What Causes the Lack of Blooms on My Hydrangeas?

Ask the Expert: we have beautiful green healthy hydrangea bushes,
beautiful bushes, but not blooming. Approx. 1 year old;

Bob Geissel

Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:When hydrangeas don’t bloom, you need to know a little about their environment and past to find the reason for the lack of blooms.

First, have you pruned the hydrangeas? If you pruned your plants at the wrong time, you may have removed the blooms without knowing it. Most hydrangeas should be pruned in the summer. Pruning in the fall, winter or spring will remove the blooms.

Planting hydrangea in the wrong area can also cause the lack of blooming. A situation that is too wet will cause the leaves to turn yellow and inhibit bloom formation. Planting hydrangea in too much shady will inhibit blooming although the leaves will still be green and lush.

Fertilizer can also be a factor. Too much nitrogen will give you green lush leaves, but will inhibit bloom formation. Make sure you use a fertilizer with a higher phosphorous content than nitrogen content in the fall and spring. However, don’t over fertilize the hydrangeas as this will also cause a blooming issue.

If you can determine which of these causes is the issue, you problem can be easily solved.