Hydrangea Won't Bloom

Question:

I bought and planted two Hydrangeas of the same type side by side 3 or 4 years ago. One has beautiful blooms every year and the other has never made a flower. I do not understand as they get the same sun, shade, rain, etc. Any idea what is happening here?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks,
Betty from Slate Hill, NY

Answer:

Betty,

Are they both planted at the same depth? If you think the plant that is not blooming is planted too deeply, try pulling a little soil away from the crown of the roots. Hydrangeas planted too deeply will not perform well.

Plants are temperamental beings. I've found that they can be as different from one another as people. Despite being given the exact same access to food, water and sunshine, even plants of the same species can respond differently to their environment. Since your hydrangeas are planted side by side, does one end up protecting the other from exposure to snow or winter winds? Could the flower buds from your non-blooming hydrangea be suffering from winter damage? Does one hydrangea receive even slightly more light due to its position next to the other? How about one being in a position where it would get too much fertilizer due to run-off from the lawn? You may also want to try changing when you prune the plant that isn't blooming just to make sure that isn't the problem. If all else fails, maybe it will be happier if you relocate it to a different place in the garden.

Ellen

More Answers:

Hydrangea Won't Bloom

You don't say what kind of hydrangea you have. That would really help in answering your question. I also wanted to mention that some hydrangeas, eventhough their roots may survive your cold winters and produce new shoots in the spring, they may never bloom because it is just too cold. Excellent info on hydrangeas can be found at www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com (09/21/2006)

By Dottie Baltz