My hydrangea won’t bloom.

Question

I’ve had my hydrangea for about 10 years or so and she has bloomed only one time a few years back. And even then it was just two teeny blooms. I have a large leaf hydrangea. I’ve always cut the old wood off in the spring when I’ve seen new growth on it. This year I just let the old growth stay and the new growth has caught up to it, but still , no blooms. So I just read that if the old growth dies back too far, the old growth won’t bloom. I live in Zone 6a and every winter, my hydrangea dies all the way down below the dirt. My questions are, should I just keep not cutting back the old growth a few years and if the old growth shouldn’t die back all the way, how do I prevent that from happening. Basically, for the last ten years, I’ve been baffled by this plant and want it to bloom. Also, it’s so hot here in the summer, it droops a lot during the day (even when watered first thing in the morning, or the night before. And perks back up in the evening. Isn’t this normal? It’s against a north facing wall, gets about at least six hours of sun, and is well protected by a porch on the west side of it. I love it and want to see her bloom!!! Please help. Thank you, Charlotte

Answer 1

I would start with a soil test. Too much nitrogen will inhibit flowering.
These articles will help you get your plants flowering.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-not-blooming.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/prune-hydrangea-bushes-hydrangea-pruning-instructions.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/shgen/pruning-old-and-new-wood.htm