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Key Points
- Hydrangeas may stop blooming due to their variety, seasonal timing, or environmental challenges.
- Signs of distress like pale leaves, brittle stems, or persistent wilting can indicate a plant is struggling or dying.
- Proper care, including slow watering, balanced sunlight, and organic mulch, can help revive stressed hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas are some of the most popular and easy-to-grow garden plants, but that doesn’t mean that caring for them is always a walk in the park. Sure, a non-blooming hydrangea could simply mean that your plant is done flowering for the year. On the other hand, it could be a sign that hydrangea will die soon without proper care.
To help you figure out what exactly is going on with your non-blooming hydrangeas, we asked three plant experts for their best tips on tending to hydrangeas.
Meet the Expert
- Kelly Funke is the president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins, a plant nursery and rose cultivator.
- Lorraine Ballato is an instructor at the New York Botanical Garden and the author of Success With Hydrangeas.
- Staci Hill is the cofounder Gooseberry Bridge Farm and coauthor of the The Preserver’s Garden.
When Do Hydrangeas Rebloom?
Whether your hydrangeas will rebloom depends on what kind grows in your garden. For instance, panicle hydrangeas bloom once each year on new wood and continue producing flowers for weeks, and non-reblooming varieties of big leaf hydrangeas typically bloom once each season.
“Treating [all hydrangeas] the same actually causes a lot of the problems people have with hydrangeas,” says Staci Hill, the cofounder of Gooseberry Bridge Farm. “Once you’ve identified the type of hydrangea you have, you will know when to expect it to bloom.”
Kelly Funk, the president and CEO of Jackson & Perkins, notes that most hydrangeas have their first bloom in May or June, depending on the climate.
However, Lorraine Ballato, the author of Success with Hydrangeas, points out that even hydrangeas that typically rebloom in July might not do so if they live in a colder zone that experienced a challenging season.
“A challenging season can be one where UV is reduced because of multiple instances of cloudiness and rain during bud set periods,” Ballato says.
3 Signs Your Hydrangeas Are Dying
In order to catch symptoms of impending hydrangea death, Ballato recommends checking out the plant’s foliage first.
“If the foliage doesn’t bounce back after a dry spell, that’s a sure sign of trouble,” she says. “If the foliage looks pale and lacks vigor, that’s a sure sign of trouble.”
Stems that turn brown, black, or grow brittle can be another sign that something is wrong.
“Soft, black stems often indicate rot, while dry, brittle stems can signal winter damage or that part of the plant has died,” Funk notes.
Hill adds that hydrangea wilting that doesn’t improve after watering can also point to a dying hydrangea.
“While some leaf drooping during hot afternoons can be normal, these signs tell you the plant needs help,” she says.
How to Revive Hydrangeas
If your hydrangeas are showing signs of distress and even death, these expert tips could help revive them.
Apply Water Slowly
If your plant is moisture-stressed, it’s best to apply water slowly over an extended period of time.
“A deluge of water from a hose is not as effective as a slow dripper [or] soaker hose application of water,” Ballato says.
Give Hydrangeas Proper Sunlight
Ensuring that your hydrangea variety is receiving appropriate sunlight will go a long way in boosting its health.
“Most hydrangeas thrive with morning sun and afternoon shade, especially in warmer climates,” Funk notes. “Too much afternoon sun can scorch leaves and flowers, while too much shade can reduce blooming.”
Add a Layer of Mulch
Funk recommends applying two to three inches of organic mulch, such as pine straw or shredded bark, around the plant’s base.
“Mulch helps retain soil moisture, keeps roots cool during summer heat, and suppresses weeds,” she says. “Keep mulch a few inches away from stems to prevent rot.”
Read the original article on The Spruce
