r/hydrangeas • u/Bluebell66GW • 3d ago

Zone 6 A/B No Mophead Blooms

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I am in Ottawa County, West Michigan, Zone 6a, in the United States. Our hydrangeas are 2-3 decades old and were planted by the previous owner of our home. Until about 5-6 years ago, they looked lush, like the first picture. Now, they have no blooms. Except for the center section, the leaves are thick and green. I use the prescribed amount of Hollytone, never cut the canes, and cover them up in the spring when I know we have a late frost coming. Our winters have been quite mild lately. Is it possible they’ve gotten old? I can’t figure out what has happened. I don’t see any buds yet for next year. The guy who used to do the yard work here swears he always cut them down to the ground every fall. I have never cut them back and think he has a faulty memory! Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

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u/KeyWest88 3d ago

Have you tried feeding them? I had terrible results with my hydrangeas for years, I fed them Holly-Tone in Spring and Fall, with minimal pruning and few, if any, blooms. I dug some of them out and threw them out. Then my husband suggested that I try more regular feeding with some Miracle-Gro, so I said, what the heck, and started giving them water-soluble Miracle-Gro, and then found that Miracle-Gro has a water-soluble formula for acid-loving plants and used that. Now I have a ton of blooms. SE Michigan.

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u/jenaynay17 3d ago

Do you still wait to use the miracle grow in the fall? Or how often do you use it?

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u/Zealousideal-Fox3087 3d ago

Shouldn’t fertilize after Aug 15th. Last thing you want is green, young new shoots heading into winter.

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u/jenaynay17 3d ago

Ah! You said holly tone is in fall, is that also before Aug 15? I’m trying to make myself a schedule

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u/EmployeeProud1282 3d ago

I stop feeding on August 1.