The buds on my hydrangea bushes are turning brown and shriveling up instead of flowering. There is another hydrangea bush next to it that has flowered normally, so it seems unlikely that this is just due to insufficient water. Is there any other reason why the buds would dry up like this?
Hydrangea flower buds will turn brown if they have experienced winter damage (not applicable on a hydrangea that produces buds this late, like most hydrangea paniculatas), plants that are getting a spider mite infestation, fertilizer or too much sulfur burn (water prior to fertilizing a plant whose soil is dry; do not apply excessive amounts of acidifying amendments) or when the plant is under heat stress. Heat stress can take one of these forms: very high temperatures, hot drying summer winds, too much sunlight, not getting water or not getting enough water). A recently transplanted/planted paniculata that lacks enough water can also abort the flower buds because the root system is young or was disturbed by transplanting and is stressed in the summer.
I have 2 different kinds of plants and i have no flowers on either of them??
Hmm, I wish you had identified the two plants by their cultivar (variety) names and-or by the types of hydrangea you have (common types: Big Leaf/French/Hortensia/Macrophylla? Mountain/Serrata? Oakleaf/Quercifolia? Rough Leaf/Aspera, Climbing/Anomala?, Smooth Leaf/Arborescens? Pee Gee/Panicle/Paniculata? Hybrid/Cascading/Other?) and included pictures in order to customize the reply more. Sorry if the response is too long.
The first five types of hydrangeas that I listed typically develop flower buds from mid-summer 2020 to early fall 2020 and these flower buds should open in Spring 2021. The exact time varies based in one’s geographical location: mid-July here in Texas but later if your location is north of me. In very northern areas like Canada, the flower buds can be produced late as in the fall 2020 and open in summer 2021. Knowing that is important because pruning at the wrong time can make you cut off next year’s blooms. The most common reasons for no blooms are due to pruning after the plants have developed flower buds in 2020 or when you experienced very cold weather (or late frosts/freezes) that could have killed the flower buds and the stems. Other common causes: pests like deer, squirrels and bunnies can also eat the flower buds. Sometimes the problem has to do with very dense shade or use of fertilizers that are high in nitrogen. So, fertilize only once in Spring of each year (wait after all danger of late frost has passed) as typically, hydrangeas are not hungry plants like roses are so they require no fertilizer once established… provided that you maintain 7-10 cm of organic mulch past the drip line and provided that your soil is not deficient in nutrients (like when planted in sandy soils) . Note: for Wheatley, your average date of last frost is around the 2nd and 3rd week of April. You can use coffee grounds, liquid seaweed or liquid fish during the growing season but these “minor” fertilizers and all other fertilizers should be discontinued about three months before your average date of first frost. Note: for Wheatley, your average date of first frost is the 3rd to 4th week in October so discontinue all fertilizers by the 3rd or 4th week of July.
The 6th and 7th types of hydrangeas that I listed above are more bloom reliable than the first five as they develop flower buds in spring 2021 through summer 2021 (depends on one’s geographical location) and these flower buds then immediately open. Pruning in the spring/summer when they begin to actively grow could result in cutting off this year’s blooms. But they can often be pruned at any other time. Very dense shade and pests like deer, squirrels and bunnies can be blamed for lack of blooms too.
Unusual types of hydrangeas (involucrata, etc.) can be grouped as part of the first five that I listed.
Note: when I use the term pruning, I am not referring to deadheading of blooms. Deadheading can be done at any time of the year. To safely do it, I either let Mother Nature do it or I cut the peduncle, a string that connects the bloom to the stem/branch.
I always have very large hydrangeas but I think this one is the largest in the garden so far. People stop to photograph them and ask for cuttings. They are mostly very dark blue (almost navy). Is this an unusual size? Your comments would be appreciated. I cannot upload the photo (not IT literate). But it does not reflect the actual size in reality.
Hydrangea Grandiflora Paniculatas can get that size and as tall as a small tree. I see many when traveling in the northeastern states of the US.
You provided me with an email address, i.e. questions@gardeningknowhow.com. It was rejected stating there was no such address. I found another email address on your web page i.e. questions.gardeningknowhow.com - this too was rejected as being no such address. Can you provide me with a valid email address so that I may contact you. I can now send a photo of my hydrangea which is 32.1/2 in diameter. And I wanted to know if this is an unusual size. I am not able to upload the picture on this page and can only do so by email. I really hope I can get through to you this time.
It did come through. This won't be unusual for certain cultivars, and with good care. Here is an collection of articles for more information on the plant:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea
This plant has always bloomed with tons of beautiful flowers but not this year, it only had one flower, it is a big plant
The correct answer depends on the type of hydrangea that you are talking about. Hydrangea macrophylla, also known as Big leaf hydrangea, French Hydrangea or Hortensia may have blooming issues due to some of these problems:
* macrophyllas develop invisible flower buds anywhere from mid summer to early fall 2020 (varies depending on one's geographical location) and then the flower buds open in spring/summer 2021. However, if you were to prune after the buds have developed then you could cut off this year's flower.
* Winter is zone 6: If winter is too cold, the drying cold and temperatures may kill the stems. Macrophyllas that bloom only on old wood need to be winter protected so the stems do not die.
A rebloomer macrophylla may be more bloom reliable. These varieties will produce flower buds the same way but it will also produce a second flush of summer 2021 blooms from new growth (stems) that started growing in spring 2021. They need to get sufficient sun to let those stems grow tall and old enough before the end of the growing season so I prefer using rebloomer varieties that do not grow very tall like the Let's Dance Series of reblooming macrophyllas.
Oakleaf, paniculata and Annabelle-like hydrangeas tend to be more winter hardy and bloom reliable.
* Pests like deer, squirrels and bunnies can eat the flower buds in spring 2021.
* dense shade can reduce blooms.
* too much nitrogen rich fertilizer can promote dark, green foliage at the expense of blooms.
My hydrangea space is 9ft wide by 1 metre deep.How difficult wil it bento remove the Hydrangea and what would I need to treat the soil with before planting roses ?
Sorry to say it may be difficult to remove the hydrangea, and you may require some heavy equipment. Here's some info: .https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/projects/removing-existing-plants.htm
Regarding the best soil for roses, this article is written by our master rosarian, and should provide all you need to know:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/roses/rose-soil-preparation.htm
It’s mid September. Pennsylvania. I’d like lots of my hydrangea on my property. I understand now they may not be the same. That’s fine. And very cool. I’ve sent three pics. Mid sept, PA, had gorgeous white stalks of blooms all summer. Now these pinkish blooms have arrived with what appear to be these bb sized groups of pods. Are these the seed pods and I just wait for them to mature with a bag over them a little later?
Those are unopened green flower buds. Hydrangea blooms consist of (1) sepals that attract pollinators (the white or pink leaves) and (2) fertile flower buds. You will not get seed production for a while, until the plant goes dormant and the blooms dry out and turn brown. Theeeen you can try to capture seeds.