Q.Why Does My 8 Year Old Hydrangea Petiolaris Never Bloom
This is in a fairly large pot against a northeast facing wall. It has only ever produced three tiny blooms but none at all this year. Looks reasonably healthy. See photos. I’d love it to bloom.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
This is usually caused by a few things, but I think that two of them may be the cause.
Too much nitrogen and not enough phosphorous and potassium would be a reason for a lack of flowers. It would produce vigorous green growth, but will throw off the balance of flowering nutrients.
Pruning can be another factor. Some of those vines that stray away from the main plant can sap energy that would be used, otherwise, for flowering. They take quite awhile to reach full maturity in size, but should be showing more flowering than that, even, near maturity.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/vines/climbing-hydrangea/growing-climbing-hydrangeas.htm
Patience. Like other vines like wisteria, Hydrangea anómala sap. petiolaris can typically require about 10 years to bloom. This is a large vine that can exceed 80 feet so be ready to root prune periodically to keep it in containers.
