Hydrangea Message Board Archive Year 2001
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FROM: Susan Parker
zuzup@juno.com 04/05/01 12:26 AM CentralHello! I am interested in chatting/meeting etc. hydrangea fans in the SW PA area. Specifically, I am in Mt. Pleasant PA, 50 mi. from Pgh. Moved and lost my babies so starting over from scratch. I have a moderately sized back yard almost 100% shade and would like to develop a hydrangea species garden.
FROM: Pete Smith
mailto:04/04/01 2:54 PM CentralIf you are not getting copies of these postings, please check your email address on your own recent messages. I am getting a number of bounced email messages from people on the list. If your email address is good, and you are still not getting these postings by email, please contact me by email direct. cpsmith@conweb.com Thanks.
FROM: Pete Smith
cpsmith@conweb.com 04/04/01 2:50 PM CentralMelanie....
If the soil in the pots that you brought home is "typical", it is more of a light weight packing material that holds some moisture than it is soil. Change it immediately. Some good topsoil, a little humus and some peat moss. Move you plants into the new soil with little if any of the ball from the old pots. Be real careful of the roots. Then water with a trickle spray or a drip for hours until the soil is moist all the way through.
Karen.... .
If the plants are mopheads, you may not get any blooms this year. If they are a panicule variety, then tight pruning should not hurt. In either case, that pruning should not hurt a healthy plant.
FROM: Velda emonds
vemonds@yahoo.com 04/04/01 1:42 PM CentralInterested in any kitchen decor with hydrangeas
FROM: melanie
tahlula13@hotmail.com 04/04/01 9:21 AM Centrali recently bought two small hydranga plants, both with blooms on them. i brought them home and watered them, they were quite dry. by that same night one had begun to seriously wilt and by the next day all three blooms were completely wilted and looked dead and the leaves have started to to turn brown and dry on the edges..the other one is starting to wilt a bit...what happened? i only had them for 2 days. i'm planning on keeping them in big pots outside.
FROM: Karen
karen@okaytrding.com 04/04/01 8:21 AM CentralMy husband pruned my hydrangias to about 6"! Help. Is there anything I should (or could) do?
FROM: Pete Smith
cpsmith@conweb.com 03/31/01 10:57 AM CentralI want to thank Michael Foran with hydrangeaplus.com and Kristin Van Hoose with hydrangesplus.com (unrelated nurseries on opposite coasts - "ain't" the web great) for their help in identifying the mystery hydrangeas. They are the Paniculate Grandiflora or PeeGee variety. There is more information about this stately classic variety on the PeeGee page.
FROM: Pete Smith
cpsmith@conweb.com 03/27/01 8:03 AM CentralKaren....Two possibilites. Maybe they had too much water, that is often what I have found on new plants that turn black.
Also, I know I sent those to you in the beginning of March. It's interesting that some of the cuttings I cut and planted in Jan show life and are coming along. I put a few cuttings in also about the same time I sent yours and they have not done anything either. Usually 10-20 days and there is a bud or some indication of life, but maybe the colder weather changes that. Or, maybe there are just good times for cuttings....and bad times. I know my July and earlier cuttings last year came thru fine, but almost everything from August 1st forward didn't make it. I'll send you some replacements.
FROM: Karen
kaeyeo63@aol.com 03/27/01 7:25 AM CentralPete, Help! My Nikko blues seemed to have died!(gasps in horror)I don't know what I did wrong, I potted them as your instructions, but the budding turned black and the stems are all hardened now......what went wrong? PS> The white hydrangea tree, looks like the snow queen variety I have.
FROM: Pete Smith
cpsmith@conweb.com 03/26/01 4:06 PM CentralSomehow the past month has just flown by. I guess it's being outside and looking at all the young plants coming along.
My first appeal is for everyone to help identify a hydrangea tree variety. I have posted some pictures on the home page and some more information. These are in a relative's yard and I would like to help him find out what they are.
I really appreicate Tory answering some of the Message Board questions, she can be an assistant webmaster anytime. Many of your questions are beyond my expertise: deer repelling, root mites, etc. I take a stab at some of the others, but as is my usual appeal, please anyone who can help post some answers is welcome to join in.
Back to Gloria's question, Gloria, I live just outside Birmingham, Alabama and we get the very hot summers, and unfortunately they get dryer every year. I don't see why you shouldn't be able to grow some varieties. For the Nikko Blue, (one common mophead variety) I recommend morning sun but afternoon shade...and LOTS of water.
Tess asked about lower leaves turning yellow. Tess, in the fall, the turning yellow was just part of their natural progress toward eventually falling off. If, however, the yellow is on a new plant, just put into the ground, I suspect that you have not sufficiently watered the plant after planting. This happened to me last year on some hibiscus I bought. I thought I had put sufficient water on them after planting but the yellow leaves came. Finally I put the hose on a drip and let them absorb moisture for over 12 hours. The yellow went away immediately.
Richard has a climbing hydrangea. According to Daria Price Bowman, (a book I have cited elsewhere), "extraordinarily beautiful vines, natives of Japan, are nearly always very slow to start. Thy requires lots of babying and seem to make little progress during their first few years." She goes on to say that after a few years they will come in well and can reach 40-60 feet after many years of growth.
Linda, we are due for a late hard freeze in Birmingham tonight. But I would go ahead and plant this weekend, hoping tonight's is the last cold of this year.
Kay, when you say not pruning it, I will assume that was over an entire winter and spring. For the mopheads, the blooms form on last year's stems for the most part. Also, is the plant getting at least 4-5 hours of sunlight a day? Some of the plants that I have in primarily shady areas have many less blooms than their cousins only a few feet away in the sunlight.
FROM: Kay Bean
dkaybean@yahoo.com 03/26/01 10:19 AM CentralI live in Indianapolis, IN and have a beautiful 4' hydrangea. It is 5 years old, has hardened stems, but has never bloomed. It was supposed to have red blooms. I have tried fertilizing, pruning it, not pruning it. It is not an oakleaf, it has typical, serrated leaves. but never flowers. It looks very healthy. Does anyone know what might be wrong? It is a lovely specimen, so I hate to just dig it up and throw it away.
FROM: Linda
mail4linda@atl.mediaone.net 03/21/01 10:44 AM CentralI received a pink hydrangea from a local florist. When can I plant it outside? I live in Georgia - Zone 7b.
FROM: Hollie Harris
harrishc@hotmail.com 03/20/01 10:01 AM CentralI would like to know about any other bridal stories with hydrangeas, as well. I will be having hydrangeas in my bouquets, in a June wedding in Missouri (not as hot as July in Texas, but still hot!)
FROM: Richard
beachbum1@rocketmail.com 03/20/01 9:25 AM CentralI just bought a plant identified as a "Climbing Hydrangia". The nursery has no information, nor does the plant have a tag. Can anyone give me some info as to how this grows, and how to care for it? I assume it is a shade plant.
FROM: Allyson
chharris@bellsouth.net 03/19/01 1:34 PM CentralI am thinking of having hydrangeas for my bridesmaids bouquets. Can anyone tell me how they last, cut, out of water? My wedding is in July in TN, so it will be hot.
FROM: Tess
mailto:03/16/01 10:17 PM CentralThe lower leaves on my mophead hydrangea seem to be turning yellow. I suspect this may be due to some nutrient deficiency but haven't found any information about hydrangea diseases on the web yet. Can anyone suggest what the problem might be, or a useful site? Thanks
FROM: Luc
luc.balemans@cec.eu.int 03/15/01 11:57 AM CentralCongratulations for the swap page! I have posted a contribution right away. You will note that my 'want' list is pretty precise, but then again, so is the labelling of what I have on offer...
FROM: Tory
Igrowrocks@aol.com 03/11/01 11:13 PM CentralJohn, I've heard the same thing about forced Hydrangea's and reblooming. I can't think of a logical reason why they wouldn't. If you haven't already, try a good bloom fertilizer. This might sound cruel, but also give them some drought stress, sometimes a stressed plant will feel threatened enough to make flowers; self preservation!
Gloria, I'm in cool damp Washington state ... about as different from Phoenix as you can get! My advice would be to look in the blue pages of your phone book for your local cooperative extentsion service, they should be able to tell you if any of the Hydrangea varieties would do well in you area.
Paul, You could sustain your plants with flourescent light through their growing season but you'd need to replicate their dormant stage. These plants need changing seasons ... not saying you can't make fall and winter indoors though!
Karen, I hope you got some advice about your cuttings already :( If not Pete has good info on his page about rooting cuttings.
Linda, Your plant's sound very healthy, I'd wait until you put them outside to do any fertilizing. If you repot them when you put them back out you might hold off on fertilizer for 3 months, the new soil you provide will have enough nutrients till then. I can't say if they'll bloom again this year, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
Shelly, Yahoo! for finding us and congrats on the house :) The Anabelle blooms on new growth. I'm guessing in WI you don't have any new growth yet? I'm not to familiar with your weather but I'd prune in early spring ... maybe a few weeks before your last frost date. As for propagating it, look at the bottom of Pete's homepage under "planting cuttings." Have fun propagating and don't get discouraged! The bad news is Anabelle is not a variety you can change flower colors :( Still a beautiful plant though!
Linda, If mail order is an option, I can recommend www.forestfarm.com. They list 'Pia' in their online catolog. If you don't want to mail order see if a local nursery will order one for you, never hurts to ask.
I can only speak for myself but I'd like to see people post back about their shopping success, pruning results, flower results, and CAN Hydrangea's be grown in Phoeniz, Az? Tory :)
FROM: Donna
desnard@cisco.com 03/10/01 3:35 AM CentralI'm in Louisiana and am looking for some dwarf varieties. I believe "Pia" is one. Can someone recommend a source?
FROM: shelly
bjtslt01@hotmail.com 03/08/01 1:32 AM CentralYahoo! I'm so glad I found you all!! I've been searching for quite some time for information on Hydrangeas and I'm hoping you all can help me! We bought a house in WI with a beautiful and huge hydrangea bush... the problem is I have not a clue as to how to care for it! I'm not a gardener at all-- but I's like to be! Do I prune it? If so when? I think, from what I've seen on the web, that it's an Anabelle, smooth hyrangea. It's not the mop head type, but rather flat topped. The blooms were greenish and eventually turned to white. The whole thing streches about 10 feet along the length of the back of our house. I'd love to propagate and transplant some of it to containers or other places around the house, maybe play with the colors too. So, can anyone help me out?
FROM: Linda
johnlindahockman@mindspring.com 03/07/01 4:22 PM CentralI brought my 3 miniature pink hydrangeas inside last December when the weather got so cold here in SC. Since inside they have sprouted new leaves and blooms. The leaves are fully mature but the blooms have not opened yet. I want to put them outside when the weather gets a little warmer but do I fertilize them now while the blooms are young? Will they bloom again at a later date?
FROM: Karen
kaeyeo63@aol.com 03/07/01 11:36 AM CentralOkay, I have my nikko blue cuttings, but since I am new to this, can you tel lme how to care for them? Should I just stick them in a pot with soil, use rooting hormone, or what? I don't want to loose these, they will make a nice addition o the snow queen one I have now (if she, in fact survives this year)
FROM: paul
Oshe2000@aol.com 03/06/01 2:59 PM Centralif i use a flroesent light to grow my plants will that be effective. this is for indoor use.
FROM: Gloria Ponce de Leon
mommaponce@earthlink.net 03/05/01 9:29 PM CentralCan I grow hydrangeas in Phoenix Arizona
FROM: john
mailto:02/24/01 5:46 PM CentralI have been told that "forced Bloom" hydrangea, those sold in pots and in full bloom for holiday times, never rebloom even though they may be in a large pot and grow quite well with a nice green leaf. Is this true? Can I get these to rebloom. Have had them in outdoor pots for three of four years.
FROM: Stacy
stacytex@aol.com 02/23/01 1:26 PM CentralI have seen what you are looking for at Kinko's last night. I live in Dallas, Texas but I would think all of them carry the paper. I am going to use this paper for my rehearsal dinner invitations since it is the flower of my wedding.
FROM: Tory
Igrowrocks@aol.com 02/22/01 8:31 PM CentralHi, fellow message board readers! I posted earlier but omitted my email address so you won't see my message unless you visit the website. There were several questions with no answers, my message was to try and answer some of the questions. Since spring is on it's way I'm hoping more of you will participate ... Hearing from other people interested in hydrangeas last summer inspired me to try more varieties, thanks. Hope you are all still here and reading for the new season. Tory
FROM: Tory
mailto:02/22/01 2:42 PM CentralHi All, my hydrangea is leafing out so I thought it was time to visit again. I see some questions but no answers? Cindy, Sunset garden book lists all varieties of Hydrangea for San Jose. When shopping pick a variety that will like a shady spot. Lisa, If you're looking for mail order nurseries, you might try forestfarm.com, their selection is decent and most are available in gallon size pots. Another one to try is waysidegardens.com, expensive, but the pictures they have are worth window shopping! Anne Lockard, Sorry to hear the deer ate your hydrangeas! Your best defense is a physical barrier, check local hardware/home improvement stores, for deer netting. You can also buy spray deterrents but they aren't that effective. Good luck, hopefully your neighbors will plant something tastier and the deer will eat at their house. Amy, You can plant in early spring after danger of hard frost. When shopping ask for varieties that are suited for where you want to plant; sun exposure and soil conditions. Check the plant for bugs or damage and ask the nursery person to slip it out of it's pot so you can see the roots. (They should look healthy and fill the pot but not be overly cramped) Spring is definitely on it's way!
FROM: Amy Bridges
dabridge61@prodigy.net 02/20/01 12:33 PM CentralI am interested in planting some Hydrangea bushes in my yard. When is the best time to plant and what should I look for when I go to the nursery. Thanks, Amy Longview, TX
FROM: Anne Lockard
tammy@hawksnet.net 02/12/01 10:15 PM CentralHELP! The Deer ate up my hydrangeas last year! They were looking so Beautiful. I was so excited! For the first time since they were planted three years ago... What can I do to keep the deer away from my hydrangeas? I have them planted right up against my house. Thanks for any help.
FROM: Pete Smith
cpsmith@conweb.com 02/12/01 1:02 PM CentralIT'S FINALLY DONE!!!
I have made the first pass at setting up a Cuttings Swap page. Visit our web site at http://www.conweb.com/hydrangea and click through to the page.
Many of you have asked for this, so please register and participate.
Another new feature I am trying is a 2001 diary. Some of you have suggested something like this, so I thought I would try it out.
As usual, any suggestions on the swap program, the diary, or anything else about the web site are welcome.
Spring is coming.
FROM: Lisa
JPREEDAR@AOL.COM 02/11/01 8:33 PM CentralHello Everyone, Hope you are all enjoying the winter. Spring is just around the corner! I need some help. Looking for a nursery that offers hydrangea, larger size, good variety. We just bought an old English style home that needs lots of good size hydrangea to make it my home. Imiss my old ones desperately. I took cuttings, but needs some large plants soon. We live in Ohio. Thanks, Lisa
FROM: Rosie
abemar@cstone.net 02/07/01 7:53 PM CentralIs there any progress in the 'plant exchange' quest? Have many people shown an interest?
FROM: cindy
cindylabarbera@yahoo.com 02/05/01 7:41 PM CentralHi, I was interested in planting lacecap hydrangia's in a raised bed in daple shade I had leather leaf ferns there that did well,but i'm not sure how hydrangia's do in shady but a bright area in san jose california
FROM: Mr. P
mailto:02/05/01 12:21 PM Central
FROM: Pete Smith
mailto:02/01/01 8:25 AM CentralRosie...
When you check back on this page, please check your email address. I sent you a reply to your email message to me, as well as you would have received an email message of your post. Both messages were returned to me with a bad email address. If you want to be on the email list, please go to the Mail List page and add your correct email address.
Thanks
FROM: Rosie
abemar@cstone.net 01/31/01 11:08 PM CentralAs a newcomer to your lovely site, I read the diary with great interest, especially about cold temps and potted cuttings. I have recently moved house and brought hydrangea cuttings with me and put them in a brick shed with no heat and only one window. It has been colder than usual here in Virginia and I thought for sure my cuttings would die. Some of the new buds have gone black but to my delight new growth is coming through the soil. I put them out in the sun hoping the pots would dry out a bit because I only watered them once and they are still pretty wet - I don't want the roots to rot. I can't tell you how glad I am to have found this site and to share my Hydrangea passion with like-minded gardeners. I have only been in the US 4 years and although I was a gardener in England, I still need to learn about soil, temp, different growing conditions etc over here and I am hoping you can all help me with advice. I had a cottage garden back home and it broke my heart to leave it, but thats life. Now I am embarking on another journey - a new house set amongst forested land on red clay soil and I feel overwhelmed. I think I'm getting too old for this.....lol. We move into our new home end of May, so any suggestions on where to begin would be so appreciated. Also, if there are any cuttings going I will gladly pay for postage until my garden is established and am able to exchange. Thanks so much.
FROM: Kay
KayBilly@worldnet.att.net 01/29/01 6:07 PM CentralMy hydrangea has either tiny leaves that will not grow or green with black turned up leaves. Could it be nematods in the soil? HELP!!!
FROM: BEN THOMAS
PENNSEED@EPIX.NET 01/27/01 9:41 AM CentralLOOKING FOR BEST PREVENTION METHODS,AS WELL AS WHAT CHEMICALS USED TO TREAT ROOT MITES
FROM: Brenda
gbg91@aol.com 01/20/01 4:29 PM CentralI am interested in purchasing hydrangea trees. Can anyone give me a good resouce to buy healthy ones?
FROM: Hollie Harris
harrishc@hotmail.com 01/18/01 5:45 PM CentralHello, My name is Hollie Harris and I am getting married in June of 2002. I am lookin for some stationary that has a print of a blue hydrangea blossom on it (possibly similar to the one that shows up in various places on this website). If anyone has seen some pretty stationary with blue hydrangeas on it, and can point me in the right direction, I would be much obliged. Thank you, Hollie