Question
Hi,

I need help, I have a snowball hydranger plant that was my parents, it bloomed once in 28 years.  It took me three years to get the plant back to life.  I wanted it to bloom so I fertilized it, but I think I added to much, I used espona plant food and morginate, it was like a powder, anyway it started to bloom, and then stopped, the leaves on one side of the plant are wilted and brown, I have been trying to add as much water to saturate the ground and the roots, so that maybe it will take some of the fertiziler out? how do i save this plant? and what type of fertilizer do i use in the future if the plant survives? I think I am in zone four or five, I live in New York? I hope that you can help me.

Thank you
Annmarie Considine

Answer
Hydrangea responds to several light applications of fertilizer during the growing season. A general-purpose fertilizer, such as 10-10-10 applied at a tablespoon per plant distributed evenly on the ground under the branches. Apply in April and June. It is not necessary to remove the mulch when fertilizing, but water soon after application to help dissolve the fertilizer and send it into the soil. Another, and safer, way is to use one single application of OSMOCOTE 14-14-14 (which is coated to release nutrients slowly and gradually). Use dosing information on lable, but apply only once in April.