Why isn't your hydrangea blooming? A full breakdown of the common causes

Flowers & Gardening Jan 1, 1970 0 views

There are many reasons why a hydrangea may fail to bloom. If it is caused by too little light, you need to give it more light; if it is caused by too many hours of light, you need to reduce the light duration; if it is caused by improper pruning, you need to prune it correctly and in good time; if it is caused by temperatures that are too high, you need to lower the temperature; if it is caused by too much nitrogen fertilizer, you need to reduce the application of nitrogen fertilizer.

1. Increase light

1. Cause: Hydrangeas like a somewhat shaded environment, but they still need to be guaranteed enough light. If there is not enough light, they easily grow leggy, and in the end the leaves grow too large and their growth is affected. The leaves consume too many nutrients, which greatly affects flower bud formation and thus prevents the plant from blooming.

2. Solution: Move it to a spot with plenty of light, especially in winter. In spring and autumn, indirect scattered light is enough.

2. Reduce the light duration

1. Cause: Sometimes, if it is kept indoors and lit by lamps all evening, the light duration becomes too long, which affects flower bud differentiation and therefore flowering.

2. Solution: During flower bud differentiation, do not give it too many hours of light; 10 hours or less per day is enough, and this will promote blooming.

3. Prune correctly

1. Cause: Hydrangeas generally bloom on old wood, so if the old branches are not pruned, it will affect flowering the following year.

2. Solution: After its flowers fade the previous year, cut off the spent flowers and make sure each branch has 3 to 4 buds; all other branches can be cut off entirely, and it is best to do this before the end of August.

4. Lower the temperature

1. Cause: Many hydrangeas like to stay in a cooler environment before they bloom. If the temperature is above 10 degrees, it will affect flower bud differentiation and prevent them from blooming.

2. Solution: When its flower buds begin to differentiate, simply place it in an environment below 10 degrees.

5. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer

1. Cause: Although it loves fertilizer, improper application will affect its flowering, and too much nitrogen fertilizer in particular will have the opposite effect.

2. Solution: After it blooms each year, apply a little less nitrogen fertilizer and then focus mainly on phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, which will let it bloom earlier.