Question
QUESTION: I live in zone 8/9 in Central Florida.  I have had my hydrangea for 4 years and it has done well until this year.  Blooms are small and few, plant only has leaves on end of stems but leaf buds below, not opening. Not sure what it's problem is, it is getting plenty of water and filtered sun.

ANSWER: Hi Beth,
Thanx for your question.  I'm going to need more information before I can attempt to answer your question.

1.  Are the leaves changing color to brown or black?
2.  Are the leaves dropping off, curling up?
3.  Have your checked the plant for small insects or other pests?

Pests could be aphids which come in red, green, yellow, black, white.  They suck the sap out of leaves and stems.  There are usually a lot of ants around who herd the aphids and take the honey dew the aphids produce as a by-product of sucking the sap out of plants.  Spidermites do the same thing but they are not insects, they are more closely related to spiders but they suck sap too.  You may find web-like white material on the plant.  It could be nematodes too.  Nematodes attack the roots of the plant and Florida is famous for nematode problems.  I would recommend you take a sample of the plant to your County Extension Horticultural Agent. S/he should be able to diagnose the problem for sure.  If you will tell me your county, I'll give you contact information.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: We live in Citrus County.  The leaves still have a good color but are a bit smaller than they have been the previous years.  I have looked and don't see any of the above mentioned problems other than in Florida we have an abundance of ants as well as a multitude of insects.  

Just went out and looked and maybe it is just a little slow this year.  The leaf buds are opening but the flowers are not a good color.


Answer
Hi Beth,
Thanx for the additional information.  By the way, I used to live up north in Ft. Walton Beach and my brother's family lives in Deltona.  I've got a lot of experience with north and central Florida even though I don't live there anymore.

Here's some contact information for your for the Citrus County office of the Extension Service.  http://www.bocc.citrus.fl.us/commserv/extension/extension_services.htm

A lot of the country had either a prolonged cool winter or late cool/cold temperatures.  This has slowed down the growth and cut back on blooming for certain shrubs and flowers.  I noticed my hibiscus has all of a sudden leafed out very well and my mimosa was late to leaf out.  There were some unusual cold periods for central Florida.  I was down in Volusia County in February and there was a cold snap while I was down there.  If your plant looks healthy and the leaves are not curling into a brown or black wad and you don't see any pests, you're certain you don't have nematodes?  Then your plant is just slow in coming out.  They all usually catch up by now but sometimes they just won't perform as heartily as they otherwise would.  Ants generally aren't a danger to plants except for a few species in Africa and South America.  And yes, Florida is rife with insects that do all kinds of stuff!  I remember my first experience with fire ants and getting a flea infestation in my carpet in the house!

I hope this helps.
Tom