hydrangea

How do I get my Hydrangea to bloom? Had it 8 years and only bloomed once. HELP!!?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.013-08:00

The plants are large and green and healthy, just never blooms

How do I get my Hydrangea to bloom? Had it 8 years and only bloomed once. HELP!!?
Hydrangeas of any species should be planted in the spring time after the fear of last frost or in the fall well before the night time temperatures flirt with 32 degrees. If planting in the fall you should avoid high doses of fertilizer as you do not want soft growth while entering into winter. You are best off using a water soluble fertilizer at ¼ strength and only apply it twice after fall planting. Planting of hydrangeas should be done 45-60 days before the first expected freeze.

The soil should be rich in organic matter and drain well. Avoid planting in highly sandy soils and heavy clay soil. Amend the sandy soil with aged compost and only plant on or near clay if the water will drain away.

Feed your hydrangeas! Hydrangeas are greedy plants and do best when fed enough during the early to middle part of the growing season. I suggest a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote slow release with minors. An N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is fine. This feed can be purchased through my website or at home depot for roughly $5.00 per pound. Aged manure is excellent for adjusting your soil but has a very small kick as far as the N-P-K requirements are concerned. Using aged manure (fresh manure will burn plants) in combination with a slow release fertilizer is ideal if your soil is poor to begin with.

I can't state enough the importance of regular irrigation both after planting and 5 years later even after the hydrangea is established. Newly planted hydrangeas should be watered well once a day if planted in a shadier spot and twice a day if planted in more sun for the first two to three weeks. Really babying them pays off. Established plants really shine if pampered with regular irrigation. I have my display garden on a daily watering cycle for the first half of the growing season and every third day after the heat of August has passed. I stop irrigating and let nature take over in early September.

Propagating hydrangeas top

Hydrangeas are one of the easiest shrubs to duplicate by tip cuttings and layering. Both techniques will be described below starting with tip cuttings.

Take a 4-6" cutting from the tip of a hydrangea in active growth. Rapid growing stems (soft wood) make for better cuttings than late season (semi hard wood) cuttings do. The cutting should have 4-6 sets of bud axilles with the cut in the stem

Remove the foliage from the bottom set of buds and cut the top leaves in half. By removing the bottom foliage and reducing the top foliage by ½, you will be limiting the surface area from which moisture can be removed from the cutting.

Prepare your soiless medium. I use 70% perlite and 30% peat moss. Mix the two products together and fill in your rooting container. You can use a small plastic pot or any type of small container that has a drainiage hole in it. Soak the medium and allow the water to run off.

Dip the cutting in rooting hormone if desired (I don't use the rooting hormone as it is not necessary for hydrangeas) the hormone will increase the rooting time by 5-7 days. Using a pencil, dibble a hole in your rooting medium and place the cutting in roughly 2" and softly pack the medium back in and around the hydrangea stem.

Place the container in an area where there will be no direct light, no wind and no heavy shade. Some people place the container in a clear plastic bag with coat hangers or wood sticks fashioned as a mini greenhouse. This process locks in moisture and also raises the temperature. 70-75 degrees is perfect for successful rooting. Too high of a temperature will cook your cuttings and too low of a temperature will slow the rooting process allowing all of the possible mis-haps to occur while struggling to form roots.

That first soaking should last for a while. Do not overwater. Once the top of the rooting medium looks like it is starting to dry out you can apply more water. Too much water will rot your cuttings and too little water will cause the leaves to droop and eventually die out. In the correct environment, your cuttings should root out in 3-5 weeks depending on weather or not you used a rooting hormone. Tugging on the cutting lightly in three weeks time you may feel some resistance. Wait 3-5 more days and transplant to a larger container. If the cutting pops right up, just leave it alone and check it out in another week. Once transplanted, do not allow the cutting to be placed in direct all day sun. For the first few days place the new plant in morning sun for an hour or so and increase the exposure an hour every day after the first three days by an hour until the plant is able to adjust itself to the full exposure.

1st year hydrangeas should not be expected to overwinter in a frozen state. They must be babied a bit and not allowed to freeze solid as this will more than likely kill them. I have killed thousands of cuttings in the past. Failure is ok as you must try again. In the north, you must place the hydrangea in an area where it will not freeze. After the first winter has passed there is usually enough mass to the stems to survive the second winter exposed to the elements.

Layering hydrangeas top

Working with an existing hydrangea already planted in your landscape or a freshly planted hydrangea of your choosing, layering is an easy and more successful method of propagating then is softwood tip cuttings as previously written about. Each method has it's own benefits. When using the tip cutting method you can reproduce 100's even 1000's of hydrangea cuttings in a relatively small space. When propagating by the layering method you can only get a few plants per stem. While tip cuttings need an aftificial environment to survive, the layering method can be done right there in the natural setting.

Pick a hydrangea shrub in late spring to early summer that has fresh stem growth (green stems). Pull an outside stem to the ground making sure that it will reach and can actually be bent a little further down. Measure out a 6-12" section of the stem that you know will be underground (this is determined when you bend the stem over at the beginning) and mark the beginning and end with a pen or marker.

Make a cut 1/8th of an inch deep and an inch long and leave it attached on one end or just simply make a scratch in the stem an 1/8th of an inch deep and an inch long. Both methods accomplish the same thing. When you injure a hydrangea stem the plants survival instinct takes over and speeds up the rooting process.

Assuming that the surrounding garden soil is good, dig a pre-alligned 6-12" trench that is roughly 2-3" deep.

Pull the ready stem over and press it against the bottom of the trench while backfilling the trench with the other hand firmly packing the soil down. Water well. Place a brick or rock over the buried stem and forget about it and go on to another hydrangea. 1 shrub can produce many new plants this way. Every stem can be used without doing any harm to the plant.

Even though the stem will root out in 1-2 months you are best off leaving it right there until the following spring. Your first thought is "who wants to wait that long"? but since you can't leave a first year tip cutting out during the winter anyway, you can leave a first year layered hydrangea stem out during the winter as long as it is still attached to the mother plant. When you dig the new plant up in the spring you will have very strong shrub that will grow rapidly and more than likely flower the first season.

In the spring dig a small hole around the stem back closer to the mother plant and make a cut in the stem with pruners seperating your new hydrangea from the mother. With a small hand shovel, dig out a 6-8" wide and deep circular hole around the stem and pull up your prize and be ready to transplant to a pot or another are in the garden.

If you have the room and long enough canes on your hydrangea you may do what is called the serpintene method where you burry the lower section as decribed before in the layering method of propagation and bring the stem back up again and down again and back up once. This allows you to produce two plants out of one stem.

Pruning hydrangeas top

There has been much confusion over the years about when to prune or not prune. To make it as simple as possible each species will be listed below along with the correct method for pruning that particular species.

Macrophylla (mophead)

Roughly 98% of hydrangea macrophylla flowers off of old wood. This means that next years flowers are being formed on this years branches. The flowers for next season are usually being formed during and after flowering. My advice is to not prune this species but to purchase the right size variety for the particular area to be planted. Don't buy a 6' tall and wide Nikko Blue to go under a 4' window box. There are so many varieties available that you should be able to find a suitable hydrangea for even the smaller areas of your landscape. A general rule of thumb is the further down you prune a hydrangea macrophylla, the less flowers will form the following season. The other 2% that are the exception to this rule are hydrangea macrophylla 'Endless Summer, 'Penny Mac' and 'All Summer Beauty'. These fantastic varieties flower off of new wood as well as old wood. No matter if you have a severe winter or late frost that would normally damage flower buds, the new growth will contain flower buds that can't be destroyed unless you dry the plant out severely.

Serrata, involucrata and aspera

These species should be treated the same as macrophyllas as far as pruning is concerned. Choose the hydrangea with the ultimate finished height and spread in mind and don't prune to make a hydrangea fit an area that is too small.

Paniculata and arborescens

Both of these species of hydrangea flower off of new growth. Pruning is suggested. While you don't have to be quite this exacting, the following guidelines are what I suggest for best results. In the early spring, before new growth emerges past 2-3 inches, prune your pee gees and or arborescens in half. If the shrub is 4' tall, prune down to 2' tall. This encourages vigorous growth and great structure. You may prune all the way down to 6" nubs if you wish. This will cause rapid growth and enormous flowers which will usually flop over in high wind or the first heavy rain. No pruning at all will result in less vigorous growth and smaller flowers. I have found that pruning down by ½ of the previous seasons growth to be the happy medium. An old overgrown pee gee that is not performing may need to be severely pruned down hard to encourage new shoots and rejuvenate the entire plant.

Anomala petiolaris

Climbers do not need to be pruned. Their growth tends to seem stunted in the early stages however, rapid growth will ensue after the 3rd or 4th year. Pruning can be done if you wish to stop a certain direction of growth.

Altering the flower color of hydrangeas top

The most exciting aspect of hydrangeas is the wide array of beautiful flowers in so many different colors and shades. The fact that you can manipulate the colors only adds to the overall attraction of these garden treasures. There are many different tricks one can use to alter flower color such as pennies and nails stuck in the soil but I will keep it simple and just suggest one recipe for blueing hydrangeas and one for making the flower color lighter or pinker. To go from dark blue or purple to pink and or from pink to blue or purple can take from 3-6 months depending on the soils ph and the amount of aluminum present in the soil. Be patient and plan ahead. Knowing the pH of your soil is helpful but not necessary. Most growers will grow their hydrangeas in a soil that is slightly acidic to near neutral because this is where hydrangeas will take up the most nutrients and perform the best as far as growth is concerned. This is the reason why you may have purchased a specific variety of hydrangea in the past with a certain color in mind only to have the blue hydrangea open pink. If you know your soil is generally acidic then you will need to apply the aluminum sulphate lightly, roughly ½ as often as I recommend for a neutral soil. Dropping your soils pH too far can result in reducing your plants ability to take up nutrients causing poor performance and even death. Don't apply more aluminum sulphate than is recommended.

To blue your hydrangea

In a 1 gallon watering can filled with warm water mix in 1 heaping tablespoon of aluminum sulphate and stir well until the crystals are disolved. Avoiding the foliage, apply the entire gallon of solution slowly to the ground on and around the hydrangea. I water the hydrangea 1 hour before applying aluminum sulphate. This helps to avoid run off of the solution. I then pour one half of the solution and wait a few minutes before applying the rest. Start this application in early spring, before active growth if you need to play catch up, and repeat every 20-30 days until flowering. Once the flowers open you will be able to determine weather or not the desired results have been reached. If not, continue to apply the solution through the flowering of the plant and twice after the flowers have finished. After this you should stop for the winter and start in again in the spring. If you were close to the desired color the year before then you should only apply the solution every 35-40 days until flowering occurs. To maintain that level of pH, you will only need to apply aluminum sulphate 3 times a year or less after reaching the correct level. A pH tester can be purchased at home depot or any garden center and is really useful in determining when and how much aluminum sulphate to apply. You can also purchase aluminum sulphate at home depot as well. I also offer aluminum sulphate through the website and can ship it to arrive with your plants. The desired pH level for blueing hydrangeas is somewhere in the low 5's. 5.2-5.8 is where I experience great blues and purples. Fertilizer does have slight effects on the overall results but, if an even fertilizer is used, The desired results can be achieved without confusing things any further.

To lighten or pink a hydrangea

Success in doing this will depend on the variety of hydrangea as some varieties will simply not lighten to pink. You will also need to raise the pH. In doing this you will stop the hydrangea from taking up any naturally occuring aluminum present in the soil and therefore, stopping the blueing process. Lime is the best way for the home owner to raise the pH level. Add dolomitic lime 3-4 times a year starting in the early spring or even the previous fall. Applying a fertilizer high in phosphorus will aid in keeping aluminum out of your hydrangeas system. On the bag you will see the n-p-k ratio. Phosphorus is the middle number. You will want a fertilizer with an elevated level of phosphorus such as 10-20-10. Foundation plantings are often exposed to higher levels of lime due to the cement foundation itself leaching it out over time. If you are planting up next to the house, you may not need to add anything to the soil for pink flowers. Remember, some varieties will not go pink. In each description of the varieties that I offer I state the color range you will experience.

Transplanting hydrangeas top

The best time to transplant hydrangeas is when the hydrangea is dormant. During this period, you may transplant at any time. Even a mature shrub will need to be babied after transplanting. Irrigate as you would any newly planted shrub. Dig as large a rootball as you think you can handle while leaving fully grown hydrangea transplanting to a landscaper or gardener. The larger the rootball, the less stress and root disturbance will occur resulting in a higher rate of success. If you must move hydranges during the spring or fall after active growth has begun, you can call me toll free at 1-888-642-1333 and we can discuss your individual circumstances to determine the best plan of attack. During this time success rates drop sharply.

Why won't my hydrangeas bloom? top

There are many reason for a hydrangea to fail to bloom. I will start with the most common reasons and go from there.

I have found that the most common reason for lack of blooms is pruning at the wrong time during the season and eliminating the flower buds. My advice is to not prune your hydrangeas other than simple removal of spent flowers which will be pruned off just below the flower itself at the next lower set of buds. You may prune the tops of your hydrangeas after the active growth begins in spring and it is obvious what is dead and what is not. Be careful because even now I am still speculating that certain buds are dead only to notice a few weeks later that the bud I thought was dead is now a stem in active growth. Remember that paniculatas and arborescens can be pruned as they flower off of new growth. There are also some varieties of macrophylla that bloom off of new wood and can be pruned in late season. Those varieties are 'All Summer Beauty', 'Penny Mac' and 'Endless Summer'. It is these hydrangeas that are confusing everybody as to what, when and where to prune or not prune. Don't put yourself in a situation where you are forced to prune. Be patient in the spring and wait for all buds to return before pruning the tips.

Too cold of a climate for successful hydrangea flowering. If you are in zone 5 you will not have luck with 95% of the available mopheads on the market. If your neighbors do not have hydrangeas, other than pee gees or annabelles, you are more than likely in too cold of an area for successful bud return. What confuses things is that the climate seems to be changing and zone lines may shift from year to year. We also are experiencing el nino every 7 years or so and this is causing variations in our winters from mild one year to severe the next year. While the hydrangeas will grow like crazy and give you lots of great foliage, the buds will always burn in a normal zone 5 winter.

Planted in heavy shade. Too much shade can be a cause of non flowering simply because of the lack of energy from the sun. You will notice less flowers gradually as the years go on. Transplant to a sunnier location.

Severe dry spells the season before can and does cause the hydrange to not flower. This can be avoided by choosing a location that is not too sunny and by adding some sort of irrigation system.

While some soils can be so poor as to cause growth and flowering problems, the above 4 reasons are the main causes of a non flowering hydrangea.
Reply:Contact your local garden center. i believe they are acid loving and require acid to bloom. I just can't be sure though. Most garden centers or landscape centers will have the answer for you.

How do I keep a hydrangea red? I'm in zone 6, and i believe it's acidic soil.?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.012-08:00

Alkaline soils produce the pink colours in hydrangeas and acidic soils make them blue coloured.

You just have to make your soil alkaline by adding lime. Follow the directions on the packet carefully you don't want to overdo it. You can buy a cheap PH test which will tell you whether the soil is alkaline or acid. You can use this in the garden regularly to check and see PH and if you need to alter for some plants.

You can buy red hydrangea macrophylla. The trick is to buy a dark coloured flowered plant even dark blue, once the soil is alkaline the plant will flower dark hot pink/red. Always pick the darkest flower colour you can to get the dark colours, and look for red flowering varieties such as 'sunset' and 'Geoffrey Chadbund'.

The reddest ones I've seen are not fire engine red but very dark red pinks, but every year more darker varieties are becoming available.

How do I keep a hydrangea red? I'm in zone 6, and i believe it's acidic soil.?
There are five main species but I'm assuming you mean Hydrangea macrophylla. Alkaline soil, high pH produces a pinkish color, whereas the the blue comes from acidic soils.

The "pink" is not really a pretty pink. I'm wondering if you are thinking about the PeeGee Hydrangea, Hydrangea paniculata. The flower heads are a bit different.....PeeGee is slightly conical and tinged pink.
Reply:Tea bags, coffee grounds, Epsom salts for blue. Rusty nails, or copperas for pink/red. Have fun.
Reply:Go to a plant store and find "Sunset Western Garden book" the really thick one and look it up, it will tell you what to do, It has tons of great info. Just look under hydrangea in the index.

height increasing shoes

My hydrangea bush is starting to bud, do I cut it back, or leave it alone?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.011-08:00

Hello To You,

I got my start 5 years ago by reading all I could from this site;

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/hydra...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/

I have 14 hydrangeas now, and could have never learned as much as I did, as fast as I have, with-out those guys at the gardenweb.

Hope this helps, and have fun!

Dave

My hydrangea bush is starting to bud, do I cut it back, or leave it alone?
Thanks so much. The web site is great! Report It

Reply:You're very welcome!

When I bought my first hydrangea, I wanted more.

When I found that whole site, I went to bed many nights late because there was so much stuff there, and once I had seen how to propagate hydrangeas, I had them all over the place.

Have Fun!

Dave Report It

Reply:Never prune a hydrangea until after it blooms. The flowers only grow on old growth ( from the year before ). The one exception that I've heard of is the Peegee hydrangea. It only blooms on new growth.
Reply:Prune flowering shrubs immediately after they are done blooming, before they set they buds for next year. I like cut flowers, so I shape my shrubs as I go. The exception is the azaeleas that are not good cut flowers. I trim them while the wilted flower is still on the shrub.

Another reason to avoid pruning now besides that you will lose your spring blooms is that pruning incites new growth which will be killed off in a freeze.
Reply:Hydrangeas usually tell you where to prune back to. The tips of the branches go hollow and brittle back to the viable parts. All you do is bend the tips and they should snap off. If you need to prune more back be careful of taking too much off as you may take away any chances of having flowers this year. Actually it depends where you are and what type of hydrangea it is. Some like the Endless Summer variety bloom all summer and well into fall. These ones you can prune in spring and still have a nice show in the summer. The more traditonal ones that only truly bloom once in the summer need to be pruned very carefully if you want to protect the future flowers, as they tend to set there flower buds early on. If it appears to be budding early this year that is probably due to the strange winter weather that most of N. America seems to be having. The plants are really confused, but there is nothing we can do if the weather turns bad and the buds end up getting frost bitten and don't develope properly.
Reply:LEAVE IT ALONE
Reply:Leave it alone. Try doing all the trimming late summer early fall. I prefer early fall but just leave it be or you can trim some put in water and watch them open in your house.

You must live where it's warm. If it is used as an indoor plant leave it as well. My friend has one in a big pot in her living room.
Reply:I used to work for a garden shop- do not prune anything until it has finished blooming or until it is dormant! By dormant, I mean in fall or early spring when there are no buds or flowers on the shrub or plant and there are either no leaves or very few leaves on the plant in question. The same rule goes for moving plants to a new location.
Reply:Leave it alone...

if you want to prune it to keep it small,wait until after it blooms.

If you prune it now you won't have many flowers this summer.

I have a rather large Hydrangea , it hasn't bloomed in 2 years. Can someone tell me why?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.010-08:00

The plant itself looks very healthy, %26amp; has no bugs on it.

I have a rather large Hydrangea , it hasn't bloomed in 2 years. Can someone tell me why?
Here's an excellent site. He lists different reasons why hydrangeas don't bloom and gives some great advice. Goodluck!

http://www.conweb.com/hydrangea/noblooms...
Reply:Have you pruned your plant. If so....Stop. Hydrangeas bloom only on second year growth. The canes that are growing this year will not bloom until next year. After they bloom, let them hang out for awhile, and then prune only the canes that flowered this year - I prune mine after the first frost. All the green foliage that you dont prune will flower next year. Most people add acid to the plants to change the color of the blooms...the more acidic the soil, the more blue the blooms will be. You can buy an inexpensive bag of Ammonium sulfate at any garden store or nursery. good luck
Reply:you have a pointer instead of a siter .buy a siter and plant it next to the pointer .and you will be amazed .sort of like birds and the bees.. buy the way send me a check for the sex education class..C U NEXT blooming season..
Reply:check the soil ( with a soil tester) probably needs acid pickle juice or coffee grounds are good
Reply:Maybe it needs fertilizer and also someone told me that hydrangeas are acid loving and need coffee grounds at the base of the plant. I hope I helped and happy gardening .

I bought a hydrangea with blue flowers, but after I planted it, flowers became green, why?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.009-08:00

PH of your dirt. m

I bought a hydrangea with blue flowers, but after I planted it, flowers became green, why?
the flowers should turn blue by themsevles, if not check for nitrogen in your soil, you can get test kits at most home and garden shops
Reply:You need to keep the soil acidic to keep the blue flowers
Reply:Hydrangeas require a specific pH in the soil in order for the flowers to be blue. You need to check the pH, then head to the nursery - they can help you find the right product to increase the acidity in the soil.
Reply:Here's a trick I learned from a gardener many years ago...

Bury a few regular old nails in the soil around the base of the plant. (Note: Don't bury them so deep that your distrub the root system.) The nails will break down and the minerals (iron) will leach down to the root system and be taken up by the plant.

You will get very vibrant blue flowers.
Reply:Nutrients in the soil may have effected the plant.

It may just be changing to its environment
Reply:possibly minerals?
Reply:Acid is probably not high enough. Add coffee grounds to the soil around them if you want them blue again.
Reply:they have to have a plant food with cooper in it to keep them blue. It is available at garden centers etc. call your local garden center and ask or home depot even walmart if theres one near you. But it is the cooper that keeps it blue.
Reply:the soil's nutrients turned the flowers green most likely. If the nutrients were different than the ones in the pot when you bought the plant it could affect the coor when you transplanted it.
Reply:the color of a hydrangea bloom depends on the nutrients in the soil. I give my mom a pretty light pink one for mothers day it is now a dark purple. They have well water lots of minerals.

My newly planted Hydrangea's bottom leaves that are falling off? What is the cause of this? How can I fix it

2011-11-19T01:50:00.008-08:00

VERY OFTEN, home owners love their plants SOOOO MUCH, that they tuck them into the ground really deep, and water them every day.

So if this sounds like you, tucked the plant in good and deep to protect it and you water it every day , may be more....

Then do two things;

1. Dig the plant up. Replant it so the potting soil it came in is LEVEL with the surrounding ground, NOT BELOW IT!!!!!!!!

2. Stop watering it. Yes Hydrangeas need a lot of water, but, get a tuna/cat food can and put it under the bush after the can has been emptied.

Now , AT MOST, water the bush until the can is full of water, two times a week.

If you are living in an area that is 100* on average, then mist the leaves daily. DO not soak the roots daily.

My newly planted Hydrangea's bottom leaves that are falling off? What is the cause of this? How can I fix it
It sounds to me as though you might have planted it just a little too deep when you got it. It's important to plant most plants at the same depth they were in their original pot. Also, be sure that you don't over-water it, as that will cause leaf drop as well, since overwatering kills the roots, and means that water and nutrients can't get transported to the leaves and stems properly.

bucked teeth

Hydrangea dying in the south?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.007-08:00

I have bought some Hydrangea's and I live in Alabama, they were in 3 gallon pots but I have yet to plant them. 3 days after buying them the leaves started turning really brown. I have been excessively watering them for days now. Some have came back. The roots are taking over the pot and they will be planted very soon. When I water them it runs right through. I have picked some of the brown leaves off, is this the best way? how do I revive them? Thanks

Hydrangea dying in the south?
You may want to get a soaker hose. If you water them at full force with a hose or a watering can, the water will just pool and run off and won't penetrate the root ball. If you don't have a soaker hose, then you can put the hose on them for about 1/2 hour each with a slow drip. This should perk them back up. It worked for my wilty hydrangeas. Don't dispair. They get less delicate and "needy" after the roots have established themselves.
Reply:set them in a bathtub or sink of water and let them drink from the bottom.... watering from the top... the water is running out of the pot... thus the brown leaves.... go ahead and get them in the ground... they'lll come back

Be Blessed!
Reply:any plant that is in a pot need to be watered more than if plant that is in the ground. water them well, soak them good. then plant them as soon as you can. then water them every day, when they are first planted, so they will root well. i live in canada and i have a climbing hydrengea, when i got it was 2 feet tall and after 3 summer it is over 6ft tall. we don't get as warm as the south, but i do water everyday.

good luck

Why doesnt my climbing hydrangea flower?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.006-08:00

Its in its third year now and although it is growing well no sign at all of any flowers yet!!! Please can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong

Why doesnt my climbing hydrangea flower?
A couple of thoughts. Climbing hydrangea vines are notoriously slow to establish. I wouldn't give up on it yet. Ours is going into its fourth year. It actually had a couple of flowers the first year and nothing since. Our neighbour's didn't flower until about year four.

They need a cold winter to create flower buds. If you live in zone 7 or above, it could be problematic.

They want a very fertile soil. Lots of compost or other organic fertilizer every spring may help.

Hang in there. They're attractive vines, even without the flowers.
Reply:Hydrangeas are really hard to grow, trust me, I have tried for years and years and can't get them to flower. My mum has hundreds in her garden that flower for ages and she doesn't know how she does it! I think it must be the different soil.
Reply:My ortho book says three possibilities: a cold snap after they have buds in the spring: improper trimming, you need to know when your variety produces its buds for its next flowering season, and do not trim after that: too much shade. One more thing, they love acidic soil. You need to feed them Mir-acid by miracle- gro, but if your leaves are large and green then acid is not the problem.
Reply:This plant loves north facing walls and lots of water. If you have planted it on a sunny wall that is dry this may be the problem.
Reply:Try SuperBloom. It makes EVERYTHING bloom, even the stubborn ones.
Reply:Mine is beautiful, ten years old and has always bloomed. (It's blooming now). I do nothing with it. It is planted in a rather sandy soil in Chicago. It gets northeasterly light - never direct sun except in the morning, otherwise it is shaded by a 50 ft Arborvitae and a 40 foot fir. next to it is a Rhododendron that I do fertilize and provide acid for. I have no idea why the hydrangea does well. Maybe it is the cold thing in winter - or the soil. I do add about a shovelful of organic compost each spring. I have several other hydrangeas as well, including the blue ones ( which are difficult in this neck of the woods) - all of them do well with minimum care. I am truly suprised you're having problems.

Hydrangea lovers - I bought some Aluminum Sulfate to add to my Hydrangeas - has anyone done this before?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.005-08:00

How much per plant and how long does it take to get blue flowers?

Hydrangea lovers - I bought some Aluminum Sulfate to add to my Hydrangeas - has anyone done this before?
It depends on your beginning soil pH.. if you know that, it's easier to offer an opinion.

I'd start out at a minimal rate.. look at the directions on the package for guidelines. If the package calls for 2 lbs, use 1 and see what happens.. you can always ad more, but you can't take it back out.

good luck!

Hydrangea turning purple?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.004-08:00

I have some hydrangea (mophead) that lost all their leaves this winter. Now the buds are starting to open but the leaves that are growing are purple around the edges and now are starting to dry up and turn black. I'd like to treat the plant before the rest of the buds open, is there anything in particular I need to do and is it normal for the hydrangea to drop all of its leaves over the winter? I live in northwest florida.

Hydrangea turning purple?
I have hydrangea and live in New Jersey. They always lose their leaves in the winter and reblossom in the spring. Even though the branches and buds look like they're dying - they are not. They will bud anew in the spring. If you want your hydrangea to get bigger each year than don't cut them back, but if you do cut them back to prevent them from getting too big just keep in mind that some varieties after being cut down to ground level may not produce blossoms again for 2 years. Also, hydrangeas can be pink or blue or various shades in between depending on the pH of the soil.
Reply:I've had hydrandeas in the San Francisco Bay area and they have dropped all of their leaves. This is the time to trim them into shape. When they begin to return the budding leaves are very dark. Unless you know the actual hybrid name its hard to say but most survive cooler winters

Kung Fu school

I ordered hydrangea plants on March 5th, When will they be shipped?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.003-08:00

You might get a better answer if you ask the company you ordered from.

I ordered hydrangea plants on March 5th, When will they be shipped?
Hello Anne,

March is usually the time to PLANT hydrangeas instead of

ordering them. If they haven't already been shipped, then the

company will wait until it's time to plant them this FALL.

Double check your order, and call the company. They should

be able to clear up any confusion, OK??
Reply:The companies I've ordered from before usually send plants when all danger of frost is past. Your company should have given you an estimated time frame on when they would ship your plants. This time frame depends on which zone you live in. If they have your address they know what zone you live in. They won't ship them until then so they won't freeze and die in transit. If you really need to know go back and ask your company. Good luck!

My hydrangea has plenty of flowers on it, but the branches of it are so spindly and weak, they keep breaking.?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.002-08:00

As i say the branches are so weak, there's a big open space in the bush, it looks as if somebody has fallen onto my plant, although nobody has. anybody got any advice. I pruned in early spring.

My hydrangea has plenty of flowers on it, but the branches of it are so spindly and weak, they keep breaking.?
There are a couple of reasons for why you hydrangea is floppy. First, it may not be getting enough sunlight. Ideally, the plant should receive morning sun and afternoon shade or filtered light all day. If it is planted under trees, it may be possible to thin out the tree canopy so more light penetrates below.

Secondly, the plant may be receiving too much nitrogen either from the soil or from fertilizer. Excessive nitrogen forces the plant to make excessively lush growth. The stems get long and do not have the strength to support the flowers. Cut back the fertilizer if you fertilize heavily.

Also, you could stake the plant. Some hydrangeas sold today were developed for the greenhouse and cut flower market and were never designed to be garden shrubs. That could explain the problem if all the above critera are met
Reply:More then likely you have a Annebelle Hydrangea. They often do this.Theres not much you can about it its just the way the are.Often as they mature the don't fall open like this.
Reply:Sounds like you need some Miracid it's a product from miracle gro.
Reply:I'd prune it back in the spring to help it grow bushy. Dont do it now or the frost could kill it.
Reply:Cut it right down to the base ,it may not flower next year but will bush right out ready for flowering next time
Reply:too dry?
Reply:have you tried a hard prune,you take the stems back to the first two buds and when they bush up they are generally more thicker and bushier,also dig in old tin cans it helps to change the colours alkaline soils get pink flowers and acidic get blue,there is also a blueing powder that you can buy.Try all purpose fertiliser.
Reply:Use Miracle Grow, follow directions.
Reply:MY GUESS is that you may over watering your plant, you did not say how old the plant was or its location within your garden, try lifting the plant and have a good look at its roots,if they are waterloggrd move to another site they prefer shade with dappled sun in the morning if you plant under your plant some six inch nails you can get the flowers to change colour, its the iron it will not harm your plant, secure top heavy branches with support canes in high wind ,do not use elastic bands to secure plastic ties do the job and they are cheap, your plant will recover with a little tlc, regards LF
Reply:pick off some of the flowers to allow your plant to get sturdy and check you have good drainage it could be waterlogged

When should I transplant my hydrangea bush? I live in the midwest.?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.001-08:00

Also, I have one that doesn't bloom but it had flowers on it when I bought it. Now it doesn't bloom. (for 4 years!)

When should I transplant my hydrangea bush? I live in the midwest.?
When it dies this fall. Cut it back to almost the ground, dig it up a put it wherever you want it. How close together do you have the bushes? Maybe you should put them closer together. They also like acid soil, so maybe you should check your soil's PH levels. I hope this helps.
Reply:Now is a great time to transplant your hydrangea as it will give it a chance to get established before it starts blooming next year.

The most common reasons for lack of blooming are:

1)winter cold damage to flower buds

2)improper pruning

3)fertilizing with a high nitrogen fertilizer

Without more details, it is just a guess as to which it may be, without any winter protection, I'd put my money on #1.

How do you prune hydrangea plants?

2011-11-19T01:50:00.000-08:00

Ok, from what I can see, it mostly depends on which types of hydrangeas you have. It appears that your most common hydrangeas (the ones the are either blue or pink depending on soil pH) set their buds in the end of the summer and those bloom buds are on old stems, not the new year's growth. SO, it is most prudent to prune before August, before they have started to set bud. Otherwise, you may have no blooms the following year. Trim off all dead limbs and dead buds. If you are to deadhead or trim for flower cuttings after the August time perios, only do so down to the first set of leaves as to not run the risk of cutting of next year's buds. After the plant is about 5 years old you can cut around a third of the old woody stems down to the ground.

pulling teeth

What is the best way to prune a large hydrangea so that it looks its best next year?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.010-08:00

Prune in the winter when the plant is dormant.

Take out three year old wood to the ground to stop the plant from becoming congested.

Cut back remaining stems to just above a pair of strong looking buds. Cut at a slight angle so water does not sit on the wood which can cause splitting and disease.

This link gives some very good illustrations to help you.

http://www.whitewisteria.co.uk/tasks/hyd...

What is the best way to prune a large hydrangea so that it looks its best next year?
Your supposed to prune them in march as long as theres no frost, you can prune them as hard as you like and you get plenty of flowers.
Reply:Take out the 3 year old wood down to ground leavel, that is the wood which has the flaking bark on it and do this after the first frost.
Reply:leave it overwinter as is.in spring prune to healthy buds when growth starts.
Reply:i cut it down to about a foot above the ground. had masses of flowers this year , but give it plenty of feed and water when buds form. not a professional gardener but this works for me. maybe the pro's below will tell the correct bits to trim.
Reply:Be sure to cut each branch at a sharp angle, prune back just enough to get through the cold winter. I always do mine in an oval shape. Good luck!

Hydrangea turning gray?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.009-08:00

I got a blue hydrangea in a pot. A few weeks later it started to turn gray. Does anyone know how to get the color back?

It's on a porch facing south, and gets water and sunlight pretty much everyday. The leaves are looking good and healthy. It's just the color of the flower.

Thanks in advance for any tips anyone can share!

Hydrangea turning gray?
bring them inside in the heat of the day 1-3 pm, and if need be repot them in a bigger container-dont put in the direct light then for 3 days.

and sunshine to the soul="In marriage the bed is undefiled, but all others shall be judged." Hebrews 13 the same chapter that tells us once we let Jesus into our heart "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee."

on faith=our best - good grooming hair to toes, with nice clothing kept.

to think our best - read the bible and get directions-especially the book of proverbs-i read 3 verses of it a day for 3 days, and then 3 new ones-greatest book of wisdom in the greatest book of smartness-the bible

yet to get the connection we must apply the answer from within-This helped me as born a Jew to realize =when we admit we need something more we are ready to consider the one that gave it all for us, to help us.

As promised "Unto us a child is born a son is given, and he will be the mighty God, the wonderful counselor, and the prince of peace." Isaish 9:6

He said "I go to the cross for the joy set before me, that you might believe." Gospel words of Jesus

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, repent quickly therefore (even of one lie) and turn to me. Behold I stand at your heart door and knock, if you hear my word and open the door I will come in and be your friend." Revelation 3:19%26amp;20

So I prayed and had this need fulfilled in my life ="Jesus I am sorry for my sins, thanks for dying for me and promising to come into my heart to help me, please do and be my friend, amen."

A new wonderful life began for me-and is offered to each person.

May you have a great day, I am praying for you and each concerned, David

Where do I look for a Book on Hydrangea Plants?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.008-08:00

I want to purchase a book on the Hydrangea Plant

Where do I look for a Book on Hydrangea Plants?
Amazon.com or eBay.com or half.com ...

all have good books at great prices.
Reply:try any good garden shop or Lowe's has books on different plants. Also,try any large book store like Borders. Also just type in on the internet-overstock.com has books
Reply:My guess, and I could be wrong, might be a BOOK STORE.

I rcv'd a hydrangea plant at work. Over the weekend it wilted. Is it dead or can I bring it back to life?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.007-08:00

It may not be dead just needs water, I received one for Mother's Day and it did the same, Since then I have planted it in the yard on the north side of the house, It does not like hot sun, and now it may be small but it is blooming.and living. I also have a very large blue one under the window unit a/c and it does very well. The water that drips keeps it well watered. The plant is almost 4 feet tall.

I rcv'd a hydrangea plant at work. Over the weekend it wilted. Is it dead or can I bring it back to life?
A potted hydrangea will wilt due to lack of water in a very short time. Set the plant in a dish of water and it should jump right back. You will need to repot into a larger and better container that holds more 'reserve' water. Don't place in direct sun. They are really shade lovers.
Reply:Wilted does not mean dead. It needs bright sun and water.

Fitness Shoes

Do potted Hydrangea's thrive better when root bound?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.006-08:00

Okay, I know the amount of soil %26amp; ph makes a difference with the color of the flowers. Well, I bought my potted Hydrangea recently and it gets droopy about every other day, but I keep it indoors and water it with about 16 oz of water about every other day. Is it root bound?

Do potted Hydrangea's thrive better when root bound?
Let the soil get a little dry, gently lift the plant up by the trunk and look to see if it is root bound. No plant likes to have limited access to food and nutrients. The soil should be allow the roots to grow out. Add some moisture retaining pellets to keep from having to water the plant every day and place bark or moss on top to retain the water. Watering once a week should be your objective.
Reply:no the pot will restricted Root growth and hence top will be stunted

Adding coffee grounds to hydrangea soil?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.005-08:00

I have a hydrangea that I just bought and planted yesterday. Its in a 10 gallon pot and I'm keeping it on my patio. The flowers are kinda mauve in color. I want to make them blue in the future. How much coffee grounds should I add and how often do hydrangeas bloom. I'm in zone 9 by the way.

Thanks

Adding coffee grounds to hydrangea soil?
Add as much coffee grounds (tea bags too) as you like. Won't hurt them. Epsom salts also good for blue.

Hydrangea growth rate? How big will my hydrangea grow this year if i fertalize and water correctly?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.004-08:00

Varies greatly depending on the genetics of the plant. But i would expect no more than 8 inches in height. It may grow OUT much much more and become fuller. Also remember you can change the color of the blooms depending on how acidic the soil is

Hydrangea growth rate? How big will my hydrangea grow this year if i fertalize and water correctly?
good info here..

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

don't expect too much the first year... or the second... the third year, tho, you may see branches take off and grow two ft.... much depends on the type of hydrangea, too... paniculatas grow faster than mopheads.... oak leaf types really sprout up and climbing hydrangeas sit still for years...........

What is the best way to propagate a Hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.003-08:00

Hello,

I do "cuttings".

I've propagated over 100 this summer using, "Dip-n-Grow" liquid rooting hormone.

I have been pleased with a 100% strike rate.

They all rooted within 3 weeks.

Go to hydrangeashydrangeas.com, like suggested above, plus visit; gardenweb.com/hydrangeas

As of right now, I'm trying to root 50 more using an "aeroponic", "hydroponic", method, inside, under lights, with a powered water pump to mist cutting's ends, to promote roots, using no soil of any type.

I learn valuable knowledge from the gardenweb members about all kinds of flower and gardening techniques.

Have fun!

Dave

What is the best way to propagate a Hydrangea?
You're Very Welcome!

Watch out though, this becomes very addictive!

Good Luck %26amp; Have Fun! Report It

Reply:http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

they'll give you a couple that work really well....
Reply:The best wat to propagate Hydrangea is by a system called layering. Simply bend one branch down to the ground, peg it so it can`t move, and cover the center of the stem with a few inches of dirt. It will root in 6-8 weeks, or over winter. Then cut it off from them parent, and re-plant. Another similar approach is air-layering, which is similar to the other. Scrape about 2 inches 'bark' off 1 side only halfway up 1 stem. Apply a 2 - 3 inch wet ball of peat moss, and wrap in plastic. Make sure it stays wet. When it roots out there, finish as before.

adult teeth

Do gerbera daisies or even regular daisies smell good? What about hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.002-08:00

To each his own but I don't think daisies smell good. I really don't remember hydrangeas having a strong smell either way. If you want good smells choose roses, pansies, Hyacinth or any herbal plant like mints.

Do gerbera daisies or even regular daisies smell good? What about hydrangea?
daisies can be anything from completely odourless to quite foul smelling
Reply:For daisy-like flowers with a nice scent....try one of the new Echinaceas....like the 'Big Sky' Series.....I grew 'Sunset', ...amazing fragrance. Kind of pricy...but worth it. Hydrangeas have no scent, to my knowledge. A lovely low-growing shrub with an amazing fragrance is Daphne 'Carol Mackie'. Beautiful varigeated folaige, looks great even when not in bloom. If you could use a taller shrub, try Viburnum carlesii, it's spicy and powerful.

I got an endless summer hydrangea for Mother's Day. Can I put it in a pot on my porch? How do I care for it?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.001-08:00

yes you can and even better plant it in your garden. Just water and feed it just like the others

I got an endless summer hydrangea for Mother's Day. Can I put it in a pot on my porch? How do I care for it?
You need to plant it in a garden, some where in your yard. they get big, to big for a pot. also it would probably bloom better in the ground.
Reply:Use a good quality potting medium- one made for containers. Be sure the pot has a drain hole in the bottom. Hydrangeas need water but do not like the soil to stay damp-it needs to drain well between waterings. They are a shad e-loving plant so it should be happy on the porch. Do not forget to feed it, water soluable fertilizers are best because they do not burn the plant. Enjoy! I have that variety and really enjoy it.
Reply:you can plant it in a pot.care depends on the color of plant.blues do not need acid in the soil,reds and pinks do.do some online research before fertilizing.

I have a blue Hydrangea plant. How do I dry the blue flowers?

2011-11-19T01:49:00.000-08:00

All you have to do is cut them and put them in a vase with no water they will last for months.

I have a blue Hydrangea plant. How do I dry the blue flowers?
I haven't tried this myself, but I've read that you can put them in your car trunk on a hot, sunny day and remove them 24 hours later. Voila.

There's also a website for the American Hydrangea Society you should check out. Beautiful plants.

http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/
Reply:To retain all the petals properly .......I feel so sorry you must dry them on clothes line blooms down
Reply:Mine will sometimes dry by themselves on the plant....

Hanging them by the stems will keep the stems straight, but you can also just stick them in a jar w/ sand in the bottom for weight. It's really easy.
Reply:Being very careful, hang them upside down in a bright sunny location, but not direct sun. You can also put them upright in a vase w/o water, but the first method works well for a bunch of them.
Reply:I put them in the hot water, up to its neck. This will keep the color of flower fresh for sometime, then I drain the water leaving about an inch. Wait until all the water evaporates. Flower should be dry by then.

A few hydrangea questions?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.009-08:00

I have a potted hydrangea I got for valentines day....

It was doing fine and now it has started to turn green(it was all pink before), its still alive and the petals arent crispy or dry. Why is it turning green?

I am planning to plant it in the ground, whats the best place to plant it(sun or shade or a little of both?) What type of soil should it be in?

Anything else I should know Id love to know!

A few hydrangea questions?
It's turning green because the flowers are new. They will turn the correct color when they mature. Hydrangeas like rich, moist soil and full to partial sun (less in hotter, drier areas). Also, the color of the mature flowers is determined by the soil pH. Alkaline soil results in pinker flowers, while acidic soil results in bluer flowers. You may have started off with a very alkaline soil or fertilizer in the pot and, over time, this neutralized. So, the flowers are less pink and kind of look greenish.
Reply:hydrangeas are more of a shade loving plant! they are beautiful - one of my faves - we have a half dozen shrubs in our garden.

the neat thing about them is their flowers will change color depending on the soil. if you want pink blooms add lime to your soil several times thru the year and if you want blue blooms add aluminum sulfate. i don't think you can change the white blossoms of hydrangeas.

morning sun and afternoon shade is best! they need a lot of watering, they love rich soil and you should dig in compost when you plant them, and put mulch around them to keep the soil moist.they are beautiful shrubs and will grow quite large if you don't keep them pruned. the blooms dry beautifully for your dried flower arrangements!
Reply:hydrangea's love acidic soil and best plant in morning sun with afternoon shade. plant right away in the ground and put some pine needles mulch around the plant. don't know why the flower are tuning green. maybe the soil is alkaline?

Teeth Cleaning

Is it best to leave the heads of hydrangea's on the shrub over winter, or cut them off?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.008-08:00

Without question, LEAVE THEM ON. They look good and protect forming leaf buds from frost and bitter winds. My wife always cuts a few off for Xmas. She dries them then sprays the with gold and silver paint for decorations. If required they will keep for many months. Do not prune till spring, and cut to a double bud

Is it best to leave the heads of hydrangea's on the shrub over winter, or cut them off?
OH MY! Now I know why mine died. I wonder how it managed to live as long as it did, like 7 or 8 years. I did not know.

Hydrangeas do not have to be pruned back -

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/prun...
Reply:leave them they offer protection to next years buds,
Reply:I always leave mine on as long as possible...as it is not necessary to remove and they look good when the frost and snow lands on them...making a pretty scene at a dismal time of year.
Reply:leave them on
Reply:leaving them on can help protect the new buds from severe frost and don't in any way detract from their appearance in the winter.
Reply:It is recommended that they are left on over the winter months as they act as a protection to the new buds.
Reply:leave them on i do and i had 2 for 5 years
Reply:I always prefer to leave the dead flowerheads on.They offer some protection in the event of a severe frost and look attractive when frosted.

In spring,I find it's good to cut back to the next pair of leaves below the old flowerhead.

What do I do with my hydrangea bush in fall?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.007-08:00

in the summer it falls down and drops from big flowers

What do I do with my hydrangea bush in fall?
You will need to go to a gardening/hydrangea web site to find out which type you have.Many only bloom on old wood so you shouldn't cut them back.If you live in the part of the country where it snows leave blooms on over the winter for winter interest otherwise you can cut the old blooms off.Martha Stewart had a good article on hydrangeas last month. It was in her magazine.My Mom has a huge lovely bush.The blooms start off greenish than turn to white.I just cut off the dead blooms every early spring.I don't cut the limbs just the blooms.I hope I helped somewhat?
Reply:This is an excellent question -- I have the same problem! Will watch for your answers........
Reply:Go ahead and give it a trim. My hydrangeas always do

better the next year if I prune in the fall. You can bring the

flower heads in the house for an arrangement which will

last all winter. This is one plant that is worth it's weight in

gold. If you don't trim it the winter will. It is better to give it

the shape you want it to have.
Reply:This fall, you can try to tying the individual branches up to stakes. But next spring, go to any garden center and purchase a peony ring. It is a wire grate with large openings for the stems to go through and three legs to hold it off the ground. Place it over the bare stems and as the plant grows, it will grow through the grate, which will support its weight later.

I don't know how big your plant is--a standard ring may be too small. If it is, you can get the idea anyway and fashion something yourself along the same lines.
Reply:cut it back to about 12-18 inches from the ground. You will find that next year your bush will be bigger and more full of blossems.

My daughter gave me a blue hydrangea several years ago and it hasn't bloomed since I planted it outside. Why?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.006-08:00

Every year it comes back with healthy beautiful leaves and no flowers. What am I doing wrong? Does it need acid soil?

My daughter gave me a blue hydrangea several years ago and it hasn't bloomed since I planted it outside. Why?
Many Hydrangeas bloom on last years wood. if you live in a colder climate it is dieing back to the ground and it will not bloom on the new wood that grows back this season.. You need a hydrangea suited for your climate. I have no clue why nurseries sell them and don't tell people this.
Reply:Hydrangeas prefer acidic soil and partial shade. Try fertilizing it with a product such as Miracle Grow for acidic plants (ie Hydrangeas).
Reply:It will bloom, just hold on. The color of it depends on the acidity of the soil--whether it stays blue or turns pink. I read that.
Reply:You have to prune it back hard in the autumn, mine likes acid based fertilizer and I use Epsom salt around the base for more blooms and color variation. Mine started as a gift in a container until I planted it in the ground 8 years ago. It is now huge and a prolific bloomer.
Reply:It does need acid soil, but will generally still bloom without it. It could be one of 2 problems. First, I live in a very northern area, with cool nights, as low as 40, even in summer, with a late start to the growing season (late May-early June). My hydrangeas generally don't bloom until August. So if you live in a cooler area, they may not bloom until late, or not at all. Another possibility is over pruning. Some hydrangeas, not all, only flower on old growth. If you prune all the tips every year, it may not bloom if it is that type of cultivar.
Reply:It could be the fertilizer. I am not sure but there are some plants that if they get to much nitrogen they will have beautiful foliage but no blooms.

I have a hydrangea that my daughter gave to me last year for Mother's Day. It was blue when she bought it and now it is pink.

Sometimes it even will turn purple
Reply:You really need to know what type of Hydrangea it is. Acid soil produces blue flowers and sweet soil produces pink. You can change the color of the bloom by amending the soil. This does not explain the lack of bloom. It could be that you are pruning the plant in the Fall or Spring. Many Hydrangeas will only bloom on old wood. Newer varieties, and those traditionally grown in the North, bloom on both new and old wood. Recommend you stop pruning it.
Reply:I have a hydrangea plant in my yard as well. when we first got it, it didn't bloom the first or second year after we planted it. we were dissapointed, but didn't do anything to the plant. the next year, it bloomed! I think it has to establish itself before it tries to make flowers.

Where is the best place in the garden to grow hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.005-08:00

half sun half shade anywhere in the Garden

Where is the best place in the garden to grow hydrangea?
the northside
Reply:Full sun...but depending on your type of soil is (eg: alkaline or acid) whether you will get blue, pink different coloured blooms
Reply:A place with good drainage and morning sun, but not in shade. Afternoon sun may bleach the flowers of colour.

dermatitis

Where should I plant a hydrangea plant, sunny or shade?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.004-08:00

Hydrangeas grow in full sun or light shade. To liven up a shady area, choose light colored blossoms. To improve moisture retention and soil texture, ammend with compost or leaf mold before planting. Big-leafed hydrangeas require acid soil: pH 6.0 to 6.5 for pink flowers, pH 5.0 to 5.5 for blue ones. For seaside gardens, choose big-leafed hydrangeas. For hedges, plant hills-of-snow hydrangeas 2 to 3 feet apart.

Where should I plant a hydrangea plant, sunny or shade?
Well-drained, acid rich soil is best for blue flowers, alkaline for pink, white flowered varieties won't change colour - add peat at planting time. Prefers light shade.
Reply:Sunny. Also, make sure you put about 2-3 inches of mulch on top of the soil to retain moisture and protect the roots in winter (if you live in a region where it gets cold and the ground freezes). My mother's hydrangeas died because we didnt know that we had to do that. Also, again if you life in a cold climate region in the winter, wrap your plant in burlap to protect the branches from frost damage, which eventually kills the plant.
Reply:they do well in both locations,but you'll get better flowers in a mostly sunny spot...
Reply:Sunny it will bloom alot more

My hydrangea is growing wild, it is a huge bush, but there are almost no flowers. Why and what to do?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.003-08:00

It sounds like it needs cutting back. This will thicken the bush and should produce flowers next year,

My hydrangea is growing wild, it is a huge bush, but there are almost no flowers. Why and what to do?
They are not blooming this time of year. Don't do anything. They will bloom on the growth from this year so next spring/summer you should have a good amount of blooms.
Reply:Click this link:

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/hydrangea...

My hydrangea has not bloomed in years?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.002-08:00

It bloomed every year for a couple of years, then it was accidentally mowed down to the ground about 3 years ago and it hasnt bloomed since. any suggestions on what the problem could be?

My hydrangea has not bloomed in years?
It was decapitated?!!!! Heck, you wouldn't flower either if that happened to you.

But, seriously, it probably just needs time. Unless, the top of the plant stock was also cut off. Then, it may be best to just replace it.

Not being into planticide, however, I would personally dig around it and add some acidic liquid fertilizer (like "Miracid") and mulch with some pine needles, if you have any around. Water regularly, especially during very dry periods. It will also benefit from some iron/zinc fertilizer once during the flowering season (use "Ironite" - not a lot - dig it in and water it thoroughly).

Poor little guy......
Reply:maybe dig it up and check it out and ad some fertilizer
Reply:check out P. Allens web site --he is good
Reply:Your Hydrangea could be one variety that bloom on old wood. Since it has been mowed down, the old mature stems were cut off. These old stem would have been where the flowering stem would come out from. Give it some time to produce more mature stems. Give it some balanced fertilizer this growing period. If it is almost the same height as when it was blooming, a little bit of bloom booster would help applied once a month. If you live in a place where you get frosts, you will have to protect these mature stems from freezing. Once they freeze, so would the possible flower stem buds resulting in no flowers. Good Luck and hope that helps.

Winter garden: what do I do w/ tomato, rose, and hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.001-08:00

I just planted a garden for the 1st time this summer %26amp; I have many rose bushes, tomatoes, and a few hydrangeas. What do I do in the winter (I'm in New York State, snow from Nov to March,)?

If I cover them w/ a bag or burlap or something (will pillowcases work?), don't they need to breathe? Do I leave it on all winter, or only when it snows or gets very chilly? Thank you very much

Winter garden: what do I do w/ tomato, rose, and hydrangea?
Tomatoes are a one year thing, once they die, you can trash them. As for the rose bushes and the hydrangea bushes, leave in the ground. They don't bloom through the winter months but they revive every spring. If you cover them with anything blocking out thier sunlight, they will die. Happy Gardening!
Reply:Tomatoes last only one year anyway (at least outside) so after the frost kills them, remove the vines and destroy them or throw them away. Your hydrangeas should be fine but it might be wise to cover them with a light mulch (new stems come up each year). The roses? Do not cut them back drastrically in the fall but remove some unsightly canes and try to get rid of the leaves that fall after a frost too. Mound your roses up to six inches with soil, then cover the whole rose bed with leaves from your yard.
Reply:I lived in Cold Spring, NY and worked at a public garden there. This is what we did with our plants:

Tomatoes- pull them out and clean up the veg garden for next year. Tomatoes will not survive the winter in Upstate NY. Best to just replant those.

Roses- We 'hilled' those. What we did was take some soil (not potting mix) and piled it at the base of the roses, about 6 inches deep. This way the roots were kept safe from a hard freeze. Definitely don't trim or prune them. We pruned the roses earlier in the year.

Hydrangea- We didn't do anything special with those. But if you wanted to cover them, cover them with reemay. That is what we used. We covered things like hellebore and other not-so-hardy plants with it. Here's a site: http://www.reemay.com/

Reemay will keep them cozy and also let them breathe.

As it got closer to winter, we would put the reemay on as needed. If we knew it was going to be very cold that night, the reemay would go on. We kept reemay on all winter. Then as the months began to get warmer, again we took it off or put it on 'as needed.' It was certainly a process since there were many plants we did this for, but we did it for the collection!!

Hope this helps!
Reply:Tomatoes will only last the season they were planted, once fall comes they will die and next year you will have to plant new tomato plants. Roses and hydrangeas will last through the winter with no problems. The roses should be trimmed back to about 6-10 inch canes or so. Make sure you don't trim them too low because some roses are grafted onto different root stock and you could destroy the above plant. If you keep the canes a little longer then you won't have to worry about this. Hydrangeas don't need any special care. If you trim them, you will be cutting off next years bud growth and you wont get any flowers. Hydrangeas are best pruned in the spring and the only thing that I prune on mine is already dead wood. I never prune them at all other than that. I mulch both my roses and hydrangeas to help protect the roots from cold temperatures and to retain moisture in the soil. I don't think this must be done for these plants, but I see it as a preventative measure that doesn't hurt and the base of my plants look more groomed. Some people cover their roses but I never cover mine and they do ok, I'm in zone 6. I hope this was helpful and enjoy your new garden as it grows!!!
Reply:All that is needed has been said already. I would just like to add this: don't remove the flower heads from the hydrangeas until after the worst of the winter is over as they help protect the plants new growth from frosts. Roses can be pruned during a mild spell once they have entered dormancy to prevent wind rock and weather damage.

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Do you have a Pink Diamond Hydrangea tree?

2011-11-19T01:48:00.000-08:00

I was thinking of planting some of these in my yard and would like to know how well you like your Pink Diamond Hydrangea Tree, if you have one. How big is it? How does it look throughout the season? What do you love about it? Is there anything that you don't like about it? What are the big differences between a Pink Diamond tree compared to a Pee Gee Hydrangea tree. Do they have pest or disease problems? Messy? Mine will be in full sun in zone 6. Thank's a bunch for the help!!!

Do you have a Pink Diamond Hydrangea tree?
Pink Diamond Hydrangea tree will grow 10-15 feet tall and are very showy. They are the most cold hardy variety and will be good for where you live. Full sun will be perfect for this tree. The mop heads will be 12-18" long each. They are bright white thru Summer and then they turn pink in late summer. The branches do not break off in the winter with all the snow fall. You will love the flowers and that they are different than what everyone else has. They are disease resistant and have a very neat habit. I have a Pee Gee Hydrangea but it is a bush not a tree. The flowers are much bigger on the Pink Diamond Hydrangea and more showy. You can purchase the Pink Diamond Hydrangea from QVC.com item M10521 for $46.68 but if you pay with a credit card, they can bill you in 3 payments of $15.56 yet they ship it to you right away. The plant comes bare root about 4' tall. It is the hardiest hydrangea you can buy. Great tree to buy.
Reply:Hello Valkyrie,

you just gave me an idea with your tree. I will look up info on the internet to see if I can grow it in northern NY State.

Thanks

Problem with climbing hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.008-08:00

the leaves on my climbing hydrangea are dying as soon as they come through, the plant itself is still growing can you help please.

Problem with climbing hydrangea?
Is it getting enough water? They don't need lots of sun so it won't be that. Mine is in a place that never egts direct sun and its fine. Have you checked for pests on the leaves?
Reply:Watch out apparently questions about plants contravene the guidelines and may be removed.
Reply:check the soil too, we or too dry? prob too dry u mite need to improve the soil as well or mite be nibbled of by a raskely varmit!
Reply:I'm not sure where you live but hydrangeas , climbing or otherwise , require a rich porous soil and recommend heavy watering through the hot weather (if indeed you get hot weather ) but they are also fussy in their looking after inasmuch if you wish to change the colour of the flower of the hydrangea then go no further than adding a little aluminium sulphate to turn them blue or add lime to turn them pink , otherwise the soil of your garden will detemine the blues or mauves as far as couler goes --- good luck !!!
Reply:have you recently moved it whats the spot where you put it in, or it could be the type of soil it is growing in.

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Hydrangea tree is 2 yrs old and has not grown, whats going on?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.007-08:00

I ordered it through a perennial advertizement circular like direct gardening, it was hardly no size to start with and it has been two years and nothing has happened, no new growth, it is supposed to get about 8 feet tall. It is planted in sandy loamy soil and is watered daily.

Hydrangea tree is 2 yrs old and has not grown, whats going on?
First, stop watering it! If the tree has been in the ground for 2 years, it needs no water. Let Mother Nature do your watering. You are either drowning it, or keeping the roots up near the surface, when the idea is to encourage them to go deep.

The first year your plant is in the ground you will see little change; all the action is underground where the roots are getting established. If you stop watering now, if it isn't already too late, you may see some new growth. And no, it's too late in the season to feed it.

Word of advice: in future, patronize a reputable greenhouse/nursery. You will pay a little more, but you get what you pay for: a healthy plant with a guarantee and instructions on caring for it!
Reply:Where do you live??? If you live in zone 9 like me then there are only a few Hydrangeas that will thrive....and contrary to the other answers they actually will only make it in the shade here (sun is fine for northern areas). Location might have a lot to do with it.
Reply:Is it getting enough sun? It also needs a little sun not much or it'll die. Make sure you don't live it near artificial light specially green light because that could make it not grow.
Reply:You might want to dig it up and replant it in a potting mix not soil but a mix with a slow release fertilizer in it. Then let it dry out between waterings.
Reply:#1, directgardening plants are crap. I only have one left after three years and I bought alot. All the rest died immediately, if they were alive to begin with.

Anyway, hydrangea's like sun, so I would say you may not be giving it enough sun. Also try fertilizing it with some Miracle Gro Bloom Booster.

What is the best way to cut a hydrangea for an inside vase?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.006-08:00

Many people grow and appreciate hydrangeas for their large, showy flowers that bloom late and last several weeks before beginning to wane. One does not, however, necessarily have to bid farewell to the loveliness of these blue, lavender, pink or white displays. On the contrary, if they are cut at just the right time, they will last several years indoors without having to fuss with any preservation techniques at all.

The key to having dried hydrangea arrangements in a home with little or no effort is to pick the blooms at just the point when they first begin to lose some color but before the blooms dry on the bush. They will still appear lush and will show some green within the original color of the blooms.

After they have been cut, just pop them into any decorator container or vase and enjoy. Do not add water or any liquid. As they continue to lose moisture, they will retain their color and shape for a long time. Eventually, the green tones will fade to an antique color and finally turn brown. But by then, you will have produced several more crops of hydrangeas to use as replacements.

What is the best way to cut a hydrangea for an inside vase?
We have several hydrangea shrubs in the garden, never thought of cutting them for inside vases mainly, because the flowers would droop quite quickly. same with peonies.
Reply:try Yahoo gardenmessenger group they can help you also they have a great web-site at http://www.gardenmessenger.net/
Reply:Cut it about 12" long.

Once inside cut about an inch from the bottom at an angle while holding it under running water.

Put cool water in your vase an drop a single aspirin in. Disolve the aspirin and stir it up.

Then put your hydrangea in.

(The aspirin is to reduce the shock to the flower and helps the bloom to last longer)... works for lots of cut flowers.

I have a new Hydrangea planted?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.005-08:00

this year and it looks like it's being eaten by some type of bug. Any suggestions?

I have a new Hydrangea planted?
Liquid Sevin at any hardware/home and garden store. Get a spray bottle and mix accordingly and spary it as needed. This product has been on the market for many years and is perfect for treating a wide range of plant eatin' critters. It's also very safe to use.

In a week, them plant munchers will be in buggy heaven.
Reply:3 types of culprits might be to blame;caterpillars, slugs or beetles.

Caterpillars should be picked off in early morning and destroyed.

For beetles, apply a solution of one quart water mixed with 1 Tbsp dry laundry soap--any kind. Spray on in cool weather or at night, then rinse off after the sun warms leaves.

For slugs, place a damp piece of cardboard under plant overnight. Early the next morning, flip over the cardboard to see if you have slugs. Remove them and flush or feed to chickens.
Reply:Get some greenhouse sticky cards and place them near the foliage. You'll capture whatever it is!

How do I successfully take cuttings from a hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.004-08:00

unless you're in a southern area, it's a little late now, unless you plan to keep them inside for this winter....

but it's really pretty easy.... take your cutting from 'new' wood, that which did NOT have a bloom on it this year.... take a good six to eight inch length and be sure there's a pair of leaves near the bottom end... take them off and then 'injure' the bark of the stem with a fingernail, just enuff to get to the white inner stuff.... now, get a pot of potting soil wet.. don't use the stuff with fertilizer IN IT....if you want to use rooting hormone you can, but use VERY LITTLE....make a hole with a pencil, put the cutting in the soil and firm it up around the cutting.... keep this moist... not soggy and in indirect light and warm...if you have it outside, don't let the frost hit it!!.... by late fall there should be roots and you can continue to grow the plant inside..... come spring, after last frost is over, plant it outside...it may not bloom , since it didn't 'chill'.... but keep it happy all next summer and the NEXT spring, it will be wonderful!!....( if you're in the south and plan to put it in the ground about Dec or so, please mulch it real good, as it's very tender and cold can do it in if it's not well protected.... cover it clear over with leaves and compost and still keep it watered, too!)

another way is to layer a branch on the ground.... pull a branch down to where it will touch the soil and still have several leaves free of the soil .... injure the bark where it will touch the ground, lay it so it is in good contact with the soil, put a brick or rock on top of it there... keep the soil moist around it.... when it's rooted, next spring most likely, first cut between the mother plant and the new one and let the new one get used to living on it's own..... that's one shock... THEN dig it up and pot it or move it to it's place in the garden... it won't be so shocked this time..... try hard to not do both at the same time... two shocks is harder for it to get over....

much good info is found here...

www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com

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My hydrangea's flowers are green, what can I do?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.003-08:00

The flowers on my hydrandea are coming in green instead of blue or pink. I would like them to be blue when they come in. What do I need to use to get these results and why are my flowers green?

My hydrangea's flowers are green, what can I do?
Just be patient. Hydrangea flowers first set out green and will change color as they mature. Your doing just fine! Blue flowers are usually the results of genetics and acid soil. If your soil is already acidic, you will need to do nothing. If your soil is neutral to alkiline, you can try to acidify the soil with sulfur, peat moss, and pine needle or oak leaf mulch. There are fertilizers like Holly-Tone %26amp; Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Continuous Release Azalea, Camellia, Rhododendron Plant Food that help to acidify a soil as well.
Reply:if you want blue flowers, either buy a species that produces blue flowers, or you need to make your soil acidic, since blue flowers are indicicative of an acid soil pH, pink flowers indicate alkaline or basic soil pH, my guess is that your soil is neither acid nor alkaline, but near neutral in pH, so buy a soil acidifier to see if you get the results you want, otherwise you might have picked the wrong species of hydrangea
Reply:Probably need to add acid to your soil to produce the blue color. Sulfur is often used. Here are some other items, sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss
Reply:Epsom salt or aluminum sulfate will turn them blue. Both have sulfur, but epsom salt is more economic

Can a Cardinal Mophead Hydrangea ever be turned blue or purple?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.002-08:00

I accidentally planted it in my blue, purple and white themed garden. I live in South Carolina.

Can a Cardinal Mophead Hydrangea ever be turned blue or purple?
Epsom Salts is supposed to help change the color-- related to acid or alkali. Don't put the salts on the plant, just around on the ground. Less is better-- and you may get partial results this year. stir into the dirt--

good luck.

Oh-- epsom salts-- couple of tablespoons for each tomato plant-- try it.
Reply:I'm sorry not to be very knowledgeable about that, but I have heard that if you apply either acidic or alkaline substances to the soil that it will change the color of the blooms- hope this helps
Reply:I have heard if you bury rusty nails around the plant it will change colors.

Help, my white hydrangea is dying! what should i do?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.001-08:00

i recently planted a white hydrangea on the side of my house. it does get late afternoon sun and ive been watering it regularly. every day it looks a little worse. should i move it or quit watering it?? help!

Help, my white hydrangea is dying! what should i do?
Move it if it's an Annabelle, Big Leaf or Oak Leafed type Hydrangea. Late afternoon sun will stress %26amp; wilt these Hydrangeas. Plant in a location that allows part sun to part shade but they'll be protected from the late afternoon sun. A Hydrangea paniculata (Unique, Tardiva, PeeGee, etc) will take the afternoon sun better and would not need to be moved. They all like moist soil, not wet soil. Watering everyday is excessive. You should cut back on your watering.
Reply:its best to not plant in late spring anyway but depending on what flavor of plant you have its going through some stress as we speak cut back on the watering water it once a day as of now early day you could let it take its place and see what happens but normally its a filtered sun plant if you want to plant something that's takes more sun and get great results try endless Summer or big daddy hydrangea tardeva is a good one for sun as well if it was me move it to a sheltered place that filters it or a corner of the house under a specimen tree any try this OK

How do i guarantee my hydrangea flowers year on year but remains bushy?

2011-11-19T01:47:00.000-08:00

Ideally i would trim it back after bloom but then i assume i would have no flowers for next year?

How do i guarantee my hydrangea flowers year on year but remains bushy?
You can cut back a hydrangea after blooming with no ill effect to next year's bloom. Mine are cut back every year.

Do bear in mind there are no GUARANTEES when it comes to plants, however..
Reply:Leave all the old blooms on till all frost is over next spring and then cut off. This protects the new shoots coming on underneath
Reply:I trim mine back by half every year and they always flower again and again. Use the none flowering tips as new plants and pot them up then you'll have many more great flowers next year. Good luck and happy gardening
Reply:With gardening there are no guarantees, a lot is dependant on outside influences like the weather, correct feeding etc. However, I have found that the more you prune hydrangeas the better they are the following year, it is the one plant I have never managed to kill off, and I prune mine right back each year.
Reply:The optimum time to cut back a hydrangea is in March. The dead blooms should be left on thru' the winter, and then the plant cut back to within about 2 inches of the soil. Feed the plant with a high potash fertiliser and never let it dry out. It is not easy to overwater a hydrangea!
Reply:Hydrangeas die back for the winter and come back every spring a bit bigger. You don't really have to do anything except cut off the spent flowers.
Reply:I think there are a lot of varieties of hydrangeas, but some only bloom on old wood.

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Is Hydrangea Root safe and useful for struvite crystals in felines?

2011-11-19T01:46:00.002-08:00

This is a subject I know nothing about, but I did a quick google and found some info. It looks like there is some validity to it.....

My advice is that unless you're a herbologist and really know what you're doing, don't mess with herbs. And even if you are, you may not know how an herb will work on a cat. It can be completely different. For example garlic - good for us, bad for them.

So I would only venture down an alternative healing path under the supervision of a vet. I wouldn't even buy anything on the market without knowing more about it - you just can't assume that anyone really knows what they're doing when they package stuff.

What do you put into the soil to change colors of your hydrangea?

2011-11-19T01:46:00.001-08:00

Lime for blue. Magnesium sulfate for pink. One is basic and one is acidic. Take your choice.

What do you put into the soil to change colors of your hydrangea?
If your hydrangia variety is "peegee" there is nothing you can do.

Use lime (acid)to turn the white ones blue; if you want pink you will need to make the soil a neutral ph.
Reply:ESPOMA QUICK SOLUTIONS THE ONE THAT IS CALLED SUPER PHOSPHATE....IT TURNS PINK TO BLUE...ETC....THEIR OTHER PRODUCT.... THEIR GARDEN SULPHUR CALLED ORGANIC SOLUTIONS IN THE FALL WILL PROMOTE THE ROOT GROWTH AND SIZE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR..... QUICK SOLUTIONS IS SOLD AT GARDEN CENTERS....5.99 PER 5 IB BAG......WORKS IN LESS THAN A WEEK ON OLD HYDRANGES ...CHANGED MINE FROM PALE PINK TO LOVELY SKY BLUE.
Reply:Just take LSD. It'll change the colour of your hydrangea, as well as everything else in the room.
Reply:With garden varieties, it's usually the acidity of the soil that dictates the colour. In acid soils, with a pH below 5.5, hydrangeas produce blue flowers, in alkaline soils, above pH7 they will be pink. In between you get some interesting (well, I think so) variations.
Reply:http://gardening.about.com/od/flowerings...
Reply:Add acidity to the soil to get a bluer color. Most garden centers should have an additive.

Why do hydrangea flowers turn green. How do you turn back pink?

2011-11-19T01:46:00.000-08:00

According to this article I found it depends on the pH of the soil. I personally like the green flowers which turn a light pink as they mature. However, my hydrangea is not a florist hydrangea and yours may not be either, but I think it still holds true about the pH. The article asserts that, "Hydrangea macrophylla -- Hortensia or Florist Hydrangea This is a commonly grown hydrangea with large globe-shaped flowers. It is frequently forced by florists and sold as an indoor pot plant during the spring season. Once moved outdoors, however, color is dependent upon the pH of the soil in which it is grown: blue if acid; pink if alkaline".

Here is the full article:

http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/...

Try feeding it an acidic fertilizer for Camellias, Rhododendrons, or Azaleas.

Why do hydrangea flowers turn green. How do you turn back pink?
Add lime to the dirt around the plant.
Reply:In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, or purple. In these species the exact colour often depends on the pH of the soil; acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkaline soils results in pink or purple.

In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, or purple. In these species the exact colour often depends on the pH of the soil; acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkaline soils results in pink or purple.
Reply:amend the soil

What to plant next to the fence line?

2010-05-22T01:25:00.002-07:00

Our backyard has a lot shade. I am looking for something to plant next do the fence line. Some plant that grows (fast) up to 6 or 7 inches and it is ok with shade. I live in Ohio, zone 6. I was thinking about Hydrangea. But I don't know if that is a good idea for this area.

What to plant next to the fence line?
Hydrangea would be fine. So would ferns, astilbe, hosta, rhododendron, honeysuckle, day lilies, sweet woodruff, columbine. One of my favorite books for shade gardens, is a Harrowsmith Gardener's guide called Shade Gardens. I'm sure there are many more though.
Reply:there are some great plants that grow in the shade Hosta's are one of my favorite because of the different variety's some grow 4 inches and I have one that is called a reptilian and it grows 4 feet tall solid green and the leaves look like reptile skin the thing with Hostas though you are really not buying the Hostas for the flower you are getting it for the foliage so if you want something to flower look up these few favorites heucherella(corral belles),Lamina (dead nettle), and Astilbe. The coral belles I have 7 different varieties and the dead nettle I have 4 different kinds(one of my favorites) you could look these up at Wayside gardens on the Internet and see what they look like.
Reply:Can you do the Silver Dollar plant? It grows deep green stalks with purple flowers in the fall it shows round white paper petals. Show Showey! I just love it!

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Top 10 List of shade plants, including flowering dogwood trees. ... to garden in shade-plagued areas with their favorite plants probably wonder why ...

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Ferns like shade! Perennial Plants for Shade - Plants - Burpee

Rich-textured, easy-care plants for shade. Fern Collection. Customer Favorite ... Deep shade perennial that blooms! Japanese Painted Fern ...

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Reply:I'm not sure about hydrangea, but I think it would work. It is taller than the 6 or 7 inches though. My first thought was Hosta. There are a lot of different ones. They grow fast and fill in well.

A question about non blooming Hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:25:00.001-07:00

I have a hydrangea that is approximately 6 years old. It didn't bloom at all this year. Any ideas of what I may be missing? Does it need something special that may have been washed out of the soil in the massive rains we had last fall and winter? Thanks.

A question about non blooming Hydrangeas?
Try these links:

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/wont...

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/...

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/forums...

http://plant-quest.blogspot.com/2007/09/...

Best of LUCK to you.....I love hydrangeas!

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What are the newest and most cost effective for floral centerpieces, for a summer tent wedding?

2010-05-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

I'm planning a wdiing for mid July, on a Sat. night in a tent. The overall effect will be formal, as the tent will be draped with creme organza, the tables will have an overlay of sheer ivory, w/ gold ribbon entwined, and the tble will be adorned w/gold charger plates, etc. I need some ideas for a very sophisticated centerpiece,(Low on the table) and need some suggestions. Is Green hydrangea, viburnum, creme and or coral peonies available in July?..And what kind of container and style? Thanks.

What are the newest and most cost effective for floral centerpieces, for a summer tent wedding?
go to a floral shop,and ask [if it's family owned their usually is someone in the family]even if its not there full time job that would have great ideas,and give you their full attenion,for a small fee of course!
Reply:We're doing flower blooms in water w/ gems or rocks on the bottom of a bubble bowl.
Reply:I can help you with wedding ideas, plans, ect. I started a wedding coordinator business after I planned my own wedding WAYYY under the budget!

My website is: http://tianataylorweddings.bravehost.com...

You can also email me at: ttweddings@sbcglobal.net

I'd be glad to help!
Reply:Green hydrangea and peonies may still be available, but it will be pushing it. You may have to find a florist willing to search for you, and you may have to pay a little more.

Is this an air conditioned tent? What state? How hot will it be?

These things will affect the flowers. With regard to container and look I would do a very contemporary, elegant,hi-style look with minimal flowers in an a-asymmetrical shape.

Is there a website where you can put flowers of your choice together to see how they would look in a bouquet?

2010-05-22T01:24:00.002-07:00

I've searched for pictures of what I am looking for, but am not having much luck.

I like roses, ranunculus, sweet peas, mini calla lilies, gerber daisies, and hydrangea.

I am getting married in July, and I know we REALLY need to get this figured out ASAP.

If you can help in any way, I would greatly appreciate it! :)

Thank you!

Is there a website where you can put flowers of your choice together to see how they would look in a bouquet?
Oh, how I wish there was such a website, however here is a suggestion:

Search for pictures of the flowers you want (if youre having problems finding pictures of the blooms you want search for "wholesale flower" and you should be able to find some pictures that way)

Print them out on paper (you may have to play around with the scaling)

Cut out individual blooms and arrange them in the shape that you want

I know its really primative but it should work.
Reply:Cool idea... I'd love to see such a web site! :)
Reply:Great idea! Will keep a watch out for the replies.

What do you add to make Hydrangeas Blue?

2010-05-22T01:24:00.001-07:00

I was told you add something to the soil to make them blue, what is it?! I purchased them blue and planted them in the garden but would love to have the blue.

Thanks!

What do you add to make Hydrangeas Blue?
Hello

Hydrangeas require and acidic soil to produce blue blooms. Miracid will turn them blue but I would steer you against it due to the dependancy your plant would build up always having the esstential nutrients handed to it in a readily available form. To maintain the blue hydrangea add Aluminum Sulfate usually found at any local garden center. To maintain their healthy state use Holly Tone. It will also maintain the blue color of your Hydrangea as well as feed it and replenish the soil with the 15 essential nutrients that a plant needs and processes from the soil. One application in the Spring and one application in the Fall is all you need. Goodluck!

Greenman
Reply:That is a Great way to grow them,

The Garden has a book on them as well , Report It

Reply:That would be Miracid, which is a fertilizer that also acidifies the soil.

Adding: it's now called Miracle Gro for Azalea and Camellias. Same thing, just renamed. :)

Also, aluminum sulfate will keep your blooms blue. This might be what you're looking for!
Reply:The soil needs to be acidic..I went natural with mine....pine trees are acidic and I put pine mulch around my endless summer hydreangeas....you cant touch the plant with the mulch. But my flowers are blue. Next year I want to plant one right under my pine tree...perfect conditions with the morning sun and afternoon shade. My endless summer is my favorite plant!!
Reply:they turn blue with acidic soil, pink with more alkaline

If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur may be used to lower the pH if it is available. To reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point, mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulfur per square yard if the soil is sandy, or 3.6 oz per square yard for all other soils. The sulfur should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH.
Reply:above is true but I hear that pine needles are also good for helping with acidity.
Reply:If you want your Hydrangea to be blue, add Aluminum Sulfate.

Oh, and also Hydrangeas will like to have acidy soil for them to be blue. I have mulch around mine, its blue. I just got it last month.

I'm cleaning up my yard at the moment to get it ready for winter, do i cut my perennials down to the root?

2010-05-22T01:24:00.000-07:00

I have some hydrangea and the flowers are all dead. Do I cut just the heads off or should I cut down to the root? What about tiger lillies? Will they grow better if I cut them short?

Thanks!

I'm cleaning up my yard at the moment to get it ready for winter, do i cut my perennials down to the root?
Leave the leaves on the lillys till frost then snip off, they are still manufacturing food for plant now. Hydrangea dont prune untill frost. It's too early yet! Don't go crazy to the ground, the plants might not survive! Just trim neatly, leaving main frame without lots of lengthy twigs and you will get good new growth next spring.

safety shoes

My hydrangeas are just about to bloom. Is it too late to add lime to the soil to make the blooms blue?

2010-05-22T01:23:00.003-07:00

What would happen if I added it now? Thanks.

My hydrangeas are just about to bloom. Is it too late to add lime to the soil to make the blooms blue?
aluminum sulfate and acidic soil makes them blue.... lime will make them turn pink... but it can take a year or more for the change to happen and that's if you consistently add alittle of this and that as you decide, often over the year..... it's much easier to turn a hydra pink if it's in a pot... in the ground it could take a while.... it's all here...

look on the left for 'color change'...

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/
Reply:Lime won't make them blue, it will make them pink. Lime increases the pH making the soil less acidic. If you want blue flowers you have to make the soil MORE acidic. Garden Sulfer can help a bit, but you really have to add it to the soil before you plant. If you want to turn them blue after the plant is esablished you need to add something else. I forget what it's called but there is stuff you can buy that acidifiys the soil, it actually says right on the bag " Turns Hydrangeas Blue!"

I think it's Ammonium Sulfate or Aluminum Sulfate but I could be wrong.

You can add it anytime, if the flowers have not come out yet, you can still make them blue. If its too late, you will just have to wait until more flowers come out later in the season. It can't hurt to add it now though.
Reply:You need Epsom salt for deep blue flowers. It's cheap, find it at your local grocery store for around two bucks. I used it last year while my flowers were blooming, and they were the deepest blue ever. love Hydrangea!

What is the name of the soil which is for acidic?

2010-05-22T01:23:00.002-07:00

I am experimenting with flowers and I heard acidic soils can change the PH of the Hydrangea flower. I want to know what the soil is called and where I can buy it? Any recomendations?

What is the name of the soil which is for acidic?
peat moss is acidic, but all you have to do is add to the soil.

Lime to sweeten or make alkaline the soil, flowers go pink

and muracid to make the soil acidic, flowers go blue

if the soil is a mix sometimes you will get blue and pink on the same plant and flower even
Reply:Acidic soils can change color!!!not ph of flower.

For hydrangea blooms to be pink, the plants must not take up aluminum from the soil. If the soil naturally contains aluminum, one must try to keep it away from the hydrangea's system. Following are a few tricks that might work:

Add dolomitic lime several times a year. This will help to raise the pH. Shoot for a pH of about 6.0 to 6.2 (If it goes above 6.4 hydrangeas may experience an iron deficiency). Since hydrangeas take up aluminum best at lower pH levels, raising the pH will help to keep the bluing effect of aluminum out of the hydrangea's system.

Use a fertilizer with high levels of phosphorus. Phosphorus helps to prevent aluminum from creeping into the system of the hydrangea. Choose a fertilizer close to the ratio of 25/10/10 (Phosphorus is the middle number).

In areas that naturally produce blue hydrangeas (soils with aluminum), consider growing pink hydrangeas in large pots. If hydrangeas are grown in pots, it would be best to use soil-less mixtures, since these mixes would probably not have aluminum in them. In a pot, it will be much easier to control the requirements for growing pink hydrangeas.

.

To obtain a blue hydrangea, aluminum must be present in the soil. To ensure that aluminum is present, aluminum sulfate may be added to the soil around the hydrangeas.

Authorities recommend that a solution of 1/2 oz (1 Tbsp) aluminum sulfate per gallon of water be applied to plants (which are at least 2-3 years old) throughout the growing season. Important: Water plants well in advance of application and put solution on cautiously, as too much can burn the roots.

To make the aluminum available to the plant, the pH of the soil should be low (5.2-5.5). Adding aluminum sulfate will tend to lower the pH of the soil. Another method for lowering the pH is to add organic matter to the soil such as coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, grass clippings etc.

If the soil naturally contains aluminum and is acid (low pH) the color of the hydrangea will automatically tend toward shades of blue and/or purple.

The choice of fertilzer will also affect the color change. A fertilizer low in phosphorus and high in potassium is helpful in producing a good blue color(25/5/30 is good. Potassium is the last number). Superphosphates and bone meal should be avoided when trying to produce blue.

After stating this with much certainty, I hasten to add that it is virtually impossible to turn a hydrangea blue for any length of time if it is planted in soil with no aluminum and that is highly alkaline (chalky). One would have to be very diligent in keeping the soil properly conditioned as stated above.

Perhaps the best idea for growing blue hydrangeas in an area with alkaline soil would be to grow them in very large pots using lots of compost to bring the pH down. The above suggestions for bluing would also work for a potted plant. Reduce the strength of the Aluminum sulfate to 1/4 oz per gallon of water. In a pot, it will be much easier to control the requirements for bluing.

One last suggestions for those who are serious about this process. It is important to have your water tested so that it will not "contaminate" the soil that you have so rigorously balanced. The pH of the water should not be higher than 5.6.

Planting hydrangeas near a concrete foundation or sidewalk will often affect the color since the pH of the soil may be raised considerably by lime leaching out of these structures, making it difficult to obtain blue.

Growing in pots is best way to grow them. Easier to control PH factor when Potted.

How often to water new shrubs/plants in 90 degree heat?

2010-05-22T01:23:00.001-07:00

I have a new Rhododendron and a new Hydrangea which were wilted when I got home today. Today was about 90 degrees. I watered them well, and they perked back up after an hour. Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter. Should I soak them in the morning again? Is it ok to wait until shrubs/plants begin to sag/wilt before watering them?

How often to water new shrubs/plants in 90 degree heat?
Water them early in the morning before the sun comes out. Then water them again in the evening after the sun goes down. Don't drown the plants at either watering. Just give them a nice gentle drink of water. Never water them in the middle of the day when it's so hot, as the sun will evaporate the water, thus drying out the plants. Don't wait for the plants/shrubs wilt, rather keep the soil moist at all times.
Reply:Always, always, always water your shrubs before the sun hits them. Water them early in the a.m. so they can withstand the heat throughout the day. Don't wait until they wilt. This method works for my shrubs and flowers. Good luck!
Reply:Make a mounded edge of dirt around the shrubs about 6-8 inches high about 15-20 inches out from the shrub- creates a pool for watering so it doesn't run off and cover the base of the shrub about 15-20 inches around with pine bark mulch that will help hold in the moisture- water before 6 am or after 6pm.
Reply:In addition to laying down mulch and watering my new plants every morning, I also cover them until established. A plastic nursery pot works quite well. For larger plants, I use an old garbage can with air holes poked through the top.

Also, if the temps are just brutal, a real slick trick is to fill up a gallon jug with water, poke a small hole in the base with a nail, and set it somewhere above the planting hole, mid day. Voila! cheap drip irrigation to keep your plant happy through the hottest part of the day.
Reply:water every day in this heat, just don't over do it because you can deplete the ground of nutrients.

Try watering every other day, early in the morning, but make sure you water if they look wilted
Reply:water them in the morning or the evening when it is still cool and i believe it is one inch daily while it is hot and 1 inch every other day while it is average temp use a tuna can to measure when its full you have given the plant 1 inch of water don't quote me on this
Reply:Only water early, early in the day, or after the sun goes down. It's just a waste during the hotter parts of the day. Is there a way to create some partial shade so the sun doesn't beat down on them so bad (like a black net or such that doesn't sit on the plants but above them.)
Reply:well for how often you should water, being there new and depending on the temperature its best to check the soil with ur finger by sticking it in as far as u can and if little or no moisture than they need watered, but if temps are really hot evening time or early morning, never water plants in the sun

I want to buy a rose bush called, "Rainbows End,". Why is it really yellow in some pics though and really pink

2010-05-22T01:23:00.000-07:00

in others? It's a bi-colored rose.Is it like a Hydrangea where it will vary according to my soil or is it's color established already...in which case I'll beg the distributor over the phone 2 send me a "Yellower" one and cross my fingers that they care!Also it's in the climber category so does that mean I have to make a trellis or will it crawl on the ground?

I want to buy a rose bush called, "Rainbows End,". Why is it really yellow in some pics though and really pink
Trellises are a necessity for climbers. Here are some examples of trellised "Rainbow's End" See below

The materials you use to trellis plants will depend on your budget, how much work you wish to do, and available.

spacehttp://www.sactorose.org/gardens/82ville... Beautiful variety climber!
Reply:If it's a climber, it'll need some support. I don't know this particular cultivar, but some possibilities for color differences include photographic reproduction issues, age of flower (often bicolors go redder as they age).

The 'Rainbow's End' I found with google is, however, a miniature rose, not a climber, 16-24" tall and wide.
Reply:You may not be seeing the actual rose. If you buy tomatoes, it's very common to see one picture for every variety out there. And, photography isn't what it used to be. Some colors are hard to capture. And, in processing, they have to alter the tone so that greens are green and reds red. This means unusual colors don't really get justice. Even on slide film.

Or, it's possible you didn't get what you ordered.

Park Hotel Ahrensburg

Do hydrangeas come in yellow?

2010-05-22T01:22:00.003-07:00

What other yellow flowers would you recommend? for a summer wedding?

I personally love hydrangeas because they make powerful statements as centerpieces

what do you think?

Do hydrangeas come in yellow?
I love hydrangeas and have them all over my yard. I've seen white ones and the standard "depends on the acidity of the soil" ones (blue, purple, pink) .. but I've never seen a yellow one unless they were tinted (like green carnations).

They're gorgeous no matter what color they are!

Buttercups (daffodils) are lovely yellow flowers.

Black-eyed susans, tulips, roses ...
Reply:NO. There color is between white, pink and blue and shades in between. The color is determined by the soil pH. so your pink hydrangea could under the right conditions become purple to blue, or the other way around.

I can't think of any yellow flowers for a wedding arrangement
Reply:I've never seen yellow hydrangeas. They come in a range of colors starting with blue, through violet, rose, and pale pink that almost verges on white, but they are almost always in the red-blue spectrum. You might be able to dye some yellow if you start with the almost-white hydrangea.

There are all sorts of day lilies in yellow, daisies, roses, and white lilacs can be dyed yellow.

How do i keep Hydrangeas alive?

2010-05-22T01:22:00.002-07:00

I just bought 2 (5gallon) hydrangeas and put them in pots. They are already wilting in 4 days. I watered them each day.

Any answers?

How do i keep Hydrangeas alive?
my grandmother told me to keep mine from doing that, they need either early morning sun or afternoon sun...all say sun will wilt and eventually kill them...i hope this helps good luck.
Reply:My neighbor grows these very successfully and says they need morning sun and afternoon shade. Good luck!
Reply:You are probably over watering them. Water them every 3 or 4 days, when the soil starts to dry out. Over watering causes root rot and is probably the issue.

What is the correct way to cut hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:22:00.001-07:00

I have a large plant outside and want to cut blooms to bring inside

What is the correct way to cut hydrangeas?
Cut them just above a bud or leaf, you don't have to, but it's the right way.
Reply:With a chainsaw!!!!

When is the best time for transplanting in Zone 5?

2010-05-22T01:22:00.000-07:00

I have a young hydrangea that I want to move to a different location. When would be the best time to do this? Thanks!

When is the best time for transplanting in Zone 5?
Move as soon as the gound has thawed and before the shrub leafs out (When dormant).

Tips:

1. Cut the roots with a deep spade. In essence you will be cutting an inverted cone shape under the plants. Try to get as much root and soil as possible but not so much that you cannot easliy move the plant.

2. Dig a hole roughly the same size and shape as the root ball of the Hydrangea.

3. place Hydrangea into the new hole. Firm the soil with your foot so you have good contact between the root ball and the new surrounding soil. Water to eliminate any air pockets.

4. Some Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrnagea serrata) should not be pruned in the spring. If you do you have to wait a year to get blooms.

General rule - If the flowers are blue or pink do not prune until after they flower. If the flowers are white, the odds are better the plant can be pruned in the spring.
Reply:Most shrubs can be transplanted when the ground is not frozen. It is better to transplant it when it is dormant. Also u might prune it back 1/3, that way it gives the plant the energy to get the root system growing and set. But it might cut the buds off for the year. U might want to wait til after it blooms.
Reply:As soon as the soil can be worked. It's best to move it while it is still dormant. That will lessen the transplant shock, as it will not lose as much water as it would after it has leafed out. If the snow is gone, and you can get a shovel in the ground - you're good to go.

Water it with a little root stimulator. Hold off on the general fertilizer. You want it to put it's initial growth energy into re-establishing the roots, rather than putting out new top growth.

You might also prune it back a bit to make the move eaiser (if it needs it). It should be mostly recovered by the time it wants to flower. If you transplant later in the spring - it may have to split its energy bwteen re-growing feeder roots, and producing flowers.
Reply:May 10, but look ahead in the paper to be sure there isn't an expected nightly low below 32F.

roots rain

Can anyone tell me of a good site that deals with the diseases of hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:21:00.003-07:00

My hydrangeas have developed patches of brown/purplish colour to the leaves. The leaves then shrivel and die at the edges until the whole leaqf is dead.

Can anyone tell me of a good site that deals with the diseases of hydrangeas?
They need good soil and add some peat to the base - they also like plenty of water - or they dry out - if you haven't got any peat add a good quality feed to the water and spray the leaves and water in to the roots - it sounds like mine - dry browny patches - just pull the leaves off but water everyday in this warm weather.
Reply:http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=di...

I have 2 vividly blue hydrangeas, how can i change one to pink without shockin?

2010-05-22T01:21:00.002-07:00

They are a good 50 or 60 feet apart, and are both blooming bright blue. I would like one to be the pretty pink color i have seen, but don't know whether to increase or decrease the pH of the soil or how to go about so that the plant doesn't die of shock.

I have 2 vividly blue hydrangeas, how can i change one to pink without shockin?
Hello,

i found this link a while back. I thought it was VERY informative!!

This guy shows you how to change the color of these flowers! Easiest for you to just go look at it, very good!
Reply:Add lime to raise the PH for sweeter soil

pink = girls = sweet.

BTW It will not happen over night, and you will want to test the soil periodically as you attempt to raise the Ph gradually.
Reply:my grandmother just emptied coffee grounds around the base of them.
Reply:I have pink ones here and I could buy a blueing agent from the nursery but the other way round I don'tknow . Just ask your nurseryman for help
Reply:It is easier to change from pink to blue, and if you want them a deeper like purple color bury some rusty nails close too but not touching the roots...check out this site for the blue to pink:)

www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com
Reply:dilute a tablespoon of "lime" in a gallon of water and water the plant with this mixture for the next 2 or 3 waterings and it will eventually raise the "ph" in the soil which will give u the pink color ur after!

How do I take care of Hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:21:00.001-07:00

I'm not sure of the complete name and species, but it's a pastel powder pink and after it flowered, many petals fell and scattered and the others dried on the stem.

Shold I cut the dead flowers off?

The plant itself is actually a cluster of them.

Should I transplant some? If I do, How?

When I bought the plant, the leaves were a dark green. Now, they turned yellow green. Is it normal? Am I doing something wrong, maybe?

Or is it because it's rainy season here, and we've had a few typhoons...?

Any advice would help.

How do I take care of Hydrangeas?
Scroll down this link for the care and pruning of your shrub:

http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Hydran...
Reply:everything you need is on this site....

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

explore there and learn a lot!!....

your plants need iron and more acid, most likely.... a good feed won't hurt, either.... look for 'chelated iron' and any good fertilizer with an acidic nature.....cut off old blooms....

don't transplant anything right now... find the name of your plant on that site first and read up on it's care.... once you have a good understanding of what the plant likes, you'll be set !!!.....
Reply:Always cut off the blooms when they are through flowering. You may have a soil deficiency so buy an all purpose fertilizer
Reply:Ahh...Hydrangeas.....Beautiful flowering plant.

They like shade and lots of it.

Your plant needs nitrogen or iron. This is what's lacking in your soil. Probably from overwatering the nutrients will be depleted after so much water.

Ask for a fertilizer with a high nitrogen analysis...This is the first number on the fertilizer product. Or just add some type of iron to the soil.

It works....How do I know? I do it almost daily. Be sure to read instructions on each bag of fertilizer.

Yes prune off old expired blooms, this will encourage new growth and blooms.

Is it possible to grow hydrangeas in a container? If so, how deep does the container have to be?

2010-05-22T01:21:00.000-07:00

Sure .. You can grwo them in containers . The size of the container all depends on which type you are growing , but I have done well

with most types in a 5 gallon container. They like water ( hence their name ) so make sure they are well watered in the summer months.

Come the winter , they can survive quite well outdoors ( but not too cold - they bloom on " old wood " ; what was grown the year before )

an unheated garage or enclosed porch would work well ....

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How can I get a Hydranger to flower?

2010-05-22T01:20:00.002-07:00

We have a small Hydrangea plant (16``) high in a sunny, south facing garden near Aberdeen, Scotland. In six years it has flowered just once. It appears to be perfectly healthy, I have tried plant foods but it will not cooperate. Any ideas gratefully appreciated.

Mike.

How can I get a Hydranger to flower?
I'm still trying to get the right spot and treatment for a hydrangea. Think I'm going to have to break down and buy a nice, big one, rather growing from small size.

You've got to read up on them. They are pretty particular as regards pruning, temperature, location, etc. I'm attaching one website (below) with information about problems getting them to bloom for you. Good luck!

P.S.: How about that Craig Ferguson!
Reply:loads and loads of water!!!! hence the hydr' bit in the name. You can't over water it (unless it's in a pot of course)...the feeding is secondary.
Reply:You may have too much sunlight! Otherwise, if you don't think you have to move it, cut it back to about 4 inches above the ground, that will force out new growth. It is a bit late in the year to get any new growth, but let it come out next year and if it does not bloom, leave it be and it should bloom the next year.
Reply:all I know is that they do great in very acidic soil like azaleas, camellias, etc. Go looking for sulfur...I looked up the website and it didn't say anything about acidic soil....they grow in east Texas like crazy and the color is so intense and there is acidic soil there and we have very alkaline soil......so the expert says lots of cow manure and organic matter......good luck
Reply:sounds like it needs pruning,you can do this now.and it will flower next year
Reply:Sounds like you have prunned this plant. This years growth on hydrangea's will produce next years flowers, so if you prune every year you will never get flowers.
Reply:talk to it? I think you need more sunlight try some artifical light as you live in scotland and it is quite dark and cold mostly up there (my family comes from dundee) Good luck
Reply:Hydrangeas require an acid soil to bloom properly. Be sure to use a plant food specifically designed for such plants. An alternative would be to work some aluminum sulfate into the soil around the shrub.

My cat ate hydrangea leaves?

2010-05-22T01:20:00.001-07:00

My cat Simon ate hydrangea leaves.what am i suppose to do?he hasn't had any signs of poisoning...yet thanks for your help

My cat ate hydrangea leaves?
I just looked this up online and I read that both the buds and leaves are poisonous. They contain cyanide, so I'd at least call the vet to see what to do. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, increased body temp. increased heart rate. Good Luck, hope this helps
Reply:Call a vet emergency number. If you don't have one, look in the phone book or call your local poison control center.
Reply:don't wait for signs, that's usually too late! take him to the vet asap.

Is it ok to give shrubs and plants Miracle Gro in their first year?

2010-05-22T01:20:00.000-07:00

I have a bunch of new shrubs and plants. I have read that it is better to not fertilize in the first year shrubs/plants are in their new settings. However, I have a Nikko Blue Hydrangea which I would like to have blue blooms by giving it Miracid. Should I not give this Hydrangea Miracid this year because this is it's first year in my landscape? I do not wish to make this a religious discussion for or against Miracle Gro. I just want to know if there are situations where fertilizing in the first year is ok.

Is it ok to give shrubs and plants Miracle Gro in their first year?
Yes! Plants need their nutrients just like we do. I would definitely feed them, just don't over-do it. Follow directions on fertilizer package. I always start my new plantings with a slow-release granular fertilizer mixed in the soil near the roots, then follow that with a good drink of miracle gro to give them a good start.
Reply:yes every two weeks
Reply:Yes, but watch the amounts. Use 1/2 dose for seedlings.

I have had very good success with Miracle-Gro's Nursery Select (20-20-20) vs. regular Miracle Gro ( 24-8-16 ).

You can also use the Quick Start plant food on new seedling.

For Hydrangeas, I have used aluminum sulfate sucessfully which is what the Sunset Western Garden book recommends. I used about 1/3 cup around plants that were 5" tall and they turned nicely green in about a week.

http://www.miraclegro.com/index.cfm/even...

http://www.miraclegro.com/index.cfm/even...

-Doug
Reply:Instead of using chemicals, try this:

Transplant Tonic

1/2 can beer

1 tbsp ammonia

1 tbsp instant tea

1 tbsp baby shampoo

1 gallon water

Mix all of the ingredients together. Use 1 cup of tonic for each plant that you are transplanting.

To turn a hydrangea blue, use Aluminum Sulphate fertilizer. This is the best way of turning your hydrangeas blue. Using an all-purpose fertilizer like MirAcid will maintain acidity but will not change the color very quickly. To turn your blue hydrangeas more pink, add lime to your soil. These techniques will work gradually. Lime, especially, take weeks or months to work in the soil.

What can i do for my indoor potted hydangea?

2010-05-22T01:19:00.003-07:00

The pink potted hydrangea plant my husband bought me for valentines day looks like it is suffering. I've noticed the flowers start to wilt and droop a couple of times but water helped to rejuvenate it. Since then I've been watering more but the edges of the leaves and petals are turning brown and dry. Should I cut or pick them off? Should I water even more? Help! I love my plant and don't want to kill it.

What can i do for my indoor potted hydangea?
You probably need to repot this plant. Your plant may be rootbound. Lift the plant gently out of the soil. If the plant won't lift, this may also be an indicator that it is potbound. Get the plant up out of the dirt. If the roots are compressed and turning in on each other or growing up the side of the pot, you need a bigger pot. Cut the roots off that are circling the pot or growing upward. You may even want to trim some of the roots that are hanging downward. Select a pot large enough to handle the root system that you have. Before repotting, cut off all the dead blooms and new blooms. The plant will handle repotting much better if it is not putting its energy into flower production. Buy soil that is recommended for hydrangeas. You also might want to consider planting the hydrangea outdoors when the weather is right.
Reply:The pink color indicates acidic fertilizer is best, Miracle Grow for azaleas/gardenias is really good; also look for the word "chelated" next to iron, the lack of this is what makes the leaves turn brown around the edges %26amp; also turn yellow if getting worse, then finally the leaves start to fall off. Hydraneas normally "fall asleep" for the winter, lose all their leaves when it gets frosty outside, which is totally different; right now my hydrangeas are starting to get their leaf buds-they swell %26amp; pop open similar to rose leaves. I prune the branches after they go dormant.

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What is the best way to preserve my wedding bouquet?

2010-05-22T01:19:00.002-07:00

I was married this last weekend. My bouquet consists of hydrangea and roses, what steps do I need to take to dry it while keeping it looking beautiful afterward?

What is the best way to preserve my wedding bouquet?
Hang them upside down making sure you wrap them with thin paper so they dont get dusts. When they are dry, buy a special frame that has space inside that resembles an aquarium but not as deep and place your dry bouquet there. Arrange them as if they are in a vase. Actually, here in Australia, there are people that preserve wedding bouquets and frame them. I don't where you are but its worth asking around.
Reply:Borax is used to preserve flowers.

You might want to search.

http://www.blingo.com/search?q=preservin...

Does anyone know how to dry hydrangeas properly?

2010-05-22T01:19:00.001-07:00

When is the best time to cut the flowers and what is the best method of drying them please.I cut some a fortnight ago, but they've just shrivelled rather than dried.

Does anyone know how to dry hydrangeas properly?
While it is tempting to cut the hydrangea blossoms for drying at the height of their color, this seldom, if ever, works. Fresh, recently opened blooms, rarely dry well in the open air. Hydrangeas do best when allowed to dry a bit on the plant before picking. Experiment with harvesting from August through October.

It is not necessary to hang them unless they have weak stems.

Here is a link to help you with drying fresh ones for colour.

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/dryi...
Reply:Unlike yourself, I have never had any trouble drying hydrangea. They are the easiest. simply hang them upside down and they will retain their shape. A cool,dry, dark or muted room is the best. After they are dry spray them with a matte or glossy clear spray paint, depending on your preference. will help them last FOREVER
Reply:I leave mine on the bush 'til they have dried themselves out.
Reply:Hi Wonder Women. I adore them fresh or dried.

This is a good time to dry them ,as they are now in all there Glory.

What I do is cut them and stand them in warm water with lots of sugar. I leave them for about 3/4 days. I then take them out, dry the stems with kitchen paper and hang them upside down in the airing cupboard for a month or two or untill your ready to use them.

What I like to do is at Christmas, spray them with either silver or gold paint and maybe add some glitter. They look wonderful

on any table or in an arrangement.

W.W. this method works for most flowers.

Have a go and enjoy.

Regards,

C

Hydrangea question...?

2010-05-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

I have beautiful Endless Bloom Hydrangeas. They are full and produce bright beautiful blooms. However, they do not grow up or out... just more full. Is this normal? I would like the plants to grow larger. What can I do to facilitate their growth?

Hydrangea question...?
This plant only grows to between 3-5 feet. If you have had it in the ground for a while, more than three months, give it some fertilizer. If you give it the type that is for acid loving plants it will turn a little bluer than pink. It is a beautiful plant. Keep it well watered, they love water, and make sure it has some shade at least in the afternoon.
Reply:If they get too tall the stems cannot hold up the huge blossoms, self defense by staying fat and not very tall. A rhododendron will get tall and covered with huge blossoms and has a woodier body. I had a lace cap hydrangea that got much larger and was awesome--also a pg gets big and tall and has huge white blossoms.
Reply:Hmmmmmm, it's almost sounds like the roots are all balled up. Do have a lot of clay in your soil, or rocks perhaps? Wait until the end of the bloom season before you go poking around the roots. This plant only gets to be about 5' x 4'. Good Luck

How can I tell if my hydrangeas, that I planted last summer are not going to bloom?

2010-05-22T01:18:00.003-07:00

They both look pretty dead. When I bought them I was told that they would look like that but would bloom eventually. Well, no blooms. SHould I just give up and pull them out of the ground?

Thanks.

How can I tell if my hydrangeas, that I planted last summer are not going to bloom?
First, where do you live? My hydrangeas (in California) are just now putting out leaves. I don't expect flowers for another month of two. If you are in a colder clime, you may have to wait another month.

Look around your neighborhood or the local nursery. Are the hydrangeas there starting to leaf out? If so, then I would go back to where I bought them and ask for a refund!! If local hydrangeas are still hibernating, then I would wait awhile!
Reply:Dont do anything yet - I dont know where you live but mine always look like dried up sticks at this time of year....They'll start growing in about a month...Just wait.

By the way, I live in the midwest.
Reply:It too early. I live in the deep south and my hydrangeas are full of foliage but no blooms yet, but they will bloom they do every year. It just take them another month or so. Give them time.
Reply:Where they like that when you bought them? alot of times for certain flowers to bloom they need a certain type of soil or fertilizer to help them stay healthy and bloom. You also have to prune them every so often. Also if you bought the Greenhouse type normally you can tell if they came with the pretty foil or clear plastic wrapping that they were cared for in a greenhouse which doesn't help you because they are not acclimated to your area.

bucked teeth

Should hydrangeas come back each year and if so what month?

2010-05-22T01:18:00.002-07:00

I live in the midwest if that helps. Thank you!

Should hydrangeas come back each year and if so what month?
in warmer regions they come up now. they need 70s for leaves to appear and no frosts. they will come up in a few weeks unless temps were below -15 f this winter if so it died and is only and annual in your zone
Reply:yes they will come back every year, mine is comming back now. I live in the east coast. mine is about 2 ft. tall also u can change their color but putting different things to them. also the soil in another part off your yard will change the color
Reply:as long as the frost and sub freezing temps do not kill them they should be blooming right now literally
Reply:They'll come up again every Spring, and last through most of the summer.
Reply:Yes, they are a perinnal and will come back each year. Mine are just now starting to "pop" out of the ground. I too live in the midwest.

When is best time to remove hydrangeas dead flower?

2010-05-22T01:18:00.001-07:00

I was told not to remove hydrangeas dead flower in the end of summer is that right?

When is best time to remove hydrangeas dead flower?
I leave mine on until they come off by themselves. Me and my husband laugh when we see them blowing around the neighborhood like tumbleweeds. I've chased a few of them down but not all of them. :)
Reply:Remove it as soon as it is through blooming. Everything that grows after you cut the blooms is what next years flowers will grow on. As far as I know, all Hydrangeas bloom on old wood, except for the Pee Gee. Cutting off the bloom as it is fading will give more strength to the rest of the plant. This will make for a healthier, larger plant next year.
Reply:Yes, you're right. If you leave it overwinter then the new growth is protected. You remove them in spring, after the frost is past. But be careful how you do it - you don't want to take too much off and cut off the new flowerheads.
Reply:I think that's ridiculous-- remove the dead flower when it's dead-- leaving it hanging there isn't doing anything-- it's just ugly to see dead blooms, so get rid of them as they die
Reply:I don't know what is "right", but I can tell you that I always dead head mine after the fower turns brown. But mine bloom in to the fall here in East Texas. After the first frost I cut all of the dead blooms off as I am cleaning out the rest of the garden.

ICL

Rosa
Reply:Hi there Here is a guide that will help you. http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/prun... It discusses different methods and time periods depending on the type of hydrangea you have. Have a great year and beautiful garden.

Is it possible to grow hydrangeas in southeast texas?

2010-05-22T01:18:00.000-07:00

Am I too late to plant some this summer and will it last year round? I am a huge fan of hydrangeas and would love to find some here

Is it possible to grow hydrangeas in southeast texas?
i live in southeast Texas and have several hydrangeas. you can still plant them. they like the morning sun. and keep them watered good. they may lood like there dead in the winter but they will come back alive in the spring.
Reply:It is but the javelinas might be murder on them, right? Kidding, kidding. They like a bit of shade and you might be more dry than they like. I am in the SW and mom had terrific hydrangeas in NH. I am hoping they do well here as well under or near the pines with lots of acid. Take care.
Reply:hydrangeas are suceptible to cold winters it could freeze the buds that would bloom the following year I don't think you will have a problen in Texas

How old can hydrangeas grow to be?

2010-05-22T01:17:00.003-07:00

My parents hydies are about 32 and my grans are about 55

How old can hydrangeas grow to be?
Well my sisters beats that! Her house is 124 years old, and there are two bushes planted when the house was new. A Hydrangeas is one of them,the other is a Rhododendron. Tell Grans ,hers is still a baby! Byee
Reply:I have never heard of a time limit on the life of hydrangeas. I would guess as long as they are getting the nutrients, sun and water they need and avoid diseases, they will go on indefinitely.
Reply:hydrangeas are good at renewing themselves from the root, so they're never ALL one old age.... that said, I have some in my yard that ten yrs ago, I transplanted from a house where they'd grown for 42 years....

Kung Fu school

Are hydrangeas delicate flowers to work with for bridal bouquets?

2010-05-22T01:17:00.002-07:00

I am wanting to use hydrangeas for my bouquet and the florist told me that they were hard to work with because they are so delicate. Odd since I have seen them all over the bride books recently. Any comments or suggestions?

Are hydrangeas delicate flowers to work with for bridal bouquets?
I know, my grandmothers bouquet from the 30s was a gorgeous mass of hydrangea. Unfortunately, hydrangeas blooms have a tendency to snap off at their base. I head to a local cemetery to cut blooms for decoration, and have to get more than I need just to make up for the ones that will inevitably break in transport (and no worry, cutting blooms at this place is fine with the cemetery owners - the bushes are huge and 100 years old; they don't mind the free pruning).

If the stems were well reinforced with florist tape, it might work.
Reply:You could try using dried hydrangea flowers. They dry beautifully, and can be sprayed to make them more durable. And if you would like to preserve your bouquet as a souvenir of the day--well, using dried ones, it's already preserved!
Reply:yes

What is the best time to find hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:17:00.001-07:00

What months are they easier to find in floral shops? I would like to use them in a June wedding, but will they be available at that time?

What is the best time to find hydrangeas?
June should be fine. They are in the shops now and coming into bloom. I would suggest pre ordering to be sure you get the type you want. The white lace caps and panicle hydrangas are great. If you let the guests take them at the end they may even have a reminder of the wedding growing in their garden!

Hydrangea size?

2010-05-22T01:17:00.000-07:00

I have a few Hydrangeas that have been in the ground for about two years and each year they only seem to come back and grow to about 6 to 8 inches in height. (Zone 7) I dont trim the dead stems from the previous year because I have been told the provide nutrients throughout the winter month to the root system. When I planted them a used mushroom compost and since mulched with organic compost the following year. One is in full sun about 8 hours a day and the other in partial sun about 3 to 4 hours a day, and yet another a forgot about in almost full shade all day except for maybe an hour a day under some vines on a fence. All are the same height now in late July no matter where they seem to be planted........Any help here to make them bigger?

Hydrangea size?
Do you know what variety of hydrangea you planted? Some cultivars of H. macrophylla are bred to be compact . Also, if you used too much mushroom compost to amend the soil when planting, it is possible that may contribute to poor performance in your hydrangeas. Mushroom compost is mostly sterile and has not been composted as thoroughly as that in your compost pile; it does not provide nutrients immediately, and may lock up some nutrients in the process of decomposing. I would suggest a slow release organic fertilizer such as Espoma over the course of a couple of seasons. For further information, try these websites: http://www.conweb.com/hydrangea/ or http://squtch.quiet-like-a-panther.org/s...
Reply:this could be what there suppose to grow in a season as not get too big too fast there are diffrent kinds and colors
Reply:hm. I got one of those "box with a stick in it" things from my boyfriend when we just started dating, about a year and a few months ago. Planted it in a pot... it grew 3 sprouts 8 inches tall. Planted it in the garden last fall, in a semishaded position, watered well all spring since it was near some grass I seeded, and it's got three blooms on it and is about 18 inches tall. Not bad for first year.

Yours should be doing similar things. If they are not... were they in some sort of "plant the whole pot!" kind of thing? If so, I have found that those things do not generally decompose the way they're supposed to. Or, if you have really hard or rocky soil, the plant might be stuck in the hole... that is, it might not be able to get into the surrounding soil. With that sort of soil, you have to dig a hole meant for a much larger plant... like 3x the size of the root ball you're planting... and fill most of it back in with good loose (friable) soil.

I'd dig one of them up to look at the root system, see if it's stuck in a pot or stuck in the hole.

How do I keep fresh cut hydrangeas looking pretty for a long time?

2010-05-22T01:16:00.002-07:00

They wilt so quickly I hate to cut them, but I have so many it's a shame not to.

How do I keep fresh cut hydrangeas looking pretty for a long time?
I have used an aspirin in the vase to help the stems supply water to the flowers for a longer time period.
Reply:enjoy them while they last but do know they look lovely dried also.When mine dry out I remove water from vase and enjoy them dried.

pulling teeth

Do I have to repot my hydrangeas when I get them in a plastic nursery pot?

2010-05-22T01:16:00.001-07:00

I received this as a gift, and not sure how I need to care for it. They have beautiful violet blooms, and I would like to keep them in good condition.

P.S. I live am in the southern California climate.

Do I have to repot my hydrangeas when I get them in a plastic nursery pot?
I wouldn't right away I would wait till it stops blooming. but after it stops blooming I would. right now if you repot the hydrangea it might shock it and it will die.
Reply:It's always better for the plant to repot it as the stuff it comes in really isn't soil with needed nutrients.
Reply:Absolutely. If you leave them in the plastic pot they will get root bound. Dig a hole larger than the plant (needs sun) Use some good potting soil. Mine come back up every year.
Reply:You would do well to bump them up to double or triple the current pot size. It will be a lot easier to keep the blooms from witling so often as it will allow a larger root space and more water to support them.
Reply:You can keep them in the plastic nursery pot.

Click this link:

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/faq....

How often should I water my hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:16:00.000-07:00

I know they need a lot of water. Someone told me they should be watered twice daily, which seems excessive and time-consuming.

Any ideas?

How often should I water my hydrangeas?
You can soak them really good just once a day but you should put mulch around them to hold the moisture also I have a large bucket next to them I poked a few very small holes in the bottom fill it up and it will water slowly that way.
Reply:it all depends on where you live. twice a day is way too much, maybe they meant twice a week.

if you live in a dry area then every other day should be fine.

when i lived in georgia, where the ground is rich and holds moisture, i only watered mine about once a week and they were huge.

you can also go online and just type in how to care for hydrangeas and you will get helpful sites.

good luck.
Reply:the soil should be constantly moist...I have no idea what climate you live in so it's hard to guess how much water you need to give them.
Reply:watering twice daily is good try mulching around base of plants to retain moisture and dig in compost with water retaining granules to keep a higher level of moisture around base of shrub
Reply:depends on the soil, just keep them moist,mulch is great,some mulch have bugs so buy from a reputable dealer,try water at dusk to avoid evaporation from the hot sun. good luck and happy gardening, and don't forget to talk to your flowers they need love too :)
Reply:once the plant has established itself it should not require any more than the equivalent of one inch of water per week, that can be obtained in my area. new England by deep root watering once or twice a week, too much water is as bad as too little. just remember that if it rains or showers for a day that usually is only equal to a 1/4 to 1/2 an inch at most. mulching helps retain moisture just keep it away from the stems as it can cause rotting . hydrangeas don't require allot of water once established..blanco;

What flowers would look nice with blue hydrangeas at a wedding?

2010-05-22T01:15:00.003-07:00

My colors are different shades of blue and white and the ceremony will be outdoors in July.

I would prefer white flowers along with the blue hydrangeas, but other suggestions are appreciated!

:) Thanks!

What flowers would look nice with blue hydrangeas at a wedding?
I immediately thought White Orchids... how elegant!
Reply:I would use white cala lillies and add a baby pink rose with the blue hydranges, because their centers sometimes host an array of colors from white, green and pale pink. The use of a random pink rose would be complimentary as well as stunning. =o)

Good Luck! Congratulations!
Reply:Lots and lots of pink baby's breath! It will be elegant!!
Reply:white lillies, babies breath in white too.
Reply:Calla lillies or stargazers would be a unusual and pretty.
Reply:Use only the hydrangeas and lots of them!
Reply:White Lilacs
Reply:orbits or tulips when the stem is cut short.
Reply:I wouldn't use another flower, it would detract from the hydrangeas, remember simpler is better, use lots of

white Babies Breath and foliage, it will be beautiful

What do you do with hydrangeas when the blooms begin to fade?

2010-05-22T01:15:00.002-07:00

At some point, do you cut them back for the winter or leave them alone? We live in the midwest and normally I cut back roses in late Nov. or early Dec.

What do you do with hydrangeas when the blooms begin to fade?
A lot of people in harsh climates just leave the dry blooms on as added winter protection. The theory is that the tips of the plants are at the most risk for winter damage, so if the tips are just going to be discarded anyway, there's really nothing lost. In most cases, next year's buds are already developing just below the level of this year's flower heads, so you don't want to prune back very far in any case. If it's not really unsightly (and I think the spent blooms look pretty cool in many cases) I would leave the faded blooms through the winter and do some gentle pruning come spring.
Reply:Remove the spent flowers down to the first set of healthy leaves.Some hydrangeas bloom on growth produced the year before,so if you prune them too hard you may lose blossoms for next year.Hydrangeas make excellent fresh cut or dried flowers.
Reply:I wish I could help, but I live in the southeast, and we don't have to do anything to most of our garden except wait til spring and it all comes back. Our winters are very mild, and our hydrangea's just sit the winter out in their corner of my front yard!
Reply:We have several hydrangeas and we leave the blooms on until after the worse of the winter is over before removing them so that they protect new shoots from frost damage. If your fortunate enough not have that problem where you are dead head as you would do for more hardier shrubs and plants.
Reply:Hello there.......... leave them for they protect the next year's forming buds from frost and snow in the Winter. I live in the UK but I guess that would be the same almost anywhere in the world. You could, if you wished, trim them off back to the next pair of leaves behind the dead flower head, further back if you want to prune the shrub. If you do trim back further, you will not get flowers next year on that branch. Something to be aware of........I have in the past pruned mine back really hard without any hardship. Just did not have any flowers for one year. .chrissie G

Fitness Shoes

How do I winter Hydrangeas in Southern Ontario in the garden?

2010-05-22T01:15:00.001-07:00

Hydrangeas bloom on " second year growth " so you dont want to cut them back. That is, the flowers will only bloom on stems that grew and didn't flower the year before. They may seem dead after the first frost, but you shouldn't cut them if you want flowers next spring. Let the plant take it's natural course...in the spring you will see new buds on the canes. If they do not bud and turn brown and brittle, you can remove them by cutting them at the base. Also, to turn the hydrangea flowers blue instead of pink, add a little Aluminum Sulfate to the soil in early spring..follow package directions. It is sold at any garden store or nursery.

How do I winter Hydrangeas in Southern Ontario in the garden?
After the first Freeze has blackend the tops, cut them down- %26amp; put a layer of Mulch (leaves work fine) over them until the Spring. Remove it in early April- %26amp; there you go! :)

What to do with hydrangeas from a wholesaler?

2010-05-22T01:15:00.000-07:00

I picked up some hydrangeas from a wholesaler this afternoon. They came with little gel packets on the end of each stem.

Should I take them off and put them in water?

What to do with hydrangeas from a wholesaler?
flowers or cuttings?

makes a difference

for cut flowers...

follow this care sheet

http://www.flowersbulbs.com/flowercare.p...

for rooted/ing cuttings...

follow the tip sheet

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/prop...

hope that helps
Reply:Can you give use a little more info?

Do hydrangeas that I´ll keep in our home like direct or indirect sunlight?

2010-05-22T01:14:00.003-07:00

We live in Germany, and I don´t understand all of the directions in Deutsch.

Does this plant like direct or indirect sunlight?

How often does it need water?

Is there something natural I can feed it instead of chemical food?

Do hydrangeas that I´ll keep in our home like direct or indirect sunlight?
first of all i just want to say i never ben to germany but i work at a nursery so heres some tips * Most hydrangeas enjoy morning sunlight with peppery afternoon shade.

* Keep your hydrangeas growing happily with a nice layer of mulch around the base of the plant.

* Only prune your hydrangea to remove dead wood or to shape the plant after it has bloomed.

* Aluminum sulfate may be added to the soil around your hydrangea plants to turn pink hydrangeas blue.

* Lime may be added to the soil around your hydrangeas to turn blue hydrangea blooms pink in color.

* Adding a balanced fertilizer late in the Winter or early in the Spring is all that is usually needed to properly feed hydrangeas.

* Keep hydrangea plants well watered during dry spells.

* Fresh cut hydrangea makes a wonderful bouquet for special occasions.
Reply:They don't mind the shade although they can grow leggy keep trimmed back to fresh growth after the flowers have died off.

They are beautiful I treated myself to 3 plants last year they are in one of my shadiest spots I don't think they care for too much sun. But most things enjoy a bit. I live in the east of England.

Can I cut the old wood off my hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:14:00.002-07:00

I live in Georgia and it is getting cooler, we moved in a new house and the hydrangeas still have the old wood (no blooms) from last year (spring). Would it hurt them if I cut it off now? They look awful!!! They are starting to bloom and get fuller but it would look much better if I can cut it off without killing them!

Can I cut the old wood off my hydrangeas?
find your plant here...

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/

I'm thinking you have a PeeGee?... white blooms , blooming now?.... if so, go ahead and cut out the dead wood...IF you find your plant on that site and it IS a Paniculata.... if it's a mophead or lacecap don't cut anything until AFTER it blooms next spring and that branch is STILL dead .... read up on that site about pruning, too... will help get your hydrangea in it's best shape possible............
Reply:LF above is right because hydrangeas bloom on those stalks. The more you cut back those stalks the less height the plant will have the following year. When I first planted my small gallon hydrangeas I would cut them back to the ground and was wondering why mine were so much smaller than my neighbor's planted at the same time. She was only pruning off the blooms and a couple of inches of woody stalk. Since I started to do that, mine is now 6-7 foot tall...You won't kill them by hard pruning them, but you will stunt their growth next year.
Reply:As awful as they look they are revitalizing themselves. In other words pottung energy back into their roots. Those "sticks" will also re-bloom, those that do not next year, mark for culling. If you really cannot stand it, burlap them for the winter.
Reply:As beautiful as Hydrangea can be, there are many different varieties. Different kinds have different pruning requirements.

There are those that bloom on old wood. This is the majority of Hydrangea. If you prune the old wood, you might be taking the risk of cutting off next year's flower buds. You should not prune this type of hydrangea until early in the Spring.

Then there are those that bloom on new wood. For these, it is ok to do some late pruning, because new stems will grow the following season and thus you will have flowers.

The key is to find out what kind of Hydrangea you have. If it does flower at this time, it is a late blooming one, and very well might be the PeeGee. If you determine that it is, you can prune it now, as it will bloom on new wood.

Hope this helps!

Susan

http://www.landscape-design-advice.com

adult teeth

Origin of hydrangea?

2010-05-22T01:14:00.001-07:00

what country were they found

Origin of hydrangea?
they come from japan
Reply:From Japan to China, Indonesia, very popular in Nepal.
Reply:They are native to Japan and Korea

Will the acid in a lime kill hydrangeas?

2010-05-22T01:14:00.000-07:00

I am getting married soon and am thinking of placing sliced limes in the vase. Will the acidity of the limes kill my flowers - hydrangeas?

Will the acid in a lime kill hydrangeas?
No, people actually add lime to make the colors more brilliant. sprinkle about a cup about 3 inches out and water . In some cases it will change the color. It is not permanent. So no worries. I have seen light blue turn a deep blue and seen some turn pink.

There are lots of places on the net that can give you ideas.

I got to nationalarbor.org for trees. HGTV.com has a gardening link.. good luck
Reply:No, but it may change the color of the flower - only slightly if it's already cut. Acid helps turn them pink, but if it's only for a one day event, you should be fine.

How do the chemicals that change the color of hydrangeas work?

2010-05-22T01:13:00.002-07:00

Ok so i know that hydrangeas growing in more acidic soil will be blue as long as there is aluminum present, which can be done by adding aluminum sulfate, and hydrangeas growing in more alkaline soil will be pink as long as there isn't a lot of aluminum present, which can be done by adding dolomitic lime. But does anyone know of any websites that i can find HOW these different chemicals change the color, like the chemical process and how it affects the color pigments in the flower? THANKS!

How do the chemicals that change the color of hydrangeas work?
Try the following site:

Can angel star hydrangeas grow on raised mounds of dirt under a tree?

2010-05-22T01:13:00.001-07:00

What is the best spot for this and a nikko blue and endless summer variety? what plants would complement the hydrangeas? Thanks!

Can angel star hydrangeas grow on raised mounds of dirt under a tree?
no... the mounds would dry out too fast.... all hydrangea need water..... and they won't compete for it with the tree too well, either....

Teeth Cleaning

How do you make Hydrangeas bloom pink?

2010-05-22T01:13:00.000-07:00

I recieved my hydrangeas pink. Now they are blooming blue. I was told it had something to do with the acid in the soil, and someone else said I need lime in the soil. Someone said I have too much lime in my soil. I did have my soil tested and the readings said my ph was right on.

How do you make Hydrangeas bloom pink?
Add lime to your soil. Lime is basically crushed limestone. It comes in powder or granular form and can be purchased at any nursery or garden center. The lime will lower the acidity of your soil. Acidic soil will make your flowers blue, neutral soil will make your flowers both pink and blue on one plant or change them completely to purple. Lime will "sweeten" your soil and change your flowers to pink. Whoever said there was too much lime in your soil was mistaken. The problem is actually the opposite.
Reply:Your soil must be high in iron content, the only way you can get it to have pink blooms is to plant it in a huge pot of iron free soil.
Reply:ADDING 1 CUP OF LIME TO THE SOIL AT PLANTING TIME WILL PROMOTE BEST COLOR.

http://gurneys.com/product.asp_Q_pn_E_08...
Reply:Here is a good one for you. I have two bushes. Each year they are a different color! One will be pink and then the next year blue.

I honestly think they change every other year. I have seen some with three or four different colors at the same time. Someone told me it had to do with their age...........My soil couldn't change one way and change back the next year!!!!! I don't know how the soil could determine color anyway.
Reply:I know to turn them blue you need an acidic soil...and can use aluminum sulphate to do this..but sorry I'm unsure of how to turn them pink....but I believe that lime is the way to go to get pink.
Reply:its right on for normal plants, but you add acid to make them blue and add alkali to make them pink, so yes, add lime. or ask at a garden shop. they know more than we do.

How do I prepare Hydrangeas for winter?

2010-05-20T04:46:00.000-07:00

Hi,

I moved into a new house this summer and the landscaping included a whole lot of really nice hydrangeas. With winter coming, I`m wondering how I should trim them/cover them up before snowfall. The leaves at the base have started to grow yellow already.

I live in montreal, Canada so when winter comes, it really comes.

How do I prepare Hydrangeas for winter?
there is lots of hydrangea info here....

www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com

very nice folks there and the FAQ's have good answers, too... there's a specific page there about wintering hydrangeas....

I'm going to guess that you have the late season hydrangeas like Annabelle.... look that one up on that site and see if it's that one, then look at what it says about pruning....
Reply:I live in the midwestern united states, so I can relate.

Do not trim them. Always trim them right directly after flowering only, as the new buds set for next year, so no pruning now for us. If you have one called annabella, it gets trimmed back in march.

You don't have to do anything to the hydrangeas. You can leave them as they are, they can add some interest in the winter garden. The leaves will die an fall, and the stems have buds and do lend garden interest for winter.

Only thing that I do us put a 2 inch layer of peat moss around the plant for added fertilizer.

I like to hang old beads or garland on my branches for winter to add sparkle to the garden. Makes them interesting.

Why are my Hydrangeas only blooming around the rim of the cluster?

2010-05-20T04:45:00.003-07:00

Each year my Hydrangeas get full and tall, but then they only flower around the outer rim of each head of flowers. The buds in the very center never open. The plant is in a part sun and part shade location. What am I doing wrong?

Why are my Hydrangeas only blooming around the rim of the cluster?
Do you have lace cap hydgrangeas? Check out this link to see some pictures of some. They are Hydrangea macrophylla, which have lace cap flowers and some have mop head flowers. You seem to be describing the lace caps.

Let me know!

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/lace...
Reply:Yes the hydrangea flower you describe is a lacecap style flower. If you want the big 'fluffy' full flowers you need to buy 'mop top' flowered hydrangeas.

Buy in some additional varieties there are hundreds to pick from and it sounds like you have ideal conditions.

Can hydrangeas be replanted without dying?

2010-05-20T04:45:00.002-07:00

My husband and I are planning to put in a privacy fence. I want to dig up my nikko blue hydrangeas and put them in front of the privacy fence. Bad thing is that we are doing the fence very soon, and the hydrangeas are already starting to bud out with new growth. Will being moved kill them?

Can hydrangeas be replanted without dying?
It won't kill them just make sure you get most of the root ball and water water water.

Edit: Please don't prune your hydrangeas after you transplant. That will definitely kill them. They cannot stand that much shock at one time. I wouldn't even prune them until next year when they have took root good.
Reply:You can replant you hydrangea...No problem!!

Although you might not have a full plant this year,

Next year you will be almost back to normal...

maybe add some bone meal in the hole, and water it all the time..

Good luck...

I love the color, i had a blue one, and i put blue lights in it, it looked awesome!!
Reply:Depending on what zone you are in I would suggest moving them as early in the season as possible. They will go into a bit of shock but they are EXTREMELY resilent. After a bit of ugly time they will spring right back. Possibly dig them up now and keep them in a large container until they can be transplanted.
Reply:Yes you can transplant them, just DO NOT PRUNE them, you said they have new growth on them, why would you prune that off????? The main thing is when you do remove them is that you get as much tap root as possible and unless you can plant them as soon as you dig them, then put them in a bucket of epsom salt, this will keep moisture in the roots and stems. Don't forget to add time released fertilizer in to the hole before you plant. Keep the plants moist but not soggy, do not water the leaves, this is another plant that easily developes leaf spot disease and powdery mildew or downy mildew, water only in the mornings. I grow and bump up hundreds every year, just remember what hydra means, hydrangeas love water, don't deprive them after transplanting. Good Luck replanting.
Reply:dig out a large root ball re plant in new possision then prune the plant by approxly one third water regualy but note plants wont have many flowers
Reply:You can move them, but afterward give them lots of water. They may not be as big as they have been for you this year, but next year they will be just the size you had before you transplanted.

dermatitis

Hydrangea bushes.?

2010-05-20T04:45:00.001-07:00

i noticed, today, that the leaves look as though they'd been chewed on and it isn't flowering well. i found a very small pinkish worm on the wood. about the size of an inchworm. anyone know if this could be the problem and how to correct it? i'd truly appreciate any imput. i love that bush.

Hydrangea bushes.?
i had small worms on my hydrangea bushes last year and i used soap and water spray to get rid of them, it is much better than using chemicals. i full a spray bottle with water and few drops of dish soap and them spray the whole plant.

i use it this on must of my plants if they have and bugs on them.
Reply:Go to the nearest garden center and have the 'worm' (or several) in an envelope and also a 'cutting' from your Hydranegea bush. I can't give you a 'really good answer' without seeing both a sample of the bush and the worm, but they have experts there who should know, or will at least be able to tell you 'where to go' to get a good 'diagnosis' and the proper 'treatment' for your bush. Unfortunately, it may be 'too late' for THIS bush, but if you 'treat it properly' and the ground around it, you should at least have much better luck with the next one you plant there ... even the 'same kind and color' of hydrangea, or something 'slightly different' if you decide to 'change the plant' because you 'love' that bush and want 'something different' to commemorate it with. GOOD LUCK.
Reply:Not quite sure of what the worm is,but you can treat it with an insect dust, or Maldison from your garden center. Good Luck!

Hydrangea don't bloom, why?

2010-05-20T04:45:00.000-07:00

one blooms beautiful, one next to it hasn't bloomed in last 3 years. are there male and female?

Hydrangea don't bloom, why?
I don't know if this applies to all hydrangeas or just certain varieties, but they bloom on last year's growth. So if you trimmed back any woody shoots from last year, just leaving this year's green shoots, you would have cut off all the flowering shoots.

Also, try feeding it a potassium-rich plant food - potassium encorages flowers and fruit.
Reply:Some types of hydrangeas have blooming lifelines of 3-5 years. After that they no longer bloom. Plenty of water and fertilizer helps though. I've also noticed that they seem do better on the North side of the house. Good luck. At least the foliage is pretty.
Reply:We cut off all the dead heads this spring and that seemed to stop it from blooming . The lady across the street said that is why it didnt bloom.
Reply:Try feeding the non bloomer plant food 15-30-15, or 10-50-10. Make sure the middle number is much higher than the other two.
Reply:We have had a hydrangea for 3 years and it hasn't bloomed yet! Two others bloomed the second year. It depends on the species, how much fertilizer is used, how deep the roots are, and how much it is watered. Some things are worth waiting for!

Please help my hydrangea!?

2010-05-20T04:44:00.003-07:00

my hydrangea was doing fine until a few weeks ago. the flowers started to wither and die. i know it's a dumb Q, but that's normal, isn't it? I re-potted it and i water it daily. how often am i supposed to water it and how much? it's been (literally) raining for the past month, so could it be the lack of actual sunshine? thanks for the help! :)

Please help my hydrangea!?
I took this entire article from the Clemson University Home and Garden Information Center at hgic.clemson.edu

Hope it helps you...

Hydrangea

Hydrangea macrophylla, also called bigleaf or French hydrangea, has either pink or blue flowers. Flower color is determined indirectly by the soil pH, which affects the availability of aluminum in the soil. In acid soils the flowers will be blue, in alkaline soils the flowers will be pink. Aluminum is available to the plant in acid soils. Research has determined that the actual mechanism of color variation is due to the presence or absence of aluminum compounds in the flowers.

For blue flowers, maintain a soil pH between 5 and 5.5. Apply aluminum sulfate or sulfur to reduce the pH to this range when you see new growth emerging in April. For application rates refer to the tables in the fact sheet Changing the pH of your Soil, HGIC1650. Information on soil testing is available in the fact sheet Soil Testing, HGIC1652.

For pink flowers, maintain a soil pH of 6 or more by liming your soil. For more information on selecting a liming material and time of application refer to the fact sheet Changing the pH of your Soil, HGIC1650.

MATURE HEIGHT/SPREAD

Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs that grow from 4 to 12 feet in height depending on the variety.

GROWTH RATE

The growth rate is quite fast.

LANDSCAPE USE

Bigleaf hydrangeas are effective as single plants, massed or in containers on paved terraces.

CULTIVATION

Hydrangeas are easy to grow in well-drained soil, which should contain plenty of organic matter or humus.

Bigleaf hydrangea prefers morning sun and afternoon shade. Avoid planting it in hot, dry, exposed sites. Most people buy hydrangeas when they are blooming, but spring or fall is the best time to set them out. For planting, dig a large hole approximately two feet across and one foot deep.

Bigleaf hydrangea responds to several light applications of fertilizer during the growing season. A general-purpose fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 applied at a rate of 2 cups per 100 square feet in March, May and July is suggested. It is not necessary to remove the mulch when fertilizing, but water soon after application to help dissolve the fertilizer and send it into the soil.

Hydrangeas have such big leaves that they can suffer if set out during hot weather. They need plenty of water, so plan to water thoroughly once per week or more frequently.

Bigleaf hydrangea should be pruned after flowering so they can develop "old wood" to support blossoms the following summer. Avoid pruning after August 1.

One of the easiest ways to propagate bigleaf hydrangea is by layering. This is done by digging a trench near the plant and bending a section of limb down into the trench. Use a knife to remove a small ring of outer bark about an inch wide all the way around the limb. Then, cover the limb with soil, leaving 6 to 12 inches of the tip growth uncovered. Old established hydrangeas may also be divided in the early spring by using a shovel to divide the clump.

PROBLEMS

The most common reason for hydrangeas failing to bloom is winter injury. Other reasons may be too much shade, poor fertility and too much nitrogen fertilizer.

Hydrangeas are susceptible leaf spots and powdery mildew. Insect pests on hydrangea include aphids, leaf tiers, rose chafers and red spiders.

CULTIVARS AND VARIETIES

The cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla are divided into two groups:

# The "hortensias" have sterile flowers in solid masses, which are often so heavy they cause the stem to bend.

# The "lacecaps" have a center of fertile, relatively non-showy flowers and an outer ring of showy, sterile flowers, which together form a pinwheel effect.

Hortensias:

# ‘All Summer Beauty,’ 3 to 4 feet tall with flower heads produced on current season’s growth, unlike other bigleaf hydrangeas.

# ‘Carmen’, 4 feet tall with large pink flower heads.

# ‘Nikko Blue,’ 4 to 6 feet tall with rich blue flower heads (in acid soil).

# ‘Blue Prince’

# ‘Compacta,’ supposedly more compact than ‘Nikko Blue’ with darker green leaves.

Lacecaps:

# ‘Blue Wave,’ 6 to 7 feet tall with lacecap flowers.

# ‘Coerulea,’ perfect flowers a deep blue and ray flowers blue or white.

Several lacecaps feature silver-variegated foliage: ‘Quadricolor,’ ‘Silver Variegated Mariesii,’ and ‘Variegata.’

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): This deciduous shrub grows to 6 feet tall and has deeply lobed, oaklike, 8-inch leaves, which turn bronze in fall. The white flowers turn pinkish as they age.

‘Snow Queen’ has large white flower clusters.‘Snowflake’ has a double-flowered appearance.‘Harmony’ is a low-growing shrub, 3 feet tall and 6 feet wide, with spectacular 12-inch cones of sterile flowers.

Climbing Hydrangea (Hydrangea anomala): This is a deciduous vine, which climbs high by clinging aerial rootlets. Leaves are roundish, 2 to 4 inches long. The white flower clusters are 6 to 10 inches wide in lacecap effect. Old plants have a peeling, cinnamon-colored bark.

Smooth or Snowhill Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens): This is a 5-foot-tall deciduous shrub with oval, grayish green, 4- to 8- inch leaves. Flowers are dull white and bloom late June through September.

‘Annabelle’ produces enormous (to 1 foot) globular clusters of sterile white flowers on a plant about 4 feet tall.

‘Grandiflora’ has 6-inch clusters on a similarly sized plant.

Peegee Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata): This is a 10- to 15-foot shrub or up to 25-foot tree. Leaves are 5 inches long and turn bronze in fall. Flowers are mainly fertile, in 10- to 15-inch clusters, white slowly fading to pink in fall. Peegee hydrangeas are tolerant of city conditions and grow well in seaside gardens. ‘Tardiva’ flowers later, in August and September. ‘Praecox’ grows 10 to 15 feet tall and flowers in June.

Hydrangea serrata is a small (to 5 feet tall) deciduous shrub similar to H. macrophylla but smaller, with smaller leaves and smaller flowers.

‘Blue Billow’ is only 3 feet tall.

Prepared by Marjan Kluepfel, HGIC Information Specialist, and Bob Polomski, Extension Consumer Horticulturist, Clemson University.

This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. (New 4/02).

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offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.

Clemson University Cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture, South Carolina Counties, Extension Service, Clemson, South Carolina. Issued in Furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914

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Reply:Hydrangea's like to be in their original soil when you repoted it did you put some of the original soil back in? They also thrive if you feed them cold tea try that. I hope that will be useful.