but it never has. It’s located right next to endless summers that flower profusely. The nursery told me to be patient because it can take a long time. Can you share any advice that might encourage it to flower? It’s climbing up my house and I can only imagine how wonder it will look when it flowers. Thanks!
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I have an hydrangea that for the last 2 summers has grown wonderfully to about 4 1/2 feet tall. . Last year there was one bloom. I gave it both years miracle grow fertilizer. . It gets sun in morning to the late afternoon. I’ve left the stems on over winter, added mulch to the root area. It has started to have foliage at the base of the plant. I have cutback the stems about half way. Looking forward to some flowers this year. Do I need to modify the care ? Thank you
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i have a hydranger and all the flowers are flopping over can you help plz
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We planted a hydrangea bush last year. It was about 2 feet tall. This winter all the branches had their bark chewed off by voles. The plant is now about 4 inches tall. How can you protect them from voles? Mulching doesn't help, because the voles will live in that mulch.
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Try putting a short fence made of hardware cloth around the plant, burying it a few inches into the ground. That should be enough to deter the voles! If not, here's https://www.almanac.com/pest/voles">more vole advice.
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I have a hydrangea that doesn’t bloom. It is over 25 years old. Will it never bloom again
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There are many reasons why a hydrangea won't bloom. Lack of moisture, too much nitrogen, pruning at the wrong time, late spring frosts that stunt the buds, wrong hydrangea for your zone, or not enough or too much sunlight (they prefer 3 to 4 hours of morning sunlight). Full afternoon sun is too intense. If you research/address these issues, it should bloom again.
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What should I use to deter the deer from eating my hydrangea?
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While hydrangea is not on top of deers' favorite plant list, if hungry enough, they will munch on these plants.
Avoidance techniques include barriers (e.g., fencing or netting), stinky sprays (some claim success with products from Plantskydd or Liquid Fence), then some traditional (but questionable) techniques, such as getting a dog or cat, sprinkling human hair around, hanging a bar of strong-smelling soap (e.g., Irish Spring) in the vicinity. There is no easy fix that we know of.
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While hydrangea is not on top of deers' favorite plant list, if hungry enough, they will munch on these plants.
Avoidance techniques include barriers (e.g., fencing or netting), stinky sprays (some claim success with products from Plantskydd or Liquid Fence), then some traditional (but questionable) techniques, such as getting a dog or cat, sprinkling human hair around, hanging a bar of strong-smelling soap (e.g., Irish Spring) in the vicinity. There is no easy fix that we know of.
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My hydrangeas are breaking off about 4 in. from the base of the plant. Others are leaning almost to the ground. It’s making my plant very sparse looking. I have 4 plants that are all doing the same thing. I had a fifth plant that started to grow out this spring, but then suddenly died. I pruned my plants in the spring to about 3-4 in.from the soil. This is my first year here. Am I doing something wrong? I live in central Illinois.
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I accixentlynsprayed my hydrangeas with weed killer instead of bug killer...what do I do to save them? All leaves died and branches look dead! Is it too late?
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Yes 😔
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I accixentlynsprayed my hydrangeas with weed killer instead of bug killer...what do I do to save them? All leaves died and branches look dead! Is it too late?
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light green leafs and no bloom in my hydrengya... what to do?
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We moved to a house with a lovely hydrangea that had been in the same spot for at least 10 years. It has never bloomed according to neighbors. I have been in the house 5 years and it has not bloomed. It gets morning East sun and sun till about 11:30 am. Then it has shade from the house the rest of the day altho exposed to daylight. I cant find anyone to tell me why it doesnt bloom. My mother in law has them down the street and they bloom. I am not understanding why these don't bloom She took a leaf cutting fall of 2019 and planted the growing bush in a pot. She has moved it from where the mother plant lived (full east morning sun) to partial shade to full shade. Still no blooms. She used miracle grow and still no bloom. The leaf has red tinged edges and is very healthy. Any advice as to what I need to do please? both of us are at our wits end
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A Word on Pruning We can’t write about hydrangea varieties without touching on pruning. If you prune hydrangeas at the wrong time, they won’t flower. To complicate matters, different hydrangeas are pruned at different times. Namely: Panicle (H. paniculata) and Smooth (H. arborescens) hydrangeas are pruned BEFORE flower buds are formed (late winter). These varieties blossom on the current season’s stems (“new wood”). Bigleaf (H. macrophylla), as well as Oakleaf (H. quercifolia), are pruned right AFTER the flowers fade in the summer. These varieties bloom on the previous season’s stems (“old wood”). See our page on How and When to Prune Hydrangeas. (THIS SITE, ON THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES SECTION)
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Received as a gift but without the essential information - the gift giver threw it out. It was a small twig - about 6". I read as much as I could about planting and this year it is now about 2 ft tall but has yet to flower. Since I don't know which one it is, I hesitate to prune. Any suggestions?
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I received a beautiful purple Hydrangea plant for Mothers Day and am wondering if I can transplant it outside? I live in PEI, Canada, which is Zone 5a. Can I transplant once frost date has passed, or at anytime and will it come back year to year? Thanks!
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Too much fertilizer will encourage leaf growth over blooms. May need to cut down stems to the base and start the plant over. Replace as much old soil with fresh unfertilized soil. Do a soil test and just fertilize very little
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I have older hydrangeas - at least seven years old They bloomed beautifully the first two years but since then only lush green leaves appear I keep hoping Should I dig them up and try again ??
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Before you dig it up, if you have the plant tag, review the plant's needs, especially re sunlight. If you do not, take a picture anad show it to domeone at a local nursery. You might be able to save it.
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I ordered this online ,I didn’t think it would arrive until close to time to plant in my zone which is 8. How do I keep it alive until mid April? Paid to much for it !
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Will Limelight hydrangea thrive in full sun in zone 9 if it gets plenty of water?
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Water is important but it is not always the solution to extreme heat. If you can find a way to give the plant some protection (say, on the shadier side of a building) it will benefit more than it will with constant or excess water,
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I have some climbing hydrangeas that I would like to grow up and over a fence. Just wondering how far apart I should plant them. Any ideas? Thanks :)
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Plant them about 7 feet apart.
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It is late January. I want to dig up my small bush. It's about 20 inches tall. Can this be done? How would I go about doing it? It is special to me and I am moving from my current home. Thank you.
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Dig wide around it, taking as much soil as possible; don't dig it to bare root. Put it into a pot and plant it in spring, well after the ground thaws.
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I have a Bobo hydrangea and Bloomstruck hydrangea, neither of which bloomed this year. The shrubs were healthy and vibrant, but out of 3 shrubs, no blooms! They are 3 years old. I live in zone 4b. I believe I pruned them in late fall last year certainly after the first frost. Could it be that I pruned them too early?
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I would like to plant some hydrangeas in my yard. Our town has an overpopulation of deer. Do deer eat hydrangeas? They seem to eat everything else. Thanks.
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Well, deer will eat anything if they're desparate enough. Let's say, hydrangea is not their top choice or what we'd call "deer candy" such as hostas but they are "occasionally" damaged. Here is a list of the most deer-resistant plants: https://www.almanac.com/content/deer-resistant-plants
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I have have a hydrangea plant that I suspect is a Nikko Blue Hydrangea by your description. It has beautiful huge flowers that are blue in color but are covered by huge leaves every year so you can't see the flowers unless you are right on top of the plant looking down. Would it hurt the plant if I cut back some of the leaves to expose the flowers? The plant is extremely healthy! I have another hydrangea plant that is covered with pink and blue blooms that everyone can see. These flowers are smaller than the other plant (but still large flowers) and is gorgeous but different variety than the one with the big leaves that hides the flowers. I hope you have a solution for me, I would love to have those huge flowers exposed for people to see. Thanks for any feedback, it would be greatly appreciated!
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Removing a few selected leaves won't hurt a healthy plant. Feel free to prune off a couple leaves to expose the flowers—just don't go overboard!
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I have a mophead hydrangea given to me in a pot for Mother's Day. There is healthy green growth emerging from the stems, but the original leaves have turned brown around their edges. Is it ok to just snip off the old leaves, or would this do harm to the plant?
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I have a relatively new hydrangea. Not sure which species, but it has spots on it or is being made something's dinner. I can try to do a picture if needed.
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Take a couple of leaves to a local nursery and see if they can identify the problem. (We can not accept images here.)
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My hydrangia hasn’t bloomed in 5 yrs. I’ve watered it, fertilized it, taken off old brown stems, Left them there. someone told me never to take those off, the new bud is in there ???? I gotten advise to cut them down to 3” above the ground in the fall. Never did that. I’ve covered it with straw in the winter. We live in S/W PA. Help.
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There are numerous reasons why your plant might not be blooming. One that you have not mentioned: does it prefer sun? If so, is it now in shade (do to overgrowth, nearby construction, or taller new plantings casting shade)? Or vice versa?
We often recommend that folks contact their local cooperative extension and yours--- Penn State---has a page on exactly this problem: https://extension.psu.edu/why-doesnt-my-hydrangea-bloom">https://extension.psu.edu/why-doesnt-my-hydrangea-bloom Master gardeners who serve in the coop extension usually welcome questions; you can probably reach out to this office.
We hope this helps!
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Our bush has grown to about 4&1/2 feet tall and has lush leaves BUT only 1 blossom. Last couple of years we were awash in flowers from this plant. Why would we have so few blooms this year. It gets morning sun and enough water.
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Received a white snowball hydrangea for Mothers Day in gallon pot leaving it outside on patio. Now leaves are turning brown and curling up as well the blooms are turning brown. What should I be Doing?
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You should be reading the plant tag. Does the container indicate the source or plant "brand" (the wholesaler who potted and nurtured it)? If so, Google to see what it says about care. Or just Google "snowball hydrangea." There are many hydrangea varieties and each has specific needs. Does the plant tag say it likes sun or shade? Did you water it? Gift plants are usually forced to flower...and once gifted left to fend for themselves. Do this and let us know what happens.
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I have had my hydrangea plants for more than 5 years now. When I bought them they had flowers on them. I cut them back in early spring every year and they grow back huge. BUT I have never had them flower since I planted them. They get so close every year as I get small green buds but nothing more than this (nothing resembling a flower). I have read up on how to get them to flower but can’t find any information on anything like what my plants do. They get full sun half the day and full shade the rest of the day. Any thoughts would be so appreciated. Thank you!
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You indicate what they get in the way of sun and shade but is that what they need? Are you pruning them properly? It's practically an art; see above. You might be cutting off the stems that hold the bloom. Have you ever added compost to the soil? Did you fertilize...with a balanced (e.g., 10-10-10) mix or one that's high nitrogen (e.g., 20-10-10)? If so, you're encouraging leaf over bloom. Use a low-nitrigen fert (that would be the first of the three N-P-K numbers cited here), if you use any. Did/do the plants experience a frost? That'll spoil the flowers. One or a couple of these issues are your answer in all likelihood. Finally, ifyou know the type/name of your plant, you can look it up for more specific pertinent information.
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Bred cultivars of H. macrophylla are sterile. Pity that the horticultural trade has shifted the balance to such an obscene degree. Despite their masses of giant pom-pom-like flowers, they offer little, if anything, for pollinators. I personally think, plant breeders have taken it a step too far!
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Interesting observation, thank you! It certainly seems like there are too many variations to keep track of!
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My hydrangea flower petals are green and don’t turn either blue or pink. What does that mean and how do I fix it? It had blue flowers when purchased. Thanks.
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Some sources suggest that this is due to the aluminium in your soil: a lot makes blue flowers, a little results in pink. It may also be due to the plants are not getting enough light; longer days encourage color and as the days shorten the blooms may return to green.Thee is nothing wrong. See how/if they change through the summer.
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Hello I bought several years ago 4 beautiful big leaf hydrangea . They had flowers when i bought them but since then they have never flowered. I have given them fertilizer, moved them spots but nothing works. I am just disappointed because my other hydrangea an annabelle is thriving at the same spot. Please help me as i really don't want to pull them out. Thanks
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I received a blue potted hyrdrangea plant. Can this be planned in our climate? If so what specific care is needed. I just love these flowers.
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I live in zone 5 and have 3 hydrangeas. They are about 3 years old. All three had new green shoots on them this Spring, then we had a late frost. 2 of the plants seemed to have gotten frozen as their green buds have turned brown. Will the plants survive? There is still a little green starting... but very sparse.
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I was given a Hydrangea as a plant. How do I prune the dead flowers off? Can I keep it as indoor plant? Thank you
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You can remove dead flowers (called "dead heading") with scissors or a sharp knife. Hydrangeas are really outdoor plants and grow best in soil outside. Note that is this plant was one of many that was "forced" (made to bloom in a hothouse) for early spring flowers that appeal to us all this time of year, it might be challenged to survive under the best of conditions, indoors or outside. So if you can not plant it, enjoy it indoors for as long as you can.
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I was late getting cuttings of a hydrangea. They seem to root well but it is now Nov. 27 th. and they are still in their starter pots. They seem to be dying off. Should I have hardened them off sooner, meaning I should have rooted them earlier. I am in P.E.I. Canada, in a 5a zone. What can I do to save them or is it too late? Help!!!
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I have 3 and only one blooms. The 3 are all planted in the same area. They are all the same size and beautiful green plants. Why don’t the other two flower.?
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I have four plants which were planted from Easter flowers. They grow back every year (three years) but I only get one or two flowers on two of the plants. ( zone 5). The others have not bloomed. How can I get more flowers and on all the plants?
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I have a beautiful pink hydrangea that I bought a couple of years ago. I planted it next to a white hydrangea that blooms profusely every spring but the pink one has only ever produced one head. It otherwise is doing very well. What am I doing wrong? I don't know whether to cut it back or leave it alone. Unfortunately, I lost the card that came with it telling what kind of hydrangea it is.
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Can hydrangeas be grown in pots and brought inside during winter. I live in southern New Jersey.
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We tend to plant potted hydrangea in the garden as they prefer to be in the ground but you could grow indoors with the right steps. Pinch back the shoots no later than July. Keep the pots outdoors as long as possible in the fall, but bring indoors before a hard freeze. Allow the plant to retain its leaves until about November 1st. Then, pick off all the leaves by hand or put the plant in total darkness until all leaves drop naturally. The leafless plant must be vernalized (exposed to cool temperatures) in order to induce subsequent flowering. This involves keeping it at temperatures from 35 to 40 degrees F for about six weeks. During this time, the plant can be kept dry since it has no leaves. After the cooling period, move the plant to a sunny, cool room, with night temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees F. Water it well and fertilize about every two weeks. It should flower in about four months.
If you wish, you could then plant potted hydrangeas in the garden for years of enjoyment. Wait until the danger of frost has past and make sure to water the plant regularly until it is established in the garden.
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My hydrangea started the season with large dark blue flowers It is a mop head and probably 10 + years old The flowers are no longer turning any color They are big and in good shape but no color Do you have any idea what may be causing this ?
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Nearly all mopheads considered to have the ability to change bloom color. The color is determined by aluminum availability, which in turn is based on the soil pH. When the soil/substrate pH is acidic (4.5 – 5.5), the color can be expected to be blue because aluminum is generally highly available in a low pH. When the soil/substrate pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.5, flowers may be pink, blue or lavender, or a mixture of pink and blue flowers may be present on the same plant. The flower color is not permanent. The color will ultimately be dependent on the soil pH of the landscape into which they are eventually planted.
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Thank you so much for your helpful reply.
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I live in Orlando, Florida (zone 9) and am wondering if white snowball hydrangeas from my father's home in Delaware will grow and thrive if I transplant them. They have bloomed prolifically for the past 40 years or more. Last fall they were cut back to the ground, but new little ones are coming up now (June). I am visiting, and would to take some back to Orlando with me.
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Hi, Michelle. If the hydrangea is an 'Annabelle' snowball, then there is a good chance it will survive in zone 9.
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When we bought our house there was a very large, old hydrangea in the front flower bed. The rhizomes spread terribly and had overtaken the garden as well as growing underneath our sun porch. We decided to pull the plant out last summer and start over. I was recently gifted with a Hydrangea Mycrophylla. Will this variety do the same thing?
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Nothing was said about when or if you can move a adult plant, I am moving my flower bed this year and I have been wondering when its safe to move my Hydrangea. Its about 4 years old. Do you have the answer for me?
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Transplanting is best done when the plant is dormant, so either in the early spring or in the fall. If you live in an area with harsh winters, spring is best.
Transplanting can also be done in the summer, but you will need to provide the plant with plenty of water and it is almost guaranteed to wilt, but should recover with time.
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What zone is 39470 in
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You are in Zone 8b. See the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones map here: https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/">https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
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I live in So California, do these plants die off for the winter? I planted 3 plants and 1 seems to have died off. The other 2 still have some leaves but are looking bad.
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We live in Manhattan Beach and planted three 5 gallon hydrangeas years ago in partial sun. First problems showed up in a little time with wilted and stunted leaves/stems - looking really bad. I didn't know that hydrangeas (and azaleas and gardenias and fuchsias and others) do best in acidic soil - which is NOT Manhattan Beach. So I dug a large 6"-8" wide ditch around the hydrangeas to the bottom (and lower) of the root ball, and add an acid enhanced planting mix (that I can't find anymore, btw). That helped, and repeated monthly feeding with Miracid also helped. But the biggest gain was when I pruned back the stems severely last fall - now they are lusciously growing. I keep feeding Miracid monthly.
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Can i plant my hydrangea now in September? We have had our first hard frost,and the plant has been outside since May. It has big leaves and pink flowers,thats all i know about the plant. I have sandy soil .I would just plant it without taking anything off,and mulch with pine needles. I purchased it last year from a grocery store,and kept it on a shelf in front of window, now its to big and heavy pot for that,could i plant it now ie keep it in my garage? Thank you from Wisconsin
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We think that the best place for this plant is in the garage or basement for the winter. Occasionally give it a few spoonfuls of water.
In the spring, improve your soil with compost and peat moss. Check the pH (see above for the desirable range). Your sandy soil will let water run through it, leaving the plant to dry out in all likelihood).
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I have had my hydrangeas for three years now and no blossoms. The plant it self grows very big and green. I don't know what to do.
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Without knowing what type/variety of plants you have we can only guess, but even that would not be certain: If it's in shade and likes sun, it would not perform. It it doesn't get sufficient water, it might not perform. Too high temps could influence them. Then there was this that I read in a recent Boston Globe edition: The question was similar to yours and the answer was, in sum, that some varieties are forced to flower by growers, shipped, then purchased by people in areas/communities where the plants would not normally flower anyway. Know at least that you are not alone in the dilemma.
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HELP - i HAVE COME HOME FROM HOLIDAY TO FIND MY BEAUTIFUL HYDRANGEAS HAVE TAKEN OVER MY GARDEN!!!!!! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF IT IS SAFE TO CUT BACK SOME OF THE STEMS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. WE ARE HOPING TO MOVE NEXT YEAR AND DESPERATELY WANT TO TAKE SOME OF MY HYDRANGEAS WITH ME - ANY HELP ON THAT PLEASE
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Try this: https://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/garden-journal/whe...
You should be able to lift and move them.
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I have two plants that have not bloomed since first year. One beside them blooms fantastic. Any suggestions to get "lazy ones" back on track?
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Rather like the writer two Qs up, without knowing what type/variety of plants you have we can only guess, but even that would not be certain: If it’s in shade and likes sun, it would not perform. It it doesn’t get sufficient water, it might not perform. Too high temps could influence them. It's a common dilemma.
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I have a row of hydrangea that may get more sunlight than needed. By August they usually look pretty dried out with the flowers brown and plant looking pretty sad. But this year almost all the leaves are gone and it looks like the plant is more than dry but diseased. I'm thinking I may need to remove the hydrangeas as they are getting to much sun. Do you think its too much sun or could it be a disease?
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Being in the hot sun all day is probably taking its toll. Above (and below) we suggest that most hydrangeas do best in morning sun and afternoon shade/partial shade. You don't mention water. Are they getting water? Lack of it would take a toll on any plant. Dig down with your hands/fingers and see how deep you have to go before you feel damp soil; that might be an indication of whether they are dry. As for disease, it's hard to know from this vantage point.
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My hydrangea in my garden is quite old but still produces a lot of white flowers every year however last year and this year the flowers turned brown and looked dead, what do you think this happened?
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Most of the times this happens it's due to too hot sun, not enough shade and waaaay too little water. You should water deeply. It will not brig the brown flowers back but it will relieve the plant.
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when should I cut them down from my trellis as they are getting out of hand now and one side of the trellis did not have any flowers - why?
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My tree has beautiful flowers on it but it is drooping. Is this because of the heavy flowers or, could there be another reason?
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That is the most likely reason for drooping branches, especially if it has been raining recently. If it has been unusually dry in your area and the leaves themselves are drooping, you ought to give your hydrangea a bit of water at the base of the plant to perk it back up.
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I have a beautiful bush with huge flowers, however my problem is, I cannot see the blooms as the leaves have grown over and taller than the blooms. Can I trim it up a bit?
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Without knowing more about the type of hydrangea it is hard to say whether pruning would be wise. See above; pruning now alter next year's bloom season.
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Recently I planted Hydrengea in a pot. plant is established but the leaves have been scorching from the edges. some of the leaves are half burnt (dried). We have rainy season and weather is cloudy. Will you please tell me how to overcome this problem so that leaves remain green and don't dry up.
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We can't be certain. but it could be Cercospora leaf spot which is a disease caused by the fungus Cercospora hydrangeae. This occurs in warm weather with frequent rain. Make sure that the soil is well draining and the plant is in a place in which the air circulates well. Consult a nursery about a fungicide for ornamental plants. If possible, bring the plant into the nursery and see if they identify the problem as something else.
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How do you get hydrangeas to bloom? Mine rarely blooms. Do you think it is a pruning issue?
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There are several reasons why hydrangeas won’t bloom. First, they do need some sunlight to set flowers—so if yours are in total shade, that could be limiting flowering.
Also, many people prune hydrangeas incorrectly, cutting down the old stems which is where some varieties set buds! See our article on when to prune different hydrangeas: https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/w...">https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/w...
Finally, in any year with a late frost, hydrangea buds can get frozen; that means no blooms for the year. Hope this helps.
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I bought a hydrangea & started it in a pot. It is growing & I was wondering if it would be wise to plant in ground in the fall in zone 8
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Is it best to just use mulch around the plants or also use plastic first? If so, how big should the opening be to allow for watering and feedling? Can it be against the plant? Thank you!
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I have hydrangea seeds, what is the right time to sow 7 what procedure is to be followed. we live in northern india & its monsoon time here. When not raining the temp goes very high. Will they survive?
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The best advice we have is to open this link and scroll to page 6, top left: https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/PB...
We hope this helps!
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I just planted two hydranges out front for morning sun. Can you over water hydranges? What are the signs of overwatering verses signs of too much heat? Where does the plant like to be watered? At base or all over? Thanks for your help. tracy
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Most plants prefer to dry out between waterings. Floppy leaves/foliage under a hot sun can appear to be a sign of needing water but is not always. Often the leaves recover in the evening/overnight. Water at the base. See here for more information re care: https://www.almanac.com/plant/hydrangeas
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Do I need to prune and if so when...i have morning morning sun and then shade is this good for them.
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Hi . Just bought 3 pots of hydrageas in blue , pink and maroon. Should I plant them in containers or on the ground and how do keep them thriving? Thanks
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Hi, Jean, We have just about all of the guidance you need in the notes above, from planting to caring, etc. Take a look. As for containers vs ground, containers will need to be watered more often (water in the containers evaporates more quickly) and if they are in the ground, you will not have to transfer them to a larger container. But it really all depends on your situation (ground space, deck, sunlight/shade, etc.) and what you want to do.
We hope this helps!
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I just purchased my hydrangea last night..June 24, 2018 I planted it last night will my plant survive?
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Are you referring to its endurance through this heat dome/hot spell that is covering much of the eastern US? We really can not say; there are too many variables. Read the guidance above and see if it sounds like your plant, your situation.
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I bought a very small hydrangea bush , with no flowers on it,at the grocery store 4 years ago. Every year it grows and this year especially it looks great, big and bushy. It is probably about 2 and 1/2 feet tall now. The only problem is it has never bloomed one flower. Nothing! Is something wrong with it? I have no idea what kind it is.
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Hi Tara, We answer this question below. (You are not alone!) Often this is a sunlight/shade issue or a pruning issue. If you prune at the wrong time, you could be cutting off next year’s blooms. https://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/garden-journal/whe...">See more about pruning hydrangeas.
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I was given two hydrangeas one year apart. The first one grew very well for 2 years--the year it was planted and then it came back beautifully. The second one did okay the year it was planted. This year, neither of them did anything--they look totally dead. What's going on? We did have some late cold weather here in Virginia.
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A week ago i planted beautiful blue hydrageas, after soil preparation. The plants look great and still full however the blossoms are laying over on the ground as they are so full and heavy. Should they be trimmed back to allow the plant to grow and re-bloom or should we stake to up, or should we leave it alone and let it make the adjustment to the new environment?
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If you think that you've seen enough of the blooms for this year, go ahead and snip them off. This will save the plant from having to expend energy turning those flowers into seeds—energy that it can use to grow new roots instead.
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I have a couple let’s dance big easy hydrangeas. They were planted almost a month ago and the heads to them just started wilting... I try to water once a day and use miracle grow once a week. Can I cut the head off for regrowth? Or will it not re grow?
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"Let's Dance" seldom needs pruning; it blooms on old and new wood. When a hydrangea is wilting, the most common reason is poor drainage. Are their feet wet? The second most common reason is temperature. It may just be too hot in their location. When it's about 80 degrees, all hydrangeas will wilt. The question is: does it perk back up in the morning? Then it's fine. If it's always wilting, then it may get too much sun and you need to move the plants. "Let's Dance" does better in a location with afternoon shade.
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I purchased two Bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) last summer and they did quite well all season. I did not remove the anything from the stems. My husband however cut the stems and dried mopheads off this spring. All I have are brown stems coming out of the ground. There is no signs of new leaves only wine coloured buds. Will these plants amount to anything this year. My husband wanted to pull them out but I paid too much money for them last year and am hopeful that they will still come alive and bloom!!
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See the pruning tips and advice above, in terms of timing and the thoroughness of the cutting that was done. Considering that these plants can be "pruned" to the ground and come back, there may be hope.
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I have this Hydrangea now for three years and it looks great and healthy looking, however, I never see it bloom at all. What am I doing wrong.
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There are several reasons why hydrangeas won't bloom. First, they do need some sunlight to set flowers—so if yours are in total shade, that could be limiting flowering.
Also, many people prune hydrangeas incorrectly, cutting down the old stems which is where some varieties set buds! See our article on when to prune different hydrangeas: https://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/garden-journal/whe...">https://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/garden-journal/whe...
Finally, in any year with a late frost, hydrangea buds can get frozen; that means no blooms for the year. Hope this helps.
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Hi! I would like to plant a pinacle hydrangea in my zone (7b) but I think it might be best to wait until to fall now. Any suggestions?
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It's so early in season still, we would say now. But then we thought that the Morton Arboretum in Illinois, which has quite a few of them, might have more specific advice. You will find the Arboretum and lots of info here: http://www.mortonarb.org/trees-plants/tree-plant-descript...
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While planting a new younger plant, I accidentally broke almost every single stem on this beautifully flowering plant. Is it done for or is there hope? Can anything be done to save the larger newly developing flowers?
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It happens... Give the plant some TLC, in the ground or in a pot and see if the roots take hold. It would be a while before you would see any significant top growth (possibly a year; hard to be certain). But you say you broke "almost every single stem" so they may be hope for growth sooner. If the flowers have broken off, you could put the stems in water; they might open and last a couple of weeks. It depends on their stage of development.
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I received a Mother’s Day arrangement of cut flowers - roses, hydrangeas and baby’s breath. There are two cuts of a white hydrangea. I live in Georgia. Would I be able to root from a cut off and if so would you help me with instructions - How to, how long, inside or out and when to actually plant. Our summers are pretty harsh so don’t want to make any mistakes with timing.
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Hydrangeas can be started from cuttings, though typically it's done with cuttings that don't have flowers. Here's how to do it:
- Snip off the actual flower and discard it. Trim the remaining stem down to 3 or 4 inches. Use the part of the stem that was closest to the flower.
- Leave only one to three pairs of leaves on the stem and remove the rest. Hydrangeas produce roots most easily from the places where leaves once were.
- (Optional) Dust the leafless part of the stem with rooting hormone (available at a local hardware or garden store).
- Plant in moist potting mix and cover loosely with a plastic bag. Make sure the bag isn't touching the leaves of the cutting, otherwise the leaves can rot. Check every so often to make sure that the cutting isn't rotting and only water again once the top layer of soil is dry.
- Place the pot in a warm spot that's sheltered from direct sunlight and wind. With luck, the cutting should root in a few weeks.
The cutting can be kept indoors if outside temperatures are too extreme, or placed in a sheltered spot outdoors. Wait until fall, when temperatures are mild, to transplant the cutting to its permanent home in your garden!
If you try this method, let us know how it goes!
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My leaves are turning really brown/grey plus I think something is eating the leaves. please give advice as to what I should do. I live in Mississippi
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Will hydrangeas grow in zone 10?
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Can a hygrangeas that is in full bloom be planted?
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Yes, you may transplant established hydrangeas but it’s best to move specimens in the spring after the last spring frost or in the fall. It's best to avoid the period when the hydrangea is actively growing (March through September).
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We received a blooming hydrangea as a gift from a funeral. Being that it's May and past the planting stage, should we plant anyway?
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Last summer I planted two hydrangeas on the north east side of my home and they survived the winter. The leaves are about eight inches tall. Would they grow better in another location?
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There's also a variety that blooms with very light green flowers (which eventually turn reddish-purple over time).
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I've recently been given beautiful hydrangea as a gift but it losing flowers, wilting and dying off already. Its too cold to plant outside yet. If I transfer to bigger pot for a month or more and then transplant outside should that be ok or too traumatic for plant? Otherwise I'll get big pot and leave it! Thank you for any advice☺
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The hydrangea gift was in all likelihood a forced plant—forced to flower out of its natural season by a nursery to be appealing in stores. Sometimes these can be saved, sometimes they can not. Try to keep the moisture level balanced—not too wet. Let it dry out between waterings. You could try to transplant it...but if it is weak/wilting now, the stress of transplanting may be too much for it to handle. If you lose it, consider that it was a lovely gesture—and the inspiration to purchase one that you can plant outdoors and enjoy for years.
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Are hydrangea poison to animals?
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Here's what the ASPCA has to say, "Hydrangeas do contain small amounts of cyanide but surprisingly we do not see signs consistent with cyanide (difficulty breathing, dark red gums, death). Dogs and cats frequently have vomiting and diarrhea after ingesting the hydrangea flowers. It would be best to keep the flowers outside and away from your pets." For more information, see https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control" target="_blank">ASPCA Animal Poison Control.
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Hello! I am from Philippines and I am planning to plant hydrangaeas for my thesis, but I only have six months before my thesis starts. Will hydrangaeas flower within that range of time? Is there any technique to grow the hydrangaeas faster??
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1. Was given a Macrophyll late July, was potted, still has a few leaves. How do I transplant to outdoors? 2. Had a landscaper plant a "climbing" hydrangea on the NW corner of our garage. In over 5 years it has NEVER bloomed. HELP!
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I planted 2 Hydrangaes in front of our Church. One is growing and growing and is beautiful. On the other side of the walk the other one was planted. It would not grow and would not produce leaves in the spring. So I bought another one, it is not doing anything and looks poor. I am assuming the soil is in need of fertilizer, am I correct? If I am, what kind do I need? Thank you
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There may be a parable here somewhere, but we'll leave it for another day. You are possibly correct and definitely smart in considering the soil. Note we did not say fertilizer—but it also may be needed. You might consider having the soil tested. (If the plant is not thriving, delaying to get this done won't hurt it any more.) Contact your local cooperative extension service (choose your state here: https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-ser... ) and inquire at the nearest one about a soil test. While you're at it, you might get soil from the successful side tested, too. The results indicate the condition of the soil. However, it must be said that hydrangeas are not all that picky about soil. So ...
How about sunlight? Some hydrangeas like sunlight, some prefer partial, and some do best in shade. Are sunlight conditions the same in both locations?
Do both locations get about the same amount of water/rain? Does the soil retail/drain water in similar fashion? Notice, here (above) under "CARE" that these plants need a fair amount of water when planted, in order to become established: https://www.almanac.com/plant/hydrangea
Finally, did you purchase the plants from a local nursery? Sometimes vendors will stand behind their products; in the case, replacing the plant (you might need a receipt of purchase). At minimum, you might take a picture and show the two plants to the vendor and see if they have any comment.
We hope this helps!
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Im in western washington and recently bought a house with a hydrangea. I would say they are a common variety. Is it to late in the year to prune my hydrangeas? And if so what should I do in spring to insure a summer bloom?
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I Need Help Repotting My Hydrangea Indoors Thank You.
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We just purchased Pinacle Hydrangea starters. We live in Zone 3 area. Is it advisable to winter them in the house ?
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Hi Lily,
Panicle Hydrangeas are hardy to zone 3, meaning they will over winter outdoors just fine. No need to bring them indoors.
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I live in Massachusetts just north of Boston. I rooted some cuttings of a beautiful hydrangea macrophylla. The roots are still quite small. I am not sure what to do next. They seem too tender to plant in the ground. CAN I winter them over indoors? Thanks in a for any advice.
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You should be fine overwintering the cuttings indoors. If these are mere shoots, you might keep them in your living space. If they are small shrubs, in pots, put them in a cool, dark place where temps remain between 40 and 50 °F. Water them one time. Come spring, ease them into the outdoor light and temps.
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I have two beautiful hydrangeas that have grown too s Big for their space and are crowding out other plants. Can I prune or shape them to contain their size and spread?
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Yes, Hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer' respond well to pruning. It is best done right after they bloom, and a good practice is to cut back to the next emerging bud. Here is some more info on pruning hydrangeas: https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/w...">Pruning Hydrangea Varieties
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I planted 2 large hydrangeas in early July. They were loaded with huge bright pink flowers. Within a week the colors had faded to a pale dirty pinkinsh greenish off white. New growth is appearing and the flowers aren't a bit dry they are just faded. What should I do?
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Hello, I am new to gardening and really do not know some of the terms used in planting flowers such as "crown" and other various terms, but learning as I go along. I've done well with annuals when I plant seeds and let them go! But, I'm uneducated regarding perennial plants and care. I bought a fully bloomed Hydrangea at Walmart around the 1st of May. I replanted it in a very large pot on my back patio where it bloomed beautifully all through June. When I bought them they were a beautiful blue, but due to ph imbalance in the soil they ended up bright pink, which I didn't mind. When the "mopheads" died I dead-headed them in hopes of seeing them bloom again next spring. As of the end of August they are still thriving in the pot and growing well. The plant is approximately 15-inches tall with new bright green leaves appearing at the top regularly. I'm concerned now that winter is near, what to do with the plant when it gets cold here in SE Nebraska? There is no way for me to carry the plant inside because it's very heavy. Can I keep it safe through winter? Thank you!
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Hello!
The best way to protect your potted hydrangea would be to put it in a sheltered area where it will not be hit by harsh wintry winds, but will still experience some colder temperatures through the winter. It is most likely a winter hardy variety, so it can survive the colder temperatures, but keeping it sheltered from wind will help ensure that it survives. You do not want it to get too warm on your patio, or else the plant may be tricked into thinking spring has arrived and it will grow prematurely.
If it gets cold enough, the plant may die back to the ground, but do not be too alarmed if this happens, as it should re-grow in the spring. Add an inch or two of organic mulch (available at garden centers and hardware stores) to the top of the pot to insulate the roots. Good luck!
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Can't You Please Tell Me Why The Leaves of My Plant Are Turning Yellow & Haven't Bloom I'am Taking Care of Them Indoors. Thank You
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Yellow leaves on a hydrangea is usually Chlorosis. This can also result from a pH that is too high (soil is too alkaline), or it may actually be a lack of iron in the soil. Apply a chelated iron or iron sulphate to correct the situation. Ammonium sulphate fertilizer also helps to lower the pH and maintain the acidity of the soil. Apply about one half teaspoon each of iron sulphate and ammonium sulphate to one quart of water. Apply this to the plants about every two to three weeks. About every third fertilization use a complete houseplant fertilizer instead of the above combination.
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I live in MS and I am wanting to plant these in front of my new lake house. I am not sure when to plant or which ones to purchase to plant. Please help.
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Thanks for your advice. Could I leave it in the large pot it's now in while keeping it on my sunny deck here in Williamsburg? I could bring it inside on cold nights and put it back out during the day. Seems a lot of work I know, but I would hate to lose the plant. I am a bit concerned it might not survive in the garage.
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Yes, you could bring it inside on cold nights and leave it out during the day. Keep in mind that in can be stressful on a plant to experience drastic temperature changes (cold to hot and hot to cold), so when you bring it inside keep it in a cool room.
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I took a beautiul hydrangea from VA to OH from my parent's yard after they passed away. It grew to be a huge plant but only bloomed once in 5 years. I learned the wrong zone may have been the cause. Now I am back in VA with the plant. The deer ate the plant down to the ground and now I have it in a pot on my deck. Once established again, can I overwinter it in my garage and bring it out each year? We are not allowed to keep fencing up around shrubs (against condo rules), so I fear trying to keep it in the ground. We are deer heaven here in Williamsburg. It is a cherished plant for me and I would hate to lose it. THANKS!
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You can try overwintering it in a garage. But a hydrangea that thrived in a winter environment might not thrive in a garage. Give it moisture throughout the season (it would get it outdoors; don't deprive it). Or could you cover it with, say a wooden "sandwich board"? You see these protecting foundation plants from time to time—something that would deter deer. There are several reasons for lack of bloom, often too much or too little sun. We hope this helps.
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I am moving into a home that has been in our family for at least 150 years. Early pictures of the house show hydrangeas planted all the way around the house. At present there is one plant left. It has large leaves and a huge mop head of dark blue flowers. Any idea what variety it is? Where I could find more like it or would my best bet be to start new plants from a cutting? If rooting, what is the process? I have seen my mother and grandmother take a cutting or just a leaf and grow a new plant.
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There is no way for us to know the particular variety of your hydrangea nor where to find one like it. Perhaps you will find notes or the like somewhere in the house! As for getting a match, there are hundreds to choose from these days and it's likely that no one observing the property would know if you get "modern" replacements. But ask a local nursery person; they may know the heirloom varieties.
If you want more of the plant you have, here's how to root it:
- Take a 5 to 6 inch long cutting from a branch of the hydrangea shrub, ideally from a branch that did not flower this year.
- Find the bottom two leaf nodes (the leaf node is where a leaf comes out of the branch) and remove the lower leaves. Most roots will form at this point.
- Cut largest leaves down by about half.
- Dip the cuttings in rooting hormone (if desired) and insert the hormone ends into damp vermiculite or sterile medium that you have put into a pot.
- Water the pot well and allow it to drain. The soil should be moist but not soggy. Cover the cuttings and pot with plastic, creating a greenhouse effect. Use stakes (shish-kebab sticks may be adequate) to keep the plastic from touching the leaves.
- Place the pot of cuttings in a bright but shady area. Do not place them in direct sun.
- Water again only when the top of the soil begins to feel dry. Overwatering will cause the cuttings to rot. Expect cuttings to begin to form roots in 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the local temperature (they root faster in warm weather) and humidity. Some cuttings root in as little as one week. If you tug on the cutting and it resists the pull, it is rooting.
You can also try the ground layer method:
1. Select a branch (or several) close to the ground . Do not cut the branch off the mother plant.
2. Gently bend the branch down to touch the ground. Along the 5 to 6 inches of the branch where the branch, with at least one leaf node, will touch the ground, remove the leaves. Scrape a little of the bark off the underside of the branch in this area. Make sure at least one leaf node will be under the ground.
3. Dig a little trench about 2 inches deep and lower the branch into it and cover generously with soil (use potting soil if desired).
4. Put a brick or stone on the buried portion of branch so that it will stay under the soil. This also helps to hold the moisture around the branch.
5. Keep the buried branch wet but not soaked. When roots form, cut the branch from the mother plant and lift it to plant it in the garden.
We hope this helps!
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Hello! I moved into a new house 2 years ago, so I inherited several plants from the previous owner. I am still learning about types of flowers and their care. I have a white hydrangea that grows on the old stems. According to the above, a smooth hydrangea should grow from new stems. Do you know what type mine may be then? I have never pruned it and it has bloomed for the 2 summers I've lived here. Should I be pruning it? Thank you.
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If your hydrangea has flowers similar to those of a smooth hydrangea, but doesn't bloom on new stems, you likely have a bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). This variety is capable of blooming on old and new stems. Pruning should be done after flowers fade. See our page on https://www.almanac.com/news/gardening/gardening-advice/w...">pruning different hydrangea varieties for more information.
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Hello, I got 4 different color hydrangeas from Kroger's grocery store. Ones, in a pot I bought got to get the others ones too. Just haven't yet. Well, I got two for 99cents cuz they were wilting and one blossom back up the other hasn't actually I got all the wilting buds off. Then one of mine that was 9.99 it fully wilted its no longer full it drooped completely. The soils are fully moistened im afraid they won't come back but hey I'm new to this. I wanted to start gardening but cannot transfer them to the ground yet. Not til me and my boyfriend move to a new place. Don't want the new tenants to enjoy my with cuz I've done that before and lost a lot of plants. Please someone help???
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Potted florist hydrangea from a grocery store are not recommended for planting outdoors in the ground. They are not as hardy as the nursery cultivars.
However, you can still bring the pots outside until frost. When it comes to potted plants, keep them moist but don't overwater which can lead to droopiness. If the soil is wet, let it dry out a bit before watering again. Also, weather that's too hot can lead to droopiness so move the plants to a shaded area. If the plant remains wilted, it may have root rot and will not recover.
Usually, florist hydrangeas are considered short-term gift plants to be enjoyed and discarded. They are grown in a greenhouse for big showy flowers and the controlled forcing of flowers weakens the plant itself. If you wish to grow hydrangea outdoors, it's best to purchase plants that are grown by a nursery for that purpose.
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My plant is about 5 years old and no blooms how do I get it to bloom sgain
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Did you prune the hydrangea properly? When you prune depends on the type of hydrangea. Did you have a freeze back in the spring this year? This is another common reason for lack of blooms. Hope this advice helps!
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This is a beauty..... very informative! Thanks!
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I am in the foothills outside Asheville N.C. and want to plant a hydrangeas hedge about 50' long. The ground slopes down and away from the hedge down to a creek. It will have good morning sun and shaded afternoons. What type Hydrangea should I use and how do I go about planting the hedge? When, how, etc. Thanks from a newbie to plants. tom
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The location you've picked out sounds like a great spot for a hydrangea hedge. The nearby creek should keep the ground moist but well-drained, while the mix of sun and shade will prevent the plants from being burned. The area around Asheville, NC, is a mix of Hardiness Zones 6 and 7, which means that most hydrangeas should do well for you. If you get a lot of sub-zero temperatures in winter, you may want to play it safe and choose a more cold-hardy variety, such as H. paniculata or H. arborescens. If your winter temperatures typically stay above zero, then you can safely add H. quercifolia and H. macrophylla to the mix. At this point, it mostly comes down to choosing which flower colors and style you like the best.
In regards to planting, it's best to plant hydrangeas in the spring or fall. For directions on how to plant the shrubs, see the Planting section, above. Finally, you may wish to consult your local https://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-ser...">cooperative extension service, who can give you advice tailored more to your circumstances. Happy planting!
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Do deer stay away from this plant? Or would I be planting a lovely treat for them?
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Deer have been known to eat almost anything (or taste it at least once), so there is a risk that hydrangeas could be damaged. Some gardeners report that their hydrangeas get eaten to the ground by deer, while others see no damage at all. It will really depend on how hungry the deer is and if there's anything tastier in the area. So, to answer your questions: No, deer do not stay away from hydrangeas, but they typically favor other garden plants over hydrangeas. Here's a list of deer-resistant plants: http://www.almanac.com/content/deer-resistant-plants">http://www.almanac.com/content/deer-resistant-plants
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Good Morning. I have 2 plants that are about 5-6 years old,that were the same size and planted at the same time. They are approx. 3 feet apart. For the last 3-4 year one of them grows very well while the other does not grow much at all. Right now one is about 20"tall and 17" wide, full of blooms and healthy. The other is about 8" tall and 6" wide with a couple of small blooms. Any ideas as to why there is so much difference between the two plants? Thank You
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I also have four hydrageans plants next to one another. I've had them for four years. We live in the Phila. area. Only one of them blooms, but only two flowers. I've heard that this plant blooms better when plant by itself. Any truth on this and what am I doing wrong? All were bought at garden centers.
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We have two of these in the front of our house next to one another. Both are two tears old. One blooms with quite a few flowers and the other is taller ( leafier) with healthy looking leaves and had one weak bloom which died off quickly, and nothing else. Same soil. Thanks
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My hydrangea (oak leaf, just planted this spring) accidentally got run over by the lawn mower, sliced it right to the ground. I'm sick about it. If I were to leave it (the roots) in the ground, is there any chance it will live to be a viable shrub? Should I dig it up a start over with a new plant?
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Hi Nick,
Hydrangea are hearty plants that will grow back when cut (even to the ground) during dormancy. However, a young, recently planted hydrangea like yours will not have as strong of a root system developed yet as a several year old plant would. Try waiting a while to see what happens during this summer: The plant might bounce back and start growing new shoots! If by next spring it's still not doing well, plant another in its place. Good luck!
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I planted 5 hydrangea (mophead) last summer and they have not gotten any bigger than they were when I planted them. They died back over the winter and then came back, but have not continued to grow (they did bloom). They are in a shady spot of the yard and they have bloomed. Too much shade? Can they be transplanted?
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Hi Karen,
Hydrangeas like some, but not full shade; it sounds like they could not be getting enough sun. You can transplant them, but wait until the fall to do it. Once all of the blooms have died and almost all of the leaves have dropped, transplant the hydrangeas into a slightly sunnier location with well-draining soil. Layer some compost around the base to give them an extra boost in the spring.
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I have a Harlequin macrophylla hydrangea that last year and this year had a few solid white blooms on one branch instead of the bicolor bloom that is normally seen. Is this a frequent occurrence? If the branch is rooted is it likely to continue to produce white blooms?
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When hydrangea flowers begin with a color and fade to white, it's usually an older bloom and past its prime for pollination. However, you're saying the flower was white from the very beginning? Our guess is that your plant was hybridized using a white blooming hydrangea with a pink/blue blooming hydrangea, and some of the plant is showing its original white. In this case, yes, it will stay white. White flowers can not be changed.
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My hydrangea never seem to bloom. We have healthy green leaves, but no flowers. We have one plant in the front of the house and one in the back. One gets full sun in the morning, one in the afternoon. Same problem with both plants :-(
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Do you know if you have lace cap or mophead hydrageas? The lace cap produce “flowers” that consist of teeny, tiny flowers surrounded (more or less) by substantially larger, usually four-petal flowers. Mopheads have the large balls of same-size flowers. If that’s not what you’re dealing with, we can only suggest this: It could be as simple as too much shade or too much sun. It could be too much fertilizer, esp high nitrogen fertilizer, which will result in beautiful foliage but few if any flowers. It could be too much moisture—or too little moisture. And, how is the pH of the soil?? Have they got enough compost? Also, the blooming of hydrangeas is affected by how they have been pruned, which depends on the type of hydrangea. Some bloom on second-year wood, others on the current year’s growth.
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Lots of blooms, But they are all Bright Green. Is that the nature of the beast? I have never seen one like this I live in British Columbia. It is planted with a group of Hostas.Any suggestions to turn this to Blue?
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Sounds like you have the variety called "Limelight". That bright lime green is their color. Doesn't change.
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Plants have been well-watered and get morning only direct sunlight. New buds bloomed, but plants now appear to be dying. Blossoms are turning brown, but leaves still look fine. Do Hydrangea bloom more than once a season?
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There are so very many brands of hydrangea available today, it is hard to keep up. Do they bloom more than once...? Well, they bloom and hold the flowers, typically. But there may be "new" plants that do more. You say it get only morning sun. Is that enough? Do you have a care tag? Some need more sun. Is the water standing under the plant or is it draining off? It is best to water deeply every 5 to 7 days. Mulch will help the soil to retain moisture during that period. Bud failure can also be caused by frost or the soil may lack basic trace elements. Do a soil test and amend accordingly. Finally, the problem could also be insects or disease.
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The leaves on some of my hydrangea bush are drying & curling. What would cause this to happen?
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They look bad, leaves curling, brown parts on the leafs, and little br spots on the outside of the leaf, look like bugs I put some seven on them but don't look healthy at all, Please help with this problem. Thank You Carol K
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I bought 6 hydrangea s.have potted them in saner compost and fed them the same 5 are doing well and coming into bloom , but one has a lot of foliage but non flower buds , can you tell me why X for
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We have everblooming hydrangeas. They had a lot of buds at the tips this year but we used moss out on our roof and the drippings from the roof fell on to the hydrangea. Buds are now brown and some of the leafs on the plants went limp do you think they will bounce back? Any suggestions what I can give them?
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hydrangeas blossom but never open up hardly at all to bloom....what am I doing wrong? Plants look healthy but blossoms don't open, the plants are probably 6 years old, moved them last spring to get more sun and still no blooms.
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Do you know if you have lace cap or mophead hydrageas? The lace cap produce "flowers" that consist of teeny, tiny flowers surrounded (more or less) by substantially larger, usually four-petal flowers. Mopheads have the large balls of same-size flowers. If that's not what you're dealing with, we can only suggest this: It could be as simple as too much shade or too much sun. It could be too much fertilizer, esp high nitrogen fertilizer, which will result in beautiful foliage but few if any flowers. It could be too much moisture—or too little moisture. And, how is the pH of the soil?? Have they got enough compost? There may not be a good, solid explanation, but moving them to a different “environment” will at least give you a point of comparison. Also, the blooming of hydrangeas is affected by how they have been pruned, which depends on the type of hydrangea. Some bloom on second-year wood, others on the current year’s growth. Not knowing the type you have or how it has been pruned, I can’t say for sure why it isn’t blooming.
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WILL SPRAYING HYDRANGEAS WITH EPSON SALT & WATER MAKE THEM BLOOM MORE?
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Just bought two plants on markdown. Both have tiny black spots on stems. I sprayed with dish soap and vinegar. What can I do to save them?
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This has come up; here is our suggestion from below: There are a few different fungal diseases that can cause spotting on hydrangea leaves, including black spot, powdery mildew, and cercospora. They will not kill the shrub, but it is good to try to control spread. Treating any of them includes removing diseased leaves from the plant and the soil. Once the soil surface is clean, put down (and maintain) a very thick layer of compost mulch to suppress disease spores, which are airborne. Then, follow instructions on how and when to apply neem oil.
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My new leaves are browning on the ends. Some of the older leaves too. What am I doing wrong? Help?
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Usually, this is a moisture issue. Sometimes, the plant can be root-bound, too. Gently dig the plants early in the morning to check for both conditions. If needed, lightly loosen the roots with your hand. You can also soak the root ball in water until it's moistened through. Make sure you maintain uniform moisture for your hydrangeas.
Location can also be an issue. If they're getting sun burnt, they'd do better with light shade.
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A landscaper planted 12 Hydrangeas for me last June 2016.....beautiful most of last summer..... and now they are not showing much life {only few green leaves at base of plant}...just all bare sticks.....It looks as if they were not planted all the way into the ground... .could that be the problem? By now they should be full of green leaves and buds and getting ready to bloom.....Suggestions??
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How unfortunate! One question is whether your hydrangea is alive. Do the "scratch test." If you scratch a stick with your fingernail and it's green underneath, it's still alive; if it's brown, it's dead. We also suggestion that you direct your question to the landscaper. Ask him what variety these plants are and what you should expect. Did he make a one-year guarantee of the plants? Some nurseries have a replacement policy of one year, if the plant/s appear to have failed for some reason.
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I planted 4 hydrangia "bushes" about 7 years ago, not realizing that the size would grow to be 5-6 ft tall ( they are the large drooping white kind of flowers). I would like to move them as they are too large for the space. How deep are the roots usually and how difficult would that process be?
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Yes you can move your hydrangea though it's not easy. It's best to transplant large specimens in the fall on a cool, cloudy day once the plant has dropped its leaves and has gone dormant. To reduce shock, root-prune the plant before transplanting. Using a spading shovel, dig a shovel-deep ring just outside of the leaf line of the plant at a 45-degree angle. Make only a single cut, disturbing the roots as little as possible. Keep the plant watered thoroughly the next few days so the roots have time to recover.
Before you transplant, prepare the new planting hole, mixing in a good planting soil mix. Ensure it's big enough and deep enough so that the rootball is 1 inch higher than the depth of the hole. You'll need to dig a very deep trench around the rootball, and cut deep enough under it that you only sever the small feeder roots, not the large old ones. This could require using a shovel and digging iron and a lot of hard work.
Never lift or move the plant by the branches; always touch and move the plant by the root ball. Some gardeners prefer to secure the plant’s branches gently with burlap and twine to reduce the chance of damaging the plant before removing it from the ground.
To re-plant the root ball, you'll need to tilt on its side and place it on a tarp or in a wheelbarrow and transport it to its new location quickly. Place the plant in its new home. Backfill the hole with a mixture of fresh planting mix and existing soil leaving no gaps, water thoroughly and mulch. Mulch will keep the plant’s roots cool, help prevent weeds and keep the soil moist. Keep the mulch at least 2 inch away from the trunk of the plant.
Newly transplanted plants need some tender care and especially need to be watered regularly until winter so the roots don't try out but do not overwater as root rot could occur. Fertilize your hydrangea the following summer when you see the plant growing again.
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I have 2 bushes next to my house with azaleas in front of them. We planted them when we first moved here 10 years ago, they have never bloomed! I am thinking to moving them where they would get more sun and there are no other plants. Any suggestions?
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If a plant is not performing—growing/producing—as expected, something's wrong. It could be as simple as too much shade or too much sun. It could be too much fertilizer, esp high nitrogen fertilizer, which will result in beautiful foliage but few if any flowers. It could be too much moisture—or too little moisture.
Do you know what kind of hydrangea it is? That would be a start. In the meantime, are you pruning it? The buds for the next year's flowers are formed this year. Pruning, even severe cold can kill flower buds (but seldom affect leaf buds).
And, how is the pH of the soil?? Have they got enough compost? There may not be a good, solid explanation, but moving them to a different "environment" will at least give you a point of comparison.
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Hello I recently planted 4 pink Mophead hydrangeas. I am in 8a zone and they get sun from 1000 to 1500. I followed the directions above on planting, spacing, and fertilizing them and I water them every day. Two years ago we put lime where the hydrangeas are planted. Now, they have recently started fading to a very light brown and three out of the four really have changed. The leaves and petals look healthy, its just the color has changed. I read about how a little red spider can suck the nutrients out of the petal, so I sprayed them with insecticide hoping that would help but nothing has helped. Do you have any suggestions?
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Mopheads—so far as our research suggests—are also known as Big Leaf Hydrangeas. We looked into a few sources and these suggest that yours may be getting too much sun. The little red spiders may also be present; it might be wise for your to review/copare the pics of diseased leaves on the US National Arboretum page below or consult a local nursery (taking a couple of leaves with you).
Here's the Arboretum page: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/hydrangeafaq2.html
Here's a cooperative extension page: http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C973
We hope this helps—
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I have a lot of deer in my yard. Will they feast on hydrangeas?
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Deer might eat your hydrangea, Beverly, if they are hungry enough and there are few options. TO be on the safe side, you could try this: We recently learned of a gardener who used Milorganite fertilzer around plants that she did not want animals to bother. (We do not know if Milorganite will alter the pink/blue of your flower.)
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I am interested in knowing if, because they are refereed to as a "bush"...will one plant spread like bushes do?
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My hydrangea is usually beautiful but fot the last 12months we have a building site next to our fence where they are suddenly the leaves have gone brown mostly at the tips is it due to the cement thats in the air and what can I do it only seems to be on the top of the bush should I snip them off
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It wouldn't seem like cement in the air would be a problem; maybe cement in the soil . . . if in large quantities. But remember that hydrangeas are susceptible to disease. This page from the Alabama Cooperative Extension service (more on your local in a moment) shows the effects of several problems with hydrangeas and offers some advice to remedy the situation: http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1212/ANR-1212.pdf
If you would like advice from your local cooperative extension service, find your state here and follow through with contact: http://www.almanac.com/content/cooperative-extension-serv...
If it's convenient for you, you might also bring a leaf to a local nursery, describe the situation, and see if they have an opinion.
We hope this helps!
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My husband bought me a beautiful pot with a Hydrangea. It is sitting in our kitchen on the counter, out of any direct sunlight. The card said to water it often, so we have done that, but my blooms have all turned brown and are falling off. Is it too late to plant it outside? Will it recover, and bloom again?
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Hi, Vickie: Assuming that your plant does not have some sort of disease or pest (inspect carefully; if so, do online research) and you have not just totally drowned your hydrangea (it should be moist, not swamped), it would seem that heat might be a possible culprit as the cause of your brownout. Sometimes folks equate heat with sun, but the two aren't the same. Perhaps your kitchen has just been too warm for it. In any event, sure, go ahead and plant it outside as long as you are not in the far north (find your last frost date here: http://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates). Snip off the brown blooms and go for it. Be sure to read all the advice above. Good luck and thanks for asking!
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What is the correct way to do this?
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The planting and care information at the top of this page should be helpful. Hydrangeas need full sun in the morning and some shade in the afternoon. They grow best in rich moist soil. You can plant your hydrangea in a big pot with fresh potting mix. Place the pot in a sunny spot outdoors and don’t let the soil dry out.
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is it ok to put white marble rock around the hydrangea. i put film down and then the rock.will hydrangeas be ok in this setting.thanks for your advice
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Hi, we live on Zakynthos in Greece the temperature in the summer regularly exceeds 40 degrees C (104 F) and in the winter we do get some mild ground frosts. We often go 5 or even 6 months with no rain in the summer and in the winter we have very heavy rainfall. The average annual temperature is 18.5 °C. (65.3 F) rainfall averages 937 mm 170 mm in December alone, often leading to our garden flooding. My questions are: Will Hydrangeas tolerate this much sunshine or will they need shade? Will they survive flooding for 1 or 2 days, 4 or 5 times each winter? Will they survive and flower long term if grown in a pot? Thank you.
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Hi, I bought a house last fall. There are two small Hydrangeas on the North side of the house. Both seem to have been in place for at least a couple of years, as the grass is completely filled in around the base, with no signs of disturbed earth. They are both small, and one seems to be really struggling. They are a beautiful blue color, so I would like to save them and get them healthy. Should I peel off the sod around them, fertilize, and mulch? Or should I dig them up and move them to a sunnier spot? If I dig, how far out should I dig from the stems so I don't cut roots? Thank you!
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PS... They both have live buds, but the smaller one only has buds around the base, and not the branch tips like the other. Also, I'm worried about compacted soil as they are planted in the lawn up against the foundation, and not in any type of a bed. How can I amend their environment, or should I dig up and start over? There are spruce trees 10 feet away, so I think they are acidic enough.
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There is an old rule of thumb that advises when you move into a new home you should not do attempt to alter the plantings/property until you have been there for a year—a full cycle of seasons. The idea is that you will see what comes up, blooms, etc. and know better what's there and how it's doing. In today's world, a year might seem like a lifetime but we tend to favor this idea. With spring upon us, you can watch the progress of the plants and see how they do in their show-off season. (A lot of hydrangeas look weak in the off season.) Another reason we like it is that there are so many types of hydrangeas . . . unless you know what this is, you do not know what you're dealing with. They might like a north side. There is the idea that you inquire of the buyer what type/variety they are, and/or how they do in that spot . . . but again we advise giving the plant time to reveal itself to you.
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I purchased a flowering beautiful hydrangea Pink diamond is Sept 2016, (I live in NJ) I planted it and it was fine for about a month and a half. Then the deer came and ate almost all the leaves off of it, so we put netting around it. Now, April of 2017 it appears to be just dead branches. Will it still start to get buds and new growth or is it dead, How can I tell? Please advise me of your opinion. Thank you so much
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The best way to tell if the plant is dead is to simply scrape a little of the bark with your fingernail. If it's green underneath, it's alive. If it's brown, it's dead.
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I found these articles very informative. It helped me very much..thanks
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My daddy started a couple slips from a hydrangea my sons got for me for Mothers Day over 30 years ago. This past summer the blooms were the most beautiful they have ever been. He lives at the property where the original plant is so I wanted to have plants from that original hydrangea that was sentimental to me. The two potted plants he grew for me were pretty healthy and were about 10" in height when he brought them to me. I live in zone 6 and even though it was mid September the weather was still hot so I kept the plants watered and in the partial sun. However it wasn't long the leaves started turning brown and falling off. After a few weeks I researched and did find that was a result of too little water to which I rectified. I hadn't chose a spot to plant them plus I felt they were to young to put them in the ground to survive a winter so decided to bring them in for the winter and keep them in my pantry where I would keep my florescent light on just so many hours through the day and my furnace unit is in that small room so it stays a comfortable temp. Now my issue is the poor little plants has gradually lost every leaf and they are down to a little stem. One plant has only a healthy bud of leaves that look like they are ready to break open anytime. The other has two of the same thing only they are at the soil line and have been there all along and have done nothing. Other than a half inch of a green and brown stem and the two soil line buds that pot is the only thing it has. Should I give them just a tiny feeding to see if it would boost them and help them along. My daddy used the correct potting soil for the hydrangeas. I don't want to lose the plants since they came from a hydrangea my sons got me years ago and mean a lot to me. I know my daddy would start more for me but he is elderly and in bad health. What do you recommend to save these plants? Help.
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Your hydrangeas sound like they are stressed. They may have suffered transplant shock when they were potted up. And now their growing conditions have changed again. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. Let them adapt to the conditions, watering only as needed and keeping the light consistent. Don't worry about fertilizing until spring.
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how to get hydrangeas seeds from a hydrangea
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Collecting hydrangea seeds is a challenge, and growing from seed is also quite difficult. Cuttings are the preferred method of propagation. Take a cutting from new growth and dust the stem with root hormone. Remove most of the leaves and cut those that remain in half. Put the cutting in potting soil and place a plastic bag like a tent over the plant (to keep moisture in). Once the cutting starts to root, remove the bag.
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A friend's mother in law gave me a (too big) bag of dried clusters of seed pods, each containing a large number of seeds from various hydrangeas that thrive in the cold of New England. I weeded out thorn brush and other wild plants from a 5 by 2.5 ft patch on the boundary between cleared and wild parts of my property, dug out all the roots from the very organic acidic soil, opened six of the clusters of pods and uniformly spread that vast number of seeds (far too many for that area) pressed them in slightly, then threw 1/16 in of inorganic soil on top to discourage whatever might find and eat the seeds. I never had a hydrangea before, on the slim chance that I did any of that right and a tenth of them sprout next spring, how do I tell them apart from weeds? I didn't find any pictures of what they look like at that stage. If anything close to a tenth sprout I need to transplant them further apart very early. How do I guess below ground size from above ground size in the first few months, to know when I can't wait longer to transplant without excessive intertwining of roots?
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Hurricane Matthew caused the river I live on to spill over the bank into my yard and covered my first row of hydrangeas for about 2-3 hours. The river water is brackish/salty. They really took a beating and look awful now. Will they come back next Spring? Should I prune them back??
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They should bounce back next spring, yes. Plants often take months, sometimes even years, to recover from a major shock like that. Don't prune them, that would be an added stressor at this point. In the spring, just remove any dead wood. Next fall, if they are strong and healthy again, you can do a regular annual pruning. Good luck!
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This year my hydrangeas acted crazy... There are about 10years old . Every year in November my husband cuts them back to 18 inches and they come back beautiful. Until this year... In there growing stage we had some really harsh rain and the bent down and many broke off. One of the bushes only got small flowers that never got to the usual large size. One bush under a large tree now barely grows and sparsely flower. Then it looks like something ate there leaves.. They turned green early in July which is very weird... I live in Chicago and this is my pride and joy. Next month after Halloween is when we cut them .. I tried to add photos but won't let me
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My hydrangea was accidentally weeded by a gardener. How can I salvage it? It's just about 3 inches from grown now. When it was cut, it was mid-September but temp was low 90 degrees F.
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At this point, it is a matter of letting it grow back. If you live in a cold climate, mulch it for the winter. Next spring, start fertilizing. Give it a growing season to bounce back and send up new growth. The following year, get onto an annual pruning schedule. Good luck!
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The plants are expensive. I have heard by cutting some leaves off I can get more plants. How do I do this? And first of all is this true and when do I do this. What is the procedure?
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my hydrangea will not bloom.
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Hi Janice,
The most common reason hydrangeas are not blooming is due to improper pruning. Go here for pruning guidance: http://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/gardening/how-prune...">http://www.almanac.com/blog/gardening/gardening/how-prune...
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These are bushes that I asked about.The ones with the large cone shape
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I bought 2 hydrangea plants 2 weeks ago from the nursery. They are very well established,about 3-4 ft tall each. We brought them home and planted them both,exactly how you described above. We watered well.The one was doing great ,but the other ,the leaves swrivelled right away.We still watered, Within a week,the second one has done the same thing. Now both are brown leaves,brown stems.They look dead. They cost me a fortune,and I love these plants. What should I do? Are they dead? and why? They are facing east,get lots of sun in the first half of the day. Lots of water, Should I cut them down and see if they start back? or dig them out and take back to the nursery? They say I have a 1 yr guarantee. Should I let them go through the winter?
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Hi, I have a young 2 1/2 year old Hydrangea Paniculata Grandiflora grown from cutting, it is about 2' tall and wide. The growth is quite bushy but individual branches are thin and spindly. Would you recommend to do some pruning of this plant next Spring?
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Hi Marina,
This species of hydrangea is known to have weak stems and branches. Because it blooms on the current year's wood, it would behoove you to do some light pruning in the early spring--that will help to encourage bloom. Think about structure as you prune--you want to create a solid framework to support new growth and flowers.
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I got a hydrangea (white) that I was to plan this summer and forgot about planting it. It has been on my deck in a container and I did water it occasionally. I noticed that it has dried up, but I knicked the actual stem part and its still green under it, still alive I hope? Is this trash bound or should I plant it today? I am in Minnesota, Mpls area.
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Keep it a friend of mine threw away potted dead hydrangea plants or so we thought and my Mom said plant them they will come back. I thought she was crazy. I planted them in the fall out side and in the spring they were beautiful.
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Bought a common hydrangea as a very small root. Grown about 2/3 foot tall. Single stem and no bloom. Should I cut it back and if so by how much?
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I find your website very interesting and helpful. I bought a white hydrangea, it was growing well and started to bloom then the whole plant dried up and die. I don't what why. I was watering it regularly and feeding it too. What do you suggest.
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Hi Medha,
I suspect your hydrangea was exposed to some kind of soil-borne disease, such as Phytophthora root rot. It is important to test your soil before replanting, as many plants succumb to that disease. If it is in the soil, the soil should be replaced before you plant anything.
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I read on your Web site that you don't recommend Maple leaf for mulch or Winter protection. Could you tell me the reason why not because I do this every year. I put around 3 inches of shredded Maple leaves around my hydrangea each year. Thanks in advance for your reply.
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Hi Michel - I just wondered if you ever received an answer to your question. I have the same one. I have a red maple that, of course, looses it's leaves right along with my oaks, so I would like to know the answer too. I am getting ready, next weekend, to plant 4 hydrangeas. I hope you get this message before then, if not, I'll be checking elsewhere for the answer. Thanks, Diane
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The reason we say to avoid maple leaves is because they tend to be very large, flat, and mat together (especially the Norway and Sugar maple leaves). This doesn't allow enough air circulation. It's best to use oak or other leaves. If you do have a lot of maple leaves, just be sure to mix with a lot of other types of leaves and pine needles.
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One of my hydrangeas, planted 2 years ago is green and healthy, but doesn't bloom, even though I've fertilized. It gets some morning sun. Does it need more sun? It's the big, blue bloom type. M. Richardson
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I planted a hydrangea 4 years ago. The first year yielded 7-8 bloom.s The next year only 2 blooms. The last 2 summers there have been no blooms but the bush has very healthy, vibrant green foliage and has grown much larger. I would appreciate any suggestions on getting this bush to bloom
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The blooming of hydrangeas is affected by how they have been pruned, which depends on the type of hydrangea. Some bloom on second-year wood, others on the current year's growth. Not knowing the type you have or how it has been pruned, I can't say for sure why it isn't blooming. Try fertilizing and determine its pruning requirements--the answer could lie there.
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I transplanted my hydrangea into a larger pot and gave it plenty of water, when it started to rain and hasn't stopped for a couple of weeks.. I noticed the plant wasn't looking well and noticed about 3'' of water in the pot because of poor drainage. I drilled more holes to allow more water to escape but the dirt around the plant is soaking wet, and it looks the leaves and flowers are getting brown. it looks like its on it's last legs, is there anything I can do to save it? It was absolutely gorgeous!!
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My hydrangea's leaves are beautiful but all the blooms have turned from a lovely pink to light green then brown. I transplanted it from it's original container to a larger one, then into the ground. I have watered well and gently fertilized. It is in a moderately sunny location with good soil. I hope this is just transplant shock, but I'm concerned that I've done it real harm. Help please!
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I have several Hydrangeas' that need re-potting. Should I do it now before the winter, or wait until the spring? The plants are on a roof garden in the Torquay area. A reply would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Hi Ann,
Either time would be fine. If you do it now, be sure to provide ample water.
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I have purchased some seeds and am not sure when I can start planting them? Should I start them in my house?
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I have just read on FB how to probagate the hydrangea plant, so have done so. I am wanting to know (a) do I put them in my garage over the winter or do I put them in the ground after the roots have started and protect the plant? I live in southern Kansas and the ground freezes.
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Hydrangea bush I have 5of them I transplanted last fall and they grew well and only had one flower and this summer they have no flowers but the plant is beautiful! What am I doing wrong
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I have mopheads that growing on both old and new wood is that possible. I had beautiful flowers for the first couple of years but now only the city line hydrangeas are blooming. I have fertilized the plants, covered them over winter, I did not prune them in fear of cutting the buds. They are in full sun and some in part sun. I have no idea why they won't bloom. I have a lot of plants and they were expensive. The plants are about 8 years old.
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I have several large hydrangea plants close together, they are quite tall and some are falling over...do I stake them? How do I prevent this?
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It sounds like your shrubs could stand to be pruned (a little on the hard side) after the blooming season. A combination thinning and heading cuts will keep them from getting tall and floppy. In the meantime, you could use twine to loosely tie them up.
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Can I plant it in the garden it's in a pot but I'm afraid if it stays in the pot it may become pot bound thanks
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My hydrangeas are 15 yrs old For the last two years they bloom less This year hardy plant almost no flowers Please advise
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My white mop head hydrangeas start out white in the spring but turn green by the end of June. How do I keep the heads white?
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My son bought me a hydrangea for Mother's Day about three years ago.I planted it outside and it didnt do anything till last year and it came back but not very tall (4 to 5 inches).This year it it's doing better (1'1/2 tall) but not much of anything else.Will it ever bloom? Thank you for your time.
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I have a blue hydrangea that I put in about 6 weeks ago. Generally, it appears to be doing pretty good and there's some new leaf growth and what I'm hoping is going to be another bloom. However, some of the older leaves have developed silverish areas (kind of looks like sun burn). They get morning sun and I've really made an effort with this plant as I've not had any luck with hydrangeas before. I live in Oregon, about 5000 feet altitude (high desert). I haven't been able to find anything so I'm hoping you can help. Thanks!!
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Hi Linda,
Hydrangeas thrive in woodland gardens, so that might be why you have had a hard time with them. But with regular slow-release granular fertilizer applications, plenty of water, and proper pruning, they should do just fine (as long as they are not sitting in baking hot sun all day). As for the silver leaves, I suspect it is powdery mildew, which is very common in the Pacific Northwest. It will not kill the plant. Remove the affected foliage and keep the soil free of any fallen leaves. Air circulation is important, so anything you can do to increase it is advised. Your plant sounds too young to do any real pruning on, but as it grows, keep on top of the pruning so branches don't get crowded. Powdery mildew likes moist, temperate conditions.
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Somewhat of a strange subject for the middle of the summer. Anyway, the winters here can be very harsh and I'm planning ahead. The plant is up against a fence (faces east) so it's pretty well protected from the wind. My question is what should I do to help it make it through the winter?? Should I prune it in the Fall?? Also, thanks very much for the advice on my leaf problem. It's now turned from silverish to tan and crunchy. I've been picking off the affected leaves and it looks OK. I REALLY want this plant to make it. Thanks, again!!
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I have a hydrangea plant that has red/black spots all over it. Is it sick and how do I fix it? I was going to send a pic but I can't on here.
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If I want to move my hydrangeas when is the best time in the year? Mine I believe are not getting enough sunlight.
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Yes, you should move your hydrangea if it is not getting enough sunlight which is needed for flower production. Move the hydrangea in the fall once it's fully dormant (after a couple hard frosts if possible). You can really move it any time before early spring.
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My beautiful hydrangea developed large dark spots on leaves and blooms. I am not sure what went wrong.
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Hi Susan,
There are a few different fungal diseases that can cause spotting on hydrangea leaves, including black spot, powdery mildew, and cercospora. They will not kill the shrub, but it is good to try to control spread. Treating any of them includes removing diseased leaves from the plant and the soil. Once the soil surface is clean, put down (and maintain) a very thick layer of compost mulch to suppress disease spores, which are airborne. Then, follow instructions on how and when to apply neem oil.
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My hydrangea plants are 10 -12 years old and do very well every year. This year the flowers have a bit of a bluish shade and I would like to keep them white. Is there anything I can do?
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planted dead stick 2 years ago, now have one 10" tall with 4" pink bloom.. we love it, but can't find instructions on how to splice for a new plant.. we would love to have more, but none of the nursery's here carry any that small.. Does anyone know what we have to do to get new plants??? help..
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I've had one for three years and it's only 3 inches tall. HELP.
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I suspect you have a "gift" hydrangea--one that was purchased in a grocery store (or someplace other than a nursery) and came in a foil-wrapped pot. If so, know that they are greenhouse-grown and fed a diet meant for them to be big and showy for purchase--often to the detriment of the plants' long-term health. It is rare that they thrive when transplanted into the landscape. Consider replacing it with a nursery-grown hydrangea that is already a few years old.
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I have a florist hydrangea that was given to me by a garden center right after Mother's Day about 12 years ago. I planted it and after moving it 3 times,it finally found it's home in a natural area that only gets about 3 hours of morning sun. It has lived in this spot for 9 years now and has lovely blue blooms every year.It's a rather compact bush growing only about 3 to 3 1/2 feet. This is a tough little bush!
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We bought Endless Summer hydrangeas last year and planted them mid summer. We live in central Indiana. Two are planted on the south side of our house and so they get full sun. The other two are on the west side for the house, so they get full sun but a little less than the others. Only one on the west side of the house is doing ok, meaning it normally looks alright and there are about 3 or 4 blooms produced this year. The other on the west side is tiny, just one little leaf popped up and isn't doing anything. The two on the south side of the house have brown spots, have not bloomed, are really small and struggling. What can I do to improve these plants? I'm planning on adding mulch soon to retain moisture. I have started to water them a few times a week. Any assistance would be greatly accepted and appreciated. Thank you!
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Hydrangeas much prefer shady conditions. If there is any way you can move them to a darker location come fall, that would likely make a big difference in their overall health and blooming potential.
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Earlier in thread, you said they like morning sun, partial shade in afternoon. I have that perfect place I want to plant them. Later you said they prefer shade. Well?
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how can you change color to purple
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Acidic soils cause hydrangeas to bloom blue (soil pH below 5.5). You can apply aluminum sulfate or sulfur to lower soil pH (broadcast half a cup of wettable sulfur per 10 square feet and water in). To gradually change flower color from pink to blue, broadcast half a cup of wettable sulfur per 10 square feet and water it in.
It's even better if you can drench the soil. For example, dissolve one tablespoon of aluminum sulfate in one gallon of water, and then drench the soil around the plant in the spring. (Avoid the leaves, and get at soil level).
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We put in four very nice dwarf Hydrangea bushes in 2011 and they have done very well until this when three had mostly orange leaves. We've had a normal growing season in western North Carolina and all our other plants have done well. What happen and how do I correct this problem?
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We planted four dwarf Hydrangea bushes in 2011 and they have done very well until this year when three of them now have mostly orange leaves. We've a good growing season in western North Carolina and all our other plants are very healthy. What has happed to these plants and what can I do about it.
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I pruned my hydrangeas improperly last year and while the plant thrived and grew, I had no blossoms. This year I allowed the dead wood to remain all winter and in early spring I had new green leaves in the old wood stems. Then, suddenly the new green shoots died and dried up. I pruned the wood back to the base at that time, the plant is now thriving well but I have no blossoms again. I wonder why the new green died so suddenly. Help!
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It is hard to say why the new stems died off, perhaps they were bitten by a cold snap while they were still tender. However, it is likely you don't have blooms because you cut the old wood back to the base--those were the branches that would have produced blooms. You want to keep year-old wood for a few seasons before removing it. The new growth, as it ages, will take its place. That is how you keep hydrangeas blooming--they should always have a mix of older branches and first-year growth.
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Please could you advise on what might be wrong with two hydrangeas which are currently in a pot (each). They are wilting and the leaves dying. I would be most grateful for any assistance.
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It is hard to say for sure, but you might be over watering (wilting and drooping foliage is often a symptom). Providing good drainage is key to growing hydrangea in pots.
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My hydrangea is new this year. There are buds-blossoms ready to open, but only a few on each head have opened. What do I do?
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Fertilizer might be the ticket. Try getting it on a bi-weekly schedule to see if you can encourage those buds to open.
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How do I prune my shrub of hydrangea // Bottom large leaves now get brown // Shrub grow taller each day // Blooming ended // Please reply //
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I have 3 hydrangea plants, I thought the first one survived our winter snow. I cut the dead part of it and cut it down and saw the branches were still alive (green). I have not yet seen any new growth or new leaves. This plant was bought last summer. Early this summer, my new plants (2) apparently dried up (I had done away for several days), so I cut off the dead parts of these plants. Will any of these revive and show some life again? Discouraged.
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Take a look at our advice for pruning hydrangeas. The method for pruning depends on what kind of shrub you have. It may be that by cutting off year-old wood you have removed the branches that would have bloomed. This is the most common reason a hydrangea fails to flower Water them well and regularly since you say they are dry, but don't do anymore pruning. Let them grow for the next two seasons to get established.
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I planted my hydrangea and the new growth leaves are turning silver. Someone said if it's hothouse grown it will do that and it dies because it's meant to be inside. Should I unplant and repot for indoors only?
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Hydrangeas that were grown in a greenhouse to be sold in grocery stores as gifts have been bred to produce big blooms quickly, functioning as one-time showy ornamentals. They are rarely hardy enough to make it outdoors.
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can I get some of my dried out hydrangeas plants healthy again if I cut them down to the base? or are they a loss cause?
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If you still see green foliage, it is not a lost cause. Prune off stems and foliage that are clearly dead or dying. Set up a hose at the shrub's drip line and turn it on to a low trickle. Let it run for a few hours so the plant gets a nice deep drink. Move the hose a few times so you are targeting the whole root zone. Be sure, too, your plant isn't sited in direct sun. Hydrangeas prefer partial shade.
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I have a macrophylla hydrangea it has been in the garden three years now and only bloomed the first year and the flowers were very small the last two years nothing, I gave it bone meal last year as told by the garden centre it would help to bloom this year but to no avail any information would be gratefully received Many thanks Linda
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The most common reason people don't get blooms has to do with improper pruning. There are two types of hydrangeas: those that bloom on new wood and those that bloom on old wood, and knowing what you have dictates how to prune it. Many people inadvertently cut off the branches that would have produced flowers. (Macrophylla hydrangea blooms on old wood.)
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1. When is the best time to transplant them? 2. Any special conditioning? 3. Do they produce seeds so they can be reproduce?
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Please tell me what I need to do to make my 3 year old plant bloom!
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after a few yrs my plants quit blooming I get maybe one or two blooms each year. very frustrating.
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how to make it bloom
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I live in North Georgia. I have a very large Hydrangea macrophylla blocking my view of a golf green. I would like to leave the plant in place but trim/prune it to half it's current height so that it allows viewing of the golf green year to year. What can I do and what should be the timing? Thank You!
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I live in northern lower Michigan and have planted a incrediball smooth hydrangea. It's planted on the north side of the house and gets a little am and pm sun. It's very green and healthy but every day one stalk seems to break off at the base. Please help
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Weak stem growth from the base could be the result of improper pruning, which can encourage leafy unproductive growth that is subject to breakage.
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Im new to this and need a little help. My plant/shrub started blooming early May. Then on top of that flower a stem grew out of it and eventually the flowers died. I now have no flowers on my shrub. Is this normal?
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The pink blooms ion my plant are turning a rusty color and the leaves are getting big Brown spots. What am I doing wrong?
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This would seem to be a fungal infection called plant rust, as mentioned below. Unfortunately, not much can be done to save infected parts, so the idea is to prevent it from spreading. For starters, don't water from the top, as this disturbs the spores and trickles them down to new prey. Carefully remove and dispose of (as in burn or throw away in a bag; don't put in your compost) all infected leaves. Also remove the very top layer of soil (you are trying to get rid of as many spores as possible). Continually monitor/do this. In the meantime, you can be making some compost tea by putting a shovelful into about 5 gallons of water and letting it sit for a week. Then strain and spray on your plants. Another option is a 10:1 water/hydrogen peroxide mixture, although you need to be careful not to get burned by the latter. A copper-based fungicide might also work. Try consulting with your local cooperative extension -- and good luck!
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how do I take care of a shooting star, it say's it likes morning sun but the leaves are all turning brown and dieing does that mean its getting to much sun or does it need to be trimed?
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I was told that using coffee grinds into soil with hydrangea that I want to blossom the blue color. Is this true for making soil acid and getting the blue flower?
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Hi I replanted my hydrangea's in the shade and the leaves are no longer white! The sun seemed to have burnt some leaves and flower heads. They seem much healthier. But the burnt flower heads I cut off. Is it okay to cut them off after they bloom? Will I get more blooms this year? Thank you
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There are so many types of hydrangea it's impossible for us to give you a confident answer with this much information. Do you still have the plant tag? If so, Google the name/variety of the plant; you should get some links that provide detail on the plant and its blooming habit.
Hope this helps!
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When the hydrangea is flowering and some flowers go over, do you regularly cut the flower heads for more new flowers?
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I have 5 hydrangeas that were planted a year ago in Ohio. At the bottom leaves are really growing. On the stems from last year a few have leaves forming but most of them just appear to be dead. Should I cut them off or just wait and see what happens.
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I received a potted hydrangea for Mother's Day. Can I plant it in my garden? When? Do I cut off the current blossoms or what? Thanks for any help. Btw, it's a macrbphylla Berlin, if that matters.
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Hi Anne,
You can plant the hydrangea in the garden or you can move it to a bigger pot and put it outside. Please see our planting instruction at the top of this page. If the flowers have faded you can cut them off.
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Hello,I planted my Blue hydrangea (mathilda gutges ) beginning of May. I have 3 of them. I bought them from a flower shop in soil. Is it supposed to be just in bloom for a few weeks? Because I've planted them all in my garden. Two of them don't seem to be doing well. The leaves are turning white and brown and the blooms look brown. One gets sun all day. The 2nd one only gets sun in the morning and the 3rd gets sun in the afternoon. I live in canada, ontario. I'm not sure what zone I'm in. Will these rebloom next year? And should I move their locations this year? Thank you Angie
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I received a large Hydrangea plant with blue flowers in a pot for mothers day 2016. After a week some of the flower heads have started to wilt. I am wondering if I need to transplant it to another pot. Currently I keep it inside and have been watering it. When I removed the plastic pot from the pretty stainless steel pot i noticed water in the bottom of the steel pot. Of course i emptied the water but now am i not sure what i need to do to be able to have my hydrangea stop from wilting and some of the leaves are a little brown and yellow. Some of the flowers have also turned brown. Please advise me on what I need to do. I would like to still keep them in a container for or patio or have them inside. There are about 6 or 7 large mop heads on my plant. I live in IL. Thanks!!!
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Hi Lisa,
Pleases see our planting and care information at the top of this page. Hydrangesa need full sun in the morning and some shade in the afternoon. They grow best in rich moist soil. You can transplant your plant into a bigger pot with fresh potting mix. Place the pot in a sunny spot outdoors and don't let the soil dry out.
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I have 4 very old PeeGee Hydrangea trees (30 + years!) that are not doing well this spring. They are multi-stemed trees which have just this year had a some "stems" completely die back, many more dead branches than usual. One of the most stressed specimens is showing a lot of new growth on all the stems at about 3' high. I am wondering if I should prune them way back? There also appears to be some borer holes, but I don't know of a type of hydrangea borer. My rhododendrum (also very old) have dieback (which started at the end of last summer)that I think is from borers. Could they be also infesting these old Hydrangeas? All are struggling all at once!!
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I just received this plant and wondered if it could be planted in a 1/2 whiskey barrell. I live in central Iowa and the barrell stays out year round. It would have 2 or 3 feet of dirt, morning sun and fairly shaded afternoon.
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Hydrangeas grow well in pots. Use good potting soil mixed with compost and keep the soil moist. You may need to protect the hydrangea from freezing temps in the winter depending on what type of hydrangea you have. If you can't move the pot into a garage or shed you need to add mulch around and over the pot.
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I planted 3 bushes about 5-6 years ago. They bloomed 2x and haven't bloomed since. The bushes are very healthy. One bush is pure white, another is pink and the third is a combo of pink and blue.How can I encourage blooms?
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Pruning helps to encourage blooms, but you need to know what kind of hydrangeas you have to know when to prune. Do the plants get enough sun? Did you have a late frost that may have frozen the buds? See link below for more information.
http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/wont_bloom.html
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Many plants succumbed to warm March and weeks of freezing temps in early April. My hydrangeas are now just giant twigs w green at the base. I see dead bugs along the long twigs and no more frost coming. What is my best plan of attaxk? This is the addres of that they look like... https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3vOcy6O_N5sOEZUSE1OdWd...
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Hello, have a few blue plants that were very established. We had a late frost on Northern NJ while away. All of the plants had serious budding prior to frost, now dead. All I have now are giant twigs w growth at the base. Do I cut the twigs down low or leave them? Is this common w late frosts that you lose so much growth? https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3vOcy6O_N5sOEZUSE1OdWd...
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I too have the same problem, but it's almost July in NJ and I have new growth but lots of dead twigs like you. How long do you wait before pruning the old dead ones. Last year,I waited all summer. Thus year I think I pruned too early. I wish they would answer about original(northern nj reblooming )hydrangias mopheads
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I also am from Northern Jersey and had GORGEOUS blooms last year on 5 one year old, endless summer hyndrangeas that started in June and went way into the fall. This year had some buds on old wood which are no longer present and all new growth that is slowly growing. . . did not fertilize and wonder if I should do it now and if I should cut back all the old wood - looks very strange to have the old wood "spidering" up and new growth at base. . . will these bloom this year or do we have to wait for next year? Would love some advice!
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I received a macrophylla White Robe hydrangea as a mother's day gift. I'm wondering if I can plant this outdoors. I live in southern Mn.
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'White Robe' hydrangea are hardy to Zone 6. You might have to enjoy your plant in a large pot.
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Can you grow a new Hydrangea using a start from a mature plant? If so, how?? We have many beautiful, mature Hydrangeas and wonder... Thanks!
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I was given a Hydrangea for Mothers Day and don't know if its climbing or a bush. I don't know my zone
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Since we don't know what your hydrangea looks like, try doing an image search to find out what kind of hydrangea you have. You can find your hardiness zone here: https://www.almanac.com/content/plant-hardiness-zones
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Hello! I just planted my new blue hydrangea (mathilda gutges) yesterday. I'm new to hydrangeas and I've always wanted a blue one. I assumed it was a perennial but then I read the little tag and it says to grow as an annual. So I'm basically devasted. I was so excited to finally have my blue hydrangea. Is it an annual or perennial? Thank you
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Everything we can find about it indicates that it is a perennial—and a beauty! You might contact the vendor you bought it from and ask what that means on the tag. But it "appears" to be a perennial to us!
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Hello!! I live in Columbia south Carolina. I just recently bought a small Hydrangea plant from lowes, and id like to plant it now. Any tips? The flowers are blue & purple, SO PRETTY! When is a good time to plant them?
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There is no time like the present to plant your hydrangea, Jessica. See above for suggestions on how to do that. Note your plant's tag also for any special considerations. (There are soooo many varieties of hydrangeas on the market, you want to be sure you do right by yours.)
Best wishes!
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I tried to grow hydrangea in my country(zone 9) but it never grow in addition that I feed it and Created all conditions to grow well pleas help me to know why its not success in my country (Jordan)
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I have newly planted (small) hydrangeas. I want to encourage bushy growth for the first few years - I prefer them to grow in size at the expense of the blossoms. How do I do that?
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Oh, that plants would do our bidding! There are a ka-zillion varieties of hydrangea available today. (Ok, maybe half that—but it's heaps!) We would suggest that you consult your local nursery for varieties that are prone to that and care for it accordingly. Some like sun, for example and some do not. Soil matters. Moisture. It's the whole ball of wax. Or flowers.
Soe sources suggest that if you prune a branch back a Limelight-type hydrangea to a healthy branch or bud, more shoots will grow below the cut, making the plant more dense. Not every plant will respond the same way.
This may not be the answer you were hoping for; sorry. It's the hydrangea world we live in...
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I live in Chicago and bought a hydrangea a couple years ago, it bloomed a couple of times but has since stopped. The spot were I planted it seemed a little cramped so I removed a bush a couple feet away and plan on transplanting the hydrangea there. I'm wondering why it stopped blooming and if transplanting it will kill it. The spot were it is and were I want to put it has full sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon.
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I received hydrangeas in a pot as a gift and want to plant them in a full sun spot in my front yard... I read your article and I guess I just dig a whole, put some moist soil then plant away?
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Hydrangeas grow best if they get full sun in the morning and some afternoon shade. When you dig the holes add some compost to the soil.Water well and you may want to add some mulch around the hydrangeas to keep the soil moist.
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when is the best time to plant in zone 7 n.c. I like to send my daughter for mothers day
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Mother's day is a good time to plant the hydrangea in NC. The soil is warm and there is no more risk for frost.
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Will the hydrangea come back if they are limp from frost?
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I live in South Texas and we have hot weather 3/4 of the year. My husband just bought me a Merrits Pink Hydrangea which i plan on planting in my back yard but it will be exposed to morning and afternoon sun and I'm worried that it won't make it. Any advice?
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Most hydrangeas prefer full sun in the morning with some afternoon shade. The hydrangea will need some protections during the hottest days in summer. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times and add some mulch around the plant to cool the roots and to conserve soil moisture.
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I received a blue or purple hydrangea plant today at a baby shower, I'm excited to plant it but I am moving in six months. It is early April and I live in zone five in Illinois. Can I leave this in the pot until the fall when I move in late September or early October? If so, should I leave it outside or keep the plant inside? How often do I water it? Thanks!
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I live in CT and although it's April and warm during the day we are still getting below freezing temps in the evenings. Is it safe to plant Annabel and endless summer hydrangeas this week? I'm going out of town, so need to plant this week. Thank you!
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I live in the BC mountains where it is not uncommon to get 4 ft of snow throughout the winter (I'm not exagerating, I live at the base of a ski hill). I was given 4 white mophead hydrangea. What can I do protect them over the winter? Thank you for any advice.
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Snow usually doesn't harm the bushes as it is a protective layer against the cold. To be safe encircle the bushes with a wire cage and fill the cage with a lightweight mulch (hay, straw, leaves). This will protect the flower buds on the lower section of the old stems, which will bloom the next year. Leave the mulch around the plants until after your last frost in the spring.
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I live in west central Florida in the Tampa bay region. It's really hot here April thru October. Do mop head hydrangeas grow in this hot humid climate?
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Hello, I bought the plants in the pots last fall and left it outside throughout winter in the snow, rain and storm. I'm in Canada, and it's spring now just wondering if the plants are dead or will it bloom again and what do I need to do.
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It all depends on what type of hydrangeas you have. A few varieties are winter hardy and may have survived the winter cold. Wait and see if they will show any new growth this spring. If they do we suggest that you plant them in the ground. See our planting and care information at the top of this page.
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If you live in Canada you are in a zone 5 or lower and if you left them in pots, they will not have survived the winter. If you planted them in the ground and cared for them properly before winter, they should come back. In Canada (other than Vancouver) you cannot leave plants in pots outdoors during the winter months.
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I bought a BEAUTIFUL BLUE HYDRANGIA and I planted it in the flower bed in my yard. The next morning it was wilted, looked very bad. I watered it and it didn't change. After the 3rd day it was no better so I cut off all the blooms thinking it would do better and wouldn't struggle as much. But still no change. What should I do. I live in Pearland, Texas zone 9
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I live in a tropical country, just about 5 degrees north of the equator, so naturally we get a lot of sun year round, and even during our 'winter' which is really the dry season. I'd like to know if I can start hydrangeas from seed since seedlings are unavailable here. Also, what special care tips do i need to be aware of? Looking forward to your response. Thanks.
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Hello, I bought some 6in potted hydrangaes from Aldi grocery store. They are the kind you give as a gift and leave in the pot per the tag in the pot. Can I plant these in my yard instead? I live in middle Tennessee. The tag didn't give much information besides the lighting and watering suggestions. Thanks!
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I just bought 8 of these today from Aldi as well. They are called "Merritt supreme" and are a variant of H. macrophylla. You can plant them in Tennessee. I'm in zone 5 and planning to plant mine as well. Enjoy!
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These hydrangeas have usually been grown for a one-time display. The plant has been timed specifically to produce many big blooms quickly. The plants have been grown in a greenhouse and may not be winter hardy. You can try to plant them outside but they may not make it.
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I bought 5 of these from Aldi in 2014. I planted them on the northwestern side of the house where they get late afternoon sun. They came back in 2015 but took awhile to get established but they did grow and had some blooms. It is now 2016 and they seem to be doing quite well. At least all are poking through the ground with new growth. I live in central MN and didn't do anything special to winter them over.
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I have buds on the wood of my endless summer hydrangea. What should I do? I live in middle Tennessee.
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I live in Zone 6b and have a Nikko blue hydrangea that bloomed beautifully for at least a decade. The past couple of years it has become totally confused. It leafs out well in the spring and looks very healthy. But no flowers at all in the spring or summer. Then in October I get a couple of measly blooms. I've continue to fertilize regularly. What's up?
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Nikko Blue blooms on old wood and the new flower buds for the next year develop starting in July-August. Maybe you have had some late frosts the last few years that have killed the new buds. Pruning sometimes helps the bush to bloom. Best time to prune is right after they bloom in early summer before it develops the new buds for the following year. The hydrangea needs good soil that drains well. Add some compost to the soil around the bush. Also make sure that your fertilizer is low in nitrogen. A 10-10-10 would be OK to use.
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I have the exact problem. My hydrangeas are about 10 years old, bloomed beautifully for years and the past couple of years very few blooms. I live in zone 5 in southern Illinois. I would love some answers to the blooming question. Perhaps they have a short life expectancy? I really miss the large blooms.
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I was giving a mophead 3yrs ago it was only about a ft tall. I planted it poor thing has survived major flash flooding within a month of being planted and a few small floods but he still keeps rolling along. I haven't pruned it because I'm afraid I'll do it wrong. It has bloomed the last 2 years with a creamy/green color flowers BUT it's only had at the most 5 heads on it. I live in zone 7 in Northwest Georgia. What can I do to have this little survivor have more blooms? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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You can prune the hydrangea in the summer after it has bloomed and before it forms new buds for next year. Prune in July or early August to be on the safe side. Always remove dead stems and cut off any spent flowers. Sprinkle a low-nitrogen 5-7-2 granular fertilizer around the base of the hydrangea in the spring and fall.
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I have 2-3 hours of full morning sun followed by 3-4 hours of dappled sun but then the rest of the day is full sun, will this be a problem for subject plant? Also, how soon can I plant & can I except a good full summer bloom the first year. Thank you
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Plant as soon as the night temperatures are above freezing and the soil has warmed up a bit. See our planting advice above. The sun in your yard is enough for the plants to thrive. You may have some blooms this summer depending on the size of the plants. Good luck!
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I thought I was protecting my older hydrangeas by surrounding them with a cage and putting leaves around them. I didn't know that maple leaves should not be used. All my trees are maples! Will this damage my hydrangeas for this year?
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I am living in Trinidad and want to grow roses, hydrangea, lilac, heather, butterfly bush and wisteria. Is it possible to grow these in this climate and where can I purchase them? Thank you
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We were just given a blue hydrangea plant today (Feb 20) and right now it is just a bunch of 1 1/2' sticks in a large (5 gal?) container. I see that I should wait until early Spring to plant it - but how should I take care of it until then? I assume it's currently dormant - but should I be doing anything until planting time? Thanks so much!!
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Put the container in an unheated garage or shed and water every 2 weeks. You can move the container outdoors when the night temps are above freezing.
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Thanks so much!!!
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I bought a box of baby hydrangea plants from Sam's Club last year, and planted them through my yard. I live in GA, so it's pretty much all red clay, but I used Miracle Grow planting soil to plant them in the yard. There were small leaves on the little plants when I placed them in the soil, but they quickly died off. I didn't see anything come back all year last year, and I'm wondering if I need to go buy more plants, or is there a chance they could come up this year still?
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Please see our planting and care advice at the top of this page. It's best to plant in a soil/compost mixture and then fertilize once a year in late winter or spring. You can wait and see if your plants will have new growth this spring. Chances are that they are dead. If you get more hydrangeas this spring purchase plants that are bigger and more established. These will have a better chance to survive in your garden.
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I'm in upstate NY and have had my dwarf hydrangea for about 10 years. It has only flowered the first year. I prune it in the Spring and only cut back the totally dead stalks. I can see small dried up buds on them sometimes. Could you help and maybe tell me what I'm doing wrong?
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Do not prune the hydrangea this spring. If your hydrangea is a variety that produces flowers on old wood you should leave the dead looking stems on the plant. Also make sure that the hydrangea gets enough sun. If you live in a climate that gets frosts the new buds can be killed by a late frost. Fertilize with a phosphorus-rich fertilizer or add bhttp://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertil...">one meal to the soil.
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Are hydrangeas stems, leaves or flowers toxic or poison to cattle? I'm keeping baby calves in my back yard and want them to be safe. Thanks for your help. Debbie
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Hydrangeas can be mildly toxic to horses and cows. It would be best to keep them away from the plants.
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I have recently moved to Texas (zone 8) and the house we bought has to mophead hydrangeas about 5 ft tall. They have mostly lost there leaves now, should I trim them down or what should have I done to these beautiful plants? I came from up north, and I have never had a lot of outdoor plants. Need help, please.
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It’s best to deadhead (remove faded blooms) and prune mopheads in early spring. Prune stems back to first healthy pair of buds and remove any dead branches.
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In the "care" segment of this page I saw where it said not to use maple leaves as cover. Why is that? I have a bed cleared right now, with the intention to plant hydrangeas there in the spring. There are maple leaves on it now, as a compost. Is that going to hurt the hydrangeas?
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Some gardeners don't like to use maple leaves around established hydrangea bushes as they tend to mat and may suffocate the bush. If you chop the leaves and mix them with soil they should be fine in the bed that you have cleared.
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My hydrangea did not bloom at all this summer. I trimmed it late winter. I live in zone 9 and in the past I have gotten huge heads on my bigleaf mop head. I am wondering when it the right time to trim the hydrangea in zone 9? It is on the north side of my house getting very early morning sun, not the direct sun during the hottest part of the day, but sun from the west at the end of the day. Thank you
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Bigleaf mop head hydrangeas should be pruned right after they flower in the summer. The hydrangea develops new buds for the following season on old wood so if you prune in the winter you are cutting off the new growth. Hydrangeas grow best with morning sun.
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We have hydrangeas planted in mid-September around a new patio. Some are very brown (look dead). We have watered religiously and have had plenty of rain. Is this normal? (Hardy Hydrangeas are what we have)
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Hi Marvin,
Most hydrangeas turn brown during the winter months. Keep watering until the ground freezes. Add some mulch around the bushes after the ground is frozen. Hopefully all the bushes will come back next year.
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Hi. I want to purchase Hydrangea macrophylla hamburg for our greenhouse. I want to have its blooms next spring. But I do not know which age is proper for transplanting it and when I must transplant it. please guide me. Thanks
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Ok this says to cover with leaves in winter and every one says not to cover which is it.?
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We suggest to encircle the shrub with chicken wire and fill the cage with a light-weight mulch (hay, straw, pine needles, or deciduous leaves).
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my hydraendas were pruned 2 years ago & haven't bloomed or grown since. Should I fertizilze or put peat moss around them? live in central nj & we have such brutal winters. Any suggestions will be so appreciated
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Add a couple of inches of compost or aged manure around your hydrangeas. Create cages by wrapping chicken wire around a few stakes and place around the hydrangeas. Put leaves into the cages around the bushes being careful not to brake any branches.
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I just had several hydrangea planted and was very disappointed in what I saw. The plants are all tall, thin with fragile looking lettuce like leaves and not one blossom on any of them. Is this normal for hydrangea in late September?
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Hi! I have a potted macrophylla White Robe which has a white mop head bloom from the Spring that has turned greenish. There have been no other blooms all summer, but I suspect this is due to some overpruning in June. My question is: do I leave this greenish-white bloom on the plant? Or cut it off? The plant is very healthy, growing new green leaves continuously. Also - it's been on my balcony all summer with direct light from 8-11am roughly. Wondering where best to keep for the NYC winter. Thanks!!
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You can cut off the flowers once they turn green. To winter it over in the pot and have it rebloom next year it needs a winter rest. Once the leaves have dropped off move it to a dark, cold indoor spot such as an unheated basement or garage where it can stay around 30-40 degrees. Water sparingly. In mid-January bring it back into bright light but not in direct sun and still keep it cool - around 50 degrees for about 2-3 weeks as it makes its transition from dormancy back to life. Then it is ready for a sunny window and warmer indoor temperatures 60-65 degrees. Resume normal watering. New leaves should should sprout and it will bloom soon after. If it seems to have outgrown its pot move it to a larger container.
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I have the macrophylla white robe hydrangea in a pot in our screened area that gets lots of light and afternoon sun. Can I just plant it in a huge pot and keep it there and not put it in the ground? Also, we are in FL, so it is hot here. I'd just like some white color on our lanai/scr. porch. I'd appreciate your opinion.
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Hi, Renee, There are so many hydangeas these days! Our sources suggest that this would be fine in a pot. Keep the soil moist—not soggy (yellow leaves falling off are a sign of dryness) and see that it gets at least 4 hours of indirect light per day.
Plan to replot after blooming and cutting the stems back by half. Keep the plant cool during the winter, then move it to warmer conditions in late winter to help to bring it into bloom. Summer temps may be too hot for it; it likes 45–65°F.
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I have had my mophead hydrangea for many years it has turned into a lacecap this year. Why has this happened please?
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I recently had 2 vanilla strawberry hydrangeas planted in my yard. They are large in size for new plants and have beautiful plentiful flowers that were pink and white. The flowers have started turning brown. The plant does not look distressed although we have had a dry hot spell. I live in zone 5. What if anything should I do. The shrub and flowers are no dead and I water most mornings unless soil feel damp. I am new at this plant but love the look
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The blooms turn a darker red later in summer and then fade and dry on the stems to a brownish shade. You can leave the dried blossoms on the plants over the winter. Prune in late winter or early spring.
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I have raised hydrangeas for several years. I have had lots of enjoyment from their beauty and ease of growing. I have read several "how to prune" articles but yours is by far the easiest to understand. Thank you for clearing up some questions I have had for several years about the different varieties of this beautiful shrub.
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I have a number of shrub hydrangeas. They have white lacy flowers that turn rose or red in the fall. They are beautiful and healthy, the only problem is they attract masses of house flies for the first 2-3 weeks they are in bloom. Is there anything I can do to discourage the flies. Patti
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bay leaves in between the hydrangea flowers; their aroma wards off flies.
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Crush up 1 tbsp. of mint leaves and place them in a small pouch. Place the pouch underneath the hydrangeas, or hang it next to the plant to repel flies. The pungent smell of the mint leaves keeps the flies away from the flowers. Replace it weekly to maintain the odor's potency.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_7974621_stop-flies-swarming-hydra...
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bay leaves in between the hydrangea flowers; their aroma wards off flies.
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Crush up 1 tbsp. of mint leaves and place them in a small pouch. Place the pouch underneath the hydrangeas, or hang it next to the plant to repel flies. The pungent smell of the mint leaves keeps the flies away from the flowers. Replace it weekly to maintain the odor's potency.
Read more : http://www.ehow.com/how_7974621_stop-flies-swarming-hydra...
Place bay leaves or mint leaves among the hydrangea blossoms. You can also try to spray the blossoms with neem oil when you first start seeing the flies.
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I received a small potted Hydrangea "Grace" as a gift. I have several "Endless Summer", I'm in Zone 5, and they have done beautiful for years. I know nothing about this particular variety, nor have I ever planted one so small. Can you please help me out with some information? Thanks !
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Hi Lisa,
Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Grace’ is a newer cultivar and can be blue or red depending on the acidity of the soil. It has large attractive flowers and is cold tolerant. If can keep the hydrangea in a container until it is bigger and then transplant it into the ground or you can plant it in a protective spot now and keep an eye on it to make sure it grows well.
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Oh Dear! My wonderful husband decided to prune overgrown shrubs in the front of our home and it's July 19th... our hydreangea I think is a panicle type. It's grown very large and was blocking a window so my husband thought he would please me by cutting it back while I was out. When I returned I nearly fainted! The hydrangea had tons of blooms on it and would likely be blooming in the next few weeks :( The blooms are typically white and then turn a beautiful mauve color in the Fall. ALL the blooms were cut off. Will this shrub bloom again next year or did he cut too aggressively and cut off next year's blooms? I keep looking at the shrub and wanting to cry... It's just a shrub but we have a small yard with beautiful plantings and I was so looking forward to the big white majestic flowers. I live in central NJ and have not done any major pruning to this shrub before as we moved here 5 years ago and the shrub always produced beautiful blooms with no trimming or pruning!
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This kind blooms on new growth so yes it will bloom next year .just trim down in the fall.sorry you lost all pretty blooms
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Hi~ I've had 3 Hydrangea Plants for many years. I live in NJ. The green leaves are always full n lush looking however the flower seems to not mature. It stays flat n bud looking. I've never had a flower on any of the plants. Can you please give me some ideas of how to help the plants flower. Thank you!
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You're not alone in the absence of blooms on your hydrangeas, Lori. There are approximately 23 species of hydrangea these days, so it is important to know which you've got and what it needs and likes for conditions. Some like a little shade (north side of a house, edge of a woodland), some tolerate a lot of sun, so too little may affect their performance (flowering). Plants grown in hot climates tend to want more shade than those grown further north. In some cases in higher-heat areas, increasing watering will enable plants to tolerate more sun. Hydrangeas grow best in moist, well-drained soil. Impropoer pruning can affect bloom. Some bloom on last year's growth, some on this year's. Poorly timed pruning could have eliminated the flower buds.
You might take a leaf from, or photos of, your plants to a local nursery to help you to identify them and so improve chances of flowering.
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I have a macrophylla Twist-n-Shout. I planted it late last summer. It as 4 blooms on it. But, only a few of the buds have opened. We have had lots of rain and cloudy days here in northern Wisconsin I have fed it twice so far, when we finally had some sunny days. Will they open when we get more sunny days?
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I have brown spots on my hydrangeas they almost look burned, they get morning sun and afternoon shade. Here in southern NC the temperature has been 100°+ the past few weeks could this be a factor? I water them every other evening Is there anything i can do to clear my bushes up i dont wanna loose them. . .
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I'm having the same problem too!! Any suggestions?
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Hi, Jessica and (below) Valerie: This would seem to be a fungal infection such as anthracnose or leaf spot. Unfortunately, not much can be done to save infected parts, so the idea is to prevent it from spreading. For starters, don't water from the top, as this disturbs the spores and trickles them down to new prey. Carefully remove and dispose of (as in burn or throw away in a bag; don't put in your compost) all infected leaves. Also remove the very top layer of soil (you are trying to get rid of as many spores as possible). Continually monitor/do this. In the meantime, you can be making some compost tea by putting a shovelful into about 5 gallons of water and letting it sit for a week. Then strain and spray on your plants. Another option is an 10:1 water/hydrogen peroxide mixture, although you need to be careful not to get burned by the latter. A copper-based fungicide might also work. Try consulting with your local cooperative extension -- and good luck!
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I have 2 Hydrangea's a dark pink which is doing wonderful and a pink, which was supposed to be blue and is not doing wonderful. The flowers died and the leaves turned brown and shrivled up so I pruned off the dead flowers but now the whole plant looks dead. I bought both of them from a nursery. Should I leave the dead looking one and see what happens next year or replace it?
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Hi, I have recently moved to Daly City California and I am really looking forward to growing something different from roses and cactus! I love hydrangea but my dilemma is I am living in a third floor apartment with a deck that only has sun for a few hours in the morning then shade and fog for the rest of the day. With these conditions is can I grow hydrangea in a pot ony deck????? Please advise or give a different suggestion!!!! When I look around I don't see much for plants growing in decks!
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If you don't get 6 hours of sun, it might be better to consider a plant that likes some shade such as impatiens or begonia. A nice bright flower is fuchsia.
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I have a hydrangea bush in my new house, pretty sure it is the macrophyla type. It is June and we have had dead flowers on the bush all winter and spring. New blooms seem to be growing on other stems, but I really want to prune off the dead flowers. Can I do it now? Or do I have to wait until the new flowers bloom?
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Hi Jane,
You can cut off the dead flowers, making the cut above the first healthy pair of leaves right below the flower.
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I planted endless summer last year and they did wonderful. I covered them over winter and this year they all started growing again. I mulched two of the plants, because I ran out of mulch,(I have three plants). The two I mulched have been really slow growing now. The one I did not is twice the size when they all started off the same. Not sure what's going on, can you help? And I made sure mulch is not directly covering base.
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Hi Jill,
Make sure that all your plants get the same amount of sun. Full morning sun with dappled shade in the afternoon is best. When adding mulch you don't need to water the plants as much. Make sure to give the plant with no mulch more water. Also check to see that the plants are planted at the correct evel and that they are not planted too deep or too high.
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I purchased some LA Dreamin hydrangeas from Lowe's. I'm in SC zone 8. The leaves are starting to turn brown. I am new to gardening and trying to figure out the proper care for them.
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Are the hydrangea leaves are turning brown around the edges? Usually, this is a moisture issue. Sometimes a newly purchased plant was already dried out and it can be hard to remoisten. Sometimes, the plant can be root-bound, too.
Gently dig the plants early in the morning to check for both conditions. If needed, lightly loosen the roots with your hand. You can also soak the root ball in water until it's moistened through. Make sure you maintain uniform moisture for your hydrangeas.
Location can also be an issue. If they're getting sun burnt, they'd do better with light shade.
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Please help! I was given two root balls attached to what appears to be a twig that I was told are hydrangeas. ..how long after planting could I expect the shrub to mature and/or grow? I live in the US in IL and have been told that hydrangeas do quite well here
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Help! My hydrangea was accidentally mowed as it put out it's new growth. It was maybe 8" tall at the time and it had very little old growth as it was only planted last summer. Will it rebound and regrow, or do I need to just replace it?
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Hi, I got 6 Macrophylla Hydrangeas (different colours, pale blue, lilac, purple, pale pinks and dark pink, I did have a white one but it died). I live in the UK Zone 8b, it's spring at the moment and temperatures are about 15-20c in the day and around 5c at night. The leaves on some of them are turning white, some leaves are turning purple on the edges and others are looking healthy. On the blue, lilac and pale pink ones the flowers have started to brown and die off, the dark pink one is doing very well and only lost one flower head, the purple one and one of the pale pinks haven't bloomed yet but have buds on them and they're doing ok. As they're in pots I have been watering them everyday. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong, they are in full sun, but got these as I was told at the garden centre that they prefer partial shade but will tolerate full sun (there is no shade in my garden). Any tips are most welcomed. I can't figure out why some are doing well and some are dying off (not sure if it helps but the flowers turn brown and crispy first and then the leaves turn white afterwards and die off. Many thanks.
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I live in the NY ZONE 6 and this winter snow and ice broke my Panicle bushes. They were standing about 6-7 feet tall and our now about 3-4 feet. As we get into spring it doesn't look like there is growth happening yet. Do you think they will come back
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Your bushes will probably have some new growth. Make sure to remove any still ramaining damaged branches.
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I'm in Destin FL and have 7 hydrangeas. We had a freeze in February and two of mine were damaged. I removed the damaged leaves and they're beautiful again. I thought for sure I had lost them. Every leaf fell off. They all have new leaves and multiple magenta blooms :)
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04/22/2015 - I've read EVERYTHING and do not see my issue being address. My Blushing Bride Hydrangea has the lower branches almost on the ground and coming out very curved... unlike the Blue Endless Summer one that I have. We've had a ROUGH Winter, so now, is early Spring for me... at least I THINK it is. I went out to prune them the other Day, and wanted to prune those curvy branches away. However, I could tell that they had buds on them so didn't want to prune, lest I lose some Flower Power, if you know what I mean :) SO, should I just leave them be, (fully realizing they will likely be ON the ground in a minute) or should I cut those branches off? They were soooo low, when I went out today, I thought I had new plants off shoots (does that even happen?) because the leaves have started growing and it looked like new leaves coming out of the ground - they were just the leaves on the low curvaceous branches :( HELP.
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Hi Natalie,
If you prune the lower branches now you will loose the blooms. If you don't prune you can try to support the stems with a wire cage or individual stakes and twine. After the flowers fade you can then prune the branches.
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I have a Lady in Red hydrangea that has lower branches touching the ground, and they have rooted. I just gave a start to my neighbor. They all look like young hydrangeas. If you want more Blushing Brides, I wouldn't cut them off.
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I live 4 houses back from ocean and 2 houses back from sound; how will hydrangeas do here?
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I would love to grow some hydrangeas. But I think I might have a problem that has not been addressed. I have a lot, and I mean a lot of deer. They eat almost everything that I plant. I have been using deer spray to keep them away and it seems to be working. There are a lot of my plants that they do not eat. What about hydrangeas. I don't want to make a salad bowl for them.
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Sorry but hydrangea is not one of the least deer-resistant plants. If you're looking for more deer-resistant plants to lure deer away, see our list here:
http://www.almanac.com/content/deer-resistant-plants
If you're looking for ways to keep out deer, the most reliable method is a tall fence but see this page for a list of ways to deter deer in the garden:
http://www.almanac.com/content/deer
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I found a motion activated sprinkler stake that works wonderful. It connects connects to a regular garden hose. It was $30-$50.
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In a recent windstorm, something scraped the bark on several spots of my vanilla strawberry hydrangea. More than just a fingernail scratch, but not quite a "gash". Is there anything I need to do to protect the wounds or just let it heal on its own? We just planted it last August, I think it's probably 2 or 3 years old now and so far it's been extremely healthy. Plenty of bud growth already this year and the new scratches are completely green. I just don't know if there's something I should do to protect it particularly because our temps right now are fluctuating severely; yesterday was 70 and it's a blizzard now so I'm worried about the extra stress on the plant. Zone 7a. Thanks!
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Hi: I live in Central Mexico and have bought a pink one and a blue one (no info. labels) from the garden centre. I plan to plant them in dappled shade - will they flower ok? Also how long will they flower here - some plants in my garden flower year round here while in Canada these same plants are summer flowering only. Your site is the best plant info site I've seen - many thanks
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Hi Joan,
Hydrangeas need sun to develop flower buds so early morning sun is best with shade in the afternoon when the sun is the hottest. If the air is very dry where you live you need to mist the plants so that the leaves don't dry out. Also water often and add mulch around the plants. Not knowing what type of hydrangeas you have it's hard to say how long they will bloom.
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I live in Michigan my Annabelle buds but only a few flowers pop I need help.
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Hi Lisa,
Your buds may have been damaged by a late frost. Also, most hydrangeas grow and flower best with morning sun and some protection from the hotter afternoon sun.
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Lisa- I agree, maybe the blooms have been affected by freeze. have you considered planting yours in containers and moving them indoors when freezing weather is imminent? I have 7 in containers here in Florida and I love being able to move them as the sun becomes hotter as the seasons progress. I also have 3 Hibiscus and 4 citrus trees, all in containers. My husband hates bringing the large pots into the sunroom but it keeps all my pretties happy :)
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Hello- I want to plant hydrangeas near my retaining wall. Do they have invasive roots that could damage my retaining wall?
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Hydrangeas have a small compact root ball and will not damage your retaining wall.
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The Hydrangea that has flowered in the living room in the spring can now be placed out of doors. Cut back the foliage to about 2cms above the old wood (recognizable by its slightly darker tint) and plunge the pot into the ground in a sheltered, well-shaded spot in the garden. Gradually increase watering when new growth appears, and feed regularly.
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My hydrangeas I have had for three years and no blooms and it does not grow very much what can I do mine was a gift for mothers day and was in a foil wrapper my mother in law got one the same time as me and hers is big and blooms all summer what am I doing wrong
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I've read that hydrangeas that are sold in the foil wrapped pots are a species intended to only bloom for a short time and will not grow into a shrub or re-bloom if transplanted into your garden. Sorry.. Houseplant only. Buy your next hydrangea from a nursery and not a florist.
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Kristy- what zone are you in. It's not entirely true that a foil wrapped hydrangea can't become an outside plant. I have two that were given to me that I've successfully repotted and introduced to the outside. One has even given me a new plant that I've also repotted :) depending on your zone, you can move them outside when your outdoor hydrangeas are in the same stage of flowering. I will say that they won't tolerate the heat and cold as well for a bit, so containers are best so you can move them around.
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I just received a hydrangea plant for my fathers funeral, we live in east Tennessee, and i would like to be able to keep this plant, but don't know anything about when, how and what to do to keep it healthy until i can plant it. Please help.
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Hi Judy,
"Gift" hydrangeas are often different from hydrangeas bought at a nursery. They have been grown in a greenhouse to display lots of flowers at once and may not perform well after this one display. They may also not be suitable for your growing zone. But, you can give it a try. Remove foil around the pot and make sure the pot has drainage holes. Put the plant in a window in a cool room and give it water just to keep the soil moist. Do not overwater. Plant it outside in the spring. Good luck!
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I live in zone 9 (Phoenix, Az) which type of hydrangea would you recommend and what special planting precautions should I take? I've tried several times and have had no luck.
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I received a Peppermint Twist hydrengea for Christmas and it's beautiful. I would like to plant it in my yard. I live in Folsom CA and am not sure how to accomplish this. The plant is indoors and the blooms are fading. Do I remove blooms when they are dying? Do I cut it back farther? How can I keep it healthy until I can plant it outdoors? What exposure is best.? Thanks for your help.
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Hi Kathryn,
You can remove the faded flowers but don't prune the plant. The hydrangea will do best in a location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Make sure to keep the soil moist.
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I know very little about plants and plant care. I live in Georgia and planted my hydrangea macrophylla in late October or early November. Shortly after, the leaves turned a dark green and started wilting. Now all the leaves have fallen off. Some leaves had light green spots on the tips. I'm not sure that it is getting enough sun and don't know if it has correct drainage. Would I be better to transplant it where it will get more light or leave it?
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Hi, Jackie,
There are many types of macrophylla, and it's difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of your problem, but here are a few ideas:
• powdery mildew
• a fungus
• root rot (which will cause apparent wilting)
Hydrangeas gorw best in moist, well-drained, rich soil. They like a bit of shade in the afternoon, but not complete shade.
Winter is not a good time to transplant, esp early winter as you do not know what weather might be ahead. Wait until spring and see if the plant comes back.
For more information on growing hydrangeas in Georgia, see this page:http://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.cfm?number=C973
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Its spring here in New Zealand, the Hydrangeas have a lot of new growth and are about 1 meter tall They are about 10 years old or older Last week my mother inlaw moved house so we had to transplant them Unfotunately because of the poor soil (it was a little top soil ontop of a clay base) the soil did not adhere to the roots, therefore they were transplanted soil free I have replanted them and watered but they are wilting Should I A... water them each day till they become right B... Cut them back C.. fertilize them Or leave them and hope for the best
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just received a small hydrangea plant, I live in Chester, Pa, can I plant it outside now or should I wait until spring?
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Hi, Yvette: Provided that it is dormant (i.e., you didn't just get it from Florida and it is still in bloom) and the ground is not frozen (obviously), sure, go ahead and plant it now. Like immediately -- as your first hard frost is usually around November 14. Be sure to water it generously while it is still waterable.
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I have what seems to be a pretty well aged mophead hydrangea. I am pretty sure the previous owners pruned it incorrectly because there was only one bloom on it. I have a dog that will not stop peeing on it and the leaves have turned spotted with brown spots and the sticks look a little burnt. What can I do to fix this poor plant?? Also it seems to not grow properly, like the leaves are to heavy for the stems or something, what can I do to fix this as well?
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I pruned back my endless severely in September last year and had only a few blooms the summer after. Now it is October and I have many buds and flowers starting to grow. Will my plants get back to the normal bloom times?
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I have a ever blooming hydrangea that was planted by a landscaper and is two years old but has never bloomed. The plant looks extremely healthy but has no blooms. What should I do? Some people tell me to cut it back down to the ground, others tell me not to do anything.
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Make sure that your hydrangea gets morning sun and some shade in the afternoon. Keep the soil moist but not too wet. And do not over-fertilize. One application in the spring i enough. Everblooming hydrangeas do not need regular pruning. Only prune if the hydrangea gets overgrown, has dead wood, or shows signs of disease.
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add organic fertilizer. the soil is probably worthless!
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We have a "little lime" hydrangea that was purchased this past spring, we are in Ohio, zone 5, and are not sure when to prune it back. All the blooms are still on it, do not know if it is safe to cut them off. Neighbors say to not cut back until spring, which is what I see in many of your comments, but none of them referred to the "little lime" variety. We are thinking of covering it with burlap over the winter and last winter was so bad here. Please advise.
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Hi Alex,
Little Lime is a Hydrangea paniculata, also called a hardy hydrangea. It blooms on new wood and should be pruned in late winter or early spring.
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How can I root a hydrangea that I clipped from the yard of my office building. I want to grow it in my own yard.
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I had, until today, a beautiful full nikko blue hydrangea bush but my husband, trying to help prune it, cut it down to the ground. Is there any way that it can be saved? If I feed it will it slowly come back. I am desperately upset over the bush. Please give me some advice!
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"Nikko Blue" is a summer-blooming hydrangea that blooms on old wood. It should be pruned just after flowers fade, usually in mid- to late-July. Now being October your husband may have cut off the new beginnings of buds for next season. If it is an established bush it will probably grow back next spring but without any blooms.
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I DID THE SAME THING AS ABOVEAND WOULD AN ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION!! LAST FALL, NOT KNOWING WHAT I WAS DOING, I CUT BACK MY HYDRANGEA PLANT TO THE GROUND!! THIS PAST SPRING THE PLANT CAME UP AND IT GREW VERY WELL ALL SUMMER...BUT IT NEVER BLOOMED!! DO I DO ANYTHING TO THE PLANT NOW THAT FALL IS ALMOST OVER? DO I PRUNE IT, OR JUST LEAVE IT ALONE? I WANT IT TO BLOOM NEXT SUMMER!! HELP PLEASE!
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Hi Marilyn,
Don't prune the bush. Leave it alone and you should see blooms next summer.
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I want to include some beautiful dried limelight hydrangeas in my flower box for fall and early winter. How can I keep them away from the moist soil? Will it work to stick the stems in the soil. I don't want them to blow away.
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You can stick the stems into the soil. If you want to secure them better you can twist some thin wire around the stems and then twist the wire end around stems of other plants in the flower box.
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I have 6 hydranget plants which all summer grew beautifully green with no flowers Could it be that they were cut back too. Low. In the spring
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Lyn, It depends on the variety of hydrangea. Many hydrangea types form their flower buds on the "old wood" in late summer/fall for the following summer's blooms. If those stems are removed (pruned) in the fall, winter, or spring, the bloom buds will be removed, and there may be little or no bloom the following summer. See our pruning tips above.
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I love hydrangeas but I've no luck in growing them. I have 2 plants that are in the mostly shaded area, as directed on the card that came with them, and I haven't had a bloom on them in 3 years! Their leaves are wonderfully green and the plants had flowers when I planted them. Suggestions?? Also, I received a plant late last year. I spoke to a person that is supposed to be a specialist who stated that I could keep the plant in the container on my deck for the year. Well, when Spring came it was very wet to the point the plant appeared dead. I cut off the top of the plant with hopes that it would start to grow from the root but nothing happened. Should I try placing it in the ground or is it lost at this point? Thank you so much for your help.
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Our property lacks much in morning sun light. Is it advisable to plant a hydrangea that requires such light in a good deal of afternoon sun so long as there's ample shade? Thank you
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Hydrangeas prefer early morning sun and afternoon shade. If this isn't possible, it would be better to have a shady spot with dappled sun than a good deal of hot afternoon sun.
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I planted mine 2 years ago. They are growing but they aren't very big and aren't blooming.
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I have same problem as the above. I was given a blue hydrangea florist,(don't know what kind). Planted it in correct spot. It comes up, has grown alot last year and this year but No Blooms or buds. What should I do? Is there a non-blooming hydrangea? Thank you.
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We were sold a hydrangea and planted it full sun. Every day while the sun was out the blooms would shrivel completely and then in the early mornings of the next day the blooms would be gorgeous but by the end of july early august all the blooms are completely dead. We watered it every day too, so I don't know how it could have been to dry? leaves look ok but it's not standing tall as it was in the planter at the nursery its pretty sad looking from the moment they transplanted it - sad looking in terms of spread out and all laying near the ground nothing standing tall.
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It's not uncommon for plants to show signs of transplant stress, but this does sound extreme. Hydrangeas like moisture but not to excess. Did you have or introduce peat moss or other organic material into the site in which you planted it? Many hydrangeas can not take full sun; they need a period of partial shade or even all shade. And they need good air circulation; it is crowded? Other possible reasons include dry windy conditions; too much fertilizer; damaged roots or stems. Scratch a stem with your fingernail. If there is "green" there, it will probably survive if you make changes as noted above.
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We planted a hydrangea last summer in full sun because that's what we were told when we bought the plant. The plant has plenty of flowers on it but they are all looked burned/dried out and nothing comes to full bloom or color. The leaves are doing awesome! We honestly have no other place to transplant this poor hydrangea. Is there any suggestions on how to help it to recover?
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Some hydranges are for full sun others part. It sounds to me you need to water more. Try that
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We moved in November and inherited, among other things, two hydrangea bushes. I did not know what they were, but they hand long straw-like stems sticking up, which I removed in the Spring, pretty much down to the ground. I now have what I know to be hydrangea "bushes" with lush, gorgeous leaves, but no flowers--they have been growing all summer. I live in Zone 5. Should they have bloomed by now? Will they bloom at all? If not this year, can I hope they might bloom next year? I don't know if they are "new wood" hydrangeas or not--I may have removed old wood when I pruned back all of what I thought was dead stems (when I didn't know what they were)...perennial/hydrangea newbie needing help.
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Your hydrangeas should have bloomed by now. You may have removed flower buds when you pruned the bushes this spring. Don't prune at all this fall or next spring and you may have blooms next year. You will then be able to identify what type of hydrangea you have.
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I bought three hydrangea trees online in the spring and when I received them there was no growth of any kind. We planted them in the back and they have been growing, now, they are pee gee and my queastion is kinda complex. They are not growing up, only out. If that is understandable. I don't know what to do to get hem to grow up. Should I prune them back? Should I just let them go? I want them to look like a tree not a shrub but am unsure as to how to prune or not prune. I live in hardiness zone 7 and the soil is perfect for planting.They are very slow growing and I think it is because they need to be in the direct sun. Should I move them and if so can I move them now? It is late August and I wonder if I move them will it affect thier growth and leave them too vunerable for the cold weather that is coming.
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There are different types of pee gees one tree, the other bush. both take full sun. sounds like yours are bush that will grow large and full in time. Moving them is up to you and the look you are going for. Just remember to water often and deep even in fall for the them to take good root
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Hi! My endless summer was planted late spring this year. I noticed a couple of days ago that the leaves are getting some dark rusty looking spots. I only had one bloom and it last as expected. Other than the spots, the plant looks good. I don't know if this is an insect that I didn't see or a fungus. Any suggestions? Thanks!
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I've got six endless summer plants that have black spots on the leaves,can you tell what this is and how to get rid of them without hurting the plants.Thank You
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We have a large beautiful Hydrangea that came with our home. This is our second summer there and it is enormous now. I did not prune it last year because I was not sure when to. About a month ago the blooms started dying and it hasn't bloomed since. The foliage is still green and doesn't seem to be dying. There are thick stems which I'm assuming are dead stems from last year. Any ideas as to what I need to do? It looks to be the same as the one pictured right above the comments.
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Please see our pruning advice on this page. It is important to know what type of hydrangea you have before pruning. You can always cut back spent flowers and dead stems.
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I have a big leaf hydrangea. Five feet tall and five feet wide it's aug. no flowers what is his problem. Can I help it out
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Hi Wes,
Please read some of the questions and answers on this page that address this topic.
There are several reasons for no blooms on hydrangeas. Too much high nitrogen fertilizer results in lush foliage at the expense of blooms. Too much shade is another problem. Cold weather in spring which kills flower buds. If you prune at the wrong time, you could be removing the flower buds.
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I recently bought a house, and I inherited a beautiful, large, healthy hydrangea grandiflora - my favorite - in blue/violet. However, it is SO big, it is taking over part of my front porch. I know I need to wait until it stops blooming before I prune, but how far back is TOO far back? It really needs to be knocked down about 2 feet, but I won't consider moving it. It's perfect where it is - just HUGE! Help?
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My neighbour has three in her garden in early spring she cuts them back to just 20cms and they look beautiful every year they get bigger.
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I have a row of hydrangeas planted against my sun room wall. They have bloomed in previous years, but this year they have only healthy growth and not a single bloom. We also have Crepe Myrtles and they are not bloomin as they should Other years their blooms were prolific, but this year they are very sketchy about blooms. Even the blooming ones are about 1/5 what they used to be.
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I have 2 hydrangea bushes on the Eastside of house. They receive shade in the late part of the day. Plenty of blossoms but they only have opened on the outer edge. The middle part has blossoms that are not opening. This has happened 2 years in a row. We live in Zone 5. Do they need more fertilizer, or Bloom Burst. They do get watered frequently in the morning.
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Mary, I wonder if you have lace caps. They tend to look as if they haven't fully opened. But, that is what makes them lace caps. Hope this helps.
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Hello. I have a couple questions regarding my hydrangea I don't know the type. I live in zone 6b. My mom gave me a cut back of hers. I planted it but it stopped growing and has no blooms. It might be a foot tall, if that.leaves are green and looks good. I do have it in full sun and am not sure if that's the problem. I'm stuck and not sure what to do from here. Thanks!
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You may have received a plant that does not allow for growth on new wood and only blooms on its original stems. If this is the case, it will be a very pretty green shrub, but most likely will not bloom. I have chosen the limelight specifically because it blooms on new wood. Find out the particular variety your mother gave you and find out if it is one that blooms on new wood. If it does, when you are pruning, make certain you cut just above the bud, or you may be pruning off your new future flower. If it does not allow for growth on new wood, it may never blossom.
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I live in north central Alabama, and have 4 endless summer hydrangeas. they get morning sun and shade after noon. last year we pruned them and this year no blooms. when is the best time to prune? Also, is it possible to propagate them or should I just buy more?
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Be very careful pruning Endless Summer hydrangea. They flower on both old and new stems so you pruned off their flower buds which is why there weren't flowers for you.
If they are young plants, we would just leave the alone and not prune at all. When they get older, you could just lighten prune the spent flower heads or deadhead the old blooms. Unlike many other varieties of hydrangeas, you really don't need to prune them much; once new growth has taken off, just go in and remove any dead/old wood from the winter.
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My plants have big green leaves and plentiful large flowers, but the branches are so thin they cannot hold then up. What should I do?
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Your hydrangeas need to be pruned! This will encourage stronger stems that are less likely to droop over with the weight of big flower heads. We're not sure which variety of hydrangea you own and the pruning differs by variety so please see this page for more information on pruning.
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I have several bushes 0f Hydrangeas but none of them are blooming what can I do about this.
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My hydrangeas which have bloomed in the past are not developing blossoms this year or last. Is there something I can add to the soil?
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I have the same question as this person. My plants are putting out tremendous foliage without blooms. What should I do?
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There are several reasons for no blooms on hydrangeas. 1. Too much high nitrogen fertilizer results in lush foliage at the expense of blooms. 2. Too much shade is another problem. 3. Cold weather or frosts which kill flower buds or a cultivar which is not bud-hardy for your zone. 4. If you prune at the wrong time, you could be removing the flower buds. This 4th reason is the most common.
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Hello, I have the same issue... Big green beautiful bushes come back every year but no flowers... I bought foil hydrangeas and just planted them 2 years ago in my front garden in NJ full sun .. They flowered and then died in the winter so I left them alone... So the first summer it was just greenery no buds ... This is the second summer and they are getting big green foliage but no flowers:-( will they ever flower again or are they done! Please help my husband keeps telling me to pull them out because he said it looks like big weed and I keep telling him they will flower... Will they?
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My hydrangea has beautiful foliage but no flowers what am I doing wrong?
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Same problem... there are lots of leaves and no flowers this year but in the past it was gorgeous.
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I live in Pittsburgh and bought 3 FIRELIGHT hydrangea plants in the spring. They were all about a foot high and had many pink blooms. In May I planted them outside because the blooms were all dying. Since then all the blooms have dried up but the plants are green and look healthy. We have had a lot of rain but I have watered them between rainy spells. They get morning sun and afternoon shade. The tag doesn't give any other info. Why won't they bloom and why are they pink and not red like the picture? I don't know anything about gardening.
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The Firelight hydrangea blooms are white at first changing color to pink and then a dark pink. Your plants are still young and are getting established. If the plants look healthy they will bloom again.
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I am new to growing hydrangeas and recently planted two of the "bombshell" variety. They were beautiful for 3-4 days and then completely wilted and leaves/blooms became dry and brittle. They were watered very adequately and planted in rich soil/part shade. I was told that I may have overwatered them. The stems are green and there are a few healthy leaves remaining so I think they are still alive but the plants still look terrible after more than a week. What can I do to save them?
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I have 4 Annabelle Hydrangea - white and 1 pink one that I think is an Annabelle as well but I have forgotten the proper name of it. I live in Ontario, Canada, zone 5b. I have had these Hydrangea for 4 years now and every spring since they were planted, I have had this same problem. As soon as the leaves start opening, some (insect) (worm) whatever it is, causes the leaves to close up, I mean two leaves come together and if I separate the leaves, inside is a slight web and occasionally if I don't pinch all these leaves off at once and leave them, inside I will find a small white worm. Can you tell me what this is and what I should do, spraying with garden bug spray only seems to damage the rest of the shrub. In spite of this happening every spring...,they flower...this year however, they haven't grown as tall as normal...we have had a cool spring and a lot of rain.
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Hydrangea leaf roller caterpillars are common on Annabelle hydrangeas. Remove the curled up leaves and destroy the caterpillars if possible. You can also spray with bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or neem oil. Apply Bt in early May next year before the problem starts.
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We have lived in our home in Michigan for twelve years and until two years ago, our hydrangea plant bloomed beautifully with large blue and pink flowers. We are now seeing small puffs of white and green (more lacy). Towards the bottom of the plant there are one or two small puffs of pinkish/white. I purchased and applied several products in the spring to change the acidity in the soil and sprinkled coffee grounds, but to no avail.. our flowers have come up the same this summer. :( Can you please tell me what is going on with my poor hydrangea?
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I have had a hydrangea for a number of years, but it has never bloomed. I did not realize what the plant was until I bought a blue hydrangea. How can I get this plant to blossom? It is very healthy and has been growing so well, but no flowers at all.
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CAN I USE ORCHID FOOD ON MY HYDREANDEAS
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We usually just add a layer of compost under the tree each spring, spreading it out to the dripline (the area under the outermost branches). If you want to encourage more bloom, you could add a fertilzer in the spring (such as 15-30-15). Orchids, however, use a high-nitrogen fertilizer (30-10-10). Check with your local garden store.
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After I planted my new shrub, it is fading after about a week. It is blue
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We have hydrangeas that grow from new wood last year they grew very large but no flowers should I trim the dead wood now. We r s.zone 5a
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I have both blue and white hydrangeas jsut purchased a few weeks ago in full bloom which I was told to put in almost complete shade- In the last weeks or so they are losing thericolor and turning green. Can you advise?? Thank you
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My great grandmother use to pour her dish water on her hydrangea and they were a beautiful deep blue color. Will the dish washing liquids today do the same thing, or do they contain chemicals that will hurt the plant? Thank you!
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Hi, Pam, Good question! We'll try to give you a good answer. Here's a start: Authorities in the city of Tucson, Arizona, looked into this several years back. Here is their report, an explanation of several chemicals that might be in detergents and how they can affect plants: http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/wp-content/uploads/200...
We learned that baking soda in detergent will turn hydrangeas blue (scroll to find): http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Physical_Chemistry/Acids_and_...
And a third source suggests that all natural, bio-degradable detergents will not harm plants. (Baking soda, above, is one of these.)
Of course, soap-detergent sprays, which are made with 1 or 2 tablespoons detergent to 1 gallon or so of water, are pretty dilated, like dishwater, and are often advised to eliminate or deter pest bugs.
We hope this helps!
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Just returned from a 2 week vacation. I understand it rained a lot here in TN. My Annabelle hydrangea is heavily laden with blooms and laying wide open on the ground. Should I cut them all off? Also, my new Wedding Cake ? Hydrangeas have some browning of leaves and speckles. How should I treat? THANKS!
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Hi, Pamela, Heavy rains can cause some plants to droop (peonies come immediately to mind). The question really is, does the rain pool or run/drain off? Your plants need well-draining soil, which usually means good organic matter (not clay or heavy soil), so check that first. Your plants may be drowning. When they return to a healthy moisture level, they should stand up. Color should return to new leaves when that happens, too.
Hope this helps!
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I have a lot of hydrangea plants. This year most of them did not come back very good. They were really big last year and this year they are just above the ground. Can not figure out why. I also want to know if you have suggestions for keeping the deer away.
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I have a well established hydrangea that has been gorgeous every year until this year. There is lots of new growth at the base but only a few green buds on the stems. Many of the buds on the other stems have turned brown. What do I do with it now.
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I am looking forward to a reply on this question myself. I had the same exact thing happen with mine this year. I live in southern New England and Mine are the endless summer variety and they have done magnificent for 7 years. My husband said to cut all the old shoots as they are dead. I'm not sure that they are not just dormant. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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IAs mentioned above, your plant may have botrytis blight. Recommendations include insuring good air circulation and maintaining low humidity (since you can not control the atmosphere, this could relate to watering). About watering: Avoid it late in the day. Consult a local nursery about possible chemical remedies, if you want to do that.
However, it is also possible that the buds were damaged by a late spring freeze, even a light one—certainly a possibility in New England. If most of the growth is coming from the bottom (ground level), that's a sign of the freeze effects. Don't do anything but understand that fewer or no blooms will appear this year.
As for pruning, we hesitate to clip hydrangeas almost at all. We would go in and remove the old shoots after the plant fills in, thus making sure that we are not removing productive stems.
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I have a similar problem - my plants were trimmed to abt 2 feet frm the ground - they had bloomed beautifully till then - the person that "pruned them" thought he was clearing out the dead wood ( this was done in late fall). Well the following year I had 1 bloom on 1 plant and none on the other but both were fully leafed out, Now this year all my growth is coming from the bottom - there are small buds on the stems at the top but they are brown and nothing green on the stems , Any help is greatly appreciated !!
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It sounds like the flower buds are dying (before opening). Your plant may have botrytis blight. Recommendations include insuring good air circulation and maintaining low humidity (since you can not control the atmosphere, this could relate to watering). About watering: Avoid it late in the day. Consult a local nursery about possible chemical remedies, if you want to do that.
It is also possible that the buds were damaged by a late spring freeze, even a light one. If most of the growth is coming from the bottom (ground level), that's a sign of the freeze effects.
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i bought three white hydrangeas from home depot garden center (zone 5). they had stickers on the pot that named them as "Summer Cloud" however they had no plant care information (size at maturity, care instructions, etc). i tried searching the internet for care info on a Summer Cloud variety, but have been unable to find anything with that name! i decided to take a chance and bought and planted them. they have only been in the ground a week or so but two out of the three wilt every afternoon but seem to bounce back by morning. they currently get morning shade and afternoon sun. could they just be getting the wrong time for sun? i had really wanted white hydrangeas for this front location of my house but now i am not sure if i should move them to more shade or just give them more time to get used to this spot. PLUS, have you ever heard of this Summer Cloud variety? any info to share about it?
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We have not heard of Summer Cloud hydrangeas. Contact Home Depot costumer service and see if they can help you out. Don't move the plants yet. Give them some time to establish. Make sure to water enough to keep the soil moist.
Good luck!
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I moved the Home Depot "Summer Cloud" to a filtered sunlight area last Autumn and I really didn't have much hope for it, but alas, it is alive and thriving!! Appears to be budding out on last years stalks, so I am really glad I did not trim it back. The "Forever & Ever" Mophead from Lowe's that I planted in the morning sun spot completely died back. Figured I'd lost that one too. But again, it is alive!! However, any blooming/budding is all on new growth. So, I cut the dead stems away and so far so good. This has been such a learning experience.
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All Hydrangeas like only morning sun. Afternoon sun is too intense for them, unless it is filtered. They also need to stay moist when you first plant them. The tag should have said morning sun only.
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I bought the same variety at Home Depot/Zone 5. I planted in Morning to Noon sun location. My plant wilts in the morning then perks up in the afternoon. I am watering about every other day. But still wilts in the morning. Perhaps the "Summer Cloud" variety means it doesn't want any direct sun at all?? I contacted my Home Depot and they don't know anything about this particular variety. They just sell them. I may move mine to a filtered sun/shady spot in my yard.
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We can not find any information on "Summer Cloud" either.
Wilt is a sign of thirst. In general hydrangea bushes, or shrubs (not to be confused with the tree and climbing forms) do not tolerate dry soil or conditions. A lot of proper organic matter and mulch (in the hole before planting and around the base) can help to retail moisture through drier than normal spells or when you can not be there to water. Again in general, 1 inch of water per week is suggested; 2 inches of water during especially dry spells.
Also, as a reader below advises, sun in the morning only, if possible.
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Finally decided that my "Summer Cloud" hydrangea was planted in soil that drained TOO well. I replanted it in a filtered sunlight area, but with much more regular dirt. We will see what happens. I have planted another hydrangea in my morning sun area, but got rid of most of the pea gravel-laden dirt and replaced it with potting soil and really nice desiccated mulch. We will see how this one does. This new one is a "Forever & Ever Together" mop head macrophylla from Lowe's-RIE 05-PP18508
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Hi, Ellen,
We can not find any information on "Summer Cloud" either.
Wilt is a sign of thirst. In general hydrangea bushes, or shrubs (not to be confused with the tree and climbing forms) do not tolerate dry soil or conditions. A lot of proper organic matter and mulch (in the hole before planting and around the base) can help to retail moisture through drier than normal spells or when you can not be there to water. Again in general, 1 inch of water per week is suggested; 2 inches of water during especially dry spells.
Also, as a reader below advises, sun in the morning only, if possible.
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Help! I live in Utah, very alkaline soil. I decided to plant my hydrangeas in containers. I purchased acid soil, and added acid to the soil when I planted. First two days after I planted they were gorgeous. On the third day I went out to check them and all the blooms were wilted and had turned brown. What can I do now?
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Please read the planting and care information at the top of this page. How much sun do they get? What type of hydrangeas do you have? Do they get enough water? Containers tend to dry out quickly.
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I had some work done on the planter that has had hydrangea plants in it for over 20 years. He had to add dirt and he covered up the new growth that was just starting to come up for the season. Will they still find their way out of the soil or are they damaged forever????? I live in North Dakota and always cut the plants down to about 6" in the fall. They have always come back in the late spring and are beautiful!
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If the plants are old and established they will come back. And adding new dirt to an old planter is always good.
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I recently received a CLIMBING HYDRANGEA from a friend but was uncertain where to plant it. Are there trees that don't allow plants to grown up there trunks (ie, pine trees?) If I plant under a maple tree, will it still get the sun it needs.
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Don't plant the hydrangea under a big tree. It will be too shady and the tree's roots will compete for the moisture in the soil. See our planting instructions above for best conditions and plant the hydrangea against a fence, a wall or a stone wall, or a trellis.
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Could you tell me if you are supposed to cut off the flowering head of first year cuttings of hydrangers. Thank you Viki
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It's a good idea to snip off the faded hydrangea flowers. Cut just under the flower heads, using a pair of sharp scissor.
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The deer noshed my new hydrangea to the stems....will it come back or should I scrap it and get another one? I am tempted to pot it and put it on the patio where it will be safer.
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The bush will come back. Think of it as a hard pruning. If you have problems with deer we suggest that you plant it in a container and put it on your patio.
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I would not pot it. There are very good deer sprays out there. I use one called liquid fence. I garden for people who live around a 200 ac. preserve and this product keeps them off the gardens
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I have aprox 2hrs of sun in my yard,11am -1pm,which hydrangea is best,4 by 4 is the biggest for my area. Thank you, Bob Turner
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Hi, Bob: 4x4 will work, but you could be pushing your luck with only 2 hours of sunlight. A lot of this depends on your climate and making sure that your hydrangea has adequate water but well-draining soil. Don't plant it under a tree, because the tree's roots will win the water fight. Sounds like either a mophead or lacecap type would be best to try ... we would go with mophead (these are the blue ones and pink ones you often see). Good luck!
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Hi there I live in zone 5-6 , I would love to plant hydrangeas , but I have sandy soil& rocky soil , and pine trees and a lot of sun , there is only a couple spots that have afternoon shade , I don't want to go buy plants if they aren't going to grow . what do you suggest ? thank you C vallette
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Oakleaf hydrangeas can tolerate more sun that many other hydrangeas. Remember that the more sun they get, the most water they will need to maintain their leaves and blooms. See more about oakleaf here: http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/what_grows_where.html
Of the dozens‚ maybe hundreds, of varieties of hydrangea available today, there may be more. Consult a local nursery or extension service for suggestions.
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i live in wyoming and i think mine is sick i have only had it a week and the blooms are dying fast and turning brown. what could be wrong with it
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It's not uncommon for plants to show signs of stress after a move but this does sound extreme. It sounds like leaf scorch.
Hydrangeas like moisture but not to excess. Did you have or introduce peat moss or other organic material into the site in which you planted it?
Is it in full sun? Many hydrangeas can not take full sun (see answer above); they need a period of partial shade or even all shade. And they need good air circulation; it is crowded?
Other possible reasons include dry windy conditions; overfertilization; damaged roots or stems.
Scratch a stem with your fingernail. If there is "green" there, it will probably survive if you make changes as noted above.
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I received a blue Hydrangea for Mother's Day and have it in my house and the leaves are wilting. The soil is moist. Can I plant it outside in Region 3 now?
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Yours being a southern zone, this (May) would seem to be a fine time to plant it. If you think there might be a frost (check here http://www.almanac.com/content/us-frost-chart), wait until the risk has passed.
Give it organic soil and the amount of sun it requires (most like partial sun). Read answers above for more on this.
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Okay I have this plant and its beautiful and pink! Its in a baby pot now and all the puffs already wilted and I pruned it. ...i want to move it but not in the ground into a bigger pot. What size pit ?? And how hois to hott to be outside even in the shade? Just live I in tx and our summers are aboutt to heat up... I need help all together on this... I dont have a green thumb so im New to the plant world.
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Hi, Casey, Get a pot that is about 2 sizes bigger than the one it was/is in. Our sources say that hydrangeas struggle in the Texas heat. You might do better keeping it indoors during the hottest periods. Many hydrangeas struggle in full sun (no shade) outdoors or indoors, so be prepared to provide both—sun and shade. Keep in mind, too, that hydrangeas sold in pots in springtime are often "forced" to bloom early for better sales. They are lovely but many fail to make it after that time because conditions change so dramatically for them.
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Since I adopted my dog several years ago -- who keeps the deer from eating the flowers -- my hydrangeas have been spectacular year after year. In April I cut off the dead flowers and cleaned out around the base of each plant (removing dead wood and excessive leaves -- I find they tend to rot if I don't do this). There is a lot of new growth at the base of the plants and some buds on the old stalks-- but not many. We had a long, cold winter this year (NYC suburbs) and I'm concerned it damaged my plants. How much longer should I wait to cut the old stalks -- to see if any more buds appear -- or if it truly is dead wood? I'm interested in the long-term health of my plants. I've come to accept they might not bloom much this year due to the harsh winter.
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Many hydrangeas have suffered from harsh winter weather this year. The new growth from the bottom of the plant will eventually turn into new stalks but will not have blooms this year. The buds on the old stalks may produce a few blooms. Wait to prune until you know for sure that the old stalks are dead.
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I live in Tennessee, planted an Annabelle Hydrangea several years ago and it performed beautifully. I was constantly having a problem with a "look-alike" shrub growing behind it. Now I can't decide if what I currently have is the Hydrangea or something else. It did not bloom last year. The leaf is smooth with small rigid teeth on the edges. The leaf is about 3 inches long and two inches wide. Can you help me?
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There are many, many varieties of hydrangea these days. You might take a leaf from each and bring it to your nursery, or take a picture. The reasons for not blooming are almost as numerous! Too much sun, too much fertilizer, too much pruning, too much heat, too much cold... First determine what you've got.
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What pH level is needed to grow multiple colors on one shrub?
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Hi Melissa,
Bigleaf hydrangeas have blue blooms if the soil pH is between 5.0 and 5.5. The flowers will turn pink when the pH value is higher, around 6.0. You may have to experiment with the soil around your hydrangea to trick it to have multiple colors.
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I recently planted 3 Annabelle hydrandeas in my garden - they are all growing well. One of them (the biggest one) has very large leaves and flowers. Soon after I planted it in the ground the stems have fallen back and are being weighed to the ground. I'm assuming that the root and stem system needs to adjust for the weight of the plant in the ground. I used plant twine to gently pull the plant together. Is this recommended or should I be doing something else?
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I trimmed mine a couple weeks back, and I am worried that I cut it back to far....the old stems I cut down to about 3 inches from the ground...from my understanding I should have just clipped the dead flower off and left the stems :(((( there is new growth at the bottom, but the old stems are so tiny now...did I set my plants back a few years?? I'm trying to get it to grow into a bush, but now I cut it back so much I'm worried I messed it up. So from what I am reading in comments, does that mean that I won't have any flowers this year on it and then next year it will have blooms, but be way smaller then when I got it a year ago?? I am so upset right now and don't know what I was thinking..I have trimmed up a few other flowers and a landscaper friend of my husband stopped by and told me I needed to cut it down to the ground ...and the thing is, I wasn't even going to mess with it and just leave it alone!!! ugh... And if I just leave the darn thing alone and don't ever cut the flowers off, will that make much of a difference?? Any advice will help, I am so sick to my stomach right now its not even funny :((((
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You can deadhead or remove faded flowers any time but it's important to know what type of hydrangea you have before pruning any stems.
Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas (usually pink or blue) and oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on old wood (last year's stems) and can be pruned after flowers fade in the summer.
Annabelle and PeeGee hydrangeas bloom on new wood (new stems) and can be pruned in the fall.
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I'm not sure what it is. I kept the card from when I planted and it says forever and ever fantasia Hydrangea..I'm still a complete newbie when it comes to plants. Thanks for any and all info..I truely appericiate it and so do my plants :)
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Okay, so i am reading the tag more, and it says that it blooms on new and old wood...so does this mean i shouldnt ever cut it back unless i want it smaller to kind of "shape it up" if you will call it that??
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I live in Ohio and my big leaf hydrangea is only putting out leaves at the bottom. Do I need to prune the bush or will it still put out blooms this year.
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It sounds like the stems dried out or froze during the harsh winter months. The roots are still alive and generating new stems but you may not have blooms this year. You can prune the dead stems to ground level. Just make sure that they are brown and dead.
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I came across your website while trying to gather some info on hydrangeas. About three days ago I bought two beautiful potted pink colored hydrangeas from a nursery. They are inside in my dining room which has large windows they do not sit in direct sunlight but they get enough light in the morning just last night I noticed them starting to wilt all the booms so i checked the soil and it felt a little dry not completely but enough for me to think they needed to be watered. But its been all day and they are all still wilted is there a way to bring them back or are they done? One of my friends suggest heating up water she had heard to use warm water if your hydrangeas are wilting?
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We have not heard of heating water for plants of any sort. It seems more likely that the plants need to be taken out of the pot. Hydrangeas are not generally considered houseplants. Even those forced in the spring for gifts (you're probably seen them around Easter season) don't do well in their pots after a while. If you can not plant them outside, try much larger pots and be sure to add lots of organic matter and some mulch to help to retain moisture.
Sooner or later, though, every pot you try is likely to become too small.
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So I just bought a couple of the blue mophead hydrangeas the other day. What I am curious to know is, I live in a zone 3. Will I be able to plant them in the ground, and then cover them up for the winter times to protect them?? Thanks
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A mophead in zone3? Are you sure it's a mophead? It's mighty cold there. Just be sure to mulch heavily in late fall. Once it's dormant, cover with leaves, peat moss or straw to a depth of at least 6" before the coldest temperatures hit. Remove all mulch well after the threat of late spring frosts has passed. Also, I wouldn't prune in the first year.
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Yes I am positive it is a mophead, I bought 2 in decent sized planters. My local garden center says I could try planting them in the ground as a new study has been brought up that our zones are changing due to climate change. It can get cold in the winter months here but as of lately we have been 20+ degrees celsuis and its not even summer yet. I have heard about really protecting them good in the fall/winter so I will try that. Thanks
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can I put coffee grins on hydranges? while dog urine kill the hydranges?
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Coffee grounds are acidic. They might help keep your bigleaf hydrangeas blue. A little dog pee won't be too harmful, but constant dog peeing on a bush isn't good for it.
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I live in Zone 7a and desperately want to plant some hydrangea in my yard. I do not, however, have a spot that gets a few hours of morning sun and afternoon shade. Would anyone be able to give other estimates of sun exposure that would allow a big leaf hydrangea to thrive?
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In terms of light, the Bigleaf Hydrangea does best in part shade. It usually wilts in the afternoon of full Sun. In your zone, remove the spent blooms of the first flower flush to produce flower buds on the new growth.
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I'm new to this. What does "remove the spent blooms of the first flower flush to produce flower buds on the new growth" mean? Right now they are young plants, which I put into planters to keep them in part shade in my yard. (You were right, they started to wilt with only a few hours of strong afternoon sun).
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No worries. You will get your first flowers of the season. Then, after they are done blooming, they will be spent (fade/die). After they die or just as the flowers begin to fade, prune them off. The quicker you do it, the quicker the shrub can recover, producing more and larger blooms next season. Do not cut any stems that have not bloomed, leaving healthy buds intact. To prune, cut off the spent (fading/dead) flower to the last bud.
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I got a nicko blue hydrangea but im in zone 5 I like it but am scared it wont grow what do I do
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Plant the hydrangea in a potected spot, close to a south facing wall of your house or a stonewall or in area that is protected from cold winter winds. You may also need to cover the bush during the winter months. Construct a simple cage around the hydrangea using a couple of stakes and chicken wire and then fill the cage with leaves or other material, carefully tucking it around the bush.
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Hi, I live on Long Island, NY. I purchased 2 pink hydrangas the other day. I repotted them in larger pots and watered with some mirical grow. Today all the blooms are "dead". First did I kill it with the miracle grow or are they in shock? Second shoul I remove the dead blooms or leave them alone? Thank you!
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The hydrangeas may be in shock. Make sure that they get plenty of sun and water as needed to keep the soil moist. Remove the blooms when they turn brown.
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I transplanted 4 mophead/macrophylia hydrangea plants last fall because they were getting too much sun. 3 of the 4 plants have new growth at the roots. Those get afternoon sun and morning shade. The 4th gets morning sun and afternoon shade and doesn't have any new growth at all. Should it have new growth by now like the other ones do? I'm also thinking that this particular one used to grow off of the dead stems (instead of having new growth at the root). Thanks!
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We recommend morning sun and afternoon shade for hydrangeas. Wait a little bit and see if the hydrangea will show signs of growth. Also check the soil and make sure that it drains well. You may also want to add a bit of compost.
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I have three beautifully large blue hydrangeas, they bloomed the year before last, but not last year. Do I need to do anything to them to promote blooms again?
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Make sure that your hydrangeas get enough sunlight. Two other common causes are improper pruning and weather related freezing of early buds.
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Must the Hydrangea be planted? Is it possible to just move to a larger pot?
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Yes, you can grow hydrangeas in containers. Follow the planting advice above and you should be all set.
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I have another quick question, I've read the comments and not quite getting it, I have a hydrangea that's 1 year been in ground, and I can see new growth around the ground of it, and its still brown and crunchy looking, should I go ahead and cut the old flowers off of them, or wait a few more weeks until the rest of the plant starts to "green up"?? Thanks, I'm new at this and don't have a natural green thumb, and am so excited to just see new growth on this one, when I have seemed to kill everything else I planted last year. Lol
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You can cut the brown flowers off but leave the stems.
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Hello all, Was just in cvs today (april 15th, in zone 5) and found a beautiful blue/ purplish hydrangea. I am assuming that it is like a regular one and not the plant that is grown indoors and is good for one season, as the tag says it is easy to grow indoors or out in pots, or beds. The tag also says 18 to 36 inches for height and to plant them 24 inches apart. It does not have a name or species. I'm new at this, but I am wondering is it okay to plant it outside in a day or two?? I'm worried because I have seen the weather and there are some nights looking to get down to 28 at night. What can I do, any ideas or suggestions will be helpful...do I leave in it the pot and leave it inside for a couple weeks until it gets a bit warmer, or can I go ahead and plant it in thee ground?? I just could not pass up this beautiful plant, because not only is it pretty, but I only paid 6.99 for it!!! Yay!! Lol. But I don't want to kill the poor thing by putting it in the ground to early, especially since it more then likely has been in a green house, but also the store where it is a lot warmer then it is outside here at nights right now....any thoughts or advice would be great. Thanks :)
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Wait to plant the hydrangea outdoors until it has warmed up a bit. Keep the plant in a sunny spot indoors until you are ready to plant it outside.
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The flowers are looking bad, but I must say that the leaves are branching out and growing pretty well now!! Thank you
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I live near Erie Pa and I was given a huge Hydrangea and it was at end of fall! It has wood stalks and dried flowers! I kept in garage all winter because 2 days after getting it we got snow then was just too cold to replant it! What I am wondering is where should I replant it and do I cut off stalks and dead flowers or just plant and leave be? I know I am in zone 5! I dont want frost to kill it!
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Hi Suzanne,
See planting instructions on this page. You can remove the dried brown flowers but leave the stalks for now until you see the new growth.
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Thanks for comment but when can I plant it?
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What I mean is when can I plant the hydrangea I live in Pennsylvania and should I wait till late May when there is no more frost?
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You can plant the hydrangea now.
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Late last summer I bought a pink blooming hydrangea. I'm not sure of the variety but where I bought it told me to plant it in the morning sunlight and with nutrient rich soil so I planted it in my front bed and it stayed good for a whole but died off. I was told it may be in shock and our neighbor who grows said to cut off all the dead and it would grow back but now it's spring and all my tulips have come up but I have yet to see any evidence of my hydrangea. Did we kill it?
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Hi Jennifer,
Some hydrangea varieties take a little longer to start growing in the spring. Don't give up yet.
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My husband and I transplanted several very large hydrangeas. I am not sure what kind they are (I know the flower clusters were round not cone) and they were very large bushes about 4ft tall. They were transplanted in the mid to late summer last year. As of today April 10 they still look woody and brown... Did we kill them? Is there something I should be doing to them to help them? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!!
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I have great hydrangea all over my yard and mine are still brown and woody too. They should be fine.
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Thanks for the help!! Good to know they could still be ok. :)
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where do you prune the old flowers off of the stems
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Most pruning is carried out in late winter or early spring. However, the climbing hydrangea is pruned after flowering in summer. See our pruning information above; you don't want to prune at the wrong time or you may remove the buds for the next season's flowers.
If you just mean deadheading--i.e., pinching off dead blooms, it can generally be done right after the flowers wilt, though some gardeners in northern climates prefer to leave the dead blooms on the mophead hydrangeas through the winter to protect them from frost.
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I have a Hydrangea Macrophylla "Big Daddy" variety. I am seeing a little bit of green at the bottoms of a couple of stems and what looks like some new buds/stems pushing up through the ground, but my question is on my established stems. There are several brown buds on some of the stems. I don't know if they tried to bud recently and turned brown with the cold, or if they were there when winter started and maybe I just didn't notice/remember. I don't know whether to prune/shave those brown buds off, or would any new buds maybe break through those and I should leave them alone? Thanks.
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The brown buds are dead. You can remove them or just leave them on the stems. The new growth will cover them up.
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Some creature is eating the buds off of my old growth stems on my hydrangeas at night. Would it make sense to cover the plants w/plastic bags at night? I think kitchen size plastic bags (white?) shld be big enough. If I were to leave town for a few days, would it be ok to leave the bags on? The buds arent opening yet. (Zone 5)
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It's OK to cover the hydrangeas at night but we would not recommend to cover the bushes for days.
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it might be deer. i planted one out in my front yard and they did the same. you could try some type of deer repellent. i just replaced mine with another plant. we have tons of deer out here.
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I live in Cleveland Ohio, zone 5, and would like to transplant a hydrangea from my grandmothers house that is for sale. Can I transplant now, or wait till after the last frost? The hydrangea has buds on it now.
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It is recommended to transplant hydrangeas in late fall when they go dormant. You can try to transplant the hydrangea as soon as you can dig in the soil (the sooner the better).
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I just purchased a pink PeeGee plant. About a foot tall and pretty much just a stick. I live around Nashville, TN. Is it possible that my "Charlie Brown" Hydrangea will flower this year? I'll be planting in a morning sun/afternoon shade area. Thanks!
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Your stick hydrangea will show new growth after you have planted it in the ground. Depending how old the hydrangea is it may bloom this year.
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I am living in Albuquerque,NM,I bought a blue hydrangea macrophylla-hortensia yesterday, and I don't know should I Plant it in my garden or a big pot.How big pot should be?Thanks give me ideas.
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Hortensia is a compact bushy shrub. We would always recommend that it goes in the ground over a pot, but you can grow them in containers. The size of the container depends on the size of your hydrangea. If it's a small cutting, you could use a pot about 6 inches in diameter. A year-old hydrangea would usually fit in a medium pot about 8 to 10 inches in diameter. After two to three years, you might need a pot about 24 inches across.
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I received a Hydrangea Macrophylla "Ravel" for Valentine's Day. It was in bloom when I received it. The bloom has since died, but now the leaves ane turning brown and cruchy. It starts at the tip of the leaf and works its way inward,even on the new leaves. I water it every 2-3 days. What could the problem be? Even though it is now March, does it still need to go dormant? If so, do you still water it and how long does it need to stay dormant? Thank you so much in advance for your help.
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Hi Rhonda,
The smaller potted hydrangeas sold for special holidays or events have usually been grown in greenhouses for a one-time, spectacular show often at the expense of the future health of the plant. The best thing you can do is to plant it outdoors in the ground or in a big container as soon as possible and keep it watered. See our planting instructions above. It may come back and show new growth.
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I posted some questions but I think I did it in the wrong place (under reply -- dont ask me what I was thinking ;), so I am going to repost it) in (hopefully) the right place. When is the best time to begin to fertilize a Hydrangea to get blue flowers? I live in Zone 5 and have the Endless Summer Variety. I have the Espoma for lowering PH. Is now too early? What is a good way to frost protect my old growth buds if we start moving into a warm spring w/occasional frosts? I lost most of my old growth buds to frost last year. Behind the hydrangeas (4 plants ~5 yrs old ranging 2.5 - 3.5 feet last summer) I plan on planting blueberries. How far away from the Hydrangeas should they be? Thanks in advance :)
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We are in zone 6 and have some hydrangeas that were planted by the previous owners. It is just about spring and we still have some dead flowers from last year. Should we clip them?
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Yes, now is a good time to remove old flowers. Happy spring!
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Help! I'm caring for a potted hydrangea while my neighbor is on vacation. It has developed splotches of white on many of its leaves, and otherwise seems ok. What should I do??? Thx
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It sounds like powdery mildew. Improve the air circulation and put the plant in a less humid location. You can spray the leaves with a solution of 2 drops of dish soap, 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda and 1/2 gallon of water. Or you can mix 1 1/2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 1/2 gallon of water and use it in a spray bottle.
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I bought a container of what I think is macrophilia blue hydrangea las year at my local Costco. I leave in Miami, which is zone 10, but last year my hydrangea did great. It had beautiful blooms that eventually turned green of old and finally I cut them because they were turning brown. This year the plant has a lot of new leaves, but so far no indication of flowers. Also, after I watered them with "miracle grow" a few days ago the leaves lost some of ots luster and the bigger ones are now sometimes floppy. I water it every day and it is in a spot that receives sun part of the day and some shade too. Can I expect flowers this year? What is the best way to care for my hydrangeas? I'm thinking about re-doing my garden and would like to plant hydrangeas but I'm not sure if they will do well. Any advise would be greatly appreciated as I'm new to gardening. Thanks!
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I cut all of the dead stems off of my hydrangea and dead puffs, will they bloom this spring? They are starting to get new buds in the tips and green leafs at the base of the shrub. Late year they turned every color from pink to blue is this normal for them to change colors as the months go by?
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Hi Jennifer,
If you are seeing new growth already your hydrangeas will be blooming in no time. It's the chemistry of the soil that determines the bloom color. In alkaline soil the blooms will be pinker and when grown in acidic soil, the color is bluer. You may have added fertilizer that changed the soils pH or heavy rains could change the chemistry.
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I purchased two Hydrangea macrophylla from Home Depot a few weeks ago. Once I made it home, I noticed they were labelled as a houseplant. I currently have them in pots on the side patio receiving early morning sun and they are doing great. I live near Houston, TX. Are these plants of the gift variety that will not make it past this year or will I be able to plant them in the fall? Thx!
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Some gift hydrangeas will not make it past one season but you can plant these in your garden and see what happens. They may surprise you.
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I am looking for advice on what type of hydrangea to plant for a particular spot in my yard. I live in Jackson, MS; yard location gets morning sun and afternoon shade, is about 40 ft of fence row, area is flat and soil is questionable. Nothing growing there now but grass. I want a white hydrangea, mophead, large bloom, blooms early and throughout season, and lots of them. Excellent cut flower. Not opposed to planting multiple varietas in same area. A raised bed is a option to help with drainage and soil issues.
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Here are a couple of suggestions for white mopheads. Most of these bloom June-Sept.
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Madame Emile Mouillere'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blushing Bride'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Wedding Gown'
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Normalis' also comes in white and is a lacecap variety.
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Are there any that bloom earlier?
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just purchased a hydrangea plant from home depot. I live in st. Croix virgin islands. the petals are beautiful, pink, shaped like the doritos for dipping (conical?). I placed it under the pergola next to the impatients that are thriving. Is that a good spot? I plan to keep it in a container. Thanks
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Hydrangeas prefer full sun in the morning, with some afternoon shade. Impatients usually grow best in shade. Just make sure that your hydrangea gets enough sun.
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My husband gave me a beautiful hydrangea plant for Valentine's day and it is larger than your typical "gift hydrangea" that has been mentioned in previous posts. It had two fully bloomed "heads" and two new ""heads growing but I noticed recently that the stems were turning brown and limp. One of the new ones even broke off. I have tried to keep it close to a window where it can get light and have been watering it about a cup of water every two or three days. We live in a condominium complex and I am not sure when/if we will be able to put it into the ground. We live in Nashville and have also experienced this horrific winter. Any advice to keep this beautiful plant alive would be helpful!
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The hydrangea needs bright sunlight and even moist soil. Don't let the soil dry out but don't overwater. Too warm indoor temperatures may also cause stress to the plant.
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I just purchased a pink hydrangea. It is almost the end of Feb. and I live in Prattville, Al. From reading some of the post, am I suppose to put it in a storage building until it warms up and then plant it in the spring? Do I keep it watered while it is in the storage building? Thank you.
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Assuming the hydrangea is dormant, keep it that way it in a cool, dark place that will remain between 40 and 50 degrees. You only want to water it before it goes dormant and then leave it alone until early spring, when you will take the plant back outside as soon as the weather warms. Water them well right away, and until we get rain.
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Hello Almanac Staff I live in Edmonton, AB Canada, (zone 3) and garden on a southern exposure balcony with a shady corner. I would love to grow a hydrangea but I have not been successful at over-wintering anything other than a Clematis, which I bring. Which variety will thrive here in a container?
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Hydrangea paniculata, also called PeeGee hydrangea, is hardy to zone 3. There is a ‘compact’ variety available with smaller foliage and flowers. Hydrangea Annabelle is also a Zone 3 hardy variety. If you keep the plant on your balcony you need to protect it somehow during the winter months. Wrap a large blanket around the pot or place the pot in a box filled with newspaper or other insulating materials.
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What is a good fertiliser for hydrangeas please. Would blood and bone help them. Mine are old and in a clay soil they grow well in, but I feel they need a boost. Thank you.
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Work organic matter into the soil periodically; garden compost is what we use. However, bone meal is a great source of phosphorus which helps establish good roots; sprinkle around the shrubs after the snow is gone; follow the directions and don't overdo it or you could harm the plant. We wouldn't use blood meal (which adds nitrogen) unless the leaves are yellowing; nitrogen keeps those leaves green.
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I am new to planting, please help me out, 2 days ago I bought some Hydrangeas from Home Depot, I do believe it is Big-leaf Hydrangeas, the blue flowers look beautiful, I water it and put it in a bright area with indirect sunlight, today, the flower are wilting, please tell me what happened and what should I do to save it. BTW, I am in southern California, I do believe the hardness zone is 9.
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Hydrangeas need to go dormant in the winter so keep the hydrangea in the pot and let it go dormant and drop the leaves. Then move it to an unheated garage or shed for the rest of the winter. In the spring you can transplant it outside.
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Hi. I tried finding a comment that was the same as my situation, but could not. I apologize if I missed it. I received a beautiful hydrangea plant today, January 17 for the passing of my grandmother. I don't have any florist information so I do not know the variety. The plant has large shiny heart-shaped leaves with sawtooth edges. From what I understand, the flower structure is mophead. The larger flowers have blueish/lavender/periwinkle on the outer portion, with pale green centers. The smaller flowers are pale green only. I live in hardiness zone 7b. I would like to keep this plant and put it in one of my beds. Would I be able to do this? How would I go about this since it is currently January? I appreciate any insight and tips. Thank you!
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Many hydrangeas grow well in pots and you can keep your plant healthy buy watering and maybe repotting in a bigger pot. If you keep the plant indoors during the winter months and then plant it outside in the spring it will not have had a dormant (cold) period and will probably not bloom next summer.
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Can I grow PeeGee in San Jose, CA? Thanks, Nick
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Would it be okay to plant endless summer hydrangea in a place it gets shade almost all day and around 4pm until 6pm it get some sun. I live in south texas.
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Iza, It is hit or miss. That sounds like too much shade; the hydrangea might grow the first year but I doubt it will be happy and thrive. In this area, you might want to try something like a Turks Cap. See more about this ornamental shrub here:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshru...
Here is the full page of native shrubs from your Texas cooperative extension:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/
Whenever possible, we advise going "native" and growing what is most natural to Texas. Hope this helps!
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We just bought a house in July and the hydrangeas were gorgeous! Now in these cold months the plant looks brown and dry. California weather was particularly cold in the last month. Are they a lost cause and we need to dig up?
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It's normal for hydrangeas to look dead in the winter. Do not dig them up.
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Our lawn service did not get around to our winter clean up until last week.(Dec.26th) I am in NY-on Long Island Usually he cuts backby half all of my hydrangeas. This time, because it has been below freezing, I told him to just leave the woody stems as is. However-there are many dried/brown flowers on most of the tips of the stems. Must I remove them? Thank you. I also noticed some green buds at certain tips. Mine are all macrophylla( sp?)and at least 5 years old. Thank you.
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Your hydrangeas will be fine without pruning. In the spring when you see new growth starting remove the old brown flowers and any dead stems. Wait to prune after your hydrangeas have bloomed in late summer.
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Thank you so much for your reply. I was worried about the hydrangeas as I worry about all of my growing things, and you have eased at least one worry. I shall leave them be and follow your advice. Now about those delphiniums............( kidding)
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I just received a White robe Hydangea as a Christmas gift. What zone am I in? I live in Memphis, TN and it is winter now. How to I keep it healthy in the house and when is the best time to transplant outside? It presently has green leaves and blooms. Thank you!! Dec. 15, 2013
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Hydrangeas need to go dormant in the winter so keep your plant in an unheated garage or shed during the winter months. In the spring you can transplant it outside. Memphis is in hardiness zone 7.
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Do hydrangeas have to go dormant? I live in eastern Iowa and it is now mid December with single digit temps and frozen ground outside. I purchase "Ruby Slippers" during the summer and never got it into the ground, question is: it is still bearing leaves and doing fine, it has been babied inside a sun porch area and seems to be doing fine right now. Can I just re-pot it and keep it happy all winter or is absolutely necessary for it to go dormant, such as a hosta would? Any advice would be awesome Thanks.
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I purchased a heritage hydrangia from a florest and now I want to plant it. I live in Georgia and it is December. This week's temperatures will be from 40-60 degrees. Will it be okay to plant or should I house indoors and plant in the spring.
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You are better off planting your hydrangea in the ground now. Plant in well-draining soil and water deeply.
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I was given a huge Hydrangea plant recently and its Nov and snow is falling here in Upper Pa! I was wondering where I should keep the huge plant where it wont die but wont be killed either! Would it have to be kept in soil or can it just have bag around roots and water every so often and kept in cold garage? Any advice would be helpful thanks
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Hi Suzanne,
Keep the hydrangea in the pot and let it go dormant and drop the leaves before moving it into a cold garage. Water once when putting it in storage and then again in a month or two.
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I want to plant Hydranges on the side of my house. It gets morning sun. what kind should I get for this zone?
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Consider macrophylla and look for varieties that are repeat bloomers since you have a longer growing season in Florida. We like Endless Summer, Penny Mac, and All Summer Beauty, but see what works for you.
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I purchased a beautiful potted hydrangea this spring- the label said it was a "Saxon" hydrangea. I have looked all over the internet, and have had a hard time getting information about it, and most of the information I have found is from Europe. What little I have learned is that it may be a dwarf form of hydrangea, and that it may be able to take more sun, and something about blooming a bit later to protect against frost. Can you verify any of this for me? I want to plant it soon, but am not sure exactly where. My other issue with this poor plant is that in spite of growing beautifully this spring, I came out one morning to find it completely stripped of leaves and half its height. Unfortunately, we have discovered with a motion activated camera, that deer browse our yard quite frequently to snack. This plant grew back nicely, only to be stripped again. I put a tomato cage over it, and covered it with plastic fencing. It has since grown back some foliage, but not much... Does this poor baby have a prayer?
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Deer will eat anything, of course, but they rarely bother with hydrangea. High fencing is the only proven way to keep out deer. See our page on deterring deer here for tips: http://www.almanac.com/content/deer
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I live in Wisconsin and we had a hard frost. I did not cover my plants, now they are brown and look dead. will they come back next spring or not?
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If the hydrangeas are hardy to your zone, they'll probably be fine. They will eventually produce new growth from dormant buds. Keep them mulched with 3 to 4 inches of mulch up to the drip line and maintain the soil evenly moist. Do not add fertilizer while the plant recovers. Do not cut anything back until you see new growth.
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I live in Ontario, Canada. first off what zone is that. Secondly, I just cut back my hydrangea about 6" from the ground. I didn't think to check online first. Have I ruined the plant or will it come back next year.
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Hi Pat,
Your hydrangea will come back next year but may not flower depending on the variety you have. You may have cut off the new flower buds for next year. See pruning advice on this page. To see your hardiness zone go to http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-ontario-plant-zone-h...
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I have read many comments and this one is close to my situation but need more info. I live in zone5-6 and believe I have a big-leaf hydrangea variety. I rent and am trying to maintain this hydrangea bush, I had pruned it in the past but this year seems different. I cut it back to 6" from the ground in late fall, we had an extremely cold winter (I did not cover it), usually in the spring I see new growth (both on old wood & new wood). Its almost May now and there is nothing. I'm afraid I have damaged or killed this bush. Can you tell me if you think it will survive and what I can do to help it? Also, this year I have moles in the yard, all around this bush. Can they harm my hydrangea? Thank you for your help
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You mentioned pruning in the fall? With this type of hydrangea, you never want to prune after August 1. Flower buds will begin forming in late summer for the following season, so you're basically cutting off the new blooms. See this hydrangea page for more information.
It's more likely that you have voles versus moles. One idea is to clear all vegetation away and put a ring of mulch about 4 inches away from the base of the plant as voles do not like to come out in the open. See our page on deterring moles here: http://www.almanac.com/content/voles
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I received a Hydrangea mac.Ramars/ hydragea cityline mars hardy in zones 5-9 and I live in central NC. Is it okay to plant outdoors in a location with some sun in the morning and afternoon shade? It has been sitting on my deck and now the leaves have some brown spots and a few have fallen off. No blooms since I received the plant in June 2013. Thanks for your help.
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Plant the hydrangea in the ground before the cold weather arrives. See our planting tips on this page.
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I have one HUGE hydrangea about 5 years old that has never once bloomed. It is in a area that gets about 5 hrs full sun, lots of water in the spring when things begin to thaw, and I usualy cut all the dead wood to the ground in the spring.What should I do?
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If your hydrangea blooms on old wood you may have cut off the buds when pruning in the spring. Don't prune this spring. Wait and see if you'll have some flowers. Then prune after the flowers fade. Add some compost to the soil around the bush to give it some extra energy.
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I love your site!! So helpful:) Thank You So Much!!
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I have a HUGE hydrangea that needs to be divided. I see that fall is the best time to move them, but is it also the best time to divide them? It also needs to be cut back before & I understand that I may not get blooms next year if I do so, so is this a good time to do this while dividing & transplanting?
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You can transplant or move hydrangeas anytime that the plant has gone dormant--so fall or early spring before new growth has emerged. All the leaves should be off before attempting to move your plants. If you are doing all this work with dividing, perhaps early spring is better as you have less risk of winter damage.
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I have three hydrangeas that I planted in the spring...and they have struggles the entire summer season. They have brown edges and the leaves are the color of mint spearmint gum. What am I doing wrong? They did not bloom at all. Thanks
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In terms of brown edges, you might want to check your hydrangeas for spider mites. Look under the leaves for tiny specks that move and treat with insecticidal soap. In terms of best growth, consult this page. They like moist soil that also drains well. They do not like dry conditions; it's best to amend your soil with organic compost and also mulch to keep the soil cool. Be sure to mulch and protect them if you live in a cold-weather place for winter. In terms of blooming: lack of flowering is often due to pruning at the wrong time or over-feeding with fertiliser too high in nitrogen or a late spring freeze.
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I have hydrangeas that have black spots on the leaves in late summer.what causes this.
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This is usually a bacterial leaf spot. Remove infected leaves. Water your plants at the soil line and avoid getting their leaves set. Ensure good plant spacing for air circulation. Apply copper-based fungicides in late spring to help limit disease spread.
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Hello, I'm in Michigan and have several Big Leaf Hydrangeas. I'd like some white mophead/big leaf. It seems Annabelle are common, bu grow on new growth so they're floppy with the rain. Is there a white Big Leaf Mophead hydrangea that will tolerate Michigan that grows on old growth? I've read Incrediball can be hit and miss with blooming. Thank you.
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As a general rule, Mopheads bloom on old wood. However, 'Bailmer' (trademarked as Endless Summer) flowers on old and new growth. There is a white version called Blushing Bride that blooms on new growth.
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I planted two hydrangeas 3 weeks ago from my local nursery, they were over crowded in the pots and some leaves were spotty, they each had two blooms. I dug the holes and added compost, set the plants in, leaving the top of the dirt slightly above the ground level as instructed. The leaves are shriveling and I am pulling them off, there are signs of new growth, but some of the new growth is shriveling as well. I am watering them every two days, they get morning shade and some morning sun, with more afternoon sun, but are planted on the left of a japanese maple, so are getting shaded from the strongest afternoon sun. Why are they continuing to lose their leaves?
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It may be a nitrogen deficiency. Try using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, but make sure it does not include phosphorus.
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When is the best time to transplant hydrangeas?
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Transplant your hydrangea in late fall when most of its leaves have fallen off.
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Hi. I purchased a hydrangea last May during a trade fair. It was in a pot and was in full bloom. The color of the flower is white/yellowish. I transplanted it immediately when I get home. I noticed some of the flowers started to wilt until nothing is left. But fior the first two months,it started to have some growth so I was glad and thought it will live. It's located under a tree but has full sun when it's a sunny day. But since august, it's been raining almost everyday and then the leaves started to turn yellow. What should I do? We have clay soil.I don't want it to die.. It's too beautiful when I bought it.
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The rain may be the culprit. Hydrangeas do not like to be overwatered. You should amend your soil with coarse sand, compost, and peat moss. http://www.almanac.com/content/preparing-soil-planting
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My hydrangea plants are now on their second year. Both have successfully bloomed, However, now the leaves on the stalks are turning yellow and falling off. I live in Vermont. My plants get full sun.
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It is possible to overwater hydrangeas. If that isn't the case, it may be a nitrogen deficiency. Try using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, but make sure it does not include phosphorus.
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I have two hydrangeas in two different areas of my yard. This is my second season with them and I'm disappointed they haven't bloomed. We thought they were in the perfect home. They have 6 full hours of direct morning sun and are in full shade from about 2pm on. We want to change the soil but I don't want to remove the plant, change the soil and re-plant because I don't want to shock them. Can we change the soil all around it or is it best to remove it, root and all and then re-plant it?
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Dig down a little around the plants without hurting the roots and add some compost or aged manure. Mix it into the existing soil. Water well and see if you can get some flowers next year. If not transplant next fall.
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I have a panicle hydrangea that blooms in August until mid October. I'm wondering if it's possible to divide it and transplant half to a separate location. Not sure when would be the best time and what the steps are to go about doing it.
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Best time to divide is when the bush is dormant in late fall or early spring. Carefully dig up the plant trying to get the entire rootball. Find a good spot in the middle of the root ball to cut into. Use a spade and/or a pitch fork to cut into the roots and carefully seperate the two sections. Plant and water.
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I received a hydrangea for easter. I transplanted in my flower bed, but pruned off the flowers because they were turning brown and thought I should. I have healthy leaves, but no more blooms have sprouted. Have I ruined the plant forever or will it bloom next year? I didn't do my research before I pruned. thanks fory our help.
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You did everything right. It's OK to prune if there are some brown petals. As you said this was a "gift" hydrangea, our suspicious is simply that this type is different than the nursery container. The foil wrapped hydrangea has usually been grown for a one-time, spectacular show. It's fed just for a big bloom and no thought has been given to its long-term health. It is often grown in a greenhouse and just not hearty enough for the "wild."
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I have a blue hydrangea and the leaves are curling and blooms are turning brown and thanks for ansering my first letter
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Check under the leaves for spider mites. They are tiny specks of brown and red and move when you touch them. Blast off with water. Then spray an insecticidal soap or horticultural oil to all leaf surfaces early in the morning, following label directions.
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We recently had work done at our home, and our hydrangeas had to be moved for about 5 days..they had been in that particular spot for at least 7 years. I was told once they put them back,in the same location in new sod and mulch to water them every day. I have been doing that, however one of my hydrangeas is wilting and the leaves and flowers are turning brown... what am I doing wrong? I do not want to lose it is one of my favorites.. a beautifule purple!! I live just out side of boston .. not sure what zone that is.. thank you
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Your hydrangea is suffering from transplant shock. Late fall and early spring are much better times to move and transplant hydrangeas. Keep watering and don't prune any branches until spring. Hopefully your hydrangea will have some new growth next year and you can cut back the dead branches.
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I live in Phoenix, AZ where it gets VERY hot in the summer(daytime temperatures of 115 degrees are not rare). Can I grow hydrangea trees (or bushes) in this type of atmosphere. They would get sun all day.
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Hydrangeas are really meant for cooler climates than Arizona. That said, some readers have tried to grow them. H.quercifolia can tolerate heat. H. macrophylla is adaptable. You will need rich, porous soil (not clay) and may need to add acid to the soil, too. We're not sure it's all worth the effort, but let us know how it goes! There are some gorgeous flowering bushes in Arizona (Bougainvillea is a favorite) and we always advise a more native plant.
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I moved about a year ago, and inherited tons of hydrangeas. I prune away the dead stems to the first sign of life on them, and cut out any completely dead ones. My hydrangeas bloom fully, and without problem. However, once they have bloomed, I'm not sure what to do with them. Should I cut off blooms to make way for new growth? Should I cut them as they start to wilt? If I leave them be, as I did last year, they turn colors and right now they are more of the antique hydrangea color of white/pink/green blooms... is this a good thing/normal or are they dead blooms that I should be cutting off? Confused. (they are the droopy kind, not the ones that are compact and stay in a neat little ball)
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It is important to understand which type of hydrangea you own. There are many varieties and they have different plant care guidelines. Take a sample to a nearby nursery.
Based on your description, you probably do NOT have Hydrangea macrophylla which are the bulby type.
The most common type is Hydrangea paniculata 'Grandiflora' -- Pee Gee Hydrangea; you can remove the dead flowers if they bother you, but it is not necessary, For pruning: Thin and/or cut back the previous season's growth in early spring before growth; flower clusters occur on newly developing branches. You do want to prune annual so that you don't get an overgrown hydrangea.
See more on pruning above on our hydrangea page.
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I have three hydrangeas-good bloom, leaves look good but the stems are weak and the bloom tilts. What can I do to strengthen the stems? I usually prune them in late fall. I am in Canada so the winter is cold and long. Thanks.
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When it's pruning time, you could remove the canes that are at angle of less than 45 degrees to the ground level. Also, remove all old canes from the center to give way to stronger vertical canes growing from the center.
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I have a blue hydrangea that has a new plant coming out of the root and. need to know how to begin a new plant. thank you
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To replant a hydrangea sucker, first you need to slice betwen the sucker and the plant and gently dig it up. If you can get enough of the roots attached, you can simply replant in someplace else. Following our planting advice on this page. Water in well.
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I also have a pink hydrangea, but all the blooms died off and I removed them and now all the leaves have curled up and I removed them also. will it bloom again from the stem or is it gone ??
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My son has very healthy hydrangeas and new plants coming out of the ground. I dug some up (they have roots) and want to plant them in my yard. Any specific instruction? Should I cut the leaves off? The ones I tried planting in the ground have wilted really badly. Should I just leave them and wait and see if they take?
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How can I start a new plant from a cutting with roots? They look really droopy. Should I cut off droopy leaves?
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I planted two hydrangeas about six years ago. They bloomed and were beautiful the first year but haven't bloomed since. They get sun in the morning and are watered as needed. The plants are growing really well and look really healthy but no blooms. Help!
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"Why doesn't my hydrangea bloom?" is a very common question and you are not along. The 3 most common answers here are: Excessive nitrogen fertilizer, too much shade (they can tolerate some shade but still need 6 hours of direct sunlight a day), and bad pruning (some hydrangea buds on old wood and gardeners prune off the buds -- see this page for more detail on how to prune to keep your blooms).
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I just moved in and have two old hydrangea and they are beautiful. But the flowers flop to the ground. How do I get the to stay up off the dirt. I live in zone 7 or 8 and I have seen others that don't. Are they being trimmed to low? I would like them to stand up more like a bush.
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When it's pruning time, you could remove the canes that are at angle of less than 45 degrees to the ground level. Also, remove all old canes from the center to give way to stronger vertical canes growing from the center.
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Writing from Virginia. Running behind schedule in late July, but can I still plant Hydrangea at this point or should I wait until Fall? The spot gets morning sun and then lots of shade. In the past the spot and still the ground have been deep in pine needles. Thanks!
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Hi Ted, Morning sun and light afternoon shade is ideal for hydrangea. They love well-drained soil so pine bark mulch is perfect. You want to plant hydrangea when it is dormant and has lost all of its leaves. Late fall is the perfect time. You're welcome!
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My hydrangea plant leaves are been eaten but by what I don't know. There is hardly a leaf that has not been chewed on, any idea's what it might be. I can't see anything when I look at it to indicate what might be eating it. (I live in the Pacific Northwest. Port Angeles)
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There are a variety of pests: deer, slugs, Japanese beetles, and earwigs. We usually put slug and snail bait around our hydrangea--plus broken eggshells around the base of the plant. You may want to bring a chewed-up leaf to your garden center to get it IDed and the right solution.
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I need some advice. I recently purchase 2 mophead endless summer hydrangea one is blue the other pink. We recently completed a flower bed border adjacent to my back porch. I planted each one on opposite ends of the flower bed. They were doing great til the last week or so. The blooms are wilting and turning brown on the blue one and the same for the pink except the pink’s leave are brown too. I make sure to water them every evening. They get morning sun and afternoon shade. I am so sick with worry because I don’t want to lose them. They were so beautiful. I was thinking about deadheading the wilting flowers. Please advise. Thanks
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Our first guess is that you are overwatering. On doing further reasearch, it seems a strong possibility: One source suggests that this plant tolerates full sun when/if the soil is consistently moist. It sounds like, with your making sure to water every evening, in a setting that has morning sun (which is not the hottest sun of the day), followed by shade, your plant is just too wet. Leave it go for a while—say, until the soil dries out. And then water only occasionally. As for deadheading, this plant benefits from deadheading. That is, it wil continue to produce blooms (until the first frost). We hope this helps.
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I have 4 Hydrangeas ( White) that I planted this spring and have had beautiful large blooms thru the summer. I noticed that now there are still many new blooms but they are green and not turning white. What is going on?
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It depends on your variety of hydrangea. For example, Annabelle hydrangeas, which bloom white, always turn green when they have been in bloom about two weeks (sometimes they stay white a little longer). In general, it is common for many varieties of hydrangeas to turn is green as they age, especially in climates where it gets hot and humid.
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my plant is planted on the side of the house where the it is sunny in the afternoon. would this be to much sunny and cause plant to turn brown or do I need to water more! ideas please
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my plant is planted on the side of the house where the it is sunny in the afternoon. would this be to much sunny and cause plant to turn brown or do I need to water more! ideas please
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my 2 yr old pinkie winkie hydrangeas bloomed beautifully last year,but so far this yr. nothing.suggestions anyone?thanks,ann
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Did you have a late frost this spring that could have hurt the buds? Did you prune the bush at the wrong time? See pruning tips above.
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I live in north central Texas with sweltering summers. I want to plant hydrangea but would like recommendations on specific ones that would do well in my area.
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Oakleaf hydrangea can do well in Texas. You must have acidic soil (pH 5-6 minimum) and a shady or partly shaded site. Morning or late evening sun is ideal. Contact your county cooperative extension--they'll have the best local advice.
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I had two hydrangeas that bloomed well for years then less well or not at all. I divided and transplanted. Now I have thriving plants and few to no blossoms. I am ready to dig them up and replace with new. How can I get them to bloom? Please help. Zone 4. Morning sun. Afternoon partial shade.
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I have a hydrangea (pink) but I planted on a spot where the sunlight was hitting it but it burn the flower and only a little bit of the leaves so I took it and planted on a pot what do I do to it so it could get nice and beautiful again
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I have had 2 hydrangea plants: both quite large when I moved in. I am trying to figure out if I need to cut down the long stems in the fall or spring? I didn't last year and all the green came back but I have had limited flowers, sometime none- so should I cut those things down each year or leave them?
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See our pruning advice above. You need to find out if your hydrangea blooms on old or new wood before pruning.
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I want to transplant my beautiful pink hydrangea to a larger pot. Will it stand the transplant at this time of year.? It is about 1 1/2 yrs What do you recommend?
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The best time to transplant is in the fall after the leaves have fallen off.
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I am thinking of adding a hydrangea to my back garden which gets both sun and shade. However, I also have a family of deer who like to stop by on their way across the neighborhood. I am wondering if they like hydrangea and if my attempt to plant them is a lost cause. Thanks.
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Hydrangeas are often preferred by deer. If you have deer in your neighborhood they should be planted with additional protection such as fencing or repellents.
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my hydrangea is about four years old and bloomed early this year,the flowers have turned brown,i'm wondering if they should be pruned and how i can stop this from happening
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June 2013 was so interesting for my 3 yr old macro, the normally all peri blues came up w/ lavender and pale green centers, and now July 2-4 all pale pinks! I had about 10 smaller pale blues hiding in the leaves. Farmer, was it the odd weather this spring, cooler longer than normal and no rain in April? My neighbors older hydrangea, same specie, did the same thing! We both said last year they were bluer, and we didn't touch the soil. Mine looks so healthy, gets morn sun, pm shade, and I want to plant more since this one is happy. I did read coffee grounds worked on encouraging blues, is that true Sir? I had them mulched early this spring. I am in PA. I find the irridescence of the pale colors absolutely mesmorizing. :)
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I have a hydrangea (mophead) that receives sun till 3-4pm (San Jose, CA) -- blooming well (about 7 or so) -- but has brown/curled up leaves; receives plenty of water (daily and sometimes twice during hot days). Right now the shrub is about 2x2 feet. Not sure if I should move it or let it stay. Don't have another location except one that gets dappled sun only with 1 hr of afternoon sun.
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I would suggest that, if you don't have a location where it could only get direct sun in the morning, then shade in the afternoon, the spot with dappled shade might be better for your hydrangea. Good luck!
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I grow mine in shade (no direct sunlight) in San Jose and they are happy as lark. Nick
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Our hydrangeas have old tall woody stems with no leaves among the healthy plants. Is it ok to prune the old woody stems?
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Yes, it is fine to remove the old woody stems.
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I have two pots of pink hydrangeas on my front porch. They've been there about 6 weeks and have stayed a gorgeous, brilliant pink in color. After the past few days, the petals are starting to turn a dingy brown. This is my first time to have hydrangeas, what am I doing wrong? I should note that I live in Alaska, and we have lots of sunshine right now. The porch gets plenty of mostly indirect sunlight. Many thanks.
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Hydrangea flowers do fade after a period of bloom. You can deadhead (remove) the spent flowers by cutting close to the bloom. Most woody plants do not rebloom after you remove the old flowers. There are a few varieties that do rebloom, 'Endless Summer' is one.
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My hydrangea was severely stressed during a recent hot spell. The blooms, which were just opening wilted and are now dry; the inner part of the bloom is seems to be recuperating. Will new flowers develop if the damaged flowers are pruned? What should I do?
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Most woody plants don't rebloom after you remove the spent flowers. Deadhead by pruning the stem above the first set of large leaves close to the flower.
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I have several endless summer varieties and love to use them in bouquets. Sometimes the cut flowers last a long time, however, sometimes the flowers wilt immediately. Why?
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Yes, hydrangea will often wilt. The solution is to 1) pick in morning once flowers are in full bloom, 2) immediately plunge in cold water, 3) have some boiling water on the stove. Let it cool a bit, and then put the stems in the hot water to sear them and then back to cold water. Some readers sear the stems with a flame.
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After replanting our hydrageas last year we did not get flowers.We knew this would happen.My gardener planted other flowers around them...daisies, daylilies, hibiscus, etc. so that we had flowers last summer. This summer our hydrageas are almost hidden by all these flowers. Gardener says this is good for the hydrageas...I think they are being overcrowded. Can hardly see them...Should hydrageas be neslted within other flowers or be completely on their own with no other plants.
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Hydrangeas don't like to be crowded. Plant them in a spot 6 to 8 feet wide where they can spread. Plant them as a backdrop with shorter perennials or annuals in front or plant them at the edge of a garden.
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When I want to cut flower for inside the home how much of the stem can I cut
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Cut as much stem as you wish but just make sure you cut early in the morning and only blooms that are fully open. Put in cool water asap. To avoid wilting, here is a tip that we read about: --Put cut ends in almost-boiling water for 30 seconds, then plunge into cool water.
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MY HYDRANGEA LEAVES ON TWO SMALL BUSHES ARE LIGHT GREEN, ALMOST YELLOW. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM?
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First, monitor the moisture level and try to make sure that the plants are not being 'over watered'. The other possible culprit is soil ph levels. Take a sample of your soil near the plant to the local arboretum (county extension office). They may offer soil testing - which will tell you what you need to do to correct the soil ph. Either way, this is going to be a relatively easy fix. I hope you have plenty of blooms!
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I have 2 hydrangas, but do not know the variety, but they are "old". They receive morning sun and some shade in the afternoon. They only produce a few flowers each.Planted in beds that support others shrubs without problem. What can be done to help these plants bloom? I have not added any fertilizers.
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Add compost to enrich the soil. Do a little research to find out what type of hydrangea you have and then prune some of the older branches in the fall or spring. See our pruning advice above.
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I just planted my hydrangea 3 days ago. I have watered it every day. The leaves are beginning to wilt and turn brown. What should I do..
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Look under the hydrangea leaves and see if there are tiny spider mites. They suck the juice from the leaves. If you've got mites, spray all leaf surfaces with insecticidal soap. If you're not sure of this diagnosis, bring a sample back to the nursery!
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Hi this may sound of the wall but my daughter has a puppy and she was peeing in the flower bed plus I was putting morning coffee grinds on some off the flowers and they are just beautiful this year and I live at the Jersey shore so we do not have the greatest of soil but this is what worked for me both things have different acids !
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Can Hydrangeas receive too much water? Have 3 that have died in a new bed that received heavy run off in Late winter/early spring. Replaced and it is hot July and they are wilting again. What could be wrong?
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Hydrangeas need well draining soil and don't like wet feet. Add compost to the soil and put some mulch around the plants to keep the soil moist. Supply some shade if the sun is too hot.
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My hydrangea bloomed the first year with huge dark pink flowers. Every year after the blooms get smaller and numerous. It is very healthy. I live in south jersey have sand soil and fertilize with Miracle gro.
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I have a hydrangea (not sure what type) that I planted three years ago. When I planted it, it had full, beautiful blooms. The first year it didn't bloom at all, which I expected. Last year and this year it has big blooms, but they only open around the edges. What can I do to get the blooms to be fuller again, like they were when I bought the plant?
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I got a plant for Mothers Day, since then it's lost almost all of its leaves and all the blooms died. It was poted in a larger pot in good soil and watered 2-3 times per week. Why is it in so much distress? I do see new growth on it now, but not sure what else to do for it. Can you help?
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Florist hydrangeas (the kind they sell for mother's day) are much more delicate than shrubs you would buy at a garden center. They are really bred for short-term beauty and most people throw them out when they wilt. If you water it well (not soggy, but don't let it dry out) and keep it in a partly sunny spot (not too hot, protect from full afternoon sun) you might be able to keep it alive and next year get more flowers. Eventually you should plant it in the ground.
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I have a hydrangea that is 13 - 14 years old. My bush has never flowared. It is in 3/4 shade, red clay mixed with potting soil, and I have added lime two years ago. What else can I do?
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Too much shade reduces blooms. You may need to transplant your hydrangea to a sunnier spot. Morning sun is best. Add compost to the soil and add mulch around the plant to keep the soil moist.
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I have lacecap hygrangea and they produce large buds, but they turn brown before the buds open. Why?
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Hydrangea flower buds and blossoms turn brown if the plant becomes stressed. It can be caused by not enough water or too much sun. If the buds are exposed to full sun for many hours, the plant cannot provide enough moisture to the buds and they dry out. About 4 hours of morning sun is perfect.
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I have (2) endless summer hydrangeas, which were just planted March 2013. I live in zone 8. Both are nearing the end of their first flowering. Should I deadhead these? I've read mixed things about deadheading the first growing season. Also, I have a Nantucket Blue hydrangea, planted the same time as the endless summers. Do I deadhead this one as well? Some of the leaves are brown; should I cut these off? What could be the cause of this? Thank you!
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Do deadhead the spent flowers. It will encourage new blooms. Don't prune the stems or branches this year. Let the plants get bigger and more established first. Brown leaves is a sign that the plant isn't getting enough water. Hydrangeas need lots of water. Add some mulch around your plants to keep the moisture in the soil. It's OK to remove the brown leaves.
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I was given a Hydrangea in a pot for mothers day, as I didn't know anything about the plant I looked it up online and discovered it's a shrub. I live in an apartment with a balcony, how do I take care of this plant???
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Many hydrangeas will grow well in pots. Choose a pot that is about 2 to 4 inches bigger than the pot the plant came in. Follow the planting advice above and put the container in a sunny or semi-sunny spot on your balcony. Depending on where you live you need to protect it with mulch or other coverings over the winter months.
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I do so much appreciate this page i have learned the things that i needed to know for my plant thank you so much
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I planted a hydrangea in my backyard. it gets morning sun and afternoon shade. it had blooms on it when i bought it. they are gone now. will it bloom again this year?
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Most hydrangea varieties will not rebloom. Endless Summer is a new collection of hydrangeas that will rebloom.
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I bought a Blue Heaven Hydrangea. I planted it with moisture retention soil from Miracle Grow. The plant get some shade but mostly sun. I watered the plant with aqua feed from miracle grow. Now, the plant has some dark spots on its leaves. I also sprayed it with some pesticide that they recommended at Lowes. The dark tiny spots appeared later. Does anyone have an idea what could it be?
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My hydrangeas bloomed fruitfully for countless years then just stopped blooming, but produced a very large healthy bush--without flowers. I live in NJ (not sure what zone)...after 4 years with no blooms I saw ONE flower this year :( about to give up and dig it up...any ideas?? We are well watered and it is in the perfect sun exposure....Just noticed my smaller bushes that bloomed for 3 yrs. have ZERO buds now too--but also have a very healthy bush growing...very frustrating....
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It looks your plant needs to treated with Holly Tone. You should feed the plant with Holly tone in spring and fall, then you will see the plant bloom. You can buy it at Home Depot or Lowes
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I live in zone 7 and every year my plants get such a beautiful deep green color on the leaves and they are really full... but they never bloom. I do not understand why they are not blooming. I have had them about five years and last year there was one bloom and quickly faded away. I make sure they have plenty of water and they only have morning sun and then in the afternoon they have lots of shade. Any ideas???
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My colleagues bought me a beautiful hydrangea last year. This spring, it was starting to leaf again when landscapers mistakenly chopped off the leaves. Will this come back, ever? Thank you!
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First, you need to know what type of hydrangea you have. For mophead, lacecaps, and oaklead varieties, the best time to prune is actually in the summer before August. They form their buds on "old wood" in Aug/Sept/Fall for the following season's bloom. If it's cut back in June or July, it won't harm the next year's bloom. However, PeeGee hydrangeas can be pruned any time except for the spring/summer when they are preparing to bloom. You can prune them in the fall, winter, or spring. If you prune at the wrong time, you may harm the next season's blooms but it's not forever!
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I planted a hydrangea last year (don't remember what kind) and we live in zone 5. Everything above ground looks dead but I see some green sprouts right underneath. Could this be my hydrangea coming back?
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Yes, it is the hydrangea growing from the ground. Prune the dead branches and the new growth should fill in.
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My hydrangea is about 5 years old and grows beautifully every year, but doesn't bloom. Any ideas?
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If you have late spring frosts the new buds could have been damaged. Sometimes improper pruning causes no blooms. And, make sure that your hydrangea variety is suitable for your climate. Some varieties are not cold hardy.
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What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas? I have very sandy soil.
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We have sandy soil and we have never fertilized our hydrangeas. We have so many blooms on all of our bushes right now. We have pink, blue and lavender. We just cut off dead branches as needed.
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Just discovered this site and love the great questions and helpful insights. Being new to site, I accidentally pressed the first star in the rating box, above. This is a 5-star site and am sorry that my inadvertent vote will be used to calculate the average rating. Thank you!
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I just bought a house that has 2 hydrangea plants out front I planted one this year and its doing amazing but the old ones are more hard grey brown stems with little green leaf new stems how would I get these to bloom? Or take care of them and prune them thanks!
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I live in Zone 4b. I have several Annabelle & PG bushes, all white, which do well. I want to plant some blue and pink varieties but when I went to my local nursery, the owner said that they won't do well here. Are there any blue or pink varieties that will do well in this zone?
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Endless Summer hydrangeas will grow in Zone 4. They come in different shades of pink and blue. Good luck!
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Hi I recently bought 2 hortensia plants and suddenly my house is filled with several mosquitoes, do you know if this plant is friendly to insects. What can I do?
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Mine are mature, should I remove all the sticks, they looks like dead old growth. I have lots of green on the bottom and big leaves. But the tall sticks looks bad. Leave them or pull them. Albany NY area.
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Remove the sticks if they are dead. The new growth will fill in and cover any empty spots.
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I have 4 Nikko Blues and all of them have powdery mildew and the purple leaf spots within one week of planting. I have been spraying daconil fungicide on them about every 10 days and pruning the infected leaves. The are perky just do not look that pretty. Is there anything else I should do? Should I go ahead and feed or fertilize? It seems that they have not really had any new growth.
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My plant has black spots on the stems. Why?
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You have a fungal disease called black spot. Remove and discard the stems and leaves that have black spots. Spray the hydrangea with a mixture of 1 pint of tepid water and 1/2 tablespoon neem oil.
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I planted a charm Hydrangea in my yard, which has full sun. It was beautiful last year, but has failed to show any signs of life so far this spring. Is it dead or just slow to emerge? I live in central Nebraska.
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I am having the same issue with my Annabelle hydrangea here in Centennial, CO zone 5a. Seemed happy when I planted it last summer. I didn't water it during the winter (read an article that said not to). It's now April. When should I start seeing new growth? Also, what is a "charm" hydrangea? I haven't heard of that before.
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Can I use Orthenex Insect & Disease control on my Hydrangea
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Not knowing what insect pests you have we recommend starting with an horticultural oil and mixing the oil according to package directions before spraying.
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The leafs of my hydrangea are wilting and i'm not sure why or what to do. Any suggestions??
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Usually, they wilt when they need water. Mine do, after watering, they perk right up. Only about 20-30 minutes after.
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My leaf are wilting and how do you dead head hydrangea?
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I would like to replace a spot in the garden where there is currently a giant flower pot with a hydrangea. We live in Omaha, NE and this spot receives the correct amount of sun for this plant. I'm wondering if I can put the hydrangea in the giant pot or if it must be planted the ground. Thanks for your help!
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Hydrangeas grow well in pots. The main disadvantage is the difficulty of keeping them watered. Plant a larger size plant (if you bought the plant in a 3 or 5 gallon container) in a large container. Smaller hydrangeas should be started in smaller pots and then moved into bigger pots after 1 or 2 years.
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Thanks!
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At what age do Hydrangeas begin producing blooms?
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It sometimes depends on the variety and how big the plant was when planted, but usually if planted at the proper time, new plants will bloom the following summer.
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I live in nc and mine were way over grown so I cut them way back now that it is getting warm I'm not getting any flowers just a big bush what should I do
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There is nothing you can do this year. Flowers grow on old growth. If you leave it alone (don't cut down this fall) you should have flowers next year.
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I bought a big pot of hydrangeas from Costco yesterday and placed it in our front yard. It was about 3 degrees Celsius overnight and 10degrees this morning. When I came home this afternoon I was dismayed to find my hydrangeas all wilted!! Oh no! What am I going to do to revive them? Should i bring them indoors? Please help!
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I purchased 2 about a month ago. They've done well in their pots in the house until now... the flowers are dead and leaves are dry. They've been watered fine all this time and have partial sun during the day. Are they dead? Should I go ahead and plant them in the garden?
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How do I know want zone I live in?
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Here is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the U.S. (the most commonly-used reference): http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
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I live in northeast louisiana
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i just moved to Jacksonville, AR. will the lacy kind of hydrangea do well here?
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The lacecap type of Hydrangea macrophylla (the big leaf hydrangea) is probably the most common hydrangea in your area so that bodes well.
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I have brought Hydrangeas yesterday from Lowes and i am living in north carolina , How i should take care my plant so it can bloom nice flowers.Please adise
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I bought my Hydrangea from a good nursery, both plants have 4 very large blooms and small roots in small pots. I want to plant them ASAP, but what to do with blooms? Should I cut them off or leave young plants blooming? I am afraid it will take too much strength from them. Please give me advise. Thanks in advance. Tonya
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Plant hydrangea outside after the danger of frost is long past. Use a soil mix rich in sphagnum peat moss. To maintain acidity, fertilize once a month with aluminum sulfate. Only remove the blooms when they turn brown. If your flowers are droopy, you can use a peony hoop or stake them with cloth straps. What is your variety of hydrangea? Be sure to prune properly so that you do not mistakenly remove next year's buds! See this page on varieties.
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I live in Phoenix where it gets incredibly hot. I have a continiously shady (cannot grow grass)area under a tree which also gets irrigation every two weeks. Would these grow there?
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Hydrangea generally grow in cooler climates. If you want to try one, go for a variety called Oakleaf Hydrangea -- Hydrangea quercifolia. It grows in hotter climates, however, it does need well-drained soil. Check out this page for more details: http://azlandscape.blogspot.com/2009/05/oakleaf-hydrangea...
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These flowers were already growing sporadically in back yard, side yard, and utility path when I moved in. I dug up a lot and planted in common area. they grow to 5 or 5.5 feet and a few taller. there is only one flower to each stalk. Both old flowers and seedlings blown by wind come up each spring. One time I saw it sold as a chlerorhodendron (was on ticket) --each single stalk was for $13.00. I have found not such flower. My flowers definitely look like the globe hydrangea on single stalks not bushes. Can you identify and explain how to take care of or point me to site regarding them. Thanks a lot.
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It's hard to tell what type of flower you have without seeing a photo. If you search for clerodendron instead of chlerorhodendron you'll be able to find some information and images online.
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I recently purchased a white hydrangea. I live in New York where the weather is finally getting warmer but the nights may be at 45 degrees. Is it too soon to plant outside? If so what temperature will they tolerate as a newly planted plant?
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Plant the hydrangea when you are sure that you will not have more night frosts. A frost will kill your plant. If you decide to wait a week or two you can put the container outside during the day and bring it in at night.
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Seattle area (zone 8b) Just moved here so need to know which hydrangeas do well here. Have absolutely fallen in love w/ these flowers when selling my house and hope there are some that thrive here!??? thanks!
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Yes, these lovelies are hardy to zone 8. The types you see most often in your area are "hydrangea macrophylla," commonly known as mopheads and lacecaps. Find examples on this page: http://www.joycreek.com/ref-hy.htm
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I lived in the Seattle area for 12 years and had several hydrangeas that did very well.. They were a beautiful blue and my favorite in the garden! Good luck.
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I received one of these plants as a gift. The tag says hardiness zones 7 to 9. I live in Erie, PA, zone 5A, can I plant it outside or is it strictly a houseplant or can I plant it outside in the summer and bring it in in the winter? Thank you!
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Often hydrangea plants that come with foil around the pot are are one-time bloom. However, if yours has a tag indicating hardiness zone, then that suggests it's from a nursery. It is always best to plant the potted hydrangea outdoors whenever possible. Hydrangea plants need winter dormancy to "chill" if they are to bloom. Unfortunately, you did not receive a variety meant for your gardening zone. You can try it out; early or late freezes may damage flower buds and you may have less blooms. Plant in early to mid summer so it has time to acclimate before winter arrives.
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I have a bigleaf hydrangea in a pot that i bought at a nursery with some blooms which don't age and just wilt. What is wrong?
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Potted hydrangea need large quantities of water and should never dry out. Check the soil several times a day. Do not allow the pot to sit in a pan of water for long though. If the plant still wilts severely, submerge both the pot and soil in a pan of deep water and allow it to sit there until the soil ball is thoroughly soaked. Drain. Also, make sure your hydrangea gets a lot of sun. Place it in a sunny window but not so direct that the blooms will burn. Hydrangeas like cool temps. At nighttime, keep in a room that is 50 to 60 degrees F.
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We just got in Hydrangea's and we are keeping them watered but some of the flower look like they are dying , is it because the are chilled or or over watering what would you say the problem is .I hope you can help us.
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Are they in pots? Where do you live? What type of hydrangea? You need to provide more information. Without knowing that, I'd say give it a shot of Miracle-Grow. Keep the soil moist at all times as this plant has a high water requirement and tends to dry rapidly in the home.
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WE RECEIVED A HYDRANGEA AT OUR DADDY'S FUNERAL IN 1989, WHICH MY HUSBAND PLANTED IN THE YARD. IN ALL THESE YEARS IT HAS NOT GROWN MUCH. THERE ONCE WAS PINE TREES IN THE YARD WHICH HAD LARGE ROOTS, THEY HAVE BEEN CUT DOWN BUT MY HUSBAND THINKS THAT SOME PINE ROOTS MIGHT BE WRAPPED AROUND THE HYDRANGEA ROOT, THEREFORE HINDERING ITS GROWTH. WE WANT TO DIG IT UP AND REPLANT IT IN A DIFFERENT SPOT BUT I AM AFRAID IT MIGHT DIE. MY HUSBAND THINKS THAT IF WE DO IT NOW, IT WILL BE OK. WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
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It's best to transplant hydrangeas when they are dormant but you can go ahead and transplant now. Make sure to get as much of the root system as you can and plant it right away in a prepared new spot. Good luck!
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I'm just a beginner when it comes to hydrangeas and did not realize that different types are pruned at different times and in different ways. I have acquired several hydrangeas but have no idea what type they are! Can anyone tell me how to identify them??
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To identify hydrangeas, you could always take a sample to your county cooperative extension or garden center. We also found this handy site online. Click "shrub index" and click "H" and you'l find many varieties and tutorials: http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/ohld220/shrubs/index.html
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I received a hydrangea when my friend passed away last month...I live in zone 4 and it's too soon to plant. I've kept the plant watered and now my blooms are all dying! What have I done wrong and is this plant dead??
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Do you know what variety of hydrangea you have? (See Recommended Varieties above.) In Zone 4, some common hydrangea varieties will not survive or they are at their northern limit of their hardiness and just don't belong there. If you are not sure of the variety, perhaps you could clip a sample to bring to your local garden center.
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tey are for my dughters wedding. i hve had them out side in the day and put them in the garage at night unfortunatly the frost was so hard it has frozen them in there i have put them in the green house now but am i to late
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It depends on when the wedding is. If the buds (blossoms) were damaged it will take a while for new buds to form. If the stems are green it will grow back.
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My husband bought me a hyrenagea for Valentine's Day - was beautiful for the first couple of days but has steadily declined in health - started with wilting leaves, drooping flowers - i watered it a little bc the soil seemed dry then the leaves drooped, now its just a mess the leaves are all dried up, and the roots are too wet - i tried repotting bc the weather is still very cool - what do i do? can i plant it outside now with temps in the 20's?
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It's still too cold to plant the hydrangea outside. Repot it in a bigger pot with fresh soil and let the plant dry out. Then water just enough to keep the soil moist. Keep the plant away from bright windows.
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thank you so much! ill do that!
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Mine did the same thing, and let it go thinking it was a goner. I noticed this morning that it has sprouted new growth on the stems, so I've watered it a little and will keep a close eye on it until I can replant it outside...so don't give up!
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I have a blue mophead. This is my first experiance with hydrangeas and I just want to make sure I didn't ruin them. I cut them back some last summer after they had fully bloomed and now im noticing new buds, however they are black in color. Is this normal?
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The pruning didn't ruin your plant. Your plant requires enough warm days in the fall to mature the new buds forming before the cold of winter. The black buds are caused by winter cold.
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So will they still bloom this year?
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more than likely
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How do I propagate Hydrangeas?
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Hydrangeas are easy to propagate from cuttings. With scissors cut a piece off from a young green stem. Dip it in rooting hormone for easier rooting and put the stem in a small pot with a mix of sand and potting soil. Keep the soil moist.
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I was told to cut back my Hydrangeas in late fall which I did in late October. Have I ruined the plants. If so when is the best time to plant new ones?
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It all depends on what type of hydrangea you have. The common Bigleaf hydrangea should be pruned after flowers fade (late spring/early summer). If you prune in the fall you may not have blossoms the following spring. Oakleaf, panicle, and smooth hydrangeas bloom on the current seasons' wood so they can be pruned in the fall or winter. See information about varieties above. Your plants are not ruined. They just may not bloom this summer.
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I live in South Florida, will they grow if planted here? I bought one at the Home Depot near me..
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The common bigleaf hydrangeas grow in zones 5B through 9A and are not native to North America. They can grow in zones 7, 8, and 9 year-round. They're really not meant for South Florida. However, oak-leaved hydrangea grows in zones 5B through 9 and is a native to Florida. Basically, they grow in all but the tip of Florida. They need full sun and they like fertile, acid, well-drained soil, and require little attention once established. Your Home Depot gardening center should be able to tell you more about your cultivar.
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NEED TO KNOW IF WE CAN PLANT these IN AN AREA KNOWN to have deer problems!!
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I'm so glad I found your site! We moved into a home last Nov. that has three hydrangeas. Two of them are large, one much smaller. They all three bloomed beautifully in early spring. After the blooms died, I waited a while, then dead-headed them after reading a post on-line. I noticed a lot of dark spots on the stems, then the leaves began to turn brown on the tips, It has been unbearably hot, but I have been watering them most mornings. It will appear they are trying to bloom again, but the buds just die away. Part of the two bigger ones look ok, but have the dark, crispy tips. What can I do to save them? They were beautiful, and I"m afraid I killed them somehow. Oh, Plus, I've noticed an ant hill right beside the middle one. If I get bitten by one when watering, it turns into a small cyst-like bump. Could the ants be killing my plants?
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If the edges are brown and the leaves look burnt, you probably have spider mites. Spray leaves down every few days and use insecticidal soap. This should help.
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You got bitten by a fire ant. They are probably not killing your bushes. You need to place mulch around the base of the bushes. Hydrangea leaves will flop down when they are not getting enough water.
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I just bought two of these and I am wanting to plant them in Lloydminster, we are zone three. Will they grow here?
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Yes, they should do well in zone 3.
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I have a blue mophead that has white cocoon like things stuck on the underside of the leaves. The cocoons are about 1/8 in wide at the "front", which may have a dark spot, narrowing toward the back end which is about 1/2 inch long. These cocoons are not cylinderical, but almost rectangular. A funny rippled surface seemed to be the top surface of the cocoon. When open, wispy threads seem to trail outwards, giving thought to the cocoon idea. Any suggestions would be most appreciated.
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We suspect that you have scale insects on your hydrangea. Try to wipe the insects off with a cloth dipped in insecticidal soap. Then rinse with a spray of water. To control them spray the leaves with a mixture of insecticidal soap and horticultural oil. Spray a mixture of insecticidal soap and horticultural oil to control scale insects. The oil smothers the slow-moving insects.
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I have as small shrub hydrangea that doesn't bloom. It's a beautiful shape and looks healthy but not a bloom on it for two summers now. What should I try?
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Do they get enough sun and water? Hydrangeas thrive on morning sun and light afternoon shade. Hydrangeas also need lots of water. Add mulch around the shrub to maintain moisture.If your plants continue to grow but don't bloom, try moving them in the fall after the leaves drop.
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My hydrangea leaves are turning yellow and are looking wilted with the edges are brown and crisp looking. I'm afraid I'm going to loose it without some intervention. Its planted in early morning sun/shade for the rest of the day. We have been hit with a heat wave last 10 days, however, I've been watering 2x per day (light hose stream for about 30 minutes each time). It is mulched. Its a big leaf, mophead. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks!
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First, it sounds as if you are watering too much. Second, if your leaves are yellow and wilting, look for aphids under the leaves and spray them with your water hose or an insecticidal soap. If the edges are brown and the leaves look burnt, you probably have spider mites. Spray leaves down every few days and use insecticidal soap. This should help.
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I just planted 10 Hydrangea s in the front of my home in about 10 hrs of full sun . I try to water regularly in the evening do to my schedule The beds that they are planted in are raised 10 " in good soil ( I think) with heavy mulch . The mulch had a white fungus growing in places !! The flowers are blooming hear and there but wilt fast or don't nearly get to that full bloom stage . What T is very confusing is that all the plants ( hydrangea s ) don't get full sun but all do the same . They all came in 3 gal. Pots from a good growing nursery . Any suggestion s on how I can get my flowers to that WOW stage
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That is more sun than hydrangeas like (and they don't like full sun much at all). They are a woodland shrub and are happiest in partial to near-full shade. You might want to consider moving them in the fall, if that is an option. Beyond that, fertilizing and deep watering are about you can do at this point in the growing season. Unfortunately, in full, hot sun, they likely won't perform as well as you were hoping.
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This is my third summer with my limelight hydrangea. We have had an extremely dry summer but I have watered regularly. I noticed some leaves turning yellow and now they are curling up and falling off. What can I do to help?
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Keep up with the watering (do nice deep soaks every other evening while the dry spell continues). Also try fertilizing on a bi-weekly schedule. (Bear in mind hydrangeas rarely perform well in full hot sun.)
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When is the best time to remove old blooms? My plant was doing great with lots of blooms and healthy, then the summer heat arrived. I have watered every day and the plant gets morning sun and afternoon shade. The blooms have faded and I'm not sure how and when I should cut them off
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Unlike pruning, just removing dead blooms (called deadheading) can be done at any time without harming the blooms for the following year. You can remove old blooms down to the closest set of leaves. This can prolong a bloom season. However, it's not necessary to remove old blooms. Some folks think leaving the old blooms on the plant for the winter protects the buds and deadhead in early spring when the shrub begins to leaf out.
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Our hydrangea (I think it's a mophead) blooms just died from excessive heat and insufficient water. If I cut off the dead blooms now, will the plant bloom again this year or only next year. How can I test my soil's pH balance? Thank you.
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Unfortunately with this particular type of hydrangea, it will most likely not bloom again until next Spring. As far as testing your soil's pH, you can send samples in to a soil lab testing site or pick up an at home pH kit from your local gardening center. Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
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Is there a way to make the white Annabelles stay white longer? If not, can they be changed to pink or blue?
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The flower color of these plants varies depending on the pH level of the soil that they live in. For example, pink flowers enjoy neutral soils while blue flowers tend to enjoy soil with a higher acidic level. Whites tend to fall into the same category as pink. Start by testing the pH level of the soil to learn whether or not you need to increase or decrease the amount of acid to treat your soil in order to achieve the color you desire. I hope this helps! Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
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My friend has one plant that is 6ft wide by 4 1/2 tall. This plant has purple,pink,& blue blooms. Can we split it, sort of like you can do with hostas?
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Yes, with care. Divide in the early spring by using a shovel to divide the clump. You're going to need to water, water, water all season to help it restart growth.
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Ok, so I bought some Espoma Soil Acidifier for my soil that tested at 8.0 alkaline pH but now i don't know how much to put per plant. I have two hydrangea's and a lot of roses. the instructions are below: Soil Acidifier Recommendation In the absence of a soil test, follow the rates below. Results can take up to several weeks depending on rate, soil temperature and timing of application. Reduce the rates by one-third for sandy soils and increase by one-half for clay soils. In general, the optimum range for blue hydrangeas is 5.5 - 6.0, and for blueberries it's 4.5 - 5.0. Pounds per 100 Square Feet of Loamy Soil Desired pH: Present pH 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 8.0 3 4 5 6 7 7.5 2 3 4 5 6 7.0 1 2 3 4 5 6.5 NA 1 2 3 4 6.0 NA NA 1 2 3 Any help would be welcomed! Thanks ~Christina
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Sorry, just me again. I haven't opened this Espoma Acidifier yet. It is 18% free sulfur and 12% combined sulfur. I have two small hydrangea's that I just planted and about 13 rose plants. I have no idea how much of this stuff to use. It says on it to use 1 1/4 cup on hydrangea's? Seriously? And it doesn't specify all at once or multiple treatments. Also it doesn't specify for roses! Broadcast rates: 12lbs per 100 sq ft for each 1 point reduction pH required. My soil is at 8.0. That would be a heck of alot! I am not sure if I should take it back and find something else that would do better or just use this and how much to use? I just now that my plants really need the help. Just using some coffee grounds right now. Anyway, thanks for any help! ~Christina Indiana
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We suggest that you use 1 to 1-1/4 cups of Espoma around each plant. Spread evenly around the plant out to the drip line and water well. Repeat in 60 day intervals until desired pH or bloom color is achieved. Thank you for your interest in the Old Farmer's Almanac and our Web site.
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When is the best time to begin fertilizing Hydrangea plants in the spring to encourage blue flowers? I have the Espoma fertilizer. My plants are several years old (~5) and range from 2.5 to 3.5 feet high. I live in Zone 5. Also, what is the best way to protect them from a late spring frost. I only got a few blooms last year. Admittedly, I was not good about fertilizing them, but I think our sometimes late spring freezes were the major culprit.
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I am so grateful for this site! I live in Indiana and just bought 2 hydrangea's. A Forever and Ever blue heaven and a forever and ever peppermint hydrangea. I planted one next to the house where it gets about 7 hours of sun and then shade in the afternoon. Anyway, I had tested the soil with a store soil test kit and according to the color it turned dark green which means alkaline (I tested it with a gallon of water that said spring water). Then I tested it 3 ft away but used the bottled water I drink and it was a lighter green which means 7.0 to 8.0. I have well water that comes out of my faucets and didn't use that. Should I try again with my well water to see exactly how much pH? I read that compost can help and grass clippings and peat moss and coffee grounds. I don't know since I just planted it if I should use sulphur or sulphate or just coffee grounds and peat moss? Thanks for the help. (I also have about 20 rose bushes and the plants are doing ok it seems, but I still need to lower the hP for them also...)
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I wrote that comment. One more thing... I don't think I have that good of drainage. I planted the hydrangea so it is slightly higher than the ground around, kind of like a small hill and put some tiny pebbles in the soil when I planted it. I also tried to pack some of the soil down so to not have any air pockets. Is there anything I should change for the next hydrangea? Thanks again. ~Christina Indiana
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To lower the pH quickly add sphagnum peat. It is also a good source of organic matter and helps drainage. (The pH of Canadian sphagnum peat generally ranges from 3.0 to 4.5.) Add a 1 to 2-inch layer of sphagnum peat and work it into the top 8 to 12 inches of soil before planting (work as much peat into the soil around your established hydrangeas as you can). Keep adding your coffee grounds too. Soil with pH level of about 5.2-5.5 will produce blue flowers, soil with pH level above 6.0 will produce pink flowers. The hydrangeas need an evenly moist well-drained soil for best growth and benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location with morning sun and afternoon shade. Apply organic mulch around the plants to conserve soil moisture and protect them from temperature extremes. All the best!
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Thanks for the kind words! We replied to your questions below your other comment below. --The Old Farmer's Almanac staff
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When you test your soil, you should NOT use bottled spring water, bottled drinking water, or well water. All may have high levels of dissolved minerals that can skew your test. Invest in a gallon of distilled or reverse osmosis purified water, and use only that water for your pH testing.
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I live in red deer alberta and want to grow a hydrangea is it possible?
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Peegee hydrangea is hardy to your zone. Other readers say they've had some success with 'Pinky Winky' and 'Annabelle' and 'Quick Fire' varieties. They'll all very different. Have fun exploring!
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what is causing my hydrangea's new growths to dry up and fall off??
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Did you prune? Most hydrangeas bloom on old wood and if you cut in the spring, you won’t get any blooms. Prune after blooming is done.
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Do you know which variety you have? And where do you live? It's possible that spring came early and your hydrangea was leafing out while still covered for winter protection. So it lacked the sunlight needed. They might recover so leave it until mid to late May.
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There are several possibilities. Perhaps the hydrangea needed to be uncovered earlier from the winter? Once mulch and winter protection is removed, I hope you started to see normal growth. Or, did you have warm temps and then a freeze? If so, the shrub may be fine but it's hard to say what will happen this year. Also, avoid overfertilizing.
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if you don't have acidic soil what do you do or put in it to get it
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Adding ammonium sulfate will lower soil pH immediately. Adding granulated sulfur will also lower soil pH, but the process is much slower. If you don't want to use chemicals, add coffee grounds and pine needles. They are slow acting but a good source--and free! No matter what you do, check your soil pH periodically in order to control the process.
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I recently moved into a house that has hydrangeas. The owner has said they have had them for three years and they only flowered in the first year. What can I do to get them to flower again?
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Do they get enough sun and water? Hydrangeas thrive on morning sun and light afternoon shade. The prior owners may have planted them in a poor location. If your plants continue to grow but don't bloom, try moving them in the fall after the leaves drop. Are you keeping them extremely well watered? Hydrangeas want to be watered often! Also, mulch them to maintain moisture.
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I would like to move 2 3-year old hydrangea bushes. When is the best time to do that?
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Fall is the best time to move hydrangeas
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I have a big leaf hydrangea that I planted this year. It was beautiful. Now it looks dead. The flowers have all turned brown but around the outside edges it is green. I have never grown these before and I wouldn’t say I have a green thumb. I just don’t want it to die on me. Please help me save it.