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The Global Insight

Should I feed my hydrangeas

Author

Matthew Martinez

Updated on April 24, 2026

A good all purpose 12-4-8 or 10-10-10 composition will provide all the fertilizing hydrangeas need. Either a chemical source or organic matter can be used successfully. Applying a once a year slow-release chemical formulated for shrubs and trees is the simplest solution to hydrangea care and feeding.

What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas?

A good all purpose 12-4-8 or 10-10-10 composition will provide all the fertilizing hydrangeas need. Either a chemical source or organic matter can be used successfully. Applying a once a year slow-release chemical formulated for shrubs and trees is the simplest solution to hydrangea care and feeding.

What feed do hydrangeas like?

It is recommended for more natural composition that you opt for a combination of sulfur, peat moss, and compost to fertilize your hydrangeas. It is also recommended that when you feed your hydrangeas you include a biannual dose consisting of liquid iron. This will help to promote green healthy colors in your leaves.

What is the best time to fertilize hydrangeas?

Generally, you should fertilize your hydrangeas in Spring just when it begins to leaf out to give it an early-season boost. Fertilize them a second time during the growing season of July. The fast-release fertilizers require application twice in summer.

How do I get more blooms on my hydrangea?

  1. Plant smooth hydrangeas in full sun if the soil stays moist. …
  2. Water them during times of drought, especially during the heat of summer.
  3. Amend the soil with organic matter (such as compost).
  4. Prune stems back in early spring, just before new growth emerges.

Do hydrangeas need ericaceous feed?

Hydrangea care As mentioned, these shrubs need rich soil that remains moist. Increasing the amount of organic matter will help the roots to conserve moisture at the roots. For lighter soil, ericaceous fertilizers can be added to help feed the hydrangeas.

Do hydrangeas like Miracle Gro?

All-purpose Miracle-Gro fertilizer is well suited for hydrangeas. Mix the Miracle-Gro fertilizer with water according to package instructions for the size of your hydrangea shrubs. Apply the Miracle-Gro fertilizer every other time you water, about every two to three weeks.

Can I use Tomorite on hydrangeas?

Potassium [ potash ] is for flowering and fruiting, Tomorite is high in potassium. Phosphorus is for root development. Potash will help your hydrangea to flower, although I would wait a while before giving it.

How often should I feed hydrangeas?

When to Fertilize Time-release fertilizers usually need to be reapplied every three months. Other types typically need to be applied every one or two weeks. Then, in late winter, just before hydrangeas come back from dormancy, feed them another dose of an all-purpose fertilizer.

Should I deadhead hydrangeas?

You should deadhead throughout the blooming season to keep your hydrangeas looking their beast and encourage new flower growth. However, stop deadheading hydrangea shrubs in mid to late fall, leaving any spent blooms in place.

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Do hydrangeas like full sun?

Hydrangeas like morning sun, but do not do well if they’re in direct, hot afternoon sun. Partial shade in the later parts of the day is ideal for these beauties.

Why are my hydrangea leaves turning yellow?

Hydrangea leaves turn yellow due to overwatering, too much direct sunlight, or nutrient deficiency. To fix the yellow leaves, move the plant to a shaded area and drain excess water from the pot. Feed the plant with an iron supplement and nitrogen fertilizer to keep leaves green and healthy.

Why is my hydrangea not flowering?

The primary reasons hydrangeas don’t bloom are incorrect pruning, bud damage due to winter and/or early spring weather, location and too much fertilizer. Hydrangea varieties can be of the type that blooms on old wood, new wood or both. Old wood is the current year’s growth and new wood is next year’s (spring) growth.

How do you fertilize hydrangeas?

Create a nitrogen “tea” fertilizer by filling a bucket two-thirds full of grass clippings, then filling the bucket with water to the top. Let this steep for three days, then strain and pour the liquid over the roots of your hydrangea.

What to feed hydrangeas in pots?

Add a handful or Vitax Hydrangea Feed to the soil, or compost if growing in a pot, when planting. This provides all the essential nutrients for healthy growth and beautiful blooms. Most hydrangeas will grow in an open sunny situation, but prefer light shade.

Can you overfeed hydrangea?

Hydrangeas tend to struggle in gardens with a poor quality of the soil. With this in mind, you may also need to feed your plants once a year in winter or early spring and apply mulch in the autumn. Make sure you never overfeed your plants though.

Can I use multi purpose compost for hydrangeas?

The type of compost you use is determined by the type of Hydrangea you have. Mop head Hydrangeas and Lacecap Hydrangeas will flower blue if grown in acidic soil and pink if grown in a alkaline soil. … Most other types of Hydrangeas will be fine with Multi purpose John Innes Compost.

How do you keep blue hydrangeas blue?

Sprinkle elemental sulfur over the soil. In order to keep your hydrangeas blooming in blue, elemental sulfur should be sprinkled over the soil around the shrub to lower the pH to below 5.5. The exact amount of elemental sulfur required will vary, depending on the soil type and how much the pH needs to be adjusted.

What do you feed hydrangeas UK?

You can change the colour of the flowers on lacecap and mophead hydrangeas and Hydrangea serrata from pink to blue by feeding with a fertiliser low in phosphorous and high in potassium. Alternatively, you can grow your plant in a pot of peat-free ericaceous compost and water with rain water to keep the flowers blue.

Can you fertilize hydrangeas when they are blooming?

This is a great fertilizer to use when the first flush of flowering has finished. In warmer regions, feed hydrangeas a second time during the growing season, in July. In all regions, warm and cold, don’t add any hydrangea fertilizer that promotes growth after August.

How do I know if my hydrangea is overwatered?

Leaf Symptoms Overwatering hydrangeas impacts leaf growth in a range of ways. Root rot caused by overwatering produces yellowed leaves rather than dark, rich green leaves. An overwatered plant may shed leaves prematurely, or there may appear to be an overgrowth of green foliage due to stunted flower growth.

Can hydrangeas grow in pots?

Hydrangeas in containers can be used on decks, patios or on stands in your garden. This plant, held atop an old column, adds an elegant touch. First, decide where you’ll put the hydrangeas. The beauty of growing them in pots is that you can move them around.

What time of year do you deadhead hydrangeas?

When to deadhead hydrangea You should deadhead your hydrangeas throughout the entire blooming season so that once a flower has bloomed, it can be removed to encourage new blossoms and to keep your hydrangea looking fresh.

What happens if you don't prune hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood do not need pruning and are better off for it. If you leave them alone, they’ll bloom more profusely the next season. … Just remember new growth may come, but that new growth will be without blooms next season.

Do I cut back hydrangeas for winter?

In late winter or early spring, these shrubs can be cut all the way back to the ground. Smooth hydrangeas will produce much larger blooms if pruned hard like this each year, but many gardeners opt for smaller blooms on sturdier stems.

Do hydrangeas like coffee grounds?

If you’re growing hydrangeas, use coffee grounds to affect their color. Coffee grounds add extra acidity to the soil around hydrangeas. … Seedlings thrive off the nitrogen content in coffee, so give them a boost by making a natural fertilizer from the grounds.

Why are my hydrangea leaves curling up?

When there is an insufficient amount of water provided for the hydrangea plant, the leaves curl upwards. The main reason for the upward curling of leaves is to seek protection from sunburn exposure now that they don’t have much water to emit. This then enables the plant to survive water deprivation for a bit longer.

What can go wrong with hydrangeas?

  • Brown Spots on Hydrangea Leaves.
  • Hydrangea Leaves Turning Yellow.
  • Edges of Hydrangea Leaves Turning Brown.
  • Hydranea Rust.
  • Powdery Mildew on Hydrangea Leaves.

What time of day should you water hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas prefer slightly shady spots, which will help keep plants from wilting. If your plant is located in a sunny spot, it may require more water to help it from drooping. The best time of day to water hydrangeas is the early morning or late evening, so the moisture won’t quickly evaporate in the heat of the day.

Do hydrangeas like wet feet?

While they are known as being notorious for water, they do not like wet feet ever! The basic rule to tell if a hydrangea needs to be watered is by looking at the leaves. If the leaves are drooping, the plant more than likely needs to be watered.

Should you mist hydrangeas?

Plants such as fuchsias, ferns, impatiens, azaleas, camellias, clivia (kaffir lily), shade palms and hydrangeas prefer cool, shady, conditions. …