Hydrangeas problems!

I live in Texas and my hydrangeas always grow tons of flowering blooms, but in the summer, the blooms are colorless and then new greenery grows and covers the blooms! What can I do to help my hydrangeas?
  6 answers
  • Max17462596 Max17462596 on Jul 20, 2017

    How often do you feed them, or prune them following blooming?? Some Hydrangeas will do a double bloom...which is the greenery growing above. Also the type of hydrangea is important...you can change the color for the blue and pink according the acidity of the soil....use the same food that you give azaleas...or the sticks in the soil

    • See 1 previous
    • Max17462596 Max17462596 on Jul 21, 2017

      How far did you cut them back after blooming? They need a healthy pruning...maybe at leave a foot...they will start preforming better and yes the best source is your local garden center, as they know your area and weather patterns... they will probably suggest the same product you use for Azaleas!!

  • Marilyn Zaruba Marilyn Zaruba on Jul 20, 2017

    Patsy, you live relatively near me and my hydrangeas look HORRIBLE. They are not only stunted looking, but obviously deficient in iron (yes, I applied liquid iron, for all the good that did). I got a few nice big blooms and now the poor things are really struggling in this heat. I think I need to make friends with a gal around the corner and up the block who has amazing hydrangeas.


    Yours look so healthy and lush. I would take a picture, but I can't figure out how to get it from my camera or phone onto this danged computer.


    BTW, as Texans we know that we could live on the same street and have totally different soils. I moved from sandy, acidic loam to alkaline black gumbo clay a few years back and had to learn to garden all over again.


    Good luck...hope you figure it out. Hydrangeas are my favorite flower so I will persist, too. Have you thought of going to Calloways and asking the guy/gal there...they are very good with answers to my problems.

    • Patsy McCourt Mizeur Patsy McCourt Mizeur on Jul 20, 2017

      Hi Marilyn! We do live close! I will give the iron a try and I've tested my soil, my acidity is fine-I will try Calloways though. Actually I'm very friendly with one of the employees, but honestly, I think she gets tired of my questions! I have a lemon tree too that has beautiful leaves, and looks like it's thriving, but no lemons! I just love gardening, but I really want to see more of the fruits of my labor, especially with my hydrangea...can't say that about my lemon tree! Thanks so much for your reply-take care-and I hope your hydrangeas bloom better next year!

  • Claire Amirault Claire Amirault on Jul 20, 2017

    They produce the new growth for the following year during the summer.

  • Marilyn Zaruba Marilyn Zaruba on Jul 20, 2017

    I don't know that iron will help yours, but I used it on mine since the leaves are VERY pale...almost white with their veins showing. Very frustrating. Also, my bald cypress is very chartreuse instead of hunter green like the ones I grew in Mansfield.


    I would never worry about asking a Calloway's employee...they want you happy, their jobs depend on it.


    I, too, love gardening and discovered, just recently one of the most beautiful little plants ever. The gal who gave it to me called it a summer phlox and after seeing it, I wondered why in the world I bothered with hydrangeas.


    Last year my Meyer lemon produced an even dozen lemons...this year I see ONE and only one lemon. I am beginning to wonder if it is worth my time and dragging it inside and out each year.


    Maybe we need to explore the Epson Salts someone else suggested on here.


    Good luck.

  • Patsy McCourt Mizeur Patsy McCourt Mizeur on Jul 21, 2017

    Thanks Marilyn! I feel the same about my lemon tree! Dragging it in and out is NOT an easy task! I've wondered if maybe I need to repot it in a larger pot...my accountant husband always jokes that the 9 lemons it has produced in the past year are the most expensive lemons we've ever paid for! But honestly, he's enjoyed it too. I have errands to run today, so I'm gonna stop by Calloways and see what they have to say about my hydrangea. Gonna do another soil test as well. Have a great day-thanks for replying again! I'll be in touch with any new developments and I'm gonna check out those summer phlox!