Hydrangea Old Wood Buds

Question

Bought a new hydrangea last year. About a month after planting, it bloomed producing several flowers. I deadheaded the blooms in the winter just below the flower making sure to leave all the buds in place that I believed would produce flowers this summer. Since spring has come on new growth has emerged from the ground but only one bud that formed last fall has sprouted. How soon after the weather starts to warm should old wood start to activate? Can old wood buds be damaged/die off if your spring weather is very up and down? I fear that an early warm snap at the beginning of March followed by many weeks of below average temps might have done the old wood blooms in?

Answer 1

Unfortunately, this isn't simple. Mainly, pruning and bloom time will be determined by which of the five types of hydrangea that you have. This will, also, determine if it flowers on new or old wood.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/when-do-hydrangeas-bloom.htm

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/prune-hydrangea-bushes-hydrangea-pruning-instructions.htm