Question
I have two large hydrengas maybe 10 years old and they do not bloom. there is plenty of water and enough sun they grow fast and full and are very green. also I recently got some new smaller hydrengas and the floweres are green. I heard that the acidity of the soil can change the flower colors is this true and if so how do your ajust the acidity.I was also wondering if you can cut a hydrenga branch and use root tone to grow cloans. thank you for your time!!

Answer
Jeremy,

The reason the Hydrangeas are not blooming may be that they are growing rapidly. The plants are putting so much energy into top growth that they are not forming floer buds. The time of year that you pruning them also has a great deal to do with flowering. Most Hydrangeas flower on old wood, if they are being pruned in the late fall or in the spring, all of the flower buds are being removed. The proper time to prune would be in September.

Soil acidity does effect the flower color of Hydrangeas. A ph range of 5.0 to 5.5 will give you a blue coloration, 6.0 to 6.5 will produce pink flowers. I would also recommend using a fertilizer that contains the micro nutrient Aluminum to further enhance the color.

Cuttings can indeed be rooted using rootone. Use soft wood cutting cut in May, June or July for best results.

Good luck,
Ed Gulliksen