Why hydrangea does not bloom ?

Hydrangeas are beautiful plants, especially during the flowering period. Their magnificent inflorescences immediately catch the eye. However, it sometimes happens that the hydrangea does not bloom.

Why is this happening and are we gardeners making a mistake in the cultivation? Find out about 8 reasons why hydrangea does not bloom and how to stimulate flowering hydrangeas!

1. Hydrangea does not bloom because of damage in winter

This is a common reason. The hydrangea requires a semi-shaded position, preferably sheltered from frosty winds. In severe winters, the tops of the shoots or the entire shoots of the hydrangea freeze, as a result of which the hydrangea does not bloom.

That is why it is so important to protect the hydrangea in the winter. For this purpose, you can make a mound of garden peat, bark or use coniferous twigs. The hoods made of textile, a finished product that you put on the hydrangea bush in order to protect it from freezing, may also be helpful.

2. Hydrangea doesn’t bloom because of bad pruning

The way to cut a hydrangea varies depending on the species of this plant. You must cut bouquet hydrangeas differently than garden hydrangeas.

Hydrangea Flowers Plant Leaves - FinjaM / Pixabay — FinjaM / Pixabay

This is mainly due to the fact that they bloom on different shoots: one or two years old.

Trimming the shrub on the wrong date will prevent the hydrangea from blooming. This is especially true of the garden hydrangea. In turn, the bouquet hydrangea that is not cut from year to year will produce less and less flowers.

So, to encourage the flowering of hydrangeas, proceed as follows:

in the case of garden hydrangeas, sawn hydrangeas and oak-leaved hydrangeas in early spring, only cut out their dry inflorescences just above the first pair of buds,
in the case of hydrangeas blooming on this year’s shoots, i.e. bouquet hydrangeas and shrub hydrangeas, trim the plants quite low each spring. Cut the shrub hydrangea to a height of about 20 cm, and cut the bouquet hydrangea to 2/3 of its length, above the 3rd or 4th bud. Also cut out all thin shoots. Such pruned bouquet hydrangeas will produce strong shoots ending with lush flowers from the buds left behind.

3. Hydrangea does not bloom due to lack of fertilization

As with most garden plants, the lack of fertilization may result in the hydrangea not blooming or its flowers being small and few.

For proper growth and development, hydrangea needs proper fertilization. For fertilizing hydrangeas, you can use granulated fertilizers, as well as dissolving and liquid fertilizers. A properly balanced hydrangea fertilizer covers the plants’ needs for macro- and micro-nutrients, and the high potassium content improves the condition, stimulating the flowering of hydrangeas and facilitates the formation of flower buds.

Flowers Hydrangeas Blossom Bloom - matthiasboeckel / Pixabay — matthiasboeckel / Pixabay

4. Hydrangea does not bloom because of the disease

Hydrangeas that are grown in poor positions or planted too densely often suffer from fungal diseases. Hydrangeas can be attacked by gray mold, powdery mildew, or leaf spot. As a result of infection with a fungal disease, the plant is weakened, its growth is inhibited and, consequently, flowering is impaired, or even no flowers are completely absent.

That is why it is so important to ensure appropriate conditions in the cultivation of hydrangeas as well as early and correct diagnosis of fungal disease and the implementation of appropriate spraying.

5. Hydrangea does not bloom because it is attacked by an aphid

When clusters of dark green to almost black insects appear on the tops of the shoots and the underside of the hydrangea leaves, it is probably an aphid. Aphids suck the sap from hydrangeas, weakening the plant, limiting its growth and causing distortion of the leaves.

Hydrangea Flowers Plant Bush Bloom - suresh7076 / Pixabay — suresh7076 / Pixabay

The foraging of aphids is the reason why the hydrangea does not bloom or produces few flowers, often distorted. As soon as the first symptoms of aphid feeding are noticed, the hydrangeas should be sprayed with an insecticide preparation.

6. Hydrangea does not bloom because of lack of water

The shrub tolerates drought very badly, so if the summer is dry and hot, without systematic watering it will develop poorly, its leaves will begin to wilt and the flower buds will dry up or not bind at all. It is good to know that the botanical name of Hydrangea hydrangea means “water vessel”. Indeed, all hydrangeas tolerate drought very badly.

7. Hydrangea does not bloom because of bad pH of the soil

You also need to take care of the right pH of the earth – hydrangeas like slightly acidic. They cannot effectively take up minerals from alkaline soil and they start to suffer from chlorosis, for example, which weakens the plant and is not conducive to flowering. This will be prevented by the use of acid peat and hydrangea fertilizer.

8. Hydrangea does not bloom because of shadow

The position may also be a problem for the garden hydrangea. The plant naturally dislikes sunny places and prefers partial shade, but if planted in too much shade, it may have problems setting up flower buds.

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