Hydrangea blooms

Question: Why does this hydrangea not open up the bloom?  There are a couple per cluster, but not big blooms.

responder: MGV Seneca County Replied July 22, 2024, 10:59 AM EDT
response: Thank you for an interesting question, but before I can provide any ideas I need a little more information.     Has the plant bloomed previously?   How old is the plant and have you done any pruning on it?     If you could give me this information I may be able to provide some helpful suggestions.   Thank you.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 22, 2024, 11:07 AM EDT
response: Hello-  This has never fully bloomed, it gets the small clusters and a couple will look like a small flower but not many.  I got a cutting from a friend and planted it in 2019.  I have never pruned it.  Thank you- Joan Fisk (she/her/hers) | Administrative Assistant | Smith Elementary  Phone: <personal data hidden> | Fax: <personal data hidden> | Attendance:<personal data hidden>   "Diversity is being invited to the party;Inclusion is being asked to dance."                                  -Verna Myers      On Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 10:59 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: MGV Seneca County Replied July 25, 2024, 8:15 PM EDT
response: Your Hydrangea symptoms are indeed odd. I have a few additional questions before I make a response on possibilities.  Do you do any type of fertilization?  Do you know the variety of the parent plant that you got the cutting from?  Does the plant you got the cutting from have a similar problem or does it bloom ok?  Where is it located? Sunny or shady?  With these answers and the previous ones I should be able to give you some ideas and I will contact one of our members that grows a multitude of Hydrangea and get her opinion.  Thanks again and I apologize for the long assessment but as I said your symptoms are quite odd.

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 26, 2024, 6:55 PM EDT
response: Hello and thank you!  1) No, I have never fertilized  2) My friend thinks it is Annabelle variety  3) her plants look beautiful see attached pic  4) it is located in southeast corner of our yard, it gets full sun 4-6 hours per dayThank you!Joan Fisk (she/her/hers) | Administrative Assistant | Smith Elementary Phone: <personal data hidden> | Fax: <personal data hidden> | Attendance:<personal data hidden>   "Diversity is being invited to the party;Inclusion is being asked to dance."                                  -Verna Myers     On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 8:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: MGV Seneca County Replied July 28, 2024, 1:24 PM EDT
response: Again thank you for your question and additional information.   Based on your responses and research with other Hydrangea   gardeners we have a couple of suggestions you might consider.   Keep the soil moist but not to the point that it is soggy.   Hydrangeas love water.   Apply a fertilizer that is recommended for Hydrangeas to   decrease soil pH to make it more acidic. This is to allow the   plant access to more soil nutrients. Also look for a fertilizer   that has a high Phosphorus (P) content. Look for a a fertilizer   that has a high P in the NPK rating or Bone Meal. Work   whatever you use into the soil and water generously. FOLLOW    the DIRECTIONS so as not to shock the plant! Another note on   selecting your fertilizer is try to keep the Nitrogen content (N)   lower. Nitrogen is needed but too much has a tendency to   decrease blooming while promoting growth. You may want to   consider having a soil test in the area of your Hydrangea to   determine the soils composition and pH.   One of our members also suggested you may want to try   pruning it back in the fall to see if that promotes blooming next   year. I'm not sure I would recommend that unless you are   familiar with proper pruning of Hydrangeas as some varieties   are pruned at different times of the year and at different   locations on the stem.    I have listed below several links that may be of help to you,   also listed is your County OSU Extension Service should you   want to reach out to them for advise.  If we can be of further help do not hesitate to contact us. I   hope this will be of some help to you.    Thank you again for allowing us to help you with your   gardening questions. Here are some other helpful websites   that may be of interest to you:    BYGL Newsletter: http://bygl.osu.edu/  OSUE Fact Sheets: http://ohioline.osu.edu  State Master Gardener Volunteer website - http://mastergardener.osu.edu   Ask-An-Expert website - https://extension.osu.edu/ask-an-expert    Ask-A-Master Gardener website - https://extension.osu.edu/https%3A/extension.osu.edu/ask-an-expert/ask-master-gardener-volunteer   Montgomery County OSU Extension Office 580 Calumet Lane Dayton, OH 45417  Phone:<personal data hidden>    https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/hydrangeas-not-blooming/  https://www.gardenerreport.com/hydrangea-not-blooming-6-solutions/  https://hydrangea.com/blogs/growing-tips/5-reasons-your-hydrangea-isnt-blooming  https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/flowers-shrubs-trees/general-care-hydrangea  https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1263  https://www.thespruce.com/annabelle-hydrangea-care-guide-7507139  https://www.gardenfine.com/how-to-fertilize-annabelle-hydrangea/  https://www.bloomingbackyard.com/fertilize-hydrangeas/

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 28, 2024, 7:39 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much for the extensive answer!   I will digest this and put something in place to try. Thank you!Joan Fisk (she/her/hers) | Administrative Assistant | Smith Elementary Phone: <personal data hidden> | Fax: <personal data hidden> | Attendance:<personal data hidden>   "Diversity is being invited to the party;Inclusion is being asked to dance."                                  -Verna Myers     On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 8:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: The Question Asker Replied July 30, 2024, 2:55 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much for your time.   Joan Fisk (she/her/hers) | Administrative Assistant | Smith Elementary Phone: <personal data hidden> | Fax: <personal data hidden> | Attendance:<personal data hidden>   "Diversity is being invited to the party;Inclusion is being asked to dance."                                  -Verna Myers     On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 8:16 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

responder: MGV Seneca County Replied July 30, 2024, 6:24 PM EDT
response: Your more than welcome.  If you remember let me know how this works out next year. This is something new to me also. I'v learned quite a bit from it.  Thanks again.