Temperature Of Water For Hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas, like any newly planted or propagated plant, require more water than established ones. To ensure consistent moisture, water them deeply once a week, or more frequently during hot, dry periods. Water at the base of the plant to avoid letting the soil dry out. Planting hydrangeas is essential for maintaining their health and growth.

Hydrophosses grow well in the ground or containers as long as they have well-draining soil, partial shade, and 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water every week. Once established, water hydrangeas about one inch per week, spread across three watering sessions, evenly distributed at the roots and never over the top of the plant.

  1. Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. Deeply water 3 times a week to encourage root growth.
  2. Cut the stems and place them in water as quickly as possible. Fill a clean vase with 3 in (7.6 cm) to 5 in (13 cm) of lukewarm or room temperature water, not crushing the stem ends.
  3. Leave the hydrangeas to sit in warm water for a while, allowing them to absorb water through their petals.
  4. For more established hydrangeas, water when the first inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
  5. Cut 10 cm off the stem and place it in boiling water for 24 hours, ensuring there is room for steam to escape.
  6. Take a container of lukewarm water with you to the garden, cut the hydrangea stems at a diagonal with a sharp knife, and submerge the stem in the water.

For storage, use a floral cooler with a temperature between 6 to 13 degrees Celsius or 42 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the water is not at an extreme temperature, pour the hot water and flowers into your favorite vase, ensuring hydrangea blooms are plump and happy.


📹 Hydrangeas – everything you need to know about growing hydrangeas in your garden

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Do hydrangeas like sun or shade?

Hydrangeas thrive in full sun to part sun, but can also tolerate some shade. They can be in full shade during the hottest part of the day, especially in hotter climates. However, insufficient sun can lead to reduced flowering and weaker stems. To ensure hydrangeas thrive in their gardens, consider the timing and type of shade. Some hydrangeas are more shade-tolerant than others, so don’t let a little shade hinder your gardening goals.

How long do you leave hydrangeas in hot water?
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How long do you leave hydrangeas in hot water?

Boil water and dip each hydrangea stem in it for 30 seconds to dissolve sap. Place the stems in room temperature water to prevent stress. Replacing the water with a floral preservative every other day is crucial for maintaining freshness and extending the lifespan of cut hydrangeas. Fresh water prevents bacteria buildup and adds nutrient-rich hydration. Regular water changes keep the water clear and odor-free, and revitalizes the flowers.

Trimming the stems slightly each time changes the water helps water uptake, keeping hydrangeas fresh longer and looking their best. This practice not only keeps the water clear and odor-free but also revitalizes the flowers.

Do hydrangeas like hot or cold water?

Hydrogenated hydrangeas require cool water every other day, with fresh stems added and flower food or cane sugar added. Keep the arrangement out of direct sunlight. If flowers appear sad, soak the entire hydrangea in cool water for 45 minutes, shake off, cut the stem, and place it in water with flower food. This can revive the flowers and increase their shelf life. Hydrangeas should be cut back every winter before new growth begins, as pruning allows for maximum budding, bigger blooms, and shaping the plant. Without pruning, the shrub may appear tangled and messy, and stems may become heavy and woody, producing fewer buds.

Can you soak hydrangeas in cold water?

To revive wilting hydrangea blooms, soak the entire flower in cool water and weigh it down to ensure it stays under the water. Submerge the hydrangea blooms and stems, ensuring they are both submerged. This simple trick can give your hydrangea blooms new life and is perfect for those who love hydrangeas. This quick tip can help you avoid the frustration of drooping flowers within a day or two.

What is the lowest temperature a hydrangea can tolerate?
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What is the lowest temperature a hydrangea can tolerate?

Hydrangeas, such as bigleaf, oakleaf, and mountain hydrangea, can withstand harsh winter temperatures down to -15°F due to their robust root systems. However, the dormant flower buds may be compromised. To protect hydrangeas from severe winter damage, add a layer of mulch at the base during late fall or after the first freeze. Wrap or cover them if temperatures dip below 0°F, minimizing the risk of damage. If growing in containers, bring them inside after the flowering season when temperatures drop below 45°F degrees.

Place them in a cool, unheated, dark, and dry place like a garage, basement, or mudroom. As temperatures rise, slowly acclimate them to warmer temperatures by placing them indoors in direct sunlight during the day. Some cultivars are created to be exceptionally hardy in areas with brutal winters. Some cold-tolerant hydrangeas can be found in a collection of options.

How to tell if a hydrangea is overwatered?
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How to tell if a hydrangea is overwatered?

Overwatering hydrangeas can cause wilting leaves and yellowing leaves due to nutrient deficiencies. These plants are known for their vibrant colors and lush blooms, but they also face challenges such as nutrient deficiencies. To keep hydrangeas healthy and thriving, a balanced watering schedule is essential, with a deep watering once a week, especially during dry spells. Factors such as soil type, climate, and hydrangea variety can influence the watering frequency.

Sandy soils require more frequent watering, while clay soils need less. Identifying an overwatered hydrangea is crucial for timely intervention. Common signs include wilting leaves, yellowing leaves, and nutrient deficiencies. Adjusting the watering routine based on the plant’s needs and environmental conditions is essential for maintaining their health and thriving.

How long to submerge hydrangea in water?
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How long to submerge hydrangea in water?

The author emphasizes the importance of submerging hydrangea heads in water for 20-30 minutes to wash off dirt, rehydrate flowers, and fluff up blooms, especially those from South America. After soaking, the stems are given a fresh cut, removing 1-2 inches of stem and placing them in a bucket with fresh water. The author does not use floral food with their flowers and leaves the buckets of hydrangeas out until the blooms are completely dried off. Once dry, they are placed in a cooler to harden off overnight.

The next day, the hydrangeas are in great shape for use in designs, with firm blooms that are noticeable after this treatment. The author emphasizes the importance of using fresh water and not using floral food with their flowers.

Will hydrangeas come back after a freeze?

On March 25th, many Hydrangeas have survived the deep freeze, with most planted varieties remaining in good shape. Some less bud-hardy plants may have been damaged, but most are expected to be fine. However, the situation is not over yet, as sometimes we may experience a dip into the twenties again in April. Despite this, it is important to remain hopeful and keep a “prayer of protection” around your Hydrangeas until May.

Do hydrangeas need boiling water?

In order to preserve the bloom of a hydrangea plant, it is recommended to cut the bloom as long as possible and place it in a bucket of water at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. This will permit the bloom to imbibe a greater quantity of water. Once the cut blooms have been brought indoors, the stems should be cut at a point approximately 5 cm from the base, and the blooms immersed in boiling water.

What is the water trick with hydrangeas?

The author presents a method for reviving hydrangeas that involves snipping the stem with sharp shears, placing it in a mug filled with boiling water, and observing the subsequent revival of the plant.

What temperature is best for hydrangeas?
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What temperature is best for hydrangeas?

To maintain a healthy Hydrangea plant, use temperature control devices like a min-max thermometer or a smart AC controller with a Comfy Mode. Adjust the plant’s temperature during winter by moving away from cold windows and insulate it from drafts, and provide shade in summer to protect it from intense heat. Gradually acclimate the plant to seasonal changes, as sudden changes can be overwhelming for them. Remember to be patient and adaptable to maintain a healthy Hydrangea.


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Temperature Of Water For Hydrangeas
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48 comments

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  • I’m from Brisbane Queensland Australia- I enjoyed perusal your article on hydrangeas. I’m a hydrangea lover and have successfully grown mine in large pots. They are such a rewarding plant and flower so well. Your garden hydrangeas are magnificent. I agree with you not to prune unless absolutely necessary. Regards Sue

  • Hello Kelly 🙋🏼‍♀️ as you know because of you all my hydrangeas bloomed this year because i didn’t prune them back 🙏🏻 so they looked beautiful this year and didn’t know i was watering them wrong 🤔😖 well even though most of the blooms are done i will be watering them in the morning and underneath. My leaves are getting spotty 😖 Thanks for the fabulous tips 🙋🏼‍♀️

  • Hey, I love Hydrangeas, they’ve always been my favorite. It doesn’t matter to me if they get brown in the winter, that just makes the Spring blooming special. I really enjoyed your article and will continue to watch. I think that there is a learning curve, but you need to just find a good spot and plant. My husband always used to say that was the hardest part, finding the perfect spots! I’m in Marietta, GA. This year we had two hard freezes Dec. and March, 2023. Several of my Hydrangeas and Gardenias got hit pretty hard. Luckily they’re surviving! Thanks for all the good information.

  • This is really a well-done, informative article. I speak as a former extension professional with the University of Idaho. It is very thorough in considering all of the things that can go wrong with a plant, it explained them clearly, and did not include any old wive’s tales that often make their way into gardening articles.

  • I’m perusal you from Houston Texas. I have never had luck with hydrangeas. I am trying again. I bought a Big Daddy hydrangea in early May. It had one bloom and it is beautiful and green with that same big flower but no others. I’m learning from you and I will test my soil. The other thing is it may be too young. Well will see. Thank you for the information

  • Kelly, thank you so much for your articles! perusal from Indiana here 🙂 A question for you. We got like 8 shrubs of endless summer hydrangea 2 summers ago and they are planted in full sun spot (might get too much sun). During the summer, I regularly watered and each shrub maybe bear 1 flower… Now in September, they are getting late blooms but again, only a few per shrub. Your article mentioned it might take some time… should I wait till next year to see how they do? I am thinking of transplanting them if that’s all they will have.

  • Hi Kelly, I’ve already saved 3 of your articles today, you’ve shared a lot of useful info, so thank you for that. In your pruning article you mention that around Feb is a good time to prune. Right now its August here in the UK, not a very strong summer but I’d call it mild weather. I bought a few hydrangeas a couple of weeks ago which I planted out into my garden a few days ago after the renovation of the garden finished. Two of my hydrangeas have no blooms, and shrivelled leaves. The third has one dried bloom and good leaves. I assumed that I’d get a fresh flush of blooms since its still summer. Should I remove the dead flowers and expect new blooms soon? Or are they spent for this year? In which case should I prune them now, or just control my itchy fingers and leave them alone till Feb? I’ve been watering them daily and the one with shrivelled leaves is now showing new leaves. I’m guessing they were neglected at the garden centre, and am really hoping for some new blooms. Please advise, thank you!

  • Hi, We are in Medina Ohio. Your article helped me a lot, as I am nurturing 2 hydrangeas in pots for my daughter, who just built a new house. I got them last year, wintered them in our outside them in the carport and brought them out in spring to ready them for moving to my daughter’s. We still are working on them, as she is expecting a new baby, so it looks like another year here. I’m glad uou pointed out the young plant issue, as when we bought them they were bursting with blooms and now only one pink bloom. Also, one seems to have gotten the winter blast, as it is about 1/4 the size of the other, and definitely is struggling with no blooms in sight. So thank you for the vid, keep them coming!

  • I have Wedding gown hydrangeas, here in Lake Placid, Florida. I have one bush on the east side of the house and one bush on the north side. It’s so hot down here, I didn’t want to expose them to constant very hot sun. They’re doing ok….not great. I transplanted the east side one last year. It was in under the eaves, on the north side, that got the least sun and it just wasn’t doing much. Thanks for the article. It’s very informative.

  • Hi Kelly, I’m a hydrangea lover, I have AnnaBelle and she performs fabulous for me! I have a pee-gee, an endless summer, and last fall purchased a limelight I was find for a steal!!! It’s my endless summer that is not performing. The first year she bloomed wonderfully, but her leaves turned crispy and brown on the ends. She was planted in full sun and even tho I watered her every day she fried😔. That fall I moved her to partial shade. That spring I pruned her, no flowers but gorgeous green foliage! This spring season I’m not going to,prune, and check the nitrogen in the soil. I live in northern Maine, zone 4. Thanks for sharing your garden knowledge with us❣️

  • Your hydrangeas are just gorgeous. It is obvious how much you love them. You have also planted them in the correct places for sun and shade and you know about NPK. Things I wish my husband understood! He wants our plants to bloom like everyone else’s and not have any signs of fungi but does not understand how to achieve that. Grrr.

  • I am in UK 🇬🇧 with several varieties, I have found a difference in flowering this year and need to relocate a few due to too much shade not enough sun I think as it’s a woodland area in my garden, I love the hydrangea information as I think they are such beautiful plants and as a new grower I am learning all about the, . Thank you 😊

  • Thank you for the informative article! I’m in Flat Rock, NC, in the beautiful NC mountains! I bought this home 2 years ago, and there are 2 hydrangeas (I think maybe Endless Summer) that bloomed beautifully last year, but neither is blooming this summer. I did cut old, dead canes after the bushes leafed out fully, but other than that, no pruning. After perusal your article, I think maybe they were victims of winter blast. We had a very early warm spell in February, then the cold came back with temps in the 20s in March-April. We are zone 7. Now that I’ve seen this article, I’m going to go inspect for frozen buds. Also plan to send soil for testing. Thank you for this great resource!

  • Hi from Morristown NJ! I had great luck with my hydrangea this summer after several years of no blooms. But I have no idea why, so I don’t really know what to continue or what to stop doing. In the meantime, you mention types of hydrangea but I have no clue as to what mine is. It only blooms once but that’s all I know. It’s probably 4-5 years old. Thanks for the articles!

  • Hi, I’m from Sri Lanka. My hydrangea is in large pots. They are about 2-3 years old, luscious leaves, but sadly, no flowers ever! Your article was very helpful. My problem might be the nitrogen content. Also, may be not enough morning sunlight. I’m going to try a remedy. Hope it works. Thanks so much for your valuable tips!

  • Marlton NJ checking in again this Spring. Thank you for your easy to follow instructions. Had blooms last Spring after cutting them back completely at the end of the previous year. My wife said to just let them be this winter. I did that and cut the brown flower bulbs off but let the stems exist through the winter. I think the warm temps in March and then freezing temps messed with the plants. Just added bone meal to try and level nitrogen levels. Time will tell!

  • Thanks for.the good info. I have another question: if too much nitrogen is bad for blooms, then what is.good for the soil? I have planted old hydrangeas from a neighbor that are lush with leaves, but no blooms. I have heard of putting a nail in the ground to change colors on the bloom, but is iron what the plant needs? I live in zone 6, in the mountains of NC .and we frequently get late frosts. Can I cover them and stop the frost from getting to the very small leaf buds i saw this spring?

  • Hi from Ventnor NJ. I just bought 3 endless summer hydrangeas : bloomstruck & summer crush. Your tips gave me a lot of clarification on how to care for them, thanks. I have to mention that I also have two probably 16 years old, don’t know the name hydrangeas which bloom beautifully every year accept one year when I decided to trim them short in spring, well I learned my lesson.

  • I am washing this from Toronto Canada! This was a very useful article thank you! I have a very young hydrangea that was a beautiful last summer and this year seems to be quite dinky. I see the old wood has many little tiny buds but they look to be brown and dead for some reason… maybe it was just too cold for this young plant over the winter. But I will try being patient as you suggest lol.

  • Toronto Canada – my hydrangea didn’t bloom for years. When I first bought it it had blue blooms. It went for a period without blooms maybe my fault for not knowing enough about how to care for it. Then when it bloomed again I got one bloom and it was pink. Then it never bloomed for years. I got so fed up, I changed it’s location but I divided it up into 4 plants…lol It’s been 3 years no blooms on any of them. Two of them have their leaves turning light green with a green vein. I’ll try to protect them during winter and give them some iron. I do have clay soil which I amended with garden soil. The ones getting more sun appear to be suffering the most.

  • What a wonderfully well done article. I’m viewing from Central NY. I have a few questions for you. 1) Can I divide hydrangeas or do I need to dig the whole plant up if it is getting to be to big for where it was planted? I moved into a new home and it needs some landscaping work. Maybe another question should be do you have a article showing how to cut back and/or thin out an overgrown hydrangea? 2) My hydrangeas are floppy whereas yours appear to stand tall. When will my stems get thick enough to hold up the beautiful big pink and white flower heads? They start out white and then turn a pretty pink. They are called Strawberry hydrangeas. 3). Should I be trimming out the new shoots so the plants energy goes into the existing stems so they can get bigger and stronger?

  • 😀 The articles are great Kelly. I am in Illinois zone 5 and i am a beginner gardener. This article is helping me with my existing hydrangeas that did not bloom very well this year. i need help with a new Summer crush hydrangea. It bloomed when i bought it a beautiful pink.. The blooms are still strong and the leaves are good but the blooms are yellowed. i don’t know what to do. Do I prune them off? Will I get a second bloom? Please advise me.

  • Thanks for the tip on not pruning. I have two 2-yr old Vanilla Strawberry plants here in NW Montana. I have been taking the flowers to put in vases and then dry and enjoy all winter. Hope I’m not taking to much off and slowing the growth. Do you just leave the dry flowers on all year? Do they eventually fall off? Where I’ve cut the flowers off, the next spring 3-new shoots have taken off and the flowers are smaller. If I take off two of them, will the remaining one have a big flower?

  • Hi from Iowa City. I just moved a little hydrangea ‘Twist & Shout’ that hasn’t bloomed since I planted it two years ago. It was quite heavily shaded so I moved it to a spot to get morning sun. I really hope to get some blooms as I love lace caps. It’s good to know that juvenile plants might not bloom. I’ll have my fingers crossed to get a bloom this year. I got it for five bucks at the end of spring because it was a runt.

  • Hi my name is Sue, I live in Edmonton Alberta Canada . I just wanted to know I have gotten Hydrangeas and I don’t know much about them, but do they like a lot of sun or not . I have had this plant since last year, it is not very big and it has no flowers yet can you give me a few tips on how to care for these types of plants they are so beautiful 😊 Thank you 😊 👍

  • Hi I am from Oregon willamette valley… I have had to keep my beautiful pink big bloomer in a big pot for several years🙁 I did cut too far back last year.. no blooms this year.. looking for the best fertilizer it would like to have. Not trimming this yr. yes it let’s me know when thirsty ! Thanks for your excellent explanation I like your website 😊

  • Hello from Southern Illinois! Did you prune after the Winter zap or just leave them alone? I pruned off the brown tips but now maybe I shouldn’t have. Also, it’s almost mid June and the same bushes have suffered broken branches from puppies, the bush only has a couple branches left. I am tempted to do a hard prune to reshape and hopefully push out new growth from the center. I have been debating to do it, came close to it tonight….haha! Any thoughts? Great website!

  • I am writing from Middle-Western Germany and our climate has changed over the past 8-10 years. Winter is more mild than before and we rarely have temps below freezing. My hydrangea has not produced blooms for 2 years now and it is probably because I have pruned them back because they are so giant at the end of Fall. I will prune in February, but when I do, the plant often already has buds on it. Any suggestions how to get more blooms in a temperate climate? We get lots of rain in the Winter and not so much sunshine. The poor magnolia’s are blooming in February instead of late March/April like usual. Climate change is happening here and our poor plants don’t know how to react. Thanks for the informative article.

  • I just came across your website. Yay! My biggest hydrangea did not bloom this year so I’ll check the things you shared. The leaves started turning a light green later in the summer. Do you grow peonies or roses? I’m in MI zone 5. Black spot on peonies (I’m applying a dormant spray for winter). Winter care for roses (lost a few last year after using vented styrofoam cones. Trying burlap, wire and dormant spray for our late frosts this year).

  • Hi Kelly! Just subscribed from Ramsey, NJ- Zone 6a. ( We used to live in Cranbury and Robbinsville for many years!) Thank you for your very helpful and informative articles regarding hydrangeas. We planted some Niko Endless Summer hydrangeas when we moved here four years ago. Always puzzled as to what to trim and when!🤔

  • Thank you for your very informative lesson on hydrangeas – I’m in Surrey, England and new to looking after these beautiful plants so holding thumbs all goes well mine are looking very happy so far. The blues look like they may be changing colour to pink. I’m going to work on those plants with a “food” iI have ordered specifically for blues. Hope it works as I have pinks already.

  • Hey Kelly. I just redid my gardens in Hamilton ON Canada. I am in zone 6b. I have a Limelight with no blooms yet and 3 plants that were in pots and added colour immediately. I am trying to understand the use of aluminum sulfate. Thank you very much for the great “to prune or not to prune” information.

  • My bushes didn’t bloom flowers last year. I noticed this year there are flowers forming and some of the leaves are brown just like your article, now I know it was the winter zap. But the flower buds I see mainly are still healthy and green and growing, not brown. Will those flowers still bloom this year?

  • Hi Kelly…Checking in from Suffield, CT…I am loving your articles on Hydrangeas! Question: are Endless Summer hydrangeas difficult to relocate? I have 6 of them and they are several years old. Will relocating them set them back? I suspect that I have them in too much shade. Like you, I never prune them. They DO bloom and they ARE blue–so thumbs up to all of that —but not a lot of flowers. I think I can find them a better home, now that I know. What do you think? Thanks! 🙂 D.

  • I have a hydrangea that bloomed once in its 4th year. I was elated, but then no blooms at all for several years. I never pruned it because it never needed it; it stayed small. I was forced to move it this year when we had some work done in the yard. I’m wondering if I’ll have to wait another 3 years before I see any blooms? I also have a lace cap hydrangea that is huge! (I’m in Missouri)

  • How to care for container hydrangeas- please! I purchased my first, a blue color variety, will live on Long Island New York on a patio. I am only here for six months from May until October, how should my hydrangea patio plants be cared for year round- pruning, overwintering, etc. would appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you.

  • Morning Kelly. It’s hydrangea disaster man in Melbourne, Australia. That damn gorilla hydrangea has now produced one flower since I contacted you a few weeks back. Question: So if one flower is now coming out, does that mean it’ll get off its backside and produce more? As I stated last month, the plants have doubled in Size and look great if your just after green mounds…. but that’s not why we buy these primadonnas; we want flowers. All very frustrating

  • HI, I recieved my plant as a gift. I live in No. Idaho. The tag says that it is a “L.A. Dreaming” multi-color” hydrangea. It came to me late in the summer and “drank water” by the gallon. I watered it every morning, filling the pot with a “hosefull” of water. Extra came out the bottom of the pot. By the next a.m. it was dry again. It did well all summer, but only had one small pink bloom about the size of a 1/2 dollar and one green flower the same size. When there was a danger of frost two weeks ago I took it inside still in the pot, placed it by a south, sliding glass door. Now the leaves seem to be dying and are falling and it doesn’t seem to need as much water. Am I suppose to prun it now? – The pot is 10″ tall and 12″ across, the plant is 19″ tall. Is it suppose to loose its leaves or is it dying? It doesn’t seem to fit any of the discriptions you have shown, so I don’t know what to do. AND I am an old lady and can’t do a whole lot. Would really appreciate you thoughts on this one. Thank you, Dale Snipes [email protected]

  • Continued: I deadheaded the dead blooms like I’d seen on here. It’s getting plenty of water & I’ve moved it to a location where it gets some afternoon sun. The other areas I’d tried it in were too sunny from morning until 5-6pm. It might’ve gotten too stressed from to much sun, then a transplant. I’m afraid I’m going to lose it. Recently we’ve had a lot more rain & humidity. Wondering if I should move indoors & use artificial lighting 🤔

  • Vow so beautiful blooms … I live in South Florida …I got hydragenea two years back . It bloomed last year n then this year before winter I repotted into a slightly bigger pot … now I see all the leaves r wilting n getting black on edges . I check the soil n it’s wet … I see many greeen leaves drooping n falling off . Can u please help me . M worried …

  • Hi, Kelly, I have three giant Hydrangeas but none of them got flowers. You said don’t use the Fertilizer with 1st High #, I am using the Miracle Grow for Acid Lover Plant, the number is 30-10-10, it is even higher than 29 showing in your article. Can you recommend what Fertilizer I should buy in order to lower the Nitrogen level. It is already August, is it too late to put fertilizer for blooming?

  • Hi I enjoyed your article. I live on the gulf coast and it rains here a lot in zone 9 a. I’ve had years where my hydrangeas were the prettiest deepest blue shades. Now I had pink, blue and colors in between on the same bush which I don’t mind, but My problem is that the flowers don’t stay compact and instead after the bloom they and perfectly shaped and then they start to separate and not look so pretty. Usually this happens after the rain but is there anything I can do to keep them compacted tightly during the entire bloom time? Or does this happen to everyone?

  • Hi Kelly. Great articles, many thanks. In Ontario, supposedly zone 5, on the St. Lawrence – I find many zone 5 plants don’t endure though. Moved house and 6 inherited bigleaf hydrangeas 6 years ago, which are now 8-9 years old, but no clue as to hardiness. This is the first year there have been any flowers – not many. Not sure why, but in past years they all die right back to ground level and dormant buds on old growth do not shoot in spring – until some did this year. Last winter we had temperatures about the same as previous years. Should I try watering plenty before the freeze-up this fall?

  • Viewing from Johnston, Iowa Zone 5. I have a hedge row of Next Generation about 9 of them. They were originally planted on one side our pool with Incredible on the West side. I think the pool shaded the next generation. They use to look like your but now I get one or two bloons. Even the ones that get a little shade aren’t doing well, beautiful leaves very little bloom. I do know that I fertilized with bloom boost weekly now they get fertilizer once every two weeks. I do Bio Tone Spring & Summer. Any suggestions?

  • Hey Mrs Kelly… I’m in Bartlett, TN and have a question. I have 6 3-4 year old Incrediball Hydrangeas, 4 of them are GORGEOUS, dark green leaves with huge white mop head blooms. 2 of them seem to be struggling a little, smaller lighter shaded green leaves and extremely small blooms compared to the others. What could be causing this stunt in growth? 🤔 Thanks-Drew

  • Hi Kelly, asking from Long Island, NY. My mophead hydrangeas have flourished over the years but by the time June comes along, I notice that I have a lot of “old wood” ends with little evidence of life. I am reluctant to prune out these ends but failure to do so leaves the plant unsightly. Should I or should I not prune?

  • Thanks for the tips, from Toronto. I have a few plants that flower off and on. Some are probably not suitable for our winters outside. I shelter those ones with piles of leaves in the fall. They have come back a few years now. There is a large pink flowering bush that has been growing well for several years but I may have cut it back when I should not have. I will follow your advice from now on. Thank you.

  • Hi Kelly I live in Calgary Alberta. I just planted some AnnaBelles this summer they looked well for about one month but now the leaves are turning brownish blackish and the plant is drooping I did grow these at my previous home and they were gorgeous i was the envy of the neighbourhood with my dinner-plate size blooms. Can you please tell me what is wrong?