OK, I know what you’re thinking: You want to learn how to make your Hydrangeas bloom?
You’ve heard you can push hydrangeas to bloom in a few ways, including applying various amounts of sunlight, avoiding shade from other plants, and tending to the soil. But you need some guidance.
How To Make Your Hydrangeas Bloom
There are several types of Hydrangeas and all make excellent additions to your garden with their beautiful blooms in the summer and spring. But without proper soil, sunlight, and water, they may not bloom the way you desire.
Hydrangea plants can act strange, but addressing the right factors and applying tender care will help Hydrangeas bloom.
To address making hydrangeas bloom, try out one of these helpful methods.
Place Hydrangeas in the Right Sunlight
For optimal hydrangea blooming, you should place your flowers in areas where they will get four to six hours of direct sunlight daily. Focus on places that will receive this sunlight during the morning hours.
You can look around your yard at different times of day to monitor which sections get the optimal sunshine and plan to plant your Hydrangea varieties accordingly.
Decide on the type of Hydrangea for your landscape. The large cone-shaped panicle Hydrangeas call PeeGee are a favorite of many homeowners. Panicle hydrangeas produce blooms on new wood and need all-day or afternoon sun for best results.
Related: Growing The Little Quick Fire Hydrangea
Plant Hydrangeas Away from Other Plants and Big Trees
Bigger trees will hinder the growth of hydrangeas because of the substantial shade they create. Trees also use up a lot of the surrounding water, which deprives hydrangeas of the required hydration.
You can either put them on the trees’ shade edges or prepare an isolated spot in the garden.
If you create a larger garden, you can pair the hydrangeas with nearby plants that will not suppress them. Try to choose other plants that bloom during the same parts of the year. These plants include dogwood, foxglove, and heucherella.
Keep Your Hydrangeas in Well-Drained, Fertile Soil
Before you decide on the right soil for your hydrangeas, you should test the area.
Start by excavating a one-foot by one-foot hole and fill the area with water. If the water drains within five to 15 minutes, then it is an excellent spot for Hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas tend to drink a large amount of water, but too much of it will prevent them from blooming because they rot.
Organic composts will prevent your hydrangea from getting waterlogged and will also facilitate faster draining. You can also combine the soil with peat moss after you dig out the hydrangea.
Monitor and Test the Soil for Optimal pH Levels
pH levels can have a substantial impact on your hydrangeas’ blooming success. You should always strive for a pH level between 5 and 8, depending on the color or variation you are going for. But if your pH is not lower than 3 or above 10, it will not block your hydrangeas from blooming.
You can find a testing kit at a nearby home improvement store for a good value. Once you make the purchase, you can mix a soil sample and some water to conduct a litmus test.
Hydrangea Colors
If your aim is to bloom hydrangeas with a specific color, try to follow these pH ranges:
- Blue flowers – try for a pH level of 5.5 or less.
- Pink and red flowers – look for a pH level of 6.5 or more.
- White flowers will not need to change or alter the pH, but if you see a white hydrangea that is not blooming, it is because the pH is too high or low.
Related: What Makes Hydrangeas Blue?
Take Proper Care of Your Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas’ flowers and leaves might look delicate, but they do not require extensive care. If they’re not blooming and the above strategies don’t seem to help, start with the basics of hydrangea care. Some TLC could enhance the odds of a bloom.
Water
You should water your hydrangea at least once per week with an inch of water, especially throughout the growing season. If you want to enable optimal root growth, it is best to water the hydrangeas deeply three times per week.
Are you looking to avoid hydrangea wilting during hot days? If you water in the morning with a soaker hose, this will prevent moisture from soaking the leaves and flowers.
Apply Hydrangea Fertilizer Strategically
Proper hydrangea fertilization depends on timing and a specific variety of flowers. You can determine the optimal schedule by looking at the soil.
Panicle and oakleaf hydrangeas will bloom best with two different applications in the April and June months. Bigleaf hydrangeas will need many more applications in March, May, and June. Smooth hydrangea variations will only need one fertilization application, usually in the late winter.
Mulch Application
You can add some mulch underneath the flowers to keep your hydrangeas cool and moist for proper blooming. A quality organic mulch will facilitate the breakdown process and deliver nutrients to enhance soil texture.