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Hydrangea not fully bloomed

ShennyShenny Posts: 127
in Problem solving
This hydrangea has given us three fabulous flower heads so I am definitely not complaining. Just curious to know why it grew so large with plenty of new stems but they did not produce blooms. Last year the plant was smaller but lots of blooms. I did not do anything different this year. In spring I pruned each stem to where I could see new growth and have kept it watered and given some feed. Just curious so I know if I can do anything to improve blooms next year!
thank you. 

Posts

  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I have a hydrangea like that which has not bloomed at all this year but has healthy green leaves.  I suspect that the plants are responding to the heat and lack of water by not putting too much energy into flowering this year.  I also have a Hydrangea paniculata which is covered in blooms, so perhaps it has a don't care attitude!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • ShennyShenny Posts: 127
    Yes you are right. The blooms that came are fab so I’m still happy!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The mophead and lacecap types are different from the paniculatas, as they flower on old wood. It's down to weather and it's increasingly changeable nature.
    We had a very warm winter and early spring, so there was new growth which then got annihilated by frost. That has meant fewer flower buds, although plenty of good foliage. Too late for them to form more buds once all frosts had gone. Nothing you can really do about it.  :)
    Paniculatas respond more readily because of the pruning regime, so it's less pf a problem with those.  
    Hopefully, yours will be more vibrant for you next year. The standard pink and blue types do better than some of the others, especially whites   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    That explains mine not flowering @Fairygirl, thank you!  The H. paniculata limelight I planted last year has surpassed my expectations, truly a show stopper, you were right about that too!
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I think they [paniculatas] generally do better with this awkward weather @Plantminded. They cope with more sun too. 
    I may consider getting rid of the two white mophead ones I have, if we're going to get these milder springs that encourage soft new growth. It's not the norm for us, as new growth usually doesn't get underway until May, and we only get the odd, lighter frost by then. The oak leaf ones are fine, as they don't come into growth so early anyway. 

    Such is life with gardening. First world problem!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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