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Hydrangea Runaway Bride

gaffing.eg-q_QlVUgaffing.eg-q_QlVU Posts: 7
in Problem solving
I bought this hydrangea a couple of months ago from a daily newspaper. All ads show them grown in pots so I put mine in a fairly large pot. It's in full morning sun on the patio then shade afternoons. Seems to be doing well, is watered every day. Lots of blooms showed from the base but now foliage seems to have taken over smothering the blooms. Is it ok to cut the foliage back to expose the flowers. 
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  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Can you add a picture to help us out. My feeling would be not to touch the foliage if you want your plant to bulk up and be even nicer next year. Cutting them off is such a short termist action. I have to admit that I don't see what the fuss is about this variety, hydrangeas surely look nicer when they have individual large flowers instead of this allover effect. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • gaffing.eg-q_QlVUgaffing.eg-q_QlVU Posts: 7

  • gaffing.eg-q_QlVUgaffing.eg-q_QlVU Posts: 7
    Ignore the vino. Dont know how to delete that. Is the compost too rich? Havent fed it yet, just watered.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    You can click on the cog on the top right of your post for the next ten minutes and use a backspace to delete a photo @gaffing.eg-q_QlVU
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    That's a really strange growth habit for that cultivar. Everywhere I've seen them for sale they have a more domed structure. But it definitely looks happy. I'd say put up with it and it will flower on those new stems next year which will give it its expected look. Ah plants, they keep on surprising us! 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • gaffing.eg-q_QlVUgaffing.eg-q_QlVU Posts: 7
    Thank you. As it looks healthy at the moment I'll just leave it to it's own devices. 
  • luis_prluis_pr Posts: 123
    edited August 2021
    Yes, it looks strange. Why are those flowers at the base? Did the stems have some damage? Hmm, newly purchased hydrangeas have relatively new, pliable (not woody yet) stems that can suffer when there are strong winds and-or large amounts of rain falling on top of the hydrangea; the blooming stems bend/flop although bloom less stems can also flop. Happened to me a few weeks ago when we got hit by a severe thunderstorm and many stems flopped due to huge amounts of rain that the roof directed towards two hydrangeas on the north side of the house. At times, the bent stems self correct themselves if the damage is minor but other times, I try solutions but end up pruning them all the way down when the stem still cannot stay upright or semi-upright. I have used what I call "gladiolus stakes" to provide support for some of those stems but when that fails, I cut off the stem.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd be inclined to remove those flowers. Technically, it's not the right time of year, but it also allows the shrub to strengthen the root system, and the new growth, and there's plenty of time for any new growth there to harden up.
    It certainly looks very odd, as the others say. 
    Just be wary of it getting too much hot sun too - it's a young plant. A shadier spot is always better, especially plants in pots as they dry out more quickly. It's seems to be doing well for you so far though. You'll need to refresh the soil next spring, and if it's only in compost just now, you need to get a soil based compost instead. If you look for John Innes products, you'll be able to get a suitable one. GCs sell them and lots of DIY places too. Compost doesn't have enough heart to sustain shrubs long term in pots  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • gaffing.eg-q_QlVUgaffing.eg-q_QlVU Posts: 7
    Thanks for your helpful comments. I'll be keeping a close eye on this plant because it wasnt cheap. Also take on board positioning. Living in the North means it can be quite cool in the shade. Just need to find its happy spot. Will repot in soil when appropriate.
  • ElferElfer Posts: 329
    edited August 2021
    I bought one in early May from local GC, it already had the buds. I potted it up to a much larger pot (double the size) using (approx) 50% compost, 30% JI no 3 and 20% grit. It bloomed late may/early June and has a few taller stems which I thought about cutting but decided against it since its my first years experience with this variety and there is very little info out there on runaway bride, besides what there is seems at times contradictory. This pic was taken at end of June. I did deadhead the flowers just before going on holiday a couple of weeks ago to see if I get any new blooms as one site suggested so will keep you posted on the progress.

    BTW I live in hampshire and the plants gets a few hours of midday sun.


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