The hydrangea is one of the robust garden plants that require little care and yet bloom profusely and thrive. If the hydrangea does not grow or hardly produces any flowers, care mistakes are usually the cause. We explain to you what you have to pay attention to.

A lack of nutrients can be the reason why the hydrangea does not grow

The right substrate

The hydrangea does not thrive very well in normal garden soil. Put the flowering plant in rhododendron soil, which has the optimal structure for the hydrangea. This soil holds moisture well but is not prone to compaction waterlogging.

Fertilize moderately but regularly

The hydrangea is one of the plants that have very specific requirements when it comes to the supply of nutrients. In order to bloom profusely, hydrangeas need a lot of nitrogen and potassium. The fertilizer should also contain sufficient minerals such as iron, sulfur, manganese and zinc. At the same time, the phosphorus content of the fertilizer must not be too high.

Therefore, many common plant fertilizers are completely unsuitable. Preferably use hydrangea fertilizer, which you can get from well-stocked garden shops. Alternatively, you can fertilize the hydrangea with azalea or rhododendron fertilizer.

Overgrown perennials

Hydrangeas are often sold with an abundance of flowers. When the umbels of flowers have faded, the hydrangea sometimes does not produce any new flowers and hardly grows in the first year. If you fertilize the hydrangea regularly as indicated on the fertilizer packaging, it will have gathered enough strength by the second year at the latest and will sprout vigorously.

Lack of winter protection

Although the hydrangea is relatively hardy, the plant suffers damage in very cold and harsh winters. In a year with sub-zero temperatures, the leaves often form much later and the flower buds formed the previous year could have frozen.

Therefore, make sure you have sufficient winter protection in the fall:

  • Overwinter container plants in a cool, sheltered spot.
  • Pile up plants in the bed and protect them with a mulch layer.
  • Cover hydrangea with a plant mat in rough areas.

tips and tricks

Hydrangeas that do not grow well are often planted too late in the year. The hydrangea should have spent some time in the ground before the first frosts so that it has developed enough roots and is well established.

Category:

Vegetable garden