Endless Summer Hydrangeas - Ask Extension
My hydrangeas NEVER bloom! I know the flowers grow on old wood. However, in the spring the old wood has live leaf buds, but by the end off spring al...
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Endless Summer Hydrangeas #877072
Asked July 13, 2024, 11:20 AM EDT
My hydrangeas NEVER bloom! I know the flowers grow on old wood. However, in the spring the old wood has live leaf buds, but by the end off spring all the buds on the old wood have died. As a result all I have are new stems and leaves in abundance. I have tried to cover the old wood over the winter with the same result of dead leaf buds in spring. I see other homes in my area with beautiful blooms. HELP!
Thanks!
Greene County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Mike, I can't tell from here but it seems like you might have the florists variety of Hydrangeas. They are forced in the greenhouse and then put up for sale in the store. You plant them hoping to get more blooms the following year. They seldom bloom because they are not cold hardy but usually perform in a greenhouse situation. This is explained in the fact sheet: https://extension.psu.edu/why-doesnt-my-hydrangea-bloom
They simply come out and say if you haven't had much luck, go to a nursery and ask questions and look at the labels. They will be able to help you select a new variety like the 'Endless Summer' varieties that bloom on old and new wood.
Another thing to consider is to have soil that will hold moisture throughout the growing season. That usually means lots of organic material and mulch on top to hold the moisture. We have not had much rain in over a month where we live. The word hydrangea can give you a clue as to how they do in the garden. It is derived from hydra meaning water. I can remember working in a box store nursery area and we had to water the hydrangeas at least twice a day while the rest of the plants were doing fine.
So, I would check out the newer varieties, get more organic matter worked into the soil before you plant any new ones, maybe put the water hose close by to keep them hydrated through the heat of summer. Hope this helps, Don.
They simply come out and say if you haven't had much luck, go to a nursery and ask questions and look at the labels. They will be able to help you select a new variety like the 'Endless Summer' varieties that bloom on old and new wood.
Another thing to consider is to have soil that will hold moisture throughout the growing season. That usually means lots of organic material and mulch on top to hold the moisture. We have not had much rain in over a month where we live. The word hydrangea can give you a clue as to how they do in the garden. It is derived from hydra meaning water. I can remember working in a box store nursery area and we had to water the hydrangeas at least twice a day while the rest of the plants were doing fine.
So, I would check out the newer varieties, get more organic matter worked into the soil before you plant any new ones, maybe put the water hose close by to keep them hydrated through the heat of summer. Hope this helps, Don.
