I think the plant police should come arrest me! Poor Hydrangea!

Question

I got this Hydrangea last year for Easter , only had flowers when I first had it, help where have I gone wrong? Should I cut it all the way down?

Liliana Wells · Answer

What kind of hydrangea is it? It looks like it's coming back. Turn the soil over a little, fertilize it a little and water. But once you know which type it is, you can search online for more specific care. I just looked one up http://www.ehow.com/how_6714421_care-hydrangea-plants-orlando_-florida.html Good luck.

Doris Kammer · Answer

No. Don't cut it. It will grow bigger each year.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

The general rule of thumb for plants: first year sleep, second year wakes up, and the third year it will grow. Hydrangeas do not generally require pruning and this looks as if it were one you received as an indoor plant? Sometimes when you plant hydrangeas and azaleas from the store with pretty wrapped pot and bow, they will need a couple years to recover in higher zones to acclimate to the outside. (I have found) Many of these plants sold at Walmart or retailers are grown for gifts and many are not for zones lower than 7 (maybe 6 if not a harsh winter). Be patient. Most plants need time. Happy Gardening :D

Lynn · Answer

What is that right beside it? Looks like some other kind of plant and the two plants are too close. Hydrangeas can grow really big (and beautiful) and are easy to propagate.

C & S Creations · Answer

I have tried to grow these in Minnesota, but have had very little luck. Yours seems to be doing fine and may develop into a beautiful plant. I do know (after several failures) that it is best to test the soil where you are bedding these as they prefer a specific ph level to flourish. I also know that it is vital to add aluminum sulfate to the soil depending on the color. Mine was blue and required a fair amount of sulfate in order to retain the bright blue color. Good luck!!!

Douglas Hunt · Answer

It's a challenge to grow hydrangeas as far south as you are in Florida, but yours looks like what big-leaf hydrangeas should look like when they start to leaf out. Give it the label dose of a good slow-release fertilizer like Osmocote.

Lela · Answer

You're not supposed to cut the 'old' wood ( which I have also done ). I wouldn't trim it anymore for a season or two, give it time to heal & grow. Ask your local nursery what to use on the ground around it..... Remember this for all your perennials 'The first year it Sleeps, the second year it Creeps & the third year it Leaps ! '

Sheri Ryan Thompson · Answer

I've cut mine back to a foot or so and also see some in the neighborhood left tall and leggy all winter. I personally will continue to cut back. Hydrangeas like sun. You might try another location but actually it looks like it's just getting started and I wouldn't be too concerned at this point. Everyone is giving good advice. Good luck.

Pamela Scruggs · Answer

Coffee grounds will help the acid-loving hydrangea. You can dry them out and sprinkle on top of the soil around your hydrangea and you can put a cup or two in a gallon of water-sit outside for a day or two and then pour that coffee-'Tea' directly onto the soil to get the nitrogen right down to the roots. I found an article about that... http://thegardeningcook.com/coffee-grounds/

Diana · Answer

Pamela is right, I do that with mine and it thrives and those brown/black spots go away too.

Heather (New House New Home) · Answer

It looks like its coming back so I wouldn't worry too much. Remember that hydrangeas only put out flowers once a year and your Easter blooms were probably forced in a greenhouse for a timely bloom. Don't give up on it yet.

Robbie Bagby · Answer

It is my understanding that hydrangeas love acidic soil. To help with that I use coffee and tea grounds. The other option is to get a soil sample tested and then add the necessary additives for blooming.

Jeanette S · Answer

You're safe!!!! They are looking for me first. HA! My hydrangeas look awful...but then they always do! Mine are trying to come back!

Rose Degroat · Answer

Thank you Douglas Hunt---We have a ways to go before blooming time--its still snowy with snow on fields and sitting water, but as soon as it warms up enough with no chance of frost I will try this.

Somewhat Quirky · Answer

How you prune it depends on the type of hydrangea it is. Some bloom on old wood, some on new wood, and some on both. So you have to look up the kind you have and find that out to determine pruning patterns. As @Douglas Hunt said - this is what your bush should look like as it leafs out. What I usually do is sometime during the summer I cut off the branches that are really dead - you have to wait a while to see which ones are going to develop buds.

Suzette Trimmer · Answer

As many have mentioned the acid loving hydrangeas here in Philadelphia area the new ones for first 2 yrs I always shelter with bussel of pine needles . Helps to not only insulate but also provides natural acid from Pine needles themselves. Besides it is recycling the pine needles and providing winter long nutrients with out any effort or money.Just saying.

Emma Santoro-Adkison · Answer

I believe you will be just fine. My husband whacks the heck out of ours. I thought as you did he killed it. But, once these green leaves start, it will become nice & beautiful again. Use LIME gently to improve flower bloosems & more color. We have one that turns from purple, pink then to a North Carolina blue before it dies back in the fall. Good Luck.

Darwin · Answer

The amount of sun depends on what zone and what kind of hydrangea you have. In the South you do not go them in the sun, its too hot. Always research your plants as to variety
before you plant or prune.

Shirley Mcdaniel · Answer

THE COLOR DEPENDS ON THE SOIL, MY MOTHER HAD ONE PLANT & GOT REALLY BIG & HAD 'PINK' & 'BLUE' FLOWERS...'BEAUTIFUL'...OH, I FORGOT...'GOOD DRAINAGE'!!

Lisa@ Sweet Tea N' Salty Air · Answer

Thank you to every one! All this advice has been wonderful and will lead me in the right direction

Patty · Answer

My hydrangea's get morning sun and they bloom beautifully, especially since I got my husband to stop cutting them back with the chain saw. He thought they would get to tall, but my severe temper tantrum put a stop to that and they don't get any taller by not cutting them back. I think yours is getting to much sun and maybe not enough water, I would give it some fertilizer, and water good and deep at least once a week. I make cow dodo tea and use that on a lot of my flowers and shrubs.

Debbie/Dragonfly Treasure · Answer

https://thistlewoodfarms.com/how-to-make-your-hydrangeas-bloom/

https://www.gardenguides.com/84033-make-hydrangeas-bloom.html

http://www.millionplants.com/advice/wont-hydrangea-bloom/

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/5-tips-growing-gorgeous-hydrangeas

I think the plant police should come arrest me! Poor Hydrangea!

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I think the plant police should come arrest me! Poor Hydrangea!

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