Farmhouse hydrangeas are popular flowering shrubs for garden and container cultivation. They are characterized by an abundance of flowers in shades of pink, violet and, depending on the pH of the soil, blue. White blooming peasant hydrangeas look very unusual. However, if the plant does not want to bloom, or even if there is not even a single bloom to be seen, care mistakes or overwintering damage are usually the cause.

Frost can damage the buds of the peasant hydrangea and prevent them from flowering

Frost damage can ruin flowering

Dry, stunted flower buds that fail to develop further are an indication of frost damage. Farmhouse hydrangeas always flower on last year's wood and therefore develop the flower buds for next year's flower after the previous year's flower. Even if the individual farmer's hydrangeas have good winter hardiness, these flower buds are endangered in winter and can freeze to death. You can remedy this by choosing a sheltered place (i.e. if possible in the semi-shade and without midday sun) for your hydrangeas or by wintering them in a bucket frost-free. Alternatively, you can also choose modern breeds that also bloom on one-year-old wood. The "Endless Summer" variety is very suitable.

Do not cut back peasant hydrangeas

Another reason for the lack of flowering is incorrect pruning, which may have been carried out in spring. As a result, not even buds are set, as they were simply cut away. Be careful not to cut dead flower stalks too low the previous fall. In the spring, peasant hydrangeas should not be cut back at all, only faded inflorescences should be removed.

Care mistakes lead to measly flowering

Furthermore, care errors and an infestation with gray mold caused by care errors lead to a failure of the flower. Farmhouse hydrangeas need a lot of water and must not dry out under any circumstances. However, waterlogging should be avoided in any case. You must also ensure a regular supply of nutrients with a good hydrangea fertilizer, which should not be high in nitrogen or phosphorus. While these fertilizers will encourage the plant to grow taller, they will hinder flowering. If the flower buds are covered with a gray coating and fall off, the peasant hydrangea is probably infested with gray mold. The fungus often occurs when the location is too humid or after a long period of rain. It is usually enough to cut off and destroy the affected buds, although of course they will not flower afterwards. But you can spray preventively with a fungicide.

tips and tricks

Last but not least, the wrong soil can also be to blame for the lack of flowering. If the soil is too alkaline, you can improve it with leaf humus, mature compost and some peat.

Category:

Vegetable garden