How do I get my lace hydrangea to flower?

Question

It flowered some when I bought it 10 years ago. I then planted it where it got quite a bit of sun; it got huge in size and it's leaves were beautiful but didn't flower. I split it in two last summer and relocated one to a site that gets morning sunlight and the other gets sunlight through midday but neither are flowering. A garden store told me to apply super phosphate and it would force it to flower; I did but it still hasn't flowered. Both plants are thriving in their new locations but they are flowerless.

Answer 1

Some varieties don't bloom year after year. The Mophead (rounded) varieties are notorious for not blooming year after year.
Also, a lack of blooms could be due to pruning at the wrong time.
Or...sometimes hydrangea will leaf out early in the spring during a warm spell and then get caught in a late spring freeze. If the new growth came only from the ground, then types of hydrange that blooms only on old wood will not bloom this year. In frost zones, winter protection & planting in an area away from drying winter winds helps.

The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), bloom on new wood. Others, like some mopheads and many big-leaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla) bloom on old wood, so any late-season (or fall or winter) pruning you do erases next year's flowers. The safest time to prune is right after flowering. Cut the spent blooms to the ground; then prune out any old, dead or weak shoots.

That advice about phosphate encouraging flowering is correct. It's ideal to use a fertilizer low in Nitrogen and with a Phosphorus content over 30. (An N-P-K ratio of 10-40-10 is ideal) & fertilize them regularly. Organic soil enriched with compost is best. If you're using store-bought fertilizers & you don't want to fuss with a scheduled feeding of fertilizer, you can also use a slow-release fertilizer like osmacote or use manure around your plants. Water on a consistent basis. Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. Too much shade will retard the development of flowers. Full sun can scorch the leaves so part sun to shade is best.

Here's the "official" care instructions for your lace cap hydrangea:
http://www.robertsonsflowers.com/Ask_the_Expert.asp
"Lace caps need a bit more sun than most Hydrangeas. Cut off old blooms when the blooms are faded. Don't cut the old wood however. Most Hydrangeas bloom on old wood from the previous year. Don't over fertilize. Use a time release plant food like Osmocote granular type. Just give it the right sun exposure, no hot noon summer sun they are best in morning and late afternoon sun. That is why the plant tags usually say "partial shade". Plant outside after May 15th (frost date) and it will come back every year."

Here's a forum discussing why Hydrangeas weren't blooming:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/okgard/msg061400511787.html

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I had a similar problem with my hydrangeas....they didn't flower at all after moving for a year. Thankfully though they did the following year and have ever since. Some hydrangeas prefer a light sun/part shade and acidic soil. I have one in the shade and two in the sun and they're doing great now with lots of blooms. Pruning them could be the cause, or too cold of a climate or if they're planted in heavy shade and also bad dry spells will cause the hydrangeas not to blooom and they should be watered everyday......twice in really hot weather. Osmocote or any 10-10-10 fertilizer is also good for them. Good luck!

Answer 3

If you don't have alot of natural iron in you soil you will need give it iron suppliments.

Do you fertilize the bed every month? I would try that...go to a nursery and buy the good stuff..not HOME Depot or LOWES..nothing against then but you need a nursery to help you pick what is right for your area soil.

If all else fails and you need a quick fix. Peters 20/20 or Miracle Grow once a week ..but note they are high in salt and should not be your only fertilizer.

Answer 4

while it starts leafing out interior the Spring. February is the time to trim a hydrangea. do no longer do it after then. call your County Extension Agent on your interior sight area concerning what zone you reside in. they are very knowledgeable and grant centers freed from can charge - your tax funds pay their earnings! they may even come out on your place, try your soil, and direct you as to any problems you're having together with your soil, grass, plant life, wood, etc.

Answer 5

some variety hydrangea only bloom on new wood (growth from this season) & other vareities only bloom on old wood (last years growth)
Are you pruning it? If so, then I guess you have the kind that only bloom on old wood, let it grow. If you've never pruned it, next spring wait for the growth to start then give it a good pruning to encourage a lot of growth.
Definetly keep up with the fertilizing, they like acid soil so use a fert. for Acid Loving Plants, like Mir-Acid, or Holly-tone

Answer 6

YOu should check the soil. If not cut the bush real y short and it will flower amazingly well in 2 years. Do it in Cycles