Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: GrannieAnnie on August 11, 2006, 15:28

Title: Hydrangreas
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 11, 2006, 15:28
Are there any hydrangea experts here?

My friend has one that 2 years ago had loads of lovely flowers on it.  Last year just 2 flowers adn this year only one.  But it is a lovely healthy looking bush, plenty of green growth and lots of new shoots.  Does anyone know why they stop flowering?  Thanks
Title: Hydrangreas
Post by: Phoenix on August 13, 2006, 20:38
Mine r the same this yr, did she prune the bush after it flowered heavily? if so that will reduce the flowering for a few seasons as its gotta get its strength back if u know wot i mean lol try mulching and feeding (i just water them with miracle grow) hope this helps :)
Title: Hydrangreas
Post by: GrannieAnnie on August 13, 2006, 22:04
Hi Phoenix, thanks for that advice.  I'll tell her what you said.  I don't know about the pruning, but maybe she did.  As to mulching, its in a big pot at the moment, but the plant is bigger, so she probably couldn't get under it to mulch it anyway!!!!  I'll also ask her what she feeds it on, and tell her not to prune too hard in future!!!

Good luck for tomorrow, hope the new job goes well for you!!
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: Leedsniner on November 21, 2009, 15:54
I have a hydrangea which has never flowered in the 4 years that we have had it. Has anyone any idea why?
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 21, 2009, 16:13
Hydrangeas are quite hungry plants and seem to do well in quite shady places where they do not dry out. It's easy for them to dry out if they are in pots, specially if they have been allowed to get quite big. I find that pruning results in smaller heads of flowers, not necessarily less flowers. Feeding them well with tomato food in the spring and summer, werks fer me  :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: viettaclark on November 21, 2009, 22:28
I've got a big pink flowered bush in the front garden which gets bashed all the time from people going past, seldom gets dead-headed and is never fed or watered. Yet every year there's a fantastic show of huge blooms. When I'm asked how I do it I look coy....... ;)
In the back garden there's a blue flowered stump of a bush that I feed, water and mulch and I got 1 flower this year! :(
C'est la vie! :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 09:12
If you leave the old flowers on over the winter it protects the new buds growing further round the stem. Just cut the old heads off around March, down to just above the fat green bud, bit of a feed and away you go  :D :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 19:28
If you leave the old flowers on over the winter it protects the new buds growing further round the stem. Just cut the old heads off around March, down to just above the fat green bud, bit of a feed and away you go  :D :D

Sorry, but I am going to contadict you. Leaving the old flowers on is an old wives tale. They protect nothing. You can quite happily prune the plants back by half without affecting flowering. Also, as has been said, feeding with tomato feed will also encourage flowering. :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 19:34
Hmmm... maybe  I am an old wife  :lol: :lol: :lol:

Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2009, 20:45
Me too...don't worry about it eh  ::)  :lol:  :nowink:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 20:46
Nah -- old wives is good  :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 20:54
The simple answer is, prove me wrong. 8) :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 20:59
What are you saying David? :ohmy: :ohmy:

Oooh MoS, David thinks we're not old wives after all  :lol: :lol:

Fanks  ;)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2009, 21:08
I'm not sure that's quite what he means Sunny................................. :tongue2:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 21:11
What are you saying David? :ohmy: :ohmy:

Oooh MoS, David thinks we're not old wives after all  :lol: :lol:

Fanks  ;)


What are we classing as old? :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:20
I'm not sure that's quite what he means Sunny................................. :tongue2:

(http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt115/lalastarrr/emoticon/th_k.gif) (http://media.photobucket.com/image/emoticon/lalastarrr/emoticon/k.gif)

Are you sure?
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2009, 21:26
I thought (I know it was painful!) that he meant prove it about the hydrangeas, Sunny, but perhaps you were right :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:27
(http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h252/ShadowStalkerWA/Emoticons/th_Emoticon-woohoo.gif) (http://media.photobucket.com/image/emoticons/ShadowStalkerWA/Emoticons/Emoticon-woohoo.gif)


A compliment, a compliment  :lol:

See that, a compliment for us  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 21:28
I thought (I know it was painful!) that he meant prove it about the hydrangeas, Sunny, but perhaps you were right :D

Nope, I meant prove it about the Hydrangeas. :tongue2:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:31
(http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj204/dutchdragon1958/th_36_2_58triesteemoticon.gif) (http://media.photobucket.com/image/emoticon crying/dutchdragon1958/36_2_58triesteemoticon.gif)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2009, 21:33
Please don't cry Sunny......he's really not worth it :tongue2:  :lol:

Rhs pruning advice:-
Quote
How to prune hydrangeas  
Dead-heading
Dead blooms on mophead hydrangeas can, in mild areas, be removed just after flowering, but it is best to leave them on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection for the tender growth buds below. Remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds lower down the stem.
Lacecaps are hardier, and the faded flowerheads can be cut back after flowering to the second pair of leaves below the head in order to prevent seed developing, which saps energy from the plant.
If the RHS says it is so then it MUST be true  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 21:34
Stop crying , it WAS a compliment. :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 21:36
Please don't cry Sunny......he's really not worth it :tongue2:  :lol:

Rhs pruning advice:-
Quote
How to prune hydrangeas  
Dead-heading
Dead blooms on mophead hydrangeas can, in mild areas, be removed just after flowering, but it is best to leave them on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection for the tender growth buds below. Remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds lower down the stem.
Lacecaps are hardier, and the faded flowerheads can be cut back after flowering to the second pair of leaves below the head in order to prevent seed developing, which saps energy from the plant.
If the RHS says it is so then it MUST be true  :lol: :lol: :lol:


Don`t believe everything you read. Some of us have ben there, done that, :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:38
Stop crying , it WAS a compliment. :D

(http://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv265/mercyjohnsoon/th_havefungif.gif) (http://media.photobucket.com/image/emoticon happy/mercyjohnsoon/havefungif.gif)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:38
Please don't cry Sunny......he's really not worth it :tongue2:  :lol:

Rhs pruning advice:-
Quote
How to prune hydrangeas  
Dead-heading
Dead blooms on mophead hydrangeas can, in mild areas, be removed just after flowering, but it is best to leave them on the plant over winter to provide some frost protection for the tender growth buds below. Remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds lower down the stem.
Lacecaps are hardier, and the faded flowerheads can be cut back after flowering to the second pair of leaves below the head in order to prevent seed developing, which saps energy from the plant.
If the RHS says it is so then it MUST be true  :lol: :lol: :lol:


Don`t believe everything you read. Some of us have ben there, done that, :lol: :lol:

Yes  :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 21:42
Daft bat. :lol: :lol: :lol: :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2009, 21:42
Don't get carried away now Sunny, like he says.......

Quote
Don`t believe everything you read.

(http://bestsmileys.com/lol/15.gif)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:43
I;m not daft tho' .. I can read  :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2009, 21:45
and right ::) :wacko: but not spell :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2009, 21:47
You is write all the time  :D


 
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 22, 2009, 21:51
Stop talking about me as if I`m not here. :tongue2: :tongue2: :tongue2:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 23, 2009, 07:43
 :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 23, 2009, 20:45
 :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :tongue2:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 23, 2009, 20:46
Hello -- how did you know I've just logged on   ??? ??? ???

and I am not talking about you David, I was talking about Mumofstig.. and nicely too  ;) :D
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 23, 2009, 20:59
I`ve not said a word. :tongue2: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 23, 2009, 21:02
I thought itwas quiet round here  :) :)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 23, 2009, 21:11
You gone deaf, have you? :lol: :lol: :lol: :tongue2:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 23, 2009, 21:12
Sorry, did someone say something?  :unsure:
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: Spana on November 23, 2009, 21:18
Well,  they do well down here so i have loads,  mop heads and lace caps in shades of pinks, blues,  mauves and white.  They are gorgeous.

Ive tried just dead heading in spring and also cutting back lower down and the cutting back lower down method definitely reduces flowering .  Now i cut back to the top  fattest buds.
We have quite a few in big half barrels and i feed every two weeks with miracle grow and they flower like crazy starting in early June and are still looking good now.
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: arugula on November 24, 2009, 16:38
So anyway, when do they normally flower? I thought I was seeing things today when one that I pass to and from work/town every day was in full bloom  ??? ??? I'm sure that's not right is it?
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 24, 2009, 16:44
Don't know what your temperatures have been like Argyllie, but down south I'm sure they think it is still a typical summer....wet and windy :D and that's why they are still blooming. Spana is lucky it's  even milder where she is :)
As soon as we have a proper nippy spell they will finish :(
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: arugula on November 24, 2009, 16:59
Yes it has been too mild really. If/when it does turn colder, I'm waiting for my Hebe stop thinking its summer too! Only I hope it doesn't cause the bushes any harm flowering all upside down like that  :(.
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: mumofstig on November 24, 2009, 18:23
Don't worry we will still get a winter.........plenty of time yet.
That will reset their 'clocks' and all will be fine :D
(says she with fingers crossed behind her back.....fanites  :D )
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: DavidT on November 24, 2009, 19:37
Even Fuchsias are still in full leaf and flower around here. 8)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: sunshineband on November 24, 2009, 19:45
And here -- they are gorgeous  :)
Title: Re: Hydrangreas
Post by: arugula on November 25, 2009, 07:09
Even Fuchsias are still in full leaf and flower around here. 8)

Oh our fuschias down south used to be still in flower regularly when the frosts came  8). I keep meaning to try them here, because they are obviously pretty hardy  :happy:.