General Chat

Hello again Jen, I'm amazed to see how much hydrangeas cost, you certainly don't want to lose them at that price! They are incredibly easy to 'strike' but I guess forcing them in greenhouse conditions pushes up the price! I forgot to mention, they are very thirsty shrubs so don't stint on the watering next year and enjoy an abundance of blooms. Cherryxx

Janet, Yes I will do thanks.........think that was probably my main mistake, pruning too soon rather than anything else..........the colours were still the same this year I noticed, one remaining pink a one blue...........from the one small bloom that appeared on each.........and that makes sense because although they are all in the same border...........the two blue ones are side by side, and the pink one is lower down and lying parallel to them.....so obviously the soil does vary. Jen

Yes they're lovely Maureen, I was really looking forward to watching them spread out more too, as they do, still theres hope yet.........do my best to get it right next year lol! Jen

Cherry, appreciate this extra info............ I did cut them back a little..didn't go mad but I have noticed that some of last years stems sort of went woody, though didn't prevent new stems and shoots forming this year..........the foliage has been very good and just as full as last year, just the blooms went missing? I will check out the site Cherry Thanks again. Jen

Hydrangeas grow in both acid & alkaline soil equally well, but the colour varies according to soil type. Prune in the spring by removing LAST years flowering stems, as flowers appear on current growth. I am the world's worst gardener and they thrive with very little attention. Lost mine when the builder had to dig it up, but previous to that it had been in the garden for about 15 years,and for most of that time I was living away and only visited for odd weeks at a time. Jay

Hi Jen Our Hydrangeas were smaller last year,but, this year are romping away,massive blooms.Due to more sun this year?? Who knows? Make sure when you prune them don't cut back too hard, might have caught the early frosts in the Spring. Beautiful plants aren't they? Mau xx

Thanks Sue, I will do, appreciate this. Teresa.........perhaps the soil doesn't have the right balance for them then Teresa after all? I will buy some feed and use it for the rest of the autumn, then start again in Spring............hopefully this will help them for next year? Thanks so much Teresa, for those valuable tips and the advice.... Thanks everyone for your help. Jen

Jen I think perhaps Teresa's referring to a feed to maintain the colour of the hydrangea. Planted in an acid soil the flowers will be pink but in an alkaline soil they will be blue. What really keeps them all bright and bushy tailed is judicious pruning in the spring. I'm trying to describe how to do it but you'll probably get far better instructions from the RHS site! Cherryxx

Jen, Have a look at this website gives you all the info you need. www*helpfulgardener*com/hydrangea Sue

Jen, I always feed mine every two weeks from spring through to Autumn. If the balance of the soil isn't right, too much acid etc, you won't get the blooms. Available at any garden centre, Homebase etc. One bottle lasts me the whole season.

Teresa, I don't think the soil has affected them in any way Teresa, as last year they flowered all through the summer beautifully.......I think perhaps, maybe I did dead head them too soon oh dear! Didn't realise that.......... Will they still need the liquid feed then Teresa, or is this only on account of the soil? Thanks Jen

Jen, you shouldn't dead head them until the spring, to protect the new shoots from frost. Did you prune them last year, that may have stopped them flowering this year. Most importantly, they may have been planted in the wrong soil, so you will need to use a liquid feed especially designed for them to redress the balance.

Joan thanks, Have a picture, so know it's the right flower. I shall just be very miffed it they don't show next year, as they are meant to, as they were very expensive.........£20 each when I bought them last year............don't fancy £60's worth of flowers dying on me! Jen

Sue, thankyou............I did dead head them last year and what your saying about the growth factor is true. Have to see what happens next year. Jen

Jen Statice is definitely a 'paper' flower. Check out the pictures on Google : http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&q=flower+statice&btnG=Search Type in 'Statice flower' :0) Joan

Hydrangea is a shrub and will continue to flower year after year. They need dead heading as soon as the floweres have gone a browny colour. Sue

Just looking in DIL's gardening book and it says they should flower every year in summer...............this summer only two of them got one bloom each, which did not last very long??? Don't understand that! Jen

Hydrangea.......................found them, thanks everyone! Will they flower again? does anyone know.....will it be the weather or are they bi-annual? Jen

You are probably thiking of Limonium flowers.They are slender and feel very papery. Or maybe Helichrysum,i recal my Dad growing these and hanging them up to dry,they are everlasting flowers. Though these are more strawlike than paper. Mau

Nothing is clicking here girls.........c*uld they be Rhodi's? Jen