If you’re like many gardeners, you’ve probably been looking forward to your hydrangeas blooming this year. But if, like many others, you’ve been disappointed to find that your plants haven’t bloomed yet, don’t worry! There are several things you can do to get your hydrangeas to bloom again. Also in this blog, we will discuss the main reasons why hydrangeas may not bloom.
Too much nitrogen in the soil
One of the main reasons why hydrangeas may not bloom is because there is too much nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen is a nutrient that helps plants grow leaves and green stems. Although it is important for plant growth, too much nitrogen can prevent plants from blooming. If you think your soil has too much nitrogen, you need to dilute the soil to make it more suitable for hydrangea blooms.
You can find a quality test at a gardening store to help determine the percentage of nitrogen in the soil. After such a test, you can draw a conclusion and already dilute it, or vice versa, add nitrogen if it is not enough. In any case, such a test should be carried out 1-2 times a year to monitor the condition of the soil. This test should be done regardless of whether the plants have problems or not. Because a timely identified percentage of nitrogen growth in the soil, can be prevented immediately, before the plant has suffered too much damage. After all, it is the high nitrogen content that prevents the plant or flower from blooming.
It’s too cold
If your hydrangea is not blooming, the temperature may be too low. The ideal temperature for hydrangea blooms is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature drops below 60 degrees, the flowers will not open. If you live in a region with colder winters, you can try planting hydrangeas at home or in a greenhouse.
If your region is prone to harsh winters, hydrangeas will not bloom in such conditions, so there is no point in hoping for results. Here it is better to plant hydrangeas at home, but be sure to keep them at the optimum temperature for warmth.
If it is not possible to create too warm conditions in the apartment, it is important to buy a heater, or special lamps for plants. They will help keep the flower healthy and it will soon be able to give a beautiful bloom.
Also, the hydrangea must not be exposed to draughts, otherwise it will also not be able to bloom. There is a special kind of Hydrangea oakleaf for sale, which is frost-resistant. It can bloom, but not as vigorously and lushly as its heat-loving counterparts. This type of hydrangea can grow in temperatures of 15 degrees Fahrenheit. But while the plant is young, it should be wrapped in burlap to root and strengthen it.
Little water
Little water and lots of sun are not ideal conditions for hydrangea blooms. The plant is quite fond of water, so it requires plenty of watering. If you live in an area with low humidity, your hydrangea may not bloom as lushly. The important thing here is to maintain a happy medium. If you live in a hot climate, it is important to water hydrangeas abundantly, but no more than once a day. Keep an eye on the soil; it should be dry but not too dry. Hydrangeas consume at least two inches of water per week, so it will be very easy to calculate how much moisture the plant needs. To do this, be sure to take into account the rainy season and your own watering.
If the hydrangea is growing at home, it is important to water it every day, but try not to be too overzealous. Keep an eye on the condition of the soil. If it is too wet, you will need more water; if it is dry, you will need to give it more water.
Hydrangea – deer’s favorite delicacy
If there are deer in your area, they will probably nibble on your hydrangea. The best way to prevent this is to install a fence around the plant. You can also use commercial repellents, but they need to be applied regularly. Hydrangeas especially suffer during deer migration or breeding season, so it’s important to keep an eye on your plant during this period.
But deer don’t always eat a plant just during the migration and breeding season. After all, if there are enough deer in the area, they will be able to eat buds and seeds from hydrangeas in the fall and winter as well, which means that the hydrangea will not produce flowers during the blooming period.
If you don’t know what really feeds on your plant, look at the leaves. Deer pluck them, which creates a characteristic leaf tear and is as if jagged. Deer like young shoots and green, young leaves better. If your fear is confirmed and deer are entering your garden, you need to take care to build a fence and protect yourself from the animals.
Hydrangea pruning
This is one of the most common reasons why hydrangeas do not bloom. The best time to prune hydrangeas is late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. If you prune at this time, you will stimulate new growth and blooms. But if you trim the plant in the winter or fall, you run the risk of cutting off the young shoots and the hydrangea will not produce flowers.
It is also very important to cut off dead and diseased branches, foliage, remove rotten buds and dry wood. Some hydrangea varieties may not be pruned at all, so there is no risk of damaging the young shoots, which could become flowers in the future.
Little sunshine
Too little sun and too much shade will result in the plant not blooming. Hydrangea can grow in the penumbra, but no more than that. Be sure to consider where you are going to plant the hydrangea so that it has good light, otherwise you will not be able to admire the beautiful and lush flowers in the spring.