Non flowering Hydrangea

[Marb67]

Well, I have absolutely no idea why these have not flowered as they are in ericaceous compost in a large pot and fed with general feed for flowering plants. I haven't cut them back at all so why blind ?

[Nicos]

Is it new this year Marb?
I’ve found young ones don’t tend to flower for the first 2-3 years.
Also…the leaves look a bit yellow…is it getting enough light/ overwatered?( just a thought….as that could be affecting blooming)

[Andraste]

It does look like a young plant. I agree with Nicos about them not flowering young. Depending on the type, some of the fussy ones can take five years to get going.

[Marb67]

It's not a young plant as I took it from my late mother in law's garden in 2015.

[Andraste]

Hi Marb,

I guess then that the plant is old but all the growth on it looks new. I'd suggest a little bit of neglect might be in order - no pruning this year or in the spring - & see if that makes it buck it's ideas up. x

PS I don't think you necessarily need ericaceous compost - unless you (like me) prefer the blue coloured mopheads to the pinky flowered ones.

[Florence Fennel]

I think Andraste might be right. I've got a pink one that has been in the same pot for well over 6 years that flowers prolifcally with very little pruning. I do give it plenty of water, they're very thirsty plants - I suppose the clue to that is in the name!

[Marb67]

Well a year on and no better. Even my newer small plant has failed to flower as they are both stunted.

[Andraste]

Did you prune?

[Marb67]

No but It didn't make any difference previously.

[Andraste]

It can make a difference in that some only flower on old growth. It's only the stems that flowered that should be cut back in general. Could it be that the flowers you do have coming are from last year's stems but there aren't enough just yet to give a good show? The plant itself looks healthy enough to me. *insert scratching my head smiley here*

[Jungle Jane]

I’ve got a small hydrangea to plant out, they need a very big container at fifteen yr old, the first few years they can go in a smaller container but they have a big root system, they say 16” to two foot size container for their final pot size. Mine might start in a pot then go to ground.

[Marb67]

It can make a difference in that some only flower on old growth. It's only the stems that flowered that should be cut back in general. Could it be that the flowers you do have coming are from last year's stems but there aren't enough just yet to give a good show? The plant itself looks healthy enough to me. *insert scratching my head smiley here*

It may be that then if on the old stem growth. Is it too late for the Chelsea chop ?

[Andraste]

Put those secateurs away marb lol - you'll be chopping off next year's flowers x

[DannyK]

My mopheads only developing floer buds now.

If in ericaceous compost you should use fertilser for ericaceous plants if you want to keep it blue.

[Jungle Jane]

The flowers are opening now on our hydrangea