Why My Hydrangea Is Not Blooming?

Why isn’t my hydrangea blooming? It’s a common question asked on many garden forums. Such questions come from the gardener’s frustration. This is fair because maybe your neighborhood hydrangea is blooming, but yours isn’t.

There could be so many reasons for hydrangeas not flowering. The potential reasons include extreme heat, incorrect pruning, location, incorrect sun exposure, etc. Moreover, many hydrangea types don’t bloom all at once. It’s disheartening if any flowers don’t bloom during the peak growing season. 

In this article, we will explore all the potential reasons for hydrangea not blooming. Also, we will discuss the solutions to help your hydrangeas bloom again. Follow the guide to fill your hydrangea with colorful flowers again.

Hydrangea Blooming Stages

Hydrangea blooms through several stages. It can be fascinating and educational for gardeners to observe this wonderful plant blooming. Like any plant in your garden, hydrangea blooms in the following stages –

Stage: 1 Budding Stage

The first stage starts when hydrangea starts to develop tiny buds. The buds appear in early spring as the weather warms. However, the appearance of buds is an early sign of future flowering.

Stage: 2 Leafing Out

After the tiny buds develop, the hydrangea leaves begin to emerge. The newly emerging leaves provide much-needed energy to the plant through photosynthesis. This energy helps in developing new blooms.

In early summer, the buds grow and turn into bloom heads. The shape and structure of hydrangea flowers are visible at this stage. Slowly, the flowers start to open and show green tips. However, it is difficult to say what color the flowers will be.

Stage: 3 Color Transformation

This stage is most exciting when the bloom heads start to show their color. The flowers could be pink, blue, purple or white, depending on the variety of hydrangea. The color transition indicates that the flowers are approaching their full splendor.

Stage: 4 Full Bloom

Finally, hydrangeas reach their full bloom stage. At this stage, they display their beautiful, flower-filled heads. This stage is the peak of their display, which gardeners eagerly anticipate every year. Depending on their variety, the full bloom stage can last several weeks.

Stage: 5 Fading and Aging

After the hydrangea displays its full glory, the flowers start to age and fade. They gradually change color and often take a vintage hue color. The petals start to dry. Hydrangea still looks aesthetic even at this stage. You can collect dry hydrangea and keep it for a long time.

Why Is My Hydrangea Not Flowering?

Wondering why isn’t my hydrangea plant flowering. You’ll get the answer if you consider all the growing conditions of hydrangea. Hydrangea often fails to grow when the growing requirements are not met.

Before finding the solution, first check if your hydrangea is healthy. If so, the problem can be solved. Hydrangea will come back year after year in your garden. There are several reasons why isn’t my hydrangea plant flowering, including;

• Incorrect Trimming

One of the notable reasons for hydrangea not blooming is incorrect trimming. If you don’t know the correct trimming process, you may accidentally cut flower buds. As a result, the hydrangea will not bloom throughout the season.

Hydrangea flowers are said to thrive best with little or no trimming. Sometimes, giving your hydrangea enough space to grow in their mature size is essential. Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood while some on new wood.

Hydrangeas like Bigleaf, Climbing, Mountain and Oakleaf bloom on old wood. They bloom on the flower buds formed on the previous year’s growth. Also, they require little trimming right after blooming and before flower buds are developed for the next growing season.

If you trim these hydrangea varieties too late (in the fall or early spring), you may accidentally remove the flower buds. As a result, you’ll have no blooms in the following season.

Varieties like Panicle and Smooth hydrangeas bloom on new wood. They bloom on the current season’s growth. If you trim them in the late winter or early spring, you may experience delayed blooming. These varieties can withstand aggressive trimming.

• Excessive or Insufficient Sun

Hydrangeas are often thought of as shade-loving plants. In reality, hydrangea requires both full sun and shade to bloom. They can thrive in a combination of sun and shade throughout the day.

If hydrangeas receive excessive sun, they can have issues like heat stress, leaf scorch, wilting, etc. All these can delay its blooming potential. However, if they receive insufficient sun, they can have floppy stems, green leaves, reduced blooms, etc.

So, there must be a balance in the hydrangea’s sun exposure. Most hydrangeas need at least four to six hours of sunlight daily. Varieties like Panicle, Bigleaf and Smooth hydrangeas require partial sun to full sun environments.

However, Bigleaf hydrangeas require protection from hot afternoon sun, particularly in warmer climates. On the other hand, Climbing and Oakleaf varieties are more shade-tolerant.

Depending on the type of hydrangea, you can decide whether your hydrangea requires full sun, part sun or shade. If hydrangea leaves are scorched and the edges turn yellow or brown, the plant requires more protection from direct sun.

• Improper Soil Conditions

The quality of soil and pH level also play a vital role in hydrangea blooming. Hydrangea requires rich, well-drained and fertile soil to thrive. Poor soil quality can cause plant decay.

Soils that are too sandy or clay-heavy may not support healthy growth. If you add high-quality compost and other amendments to the soil at planting time, it can help new shrubs get started faster.

The bushes are then fed annually using a balanced slow-release fertilizer. However, overfeeding can also inhibit bloom. Soil pH levels can also affect certain types of flower color and overall plant health.

Soil with a 5 to 5.5 pH level is ideal for blue bloom. On the other hand, soil with a high pH level of 6 to 6.5 is suitable for pink blooms. A soil test can determine if your hydrangea is in the right condition.

• Insufficient Water

Hydrangea requires regular watering to thrive best. Insufficient water can hinder the flower growth. Also, hydrangeas grown in dry conditions can become stressed if they don’t get enough water. As a result, they will lack in bloom.

Hydrangea requires regular moisture with about 2 inches of water per week. You need to water the plant frequently, especially during hotter weather. Some varieties, like Oakleaf, can tolerate drought conditions more than others.

However, overwatering also affects the plant’s overall health and well-being. If the soil is waterlogged, hydrangea can be deprived of necessary nutrients. It ultimately hinders plant growth and bloom.

• Nutrient Imbalance

Hydrangea requires the use of fertilizer, especially nitrogen, annually to support the plant’s blooming. The nutrient imbalance in the soil can cause the hydrangea not to bloom. Nitrogen boosts leaf growth, while phosphorous promotes blooming.

Over-fertilizing with nitrogen-rich fertilizer can promote excessive leaf growth instead of flowers. You can use slow-release fertilizer containing higher phosphorous that encourages blooming.

• Cold Weather Damage

If you are wondering why isn’t my hydrangea bush flowering, cold weather is also to blame. A harsh winter or late-season frost can damage developed flowering buds. As a result, you will not bloom in that season.

Oakleaf and Bigleaf hydrangeas are more susceptible to late-season frost. Hence, winter protection is necessary to ensure that the buds survive until spring. In the fall, mulch the area around the base of the plant with several inches of leaves, compost, or straw.

Similarly, cover the plant with burlap or other covering during extreme cold frosts. If you live in colder climates, it is better to plant Panicle, Smooth and other cold-hardy types of hydrangea.

• Foraging Animals

Foraging animals such as deer, rabbits, and other garden animals can damage hydrangea and hinder its blooming. They can damage new leaves and young flower buds. Foraging animals can damage the flowers that bloom on old wood.

They can also chew the foliage and hydrangea buds on the new wood throughout the growing season. This results in partial or total loss of flower. Hydrangea flower buds appeal more to foraging animals during late winter or early spring.

Food sources are not available at this time. Therefore, protecting the plant from these animals throughout the year is essential. Installing a fence can keep foraging animals, especially deer, away from the plant.

• Young Plant

Young hydrangeas, or those that have been recently transplanted, may take several years to establish and bloom. The duration can be 2 to 5 years. If you don’t want to wait, purchase larger varieties of hydrangea.

• Pest or Disease Issues

Sometimes, pests or diseases can affect hydrangea blooming. Fungal infections, aphids or spider mites can stress the plant and reduce blooming. You can avoid it with regular inspection and proper treatment.

• Choosing Wrong Hydrangea Types

Some hydrangeas are known to be chosen when it comes to blooming. If your hydrangea is not blooming even after having no signs mentioned above, you have chosen the wrong hydrangea.

Also, some types of hydrangea have unpredictable blooming patterns. One year, the plant is filled with flowers. Next year, only one or two flowers will grace their leafy stems.

Why Is My Potted Hydrangea Not Flowering?

Potted hydrangea can add incredible beauty anywhere you want: on a porch, balcony, walkway, driveway, or deck. It brings vibrant colors and lush foliage in a compact form.

However, when your potted hydrangea is not flowering, it brings nothing but disappointment and frustration. Your potted hydrangea may not bloom for the same reason that your garden hydrangeas are not blooming.

Incorrect trimming, insufficient sunlight, insufficient watering, improper nutrient balance, etc. are the reasons. In addition, the pot size plays an essential role in potted hydrangea not blooming.

Hydrangea require enough space to thrive. If your plant gets too large for its pot, it may become root-bound. Your hydrangea can become stressed when the roots have no room to expand. As a result, the hydrangea will be less likely to bloom.

How to Make Hydrangeas Bloom Again?

The hydrangea will only bloom if the issues preventing it from thriving are addressed. Here is what you should do to make it bloom again.

• Make sure to trim your hydrangea at the right time for its blooming cycle to encourage blooms.
• Know which type of hydrangea you have and ensure it gets the right amount of sun.
• Water your hydrangeas regularly and moisten the soil, especially during hot, dry weather.
• Use a balanced fertilizer (one with higher phosphorus content) in early spring and again in summer.
• Avoid using excessively nitrogen-rich fertilizers.
• Test your soil pH and adjust it if necessary to help your hydrangea bloom again.
• Protect your hydrangeas from late frosts and extreme weather by covering them with frost cloths. If you have potted hydrangeas, move them indoors.
• If there are signs of pests or diseases, use proper treatment, such as fungicides or insecticidal soap, to control them.

What to Feed Hydrangeas to Make Them Bloom?

Hydrangea requires the right nutrition to encourage healthy growth and abundant blooms. They get the right nutrition from a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium). Phosphorus, in particular, is key to flowering.

Use organic, slow-release fertilizer (15-10-10 or 10-5-5 ratio) on hydrangea to give them the nutrients they need. It helps them increase the size and quantity of their blooms. Apply the fertilizer in the spring and early summer.

In addition to fertilizer, regular watering and mulching is also essential to encourage flowering in the plant. The pH level of the soil plays an essential role if you want to increase the colour of your hydrangea flowers.

The soil needs to be more acidic, with a pH below 6 for blue flowers. Moreover, the soil needs to be more alkaline, with a pH above 7 for pink flowers. You can add green limes to encourage pink blooms.

Why Are My Hydrangea Flowers Dying?

Large flowerheads and gorgeous leaves make hydrangea one of the most cherished shrubs for home gardeners. However, all these splendors can turn into a sad light when the hydrangea starts to die prematurely.

Several reasons can contribute to this problem. Here are some potential reasons why your hydrangea is dying.

• Insufficient watering can cause the blooms to wilt, dry out and eventually die.
• Too much direct, intense sunlight causes the hydrangea flowers to scorch, fade or die.
• Hot summer wind can make the flowers wilt, brown and die early.
• Improper trimming at the wrong time can cause the plant to die.
• Excess nitrogen causes lush foliage but weakens flowers that don’t last long.
• Pests like aphids or diseases like bacterial wilt or powdery mildew can weaken the flowers, causing them to die.

What Do You Do When Hydrangea Flowers Turn Green?

All hydrangea flowers turn different colors as they age. Pink and blue hydrangeas usually turn green when flowers mature. It’s a natural part of their life cycle that happens mostly towards the end of the blooming period.

They turn green for only a few (one or two) years and then return to their normal color. However, green flowers sometimes indicate that the plant needs extra attention. Here is what you can do when hydrangea blooms turn green.

Understand the Variety

Understand which variety you have in the garden. Many hydrangea varieties turn green as they mature. They start with vibrant colors like pink or blue and gradually turn green.

Evaluate Sun Exposure

While hydrangea usually prefer morning sun with afternoon shade, too much shade can cause greener blooms. Lack of sunlight can turn the flowers green. So, ensure your hydrangea gets enough sunlight to maintain its true color.

Check Watering Practices

Overwatering can lead to greenish blooms. Ensure you provide enough water to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Assess Fertilization

Nutrient imbalances, especially excess nitrogen, can promote leaf growth at the expense of vibrant flowers. Use a balanced, slow-release fertilizer that is lower in nitrogen and has a higher phosphorous level.

Consider Soil pH

Sometimes, hydrangea blooms turn green due to pH level changes in the soil. The pH level primarily influences the bloom’s color. However, it can also lead to greenish hues. Consider adjusting the pH level to restore its original color.

Final Thought

Wondering why isn’t my hydrangea flowering is frustrating. Luckily, you know the potential reasons for hydrangea not flowering. Take a closer look at all these possible reasons and address the issues. With proper care, you can enjoy the full bloom throughout the year.

FAQs

How do you revive wilted hydrangea blossoms?

When your hydrangea flowers start to wilt, don’t fret! Soak the flowers in warm water for 30 to 40 minutes. Or, you can try cutting the stems.

What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas?

Organic, slow-release fertilizer is the best for hydrangea. It provides the plant with the necessary nutrients it needs to bloom in double size.

How long do hydrangeas last?

The hydrangea flower clusters can last up to 2 months with proper care, depending on the climate and cultivar. However, the plant can last for several years.