Knowledgebase
Hydrangea #870278
Asked May 27, 2024, 1:58 PM EDT
Sussex County Delaware
Expert Response
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.