Hydrangeas won't grow...what to do?

Question

I planted 5 Hydranges three years ago. They are still alive but have only grown about three inches and each produces about 10 leaves, no blossoms. Is this normal? Do I need to amend the soil? I do acidic Miracle grow on them twice a summer.
Please help...I want the beautiful flowers that I see elsewhere.

Answer 1

Some varieties( Mophead (rounded) varieties) are notorious for not blooming year after year.

In colder areas, Hydrangeas 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 that year.

There may be a general lack of Phosphorous in the soil, & too much Nitrogen may have caused leafy growth at the expense of blooms.

Also, a lack of blooms could be due to pruning at the wrong time. The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), bloom on new wood so you can prune that variety in late winter or early spring.
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. If you're not sure what kind of Hydrangea you have, just prune right after it blooms. Cut the spent blooms to the ground; then prune out old, dead shoots.

They are heavy feeders. To encourage flowering, 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 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 regular basis.

Too much shade will also retard the development of flowers. Full sun can scorch the leaves so part sun to shade is best. Morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. In frost zones, winter protection & planting in an area away from drying winter winds helps.

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

Answer 2

you must've bought them very small.
go to a local nursery and get the organic either mna or espoma mix that is for hydrangeas- I think it is 5-10-5.
They need plenty of water the first 3-5 years. water weekly thoroughly. make an edge about 12 inches out from the base of the plant so it creates a pool of water that will stay with the plant- cover that area with mulch. add super phosphate if you want them to be more blue. It takes a lot to kill a hydrangea- so be patient and when they do finally bloom cut the head off before they change color- they set there buds in late summer for the next year. so you may be cutting off new growth without knowing it. good luck.

Answer 3

I think you live in an area too cold for hydrangeas. If they never get tall enough to flower, you might try something else.
or....
You could have possibly planted them too deep, to where they are sitting in water and not wanting to grow. Make sure the top of the root ball is nice and flush, if not a little higher, than the surrownding soil.

Answer 4

Try to fertilize with somthing like shakenfeed by Miracle Grow, it works wonders.

Answer 5

Do they get enough water? Are they planted under a tree?