Hydrangea from online retailer

[KAgantua]

Wasnt expecting full blooms yet for the size (10 litre pot) but cant see any buds either.

Am i right to be concerned?

[C4ME]

That looks on first impressions like a more mature bush stock that has been cut to the ground (and possibly split). The vigorous new growth will therefore be this year's growth and will not flower much if at all this year (for common types of hydrangea).

Edited by C4ME on Wednesday 15th July 14:42

[C4ME]

It seems to have been a pretty epic hydrangea year this year by the way.

Edited by C4ME on Wednesday 15th July 14:44

[KAgantua]

C4ME said:

That looks on first impressions like a more mature bush stock that has been cut to the ground (and possibly split). The vigorous new growth will therefore be this year's growth and will not flower much if at all this year (for common types of hydrangea).

Edited by C4ME on Wednesday 15th July 14:42

Thanks so much
So sounds like its ok right?

[55palfers]

Put it in a much bigger pot / the ground and give it lots and lots of water.

Cut back hard in the spring.

[Simpo Two]

55palfers said:

Put it in a much bigger pot / the ground and give it lots and lots of water.

+2.

My hydrangea was planted about 7 years ago but still wilts after a few days of hot weather. Unless you have acid soil use some ericaceous compost.

[Boom78]

C4ME said:

It seems to have been a pretty epic hydrangea year this year by the way.

Edited by C4ME on Wednesday 15th July 14:44

Wish I could say same about mine, despite lots of watering they all look v dry and discoloured. Read somewhere that pro gardeners/societies are advising to avoid planting them in southern UK gardens due to our heat/sun and plant thirst, shame really as they’re one of my favourites.

[Huzzah]

Boom78 said:

C4ME said:

It seems to have been a pretty epic hydrangea year this year by the way.

Edited by C4ME on Wednesday 15th July 14:44

Wish I could say same about mine, despite lots of watering they all look v dry and discoloured. Read somewhere that pro gardeners/societies are advising to avoid planting them in southern UK gardens due to our heat/sun and plant thirst, shame really as they re one of my favourites.

I've a couple in shady spots doing okay, the others are drained out by tye heat.

[119]

We have two in the garden.

One is in full bloom even through it has been completely neglected and a slightly smaller one that I have been watering to death and yet refuses to bloom!

[MercmanSL]

KAgantua said:

Wasnt expecting full blooms yet for the size (10 litre pot) but cant see any buds either.

Am i right to be concerned?

Don t expect any blooms this year, the type of hydrangea you have only blooms on old growth so never prune it. If you do get blooms this year do not remove the old heads until the spring but only remove the heads. Keep it well watered too.

Edited by MercmanSL on Wednesday 15th July 20:54

[C4ME]

Boom78 said:

C4ME said:

It seems to have been a pretty epic hydrangea year this year by the way.

Wish I could say same about mine, despite lots of watering they all look v dry and discoloured. Read somewhere that pro gardeners/societies are advising to avoid planting them in southern UK gardens due to our heat/sun and plant thirst, shame really as they re one of my favourites.

They are all over Cornwall but then Cornwall is a much wetter county than many people imagine.

The secret to get them producing many blooms is how you prune them. With the type and size of bushes shown above, you cut a 3rd of the stems each spring down to the ground in rotation. The rest you just remove any old blooms. This means you are constantly refreshing the bush from the ground plus you have 1 year and 2 year old stems for flowers.

The flowers do bleach out in a period of strong sunshine which is why shade can have some advantages. They also thrive in a moisture retentive but draining location so I can see how they suffer in too dry conditions and again why shade may help.

Edited by C4ME on Thursday 16th July 12:34