Help with hydranga

Fort Washington, PA

Can anyone tll me what is wrong? I planted two of these and one seems fine.

Thumbnail by PeteHoffmann
Leicester, NC(Zone 8a)

are they in the same location? looks to me like its getting too much sun. I had to transplant one to another part of the yard because it wasn't blooming. The ones in partial shade bloomed and did great.

Loris, SC(Zone 8b)

I had the same problem. I ordered 6 different colored ones they never did do any thing. They just sat there , they didn`t die but they didn`t grow. I finaly moved them to another location. They all died but one, I have a pretty bush but no blooms . I decided they just dont like my soil ,also I cut them back wrong. Can someone tell me the proper way to cut them back ?
mincey1

Leicester, NC(Zone 8a)

I found that not cutting them is the answer. You may cut out some of the old wood stalks from the previous year but don't get too clip happy. To get blue blooms you add lime to them. To get pink ones you add peat moss. Part shade is a must. I have some now about 5ft tall that I haven't cut in a couple of years and they are blooming decent with huge blooms. But only the ones in partial shade.

Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a)

Just the opposite Flowers....acidic soil yeilds blue blooms, alkaline soil yeilds pink blooms.

Leicester, NC(Zone 8a)

I stand corrected, my plant book told me that lol. Here is a link that may give some insite to this pretty plant. http://www.colorchoiceplants.com/hydrangea_care.htm

Troy, NY(Zone 5b)

If you are growing big leaf hydrangea in warmer climates partial shade is essential. Morning sun is great but afternoon sun can be too much. Hydrangeas need a lot of water and will wilt in the afternoon if the day is too hot. They perk up again in the evening.

I leave 2 one gallon plastic bottles with drip holes in the bottom under my one hydrangea that seems to get too much sun. It really helps with the afternoon wilting.

If you're not sure if your soil is acid/neutral/alkaline see what color blooms you get and then adjust to what you desire. If you get purple or mixed blooms your soil is probably closer to neutral.

If you need to prune mopheads do so right after blooming or by August so they have time to set the buds for next season. If you prune in fall or spring you will lose all the blooms that year. When you deadhead in the fall or spring just remove the bloom and not much of the stem.

Even if you have Endless Summer of one of the others that bloom on new wood you will not get early blooms if you prune in fall or spring.

I envy those of you in warmer zones. I have to winter protect my mopheads to assure blooms.

This is a picture of Red Sensation in early June of this year.

Thumbnail by bookreader451
Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a)

Good link, Flowers.

Bookreader, that is a happy looking plant....just shows where there is a will....the garden will grow what you want...grin

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