non-blooming hydrangea

I planted three new hydrangea shrubs this spring (two of them are Endless Summer varieties, I don't recall the third one but it was supposed to be blue). The plants have established themselves well but none of them bloomed. It might be coincidental but the hydrangea that was here when we purchased the house 3 years ago bloomed the first two years but no blooms on it either this year -- this older plant is is a totally different part of the garden. I live in Zone 5.

 

Too cold, too young or you are cutting the buds off.

 

The Endless Summer should have bloomed though....are they getting enough sun?

 

Shade should not be a problem.

 

Well the sure don't bloom in deep shade because I have had them there.

 

Assuming the depth of the shade was the problem.

 

yes...the problem has not yet been established. I was just asking about the amount of sun.

 

Thanks for your responses -- the hydrangeas are in a south-facing bed but, because of large fir trees nearby, they get only about 3-4 hr. of sun per day -- I thought they did best in shade to part-shade -- am I wrong?

 

In this climate first critical factor likely to be encountered is lack of summer moisture, many local specimens also appear to have a nutrient deficiency (probably N). Will do fine in full light in humid locations, such as near open water, or on a retentive (claylike) soil.

 

Not without a constant water source. We have heavy clay soil and the Hydrangeas must be watered daily or they droop badly.

We use drip irrigation to keep them happy.

 

Hmm-m-m-m -- my hydrangeas did wilt during the hot summer weather and I found I had to water them daily to perk them up again. I had never seen wilting hydrangeas before and thought it must be only because they were so newly planted and the roots hadn't had time to reach further for moisture -- maybe a drip system next year would be a better idea. They are now starting to lose their leaves for winter -- is there anything I should do at this time to help them through the winter (there is about 8-10 inches of new growth on them)?

 

Keep them watered.

Most recommend pruning back to new buds in the early spring.

Obviously don't fertilize them now.

Other than that, I can't think of anything.

 

A 'Mariesii' across the street has been there a long time, don't remember it wilting. Full sun, no watering, mulching or weeding. Looks like it could use some nitrogen.

 

Hello everybody.

Hydrangea branches that flowering last season, on the next one won't flowering.

So, when pruning them back on winter, should take note which one had flowering; you can cut these lower. The ones that didn't flowering last season, you should cut them higher because they will give flowers next season.

Need acidic soil, frequently watering (hydro = water) in vegetative period.