Knowledgebase

Hydrangea #870278

Asked May 27, 2024, 1:58 PM EDT

My hydrangea looks great but there are no buds. Last year it didn't bloom at all. Please advise.

Sussex County Delaware

Expert Response

There are two main reasons a hydrangea macrophylla will not bloom. 1. A late spring frost and 2. Improper pruning.  Hydrangea macrophylla should not be pruned. There is really only one safe time to remove bare, hollowed-out canes - that is in late July and your plant is too young to have had this happen. For instance, If you pruned this to shape it you may have removed the flowers for this year. 

But there are other factors and we will need more information. 
1. Do you recall the name of the cultivar? For example, Nikko Blue, Summer Crush, Mathilda Gutges. There are also reblooming hydrangeas, e.g., Endless Summer, Proven Winners Let’s Dance series, etc. that often bloom on new wood. 
2. Where was it purchased and when? Did it have blooms when you purchased it? Was it purchased at a garden center or received as a gift, e.g., Mother’s Day, Easter. This is important, hydrangeas are raised and bred for the landscape market are different than those grown to be given as gifts or bouquets.
3. How much sun does the hydrangea get?  Macrophylla hydrangea prefer morning sun and afternoon shade. 
4. Is that shredded rubber mulch? How hot does the mulch get?
5. Have you fertilized? Have you ever pruned this shrub.

Some hydrangea take several years to get established in their new home, and non-bloomers typically are working on their root systems first, doubling in leaf volume before working to establish their blossoms. The adage first year sleep, second year creep, third year leap, often holds true for hydrangea.

In August, this shrub bill begin making what will become 2025’s blossoms. The leaf nodal area will swell and premature buds will emerge before the shrub goes dormant in the winter. 

Your shrub may also be lacking some nutrients. A soil test will reveal current NPK, pH, metals, micronutrients and organic matter. 

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