Food-Gardening Lessons From A Wartime Victory Garden

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Tag: Flowering

Why Isn’t My Hydrangea Flowering?

“I have hydrangeas but each year they only get leaves and no flowers what can I do?” Question from Nancy of Campbell, Ohio

Answer: Generally when gardeners have trouble with hydrangeas that refuse to bloom, they are largeleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla hybrids). These survive just up to USDA Hardiness Zone 5, your zone, but you should be able to get them to bloom.

Largeleaf hydrangeas bloom on “old” or last year’s stems, so it is important not to prune them back in spring or fall. If trimming is needed, they should only be pruned right after they flower in summer. On occasion, harsh winters will cause stem dieback–killing all of the flowering stems down to the ground. Deer can also nibble them. When this happens, expect few to no flowers that year.  (Click here for an excellent schematic by Proven Winners that visually explains why some hydrangeas won’t bloom.)

Another factor is that largeleaf hydrangeas bloom best in partial sun. If yours is in deep shade, consider moving it. In your zone, the best garden spot for a largeleaf hydrangea is a partially sunny, protected location. Planting it near a building or wall will give it some protection from the harshest winter weather.

If you don’t feel like bothering with all of these steps, we recommend planting smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) varieties, which are very hardy and bloom on new wood. Two really exceptional types are Incrediball® and Invincibelle® Ruby. These grow best in fertile soil and like the addition of fertilizer formulated for flowering shrubs. I recommend amending their planting hole with Black Gold Garden Soil, which feeds plants for up to six months.

I hope that these tips help!

Happy hydrangea growing,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

My Barbados Cherry Flowers are Dropping Prematurely. Help!

“The flower blooms of my Barbados cherry are pink with yellow but they fall off the whole stem while in bloom. What am I doing or I should ask what I am not doing? I water it a little extra, but they seem to keep falling off.” Question from Carol of Joaquin, Texas.

Answer: It sounds like you are hoping for fruits in addition to stopping premature flower drop. It is typical for most of the small pink flowers of Barbados cherry to fall from the tree, but using a product called Blossom Set can help flowers remain for longer to encourage fruiting. It is also important to know that older, more established Barbados cherries flower more because the flowers occur on old wood. Good irrigation and extra care can also help these trees to flower. Try adding compost around the base of the tree and feeding it with a fertilizer formulated for flowering trees and shrubs. (Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding fertilizer quantity and method.)

When it comes to fruiting, planting more than one tree can encourage cross-pollination and fruit set, though some trees are self-fertile. Native bees are the primary pollinators, so avoid using any pesticides on or around your tree.

I hope that this helps answer your question!

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist

When Do I Cut Back Orchid Stems After They Bloom?

“Do I need to cut off the stems after my orchid flowers fall off or will new flowers grow on the stems next year?” Question from Bonnie of Young, Arizona

Answer: It depends on the health and blooming stage of the flowering stem. If the stem/s are still green, prune off the spent flowers to about 1-inch above the closest node on towards the bast of the stem; this may encourage further flowering. If your spike/spikes are beginning to turn brown, prune them all the way back to the base of the plant. Always use clean, sharp shears to prune off old stems, and sterilize the shears in a 10% bleach solution before pruning another orchid. This will reduce the risk of cross-contamination if one of your orchids happens to have a disease.

Always keep a lookout for keikis. On occasion, certain common orchids will develop little plantlets on their flowering stems, called keikis. These can be nurtured, removed, and replanted as entirely new plants! (Click here to learn more about keiki removal.)

Once your orchid has finished flowering, it needs a rest before it will bloom again. The length between blooming will depend on the type of orchid you are growing. But, in general, slightly decrease the growing temperature for the orchid, and give it good care and fertilization. (Click here to learn more about how to get certain orchids to rebloom.)

Please let me know if you have any additional questions about the specific orchids you are growing!

Happy gardening,

Jessie Keith

Black Gold Horticulturist