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Hydrangea Vanilla Fraise

Valerie330Valerie330 Posts: 3
in Plants

Hi

I bought a Hydrangea Vanilla Fraise about two years ago.  In all that time, it has never flowered.    Any ideas why?  I  feed it regularly.

Thanks

Last edited: 30 May 2017 13:16:04

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    Do you water it too?  They don't want to drown but they don't like to be thirsty so a moist soil is best.

    They flower on new season's growth so, unlike mopheads, it's safe to cut them back to a low pair of buds every spring..  Have you been pruning at the wrong time or in the wrong way?

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Valerie330Valerie330 Posts: 3

    Hi 

    Thanks for your reply.  Yes, it is in a pot and I water it when it hasn't been raining.  I have never pruned it.   One thing, it probably doesn't get much sun, as I have it in a spot in the garden which probably only gets the sun late pm.  Could that be the reason it hasn't flowered?

    Thanks

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    Rain is never enough for potted plants except in winter.   In active growth and flwoering periods they need regular water or they'll just focus their energy on staying alive, not flowering..  Hydrangeas also like some sun so try moving your pot to a sunnier spot and be kinder with the watering but, to be honest, it will be better off in the soil if you can plant it out and give it some moisture retentive compost when preparing the planting hole.

    This is what the RHS says about this shrub - https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/264574/Hydrangea-paniculata-Vanille-Fraise-Renhy-(PBR)/Details

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Valerie330Valerie330 Posts: 3

    Hi there

    Many thanks.   I will put it into the ground in a sunnier spot.  I was just worried about slugs, as in a pot, they have some protection from those pests, especially as I put copper tape round the pot.     But it is not much good leaving it where it is if it isn't going to flower.  Thanks again for your help.

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    None of my hydrangeas has ever been eaten by slugs and I have never been short of slugs.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • valeriedandy294510valeriedandy294510 Posts: 1
    I bought a Vanilla fraise early this year. Unfortunately it was trodden on end left only  1 stem which has grown quite tall. At the top two branches appeared and when they were established I managed to take a cutting which has since flourished. I now have a very tall stem which has started to shoot from the top. In the spring can I cut this one stem done to about 3 or 4 inches and hope it will grow into a shrub.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes is the short answer.
    I have taken cuttings from my VF and I pinch the top out first before putting in a pot to prevent a single-shoot stem.
    Once you've cut it back that should stimulate the plant to put out more shoots from the base next year too.
    Leave at least one or two pairs of buds on the stem.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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