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Making Hydrangeas Bloom

Ask the Expert: What fertilizer is used for non-flowering Hydrangea
What fertilizer is used for non-flowering Hydrangea? Jen

Reply:
The primary nutrient for bloom production is phosphorous. You can apply super phosphate 0-18-0 or triple phosphate 0-45-0 a few months prior to blooming. However, lack of nutrients may not be the reason your hydrangeas are not blooming.

There are three main causes that can contribute to lack of hydrangea blooms.

1. Too Much Shade. If hydrangeas do not get enough sunlight, they will not produce blooms. The foliage will be healthy and beautiful but the blooms won’t appear. Although they like a little shade from intense heat, they will need at least half a day sun to produce blooms.

2. Improper Pruning. In the winter, you can remove about a third of the old stems to create a fuller and healthier plant in all hydrangea types. However, the proper time for height control and deadheading will differ based on the type of hydrangea and how it blooms. Big leaf and Oakleaf hydrangeas bloom on last year’s growth. In this instance, the hydrangea must be pruned shortly after they have finished blooming – usually within a month. Pruning anytime after that will essential destroy the next year’s blooms. Panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom on new growth and should be pruned in the spring before they put on their new leaves.

3. Unfavorable Weather. If at anytime the hydrangeas break dormancy and then the temperatures drop, the blooms will be damaged. This usually occurs in place where the weather see-saws from cold to warm and then to cold again.

To ensure that your hydrangea blooms next year try the following:
1. Prune it correctly.
2. Make sure it gets enough light.
3. Fertilize it with triple phosphate, super phosphate or a balanced fertilizer that is high in phosphorous like Fertilome’s Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Food 9-15-13.

Comments

  1. John G. says:

    This really works. I use Triple Phosphate 0-46-0, spreading a handful or so around the base of the plant in spring, when there is a lot of rainfall. I get fantastic blooms–and my plants \"die\" each winter and have to start from scratch each spring (thanks to the Wisconsin winters).

  2. Michael Sommerlad says:

    I live in northern Florida and I have purchaced a flowering Hydrangea a few months ago.(April) the large flowers have faided and I have trimmed them off. Will I get more flowers this year?
    Thank you,
    Michael Sommerlad
    Ponte Vedra Beach Florida

  3. Probably not. Most hydrangeas bloom are not repeat bloomers once their blooming cycle has ended. However, if you have an ‘Endless Summer’ hydrangea or one of the other new cultivars it could produce more blooms.

  4. Carole C. says:

    I have a delicate shooting star hydrangea. It blooms every year but never gets any bigger. I am wondering when to prune this lovely plant. It is white and has almond shaped, glossy green leaves. I give it regular Miracle Gro fertilizer, sometimes fertilizer for blooms.

  5. I believe ‘Shooting Star’ is a type of Hydrangea macrophylla that has a maximum height of 3 to 5′. I recommend fertilizing in May and July with a slow release balanced fertilizer. As far as pruning goes, I would only trim out dead branches and dead-head the blooms.

  6. TAMMY NOONAN says:

    I LIVE IN CHICAGO SOUTHERN SUBURB. I HAVE FOUR HYDRANGEAS (2 VARIGATED SOUTHSIDE OF HOUSE, 2 OTHERS 1 SEMI SHADE VERY PROTECTED WESTSIDE, 1 NORTHSIDE SEMI SHADE). THE ONLY ONE THAT BLOOMS IS THE NORTHERN PLANT. IF I USE THE FERTILIZER (Triple Phosphate 0-46-0), WILL IT TURN IT BLUE? OUR GARDEN BLOOM HOPE WAS PINKS. THE TWO SOUTHSIDE PLANTS ARE FIVE FEET WIDE AND THREE FEET HIGH, BUT HAVE NEVERED BLOOMED. WELL WATERED, PROTECTED, SEMI SHADE. THEY ARE 5 YEARS OLD. RESIDE NEXT TO A KNOCK OUT ROSE AND A HARDY HYBISCUS. THE FERTILZER I HAVE USED IS COFFEE GROUNDS, WITH COFFEE WATERING, & EVERGREEN CLIPPINGS.

  7. Hydrangea color is determined by PH not nutrients, so the triple phosphate will not effect the color. For pink hydrangeas you want an alkaline soil (add lime) and for blue hydraneas you want a acidic soil (add aluminum sulfate).

    As for nutritional value, the n, p and k in coffee is minimal and probably not enough for the plants. I would supplement with a better fertilizer.

    Are all of the hydrangeas the same kind? If not this could explain the reason the ones on the north are blooming. Improper pruning could also be a factor.

  8. i want to grow blue hydrangea for my sister wedding next fall, in sept, so we can save money. ive never tried before and know very little except what is posted online can i grow them and still have it available for fall? ( we live in newhampshire) which one should i choose since there are so many variation?

  9. Hydrangeas are considered a summer bloomer. The blooms usually last 2 to 3 weeks. The older the blue bloom is the less blue it will be. Unless you dry the hydrangea blooms, it is very doubtful that you could use blue hydrangea blooms from your own yard. Beyond the blooming cycle, there are other issues to consider when growing hydrangeas for a wedding. Unless you are an avid hydrangea grower the quality and quantity of blooms is unreliable especially the first couple of years. You would need plants that are well established to ensure that you have enough blooms to do what you want. You also need to understand the blooming cycle of your particular plants. They may or may not be blooming when you need them.

    If you really want to try growing the hydrangeas, find a local nursery and discuss the hydrangea cultivars that will work best in your area. Your local nurseryman should be able to help find the right cultivar and where in your yard they will do the best for the your purposes. I would, however, have a backup plan in case your hydrangea don’t bloom.

    If you haven’t contact a local florist, I suggest you do that as well. Your florist may not be as expensive as you think. Discuss your budget and how you can use hydrangeas. You might be surprised. It may be cheaper to order the hydrangeas than to grow them. Good Luck.