Request: Nikko Blue Hydrangea Not Blooming
Archived on 09/02/2008
How do I get my Nikko Blue hydrangea to bloom? I planted it 3 years ago, and it has never bloomed. I planted one in full shade, and one in morning sun with partial shade.
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Nancy from Greenwood, IN
Answers:
RE: Nikko Blue Hydrangea Not Blooming
I absolutely LOVE hydrangeas, they bring back memories of hiding under beautiful blue hydrangea bushes as a child. Anyway, I've decided just to buy one hydrangea bush to plant at my new place. I was going to plant a bunch because a gal who sells them and has over 40 hydrangea bushes herself. She told me that the reason they are named "HYDRA" is because they need LOTS of hydration (water). She said hers are planted right next to a creek that runs through her property & they still aren't over watered! She told me that they need to be watered each & every day (even though we live in Seattle & our grass usually stays green all year long even without watering). I don't want my water bill to go up, so I've decided to keep my hydrangea plants to a minimum.
So, that's my question to you about your blooms. Are you watering your Hydrangea enough? Apparently they need to be flooded! Also, did you know that hydrangeas are a snap to propagate. Just take a small cutting at a place where a leaf will grow in the future and put that in clean water. You don't even need rooting hormone! I guess they are one of the easiest plants to propagate. Pretty soon you'll have dozens, and your water bill will be in the hundreds of dollars :). (02/18/2008)
By Cyinda
RE: Nikko Blue Hydrangea Not Blooming
I have a white hydrangea. It took longer than three years before it got flowers on it. Gardening sometimes takes patience. :) (02/22/2008)
By Carol in PA
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Request: Nikko Blue Hydrangea Not Blooming
Archived on 02/18/2008
Q: I planted a Nikko Blue Hydrangea 2 years ago but it has never bloomed. I fertilize it and it is in a sunny location (6 hours of sun). It is healthy looking and green but no flowers. What can be wrong?
Hardiness Zone: 4b
Maureen From Nova Scotia Canada
A: Maureen,
Your hydrangea sounds like it's getting the right amount of shade/sun, so as long as you're not using a fertilizer that is too high in nitrogen, the problem is probably your Nova Scotia winters. Cold damage is the most common reason this type of hydrangea fails to bloom. You didn't mention whether or not you cover your Nikko in the winter. Although they are usually rated to zone 4 or 5, Nikkos (especially when young) should be given winter protection. You can do this by surrounding the shrub with a cage made from chicken wire and filling it up with leaves or straw. The Nikko Blue blooms on old wood so pruning it can also be tricky. Flower buds usually form on the stems sometime between August and October, so most gardeners prune them by the end of July. Later pruning puts you at risk for cutting off next year's buds. Fortunately, if Nikkos are located in a fairly protected area, pruning usually isn't necessary for this type of hydrangea unless you need to rein them in or revitalize them. Dead stems can be removed anytime. Good luck!
Ellen
More Answers:
RE: Nikko Blue Hydrangea Not Blooming
Does your Hydrangea die back to the ground every year (in winter)? If so, most Hydrangeas only bloom on "old wood". If it dies to the ground, there is no "old wood" for it to bloom on. Really good winter protection, mulching very, very deep, surrounding it with a barrier and filling the barrier with straw or hay may help. A good variety, which blooms on new and old wood is the new "endless Summer" variety. For the Nikko, I would try heavy protection and/or moving it to a location where it is protected from wind, etc. If you can't keep old wood, it never will bloom. (05/08/2006)
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RE: Nikko Blue Hydrangea Not Blooming
Hydrangeas prefer shade! (05/10/2006)
By Linda
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