My endless summer hydrangeas were in bloom when planted 2 yrs ago but never bloomed again. Anything I can do?

Question

I am so disappointed because I was really counting on the color to even out my sunny garden. I would love to get them to bloom. I've tried coffee grounds, miracle grow, etc.. I am giving it one more season and then I may yank them. Any ideas to help them bloom this season would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

prune them down a little. may promote some blooms

Answer 2

The above answers are all correct. One thing they have left out is the weather.  My hydrangeas did not bloom at all last year....all leaves. The reason is they started leafing out in the spring and we received a cold snap in the spring that killed the buds. Hydrangeas are notorious for blooming some years and not blooming or very little blooming the next. This year has been fantastic for my hydrangeas as the spring was mild and stayed mild until summer. Just be sure to pay close attention to the weather and your hydrangea in the spring. If they are starting to leaf out or the buds are turning green and you get a cold snap then your hydrangeas probably won't bloom.

Try giving your hydrangeas a shot of bone meal (about a cup per plant) in the spring before they leaf out. This will give them a big shot of phosphorus without the nitrogen to encourage blooming of your plants.  Don't give up on them yet...I know they can be frustrating plants but when they bloom its worth the wait!

I included pictures of my hydrangeas.

Answer 3

The most common reasons for hydrangeas not blooming is 1) pruning at the wrong time, and 2) not enough sun.

Also - don't fertilize - often that will encourage a lot of leaves, but not blooms.

Answer 4

They may be phosphorous deficient. Also, when pruning, don't mistake dormant-but-alive stalks with the truly dead old bloom stalks.

As an aside.. if you want to have blue blooms, feed them with aluminum sulphate.

Answer 5

Here is a great questions & answers website:

http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/hy...

Answer 6

When this happened to mine, I found out that I was not pruning them correctly.  Last year I didn't prune them at all and this year they are full of flowers.