Hydrangea Message Board Archive Year 2002
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FROM: B Rose brianlee@smgazette.com 12/29/02 11:22 PM CentralI live in zone 5 in northern Idaho and have seen some beautiful hydrangea in different areas of this region but have had very little luck with them myself,purchased locally,I would like a little information on varieties that do well in this zone and how to properly prepare them for winter.I`ve seen blue hydrangea in this area that are 5 to 6 feet tall and bloom beautifully,any help would be appreciated,thank you
FROM: Amy Kuehl akuehl@pitnet.net 12/29/02 8:01 PM CentralI would like to know the best list sources of Hydrangea plants appropriate for my area (NE Wisconsin). I consider my front yard 4b and back yard zone 5a
FROM: Rachel Babitz rachel9@earthlink.net 12/26/02 3:28 AM CentralLooking for a cutting or plant of Pretty Maiden Hydrangea. Thank you much!
FROM: ruth rureif@aol.com 12/23/02 11:52 AM CentralI just bought my first house which has many hydrangea plants. It is now Winter. What should I be doing to assure healthy plants in the spring?
FROM: Betty Migliaccio beezus13@cs.com 12/22/02 12:12 PM CentralI have beautiful Hydraneas that are about 5 feet tall. One year they had pink flowers the next blue. I realize this is soil related. Question: We have had bad weather this year and now they are brown flowers I want ot trim it down so it will start again in spring... how far do I trim them .. to the base or just the "dead" flower "blooms" Thank you ahead of time from the amatuer gardner
FROM: janeen hosemans oligrae@lisp.com.au 12/16/02 10:01 PM CentralCan someone please tell me when and how to take cuttings of my oakleaf hydrangea - common name is Snow Queen and they unusually like a western facing position.
FROM: Shari SL4cats@aol.com 12/03/02 11:37 AM CentralHELP. I set my VCR wrong. I am looking for a video tape of Erica Glasers - Gardner's Diary show from Nov 24, 2002. This show features Penny McHenry. It was on HGTV Nov 24 - Episode number GRD-411. Does anyone have this on tape to loan or sell to me??? Thankyou, Shari
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 12/01/02 7:56 PM CentralI live in N.Y. they are fine and will return to their former beauty next spring/ late spring almost June before you see the leaf buds
FROM: Nicole NMAlford@aol.com 12/01/02 6:20 PM CentralI wanted to beautify my small garden, and fell in love with hydrangeas. So I planted 5 of them, and they all really thrived this summer. I transplanted one rather large one about 2 months ago (well,late September). They were all looking really good, and then I went home for Thanksgiving, and it apparently got really really cold here (Maryland -- could not find it on Zone map), and I came home and the leaves are drooping, turning really dark (almost black) in some areas. I am afraid they are dying! I know they cannot survive really really cold weather, though I know people even further North (as far as NY) who have hydrangea bushes that are six feet tall! Can anyone help me save them?
FROM: kathy and tom shaw clement@primary.net 11/28/02 1:43 PM Centralhey Pete, ou old e-mail was clement@accessus.net, we have now changed it to clement@primary.net, p;ease put us back on your mailing list.
FROM: Linda gratefulhearts@yahoo.com 11/26/02 4:07 PM CentralZone 9, Houston, TX: I am totally new to hydrangeas, but would like to give it a try. Bed choices at my house are on the North East side of the yard with almost no sun until about 10:30 a.m, and then beginning around 4:00, filtered, but fairly sunny. Or due north exposure with full sun beginning mid-day through the end of the day. I know nothing about getting started.
FROM: A Master Gardner 11/23/02 8:54 PM CentralRenee if you do not give your Email address it is almost impossible to answer your question. Many of the gardeners write directly to an individual rather then put it on the system. and I am one.
FROM: kathy and tom shaw clement@primary.net 11/23/02 2:19 PM Centralpete, please change my e-mail address to clement@primary.net
FROM: Renee 11/22/02 12:23 PM CentralLittle confused how to use the archive.. can only see question and no answers... My question is why is my hydrangea, which did not bloom all summer, now putting on buds, getting ready to bloom..in NOV? Is it nuts or am I? Raleigh, NC
FROM: Renee 11/22/02 12:16 PM CentralLittle confused how to use the archive.. can only see question and no answers... My question is why is my hydrangea, which did not bloom all summer, now putting on buds, getting ready to bloom..in NOV? Is it nuts or am I? Raleigh, NC
FROM: diane dmherriott@aol.com 11/22/02 11:04 AM CentralWanted to buy: Dried red/burgundy hydrangea wreath. Please help.
FROM: Daniel Whisenand dwhisenand@hineshort.com 11/22/02 9:17 AM CentralDo you have Dougs e-mail adress?
FROM: Frank Dutra fdutra1@attbi.com 11/21/02 9:21 PM CentralDoug Bailey ( I think he can be found at the University of Georgia) is the man to ask, he wrote the book "Hydarngea Production" I'm paraphrasing. He's always been helpful to me and answers his emails promptly. Florel is mentioned but can cause a reduction of flower size. If the plants are old enough you could always leave the sides up at night as long as they have been hardened off. I've used this method, being careful so they don't catch a hard freeze. I've seen Zerotol at 100:1 sprayed on a sunny day (oops!) do a pretty good job, but I'm not sure I'd recommend that without a little more testing.
FROM: Daniel Whisenad dwhisenand@hineshort.com 11/21/02 2:26 PM CentralWhen defoliating could you use an etholine based product called FLOREL BRAND PISTIL? Useing this chemical do I then have to heat the house at 70 degrees for a week? Or could I just bering the temp below freezing during the night/earlly morning to make up for my high day temp of 60. I just can't seem to get them to fall asleep.
FROM: Frank Dutra fdutra1@attbi.com 11/21/02 1:24 PM CentralIf your in Chino valley it may not get cold enough, hydrangeas go dormant as a result of the combined effect of short days and cold temps (closer to freezing than 50 degrees) You may have to defoliate them to get them to go dormant. Ethelyne gas or a bushel of apples per 400 cubic foot of circulated air in a 70 degree closed house fo a week would probably be the safest method. Once dormant, they should resist breaking bud until the temps get higher and days longer. Copy of Hydrangea Message from: dwhisenand@hineshort.com Message is from (user's name if given): Daniel Whisenand I am the grower for hines color plant 1 Chion valley Az. My compay decided to over-winter perenials this year and I hope that you could give me some good ideas on how to go about doing this? The plants are in casitas w/white poly, and are at an average temp of 45-50 degrees. The problem tat I have is that they are still growing and I just can't seem to keep them asleep.
FROM: Daniel Whisenand dwhisenand@hineshort.com 11/21/02 12:17 PM CentralI am the grower for hines color plant 1 Chion valley Az. My compay decided to over-winter perenials this year and I hope that you could give me some good ideas on how to go about doing this? The plants are in casitas w/white poly, and are at an average temp of 45-50 degrees. The problem tat I have is that they are still growing and I just can't seem to keep them asleep.
FROM: Randy Gibbs randy_gibbs@hotmail.com 11/17/02 9:06 PM CentralIf any/all persons would add the plant hardiness(zone) along with their questions you would receive better answers.
FROM: 11/17/02 9:03 PM Central
FROM: Al Richter Alrichter3@comcast.net 11/17/02 5:03 PM CentralDo you cut back a Hydranga in the Fall. Mine did not bloom this year. What is the best fertilizer I can give them
FROM: deb debgrossnickle@webtv.net 11/15/02 6:04 PM CentralNo harm done! Annabelles look their best if you cut them to the ground every spring...he just did half your work for you. They bloom on new wood, and have much better shape and nicer flowers if you start over every spring. So just tell him thanks, and wait to see how great it looks next year!
FROM: Dee Cade athomp1047@aol.com 11/15/02 5:54 PM CentralMy husband cut my annabelle hydrangea down with only about 18 inches left. Is it destroyed, will it bloom flowers again, or should I start saving for another one? Help!
FROM: Anne Jones ajones@stpegs.com 11/13/02 2:00 PM CentralI live in Southeast Texas about 30 miles from the coast.(Matagorda) I need information about how grow hydrangeas successfully. My front yard faces north but it is deeply shaded by a live oak tree. Will there be enough sun to grow in this area?
FROM: J.Gaskell janice.gaskell@ukonline.co.uk 11/11/02 7:00 PM CentralTo Penny McHenry. Acting on your advice. Thank you.
FROM: Margaret Wright margaret.wright@sympatico.ca 11/11/02 11:49 AM CentralI have inherited some hydrange bushes. In the spring, they are green. In the summer, they are white. In the fall, they are golden brown. I'm not sure what species of hydrange they are. They are three to four feet high, grown in clay soil, and are at least 30 years old. I live in south/central Ontario. Do the tops of the hydrange bushes need to be clipped in the fall? If so, how far down do I clip the bushes?
FROM: J.Gaskell janice.gaskell@ukonline 11/10/02 5:57 PM CentralTo Penny McHenry. Thank you for reply.In answer to your question, yes, via bank.
FROM: J.Gaskell janice.gaskell@ukonline.co.uk 11/09/02 8:53 PM CentralA few months ago I applied to become a member of the American Hydrangea Society in Atlanta and sofar, have heard nothing. Does it have an address, apart from Box.no.given?
FROM: Tony Hollister tonyhollister@hotmail.com 11/03/02 4:08 PM CentralI live in UK and have 2 lacecaps which have grown sigbificantly over the past 2 years. This autumn they have had a lot of brown spotting on the leaves. Any assistance would be appreciated.
FROM: Renie madnor@msn.com 11/02/02 4:32 PM CentralWhen is the best time of year to prune hydrangeas?
FROM: Laurie Laurie@iyi.cnchost.com 11/01/02 8:16 PM CentralWe are moving from CA to Las Vegas next month and I want to grow hydrangeas there. I have some beautiful plants here with blue nikko's in the front of the house and pink ones in the back. The concern I have is that I was told by one of the gardening people in Las Vegas that hydrangeas will not grow there. I have also heard that they will! Does anyone has any knowledge of this? And also is there anyone in the area that has successfully grown hydrangeas there? I was thinking of using them in both border beds and containers. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks
FROM: Candy Wolf buzzleon3@aol.com 10/28/02 10:24 PM CentralI would also like information on pruning a peegee tree. Mine had several flowers this season. Six or seven of them were tall upright branches with huge flower heads on them. I couldn't resist cutting them for drying and now I am afraid I may have ruined my tree. Any advice would be most appreciated. Thanks
FROM: Lindsay tobin5oh@msn.com 10/28/02 4:08 PM CentralWe recently planted a Pee Gee Hydrangia as a decorative ornamental tree for our front yard. It faces North and receives full sun. We are in region 5 (Cleveland, OH). My research reading has left me confused. When is the best time to prune it back to optimize its flowering next summer? Where, on the branch, do I make that pruning cut?
FROM: Fizz fgpr@aol.com 10/28/02 3:43 PM CentralDoes anyone know the mophead hydrangea that blooms red or pink, turns rich maroon-red in fall? I live in the Washington, DC, area.
FROM: Gloria Marion gloriamarion7@hotmail.com 10/27/02 6:56 PM CentralI am desperately seeking to purchase dried hydrangeas for my daughters wedding. She is using them to make centerpieces for the tables at the reception. We will be spraying them silver so plain ones in color will do best. Can anyone lead me in the right direction to purchase some. I have cut those in my area that I can but rain has now spoiled most. Please help me to locate to purchase dried hydrangeas. Thank you
FROM: angie kidd ladybug0649@yahoo.com 10/26/02 10:56 PM Central
FROM: angie kidd ladybug0649@yahoo.com 10/26/02 10:56 PM Centralwe are planning a oct252003 wedding my daughter would LOVE to Have BLUE hydrangeas for the bouquets and table arrangements . could anyone in the maryland area give a estimate to the cost per stem. Bride and 7 girls about 20 tables
FROM: Linda bouckhout@aol.com 10/26/02 5:58 PM CentralI live in arizona. when I was frowing up I lived in California near glendale. We had such a beautiful Hydarngia, and it was so large. My mom always had to trim it back. The question I have is. where we lived in California the climate was very similar to where we live now. The Hydrangias do not seem to want to grow there. Is there any way that I might get one to grow.
FROM: 10/26/02 1:20 PM Central
FROM: Jackie 10/25/02 2:34 PM CentralI live in zone 4 southern minnesota. I planted peegee hydrangias in the spring, the farmer behind our lot had sprayed his soybeans and we got the over spray. My hydrangeas did not bloom, infact the leaves crinkled up and turned brown. Well I cut them back and want to try to winterize them so hopefully they will come back in the spring? Any great ideas? Or are my hydrangeas done for??
FROM: Jackie klappster@hotmail.com 10/25/02 2:33 PM CentralI live in zone 4 southern minnesota. I planted peegee hydrangias in the spring, the farmer behind our lot had sprayed his soybeans and we got the over spray. My hydrangeas did not bloom, infact the leaves crinkled up and turned brown. Well I cut them back and want to try to winterize them so hopefully they will come back in the spring? Any great ideas? Or are my hydrangeas done for??
FROM: Karen Quinn kjq@cox.net 10/22/02 9:05 PM CentralI have been reading up on changing the soil to make the colors pink or blue but I'm not sure how often to add the acid or the lime to the soil.....and if I also want to put coffee grounds around the ones I want blue - would I do that often? I'm in zone 8 so I still have some warm weather ahead and I am not sure if I should continue to add the acid and lime right up until the weather turns cold???
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 10/22/02 8:29 PM Centralto all those asking whether or not to prune their hydrangeas before winter or in early spring, The only hydrangea that is safe to prune in the fall is the annabelle, If your plants are deep pink or blue do not prune them this fall or early spring. We do have friends who prune their nikko blues in late fall or early spring and they have bloomed.. While they were not supposed to bloom we have also done the same thing and they bloomed. We have been having trouble with our computer and have just changed servers and we have not returned our E mail. We recieved e mail from PatSarrisi about confusion between the Annabelle and Hills of Snow. We have seen articles describing hills of snow but have never seen them in any nursury catalogues.. We have seen what we believe to be Annabelles at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and they were labeled Hills of Snow. Last summer we took the MOBOT garden tour and every garden featured Annabelles and Oakleafs with a few Macrophyllas. One garden had the arborescens radiata. This is a lace cap with a minimal number of flowers. On the tour it was in a garden under a high canopy with filtered sunlight and it looked good. By some mistake we purchased a dozen annabelles from one of our growers and one of the plants we gave away to a local garden club was this lace cap "radiata". They planted it in full sun and it didn't look too good.Kathy and Tom Shaw
FROM: Shirley stsisler@yahoo.com 10/21/02 8:36 PM CentralI live in zone 5, Ohio, have one hydrangea plant, have had it for two years, and it bloomed nicely the first year. I need to know, now that it is late October, am I supposed to prune it, if so, when, or do I leave it alone? Some people say to cut it down to the ground, but I don't know the correct way to prepare it for Ohio's winter. Thank you!!!
FROM: 10/21/02 8:31 PM Central
FROM: Frank Davis fld72828@worldsurfer.net 10/19/02 10:31 AM Centralwe have two beautiful pink hydrangea bushes,Are we supposed to cut the dead flowers off in the fall
FROM: wilma lmafar@marion.net 10/17/02 7:36 PM Centrali have hydrangea i dont know what kind they are do i cut them down for the winter zoon 9
FROM: neesy imneesy@aol.com 10/16/02 11:40 AM CentralI see many questions that are the same as mine, but, am new to this message board thing and unable to see where the answers are. Help!
FROM: Susan McKinney 10/14/02 4:16 PM CentralDoes anyone know a good source of cut hydrangeas (blue and white) in Atlanta. Must I go through a florist - and if so, which one? My daughter is getting married November 2nd and we need them then. Thanks for any help. Susan
FROM: sande crawqford captnred@sonic.net 10/14/02 11:44 AM Centralcan you tell me how to trim my huge haydrangia plant for winter? I want it to remain tall and wide in the coming spring.
FROM: donna orris 10/12/02 5:04 PM Central
FROM: Karen Quinn kjq@cox.net 10/12/02 12:58 PM Central
FROM: Karen Quinn kjq@cox.net 10/12/02 12:57 PM CentralI just found your web site this morning and have already picked up some great info - thanks. I have a back yard filled with hydrangeas and there is only one that I know the name of and that is Blue Glory. I started with one plant that I bought in Mobile at the Belingrath Gardens for $1.00 (name unknown) at the end of the season 4 years ago and it has probably given me 20 new plants. I have also taken woody cuttings from friends and have had great success with rooting them in my dapple sunny woods. I have a small nursery in which I amended the soil with shredded paper and organic cow manure and then covered it all with a couple inches of leaves and pine needles and this spring it was filled with worms and nice black soil. I just stick the cutting in the ground and water regularly and they root in a couple of weeks. I have around 60 new plants in all stages of maturity. I started rooting them in early spring when the big plants were sprouting out and some of those early plants are a foot tall now and I have moved them out of the nursery into the woods. I just added 6 new cuttings this morning that a neighbor gave me. I love fusing with all my new little plants. I am glad to have the swamp site, I need to get rid of some of mine so I can keep rooting more.....I'm in the Florida Panhandle if anyone wants to come buy and pick out some free plants.
FROM: 10/11/02 6:38 PM CentralFORGOT TO SICN IAM JIM
FROM: 10/11/02 6:36 PM CentralI THAANK RANDY GIBBS FOR ANSWERING AN SARLYER Q FOR ME. I READ ONE OF PEAT SMITHS LETTERS HE SAID HE WAS IN ZONE 7B IAM SOUTH OF HIM SO I MIGHT BE ON ZONE 8. IS THERE A MOPHEAD THAT BLOOMS ALL SUMMER?
FROM: martha 10/11/02 10:07 AM Centralsorry I'm unable to repond to all the people who sent me messages regarding hydranges. Since I live in a frost free zone I'm unable to give much advise regarding the care in cold climates.
FROM: jim james8523@comcast.net 10/10/02 3:20 PM CentralIAM A BEGAINER. I NOT SURE WHAT ZONE IAM IN. MOBIL AL. CAN THE NIKKO BLUE BE LIFT TO GROW IN POTS ALL THE TIME OR WILL IT KILL THEM? HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE A BUSH TO GROW TO ITS FULL HIGHT? IF YOU CAN HELP ME PLEASE EM ME. THANK YOU
FROM: Catalina Jim?nez CatalinadeSantamar?a@msn.com 10/10/02 12:39 PM CentralI will like to know about the resistence of the Hydrange macrophylla to the sun exposure, and diferent ways for making compost. Thanks
FROM: Catalina Jim?nez CatalinadeSantamar?a@msn.com 10/10/02 12:38 PM CentralI will like to know about the resistence of the Hydrange macrophylla to the sun exposure, and diferent ways for making compost. Thanks
FROM: JIM JAMES8523@COMCAST.NET 10/09/02 11:22 AM CentralI LIVE ON MOBIL AL. NOT SURE OF ZONE. I LIKE THR NIKKO BLUE AND THE PIA. CAN YLU CHANGE COLOR ON PIA?
FROM: Myrle hms6211@telus.net 10/09/02 2:24 AM CentralHow do I prune hydrangea. Can I go as far down on the new growth to within 2 leaves of last years growth. Do the 2 leaves have to have a bud on the both on the lower inside of each leaf. Would I prune the lace cap in the same way.. I understand that the white annabelle can be cut right back to the ground in the fall.
FROM: Martha Kincaid martha_kin@msn.com 10/08/02 11:30 PM CentralI'm about to retire and have planned to start a very small nursery specializing in hydrangea. I'm addicted to them. I live on six acres on the Calif. Mendocino coast where the fog can be pretty dense and the soil is very acid. The hydrangeas I have in my garden thrive and are magnificent shades of blue. Plenty of sheep manure from the guy up the road. My question is do you grow most of you plants in the field of pot them up? Do your parent hydrangeas produce all the cuttings for propagation? A majority of my hydrangeas are cuttings from where ever I find them. Peoples yards, parks, friends yards, un-named varities from Home Depot, Trader Joes. Is there anyone I could use as a consultant on how to start a small nursery. Thanks Martha
FROM: Barbara Turner Barbara_Turner@dom.com 10/07/02 10:48 AM CentralI get the latest questions on my e-mail, but I don't find any of the answers or the latest questions on the website. Why not?
FROM: Carol coberg@hklaw.com 10/07/02 9:40 AM CentralA friend gave me a very small hydrangea plant that she rooted. How to I care for it over the winter?
FROM: Pamela jpdavis@midmaine.com 10/05/02 9:20 AM CentralI live in Maine and would like to know how to keep blue hygrangeas blue. They seem to be purple.
FROM: Michael jackaroe1276@yahoo.com 10/03/02 6:40 PM CentralI live in NJ. I just bought 2 Hydrangeas that are about 2 feet tall. I am wondering, when should I consider fertilizing them and also, when and how do I prune them for winter if at all. They are both growing new leaves and shoots right now and I am afraid to even mess with them as they seem to be very healthy. If not in winter, when do I prune them? I am very new at the gardening this as this is my first house I live in.
FROM: margie marjoriebrownlee@hotmail.com 10/03/02 4:10 PM CentralI just moved to New Mexico...very sunny and hot in summer and cold and windy in winter. I have a beautiful, happy, blooming (pink) hydrangea in a pot that has been on my patio. It's getting cold now and I'm wondering if anyone knows how to care for the potted variety in winter?
FROM: Malcolm Thornton malcolm.thornton@ntlworld.com 09/30/02 5:04 PM Central
FROM: Malcolm Thornton malcolm.thornton@ntlworld.com 09/30/02 5:04 PM CentralI am a novice to the cultivation of Hydrangeas but I think they are a loveley flower. When and how do I take a cutting from an established hydrangea bush ?
FROM: Sandra alexandrabrr@aol.com 09/30/02 8:43 AM CentralI have been waiting patiently for 8 years for a hydrangea macrophylla , blue wave, to flower. It is in a clay soil and in partial sun for most of the year.I was recently advised to sprinkle sulphate of potash around it but this has not helped. I live in Scotland where , as you may know , winter is cold and summers are usually wet! Should I just give up ?
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 09/28/02 6:35 PM CentralJanice/cape cod. I have macrophyla lace caps and mopheads.Mopheads are various tones of blue and pink depending on the acidity of the soil.Are Annabelle white and light green spheres? Do they have large leaves and thrive readily in the n.e? Nice hearing from you. Karend
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 09/28/02 7:37 AM CentralJanice/cape cod----If you have your E-mail address but would like any pointers from you. Our environments are quite similar. Both n.e. and fairly humid as we are island environments. I think putting an aluminum collar is a great idea because my stems are very thin and vulnerable. Look forward to hearing from you.kgdillon@optonline.net
FROM: Randy Gibbs randy_gibbs@hotmail.com 09/27/02 3:37 PM Central
FROM: Randy Gibbs randy_gibbs@hotmail.com 09/27/02 3:36 PM CentralI am growing Various varieties oh Hydrangea plants and would like to talk to persons in my general area of Va. Beach Va. who are doing the same.
FROM: marita mnogueiras@aol.com 09/27/02 1:45 AM CentralI live in Los Angeles. I planted blue plants that have never flowered or flowers are small, not pompom like, and greenish, not blue anymore. What's wrong?
FROM: deb debgrossnickle@webtv.net 09/25/02 9:09 AM CentralKaren...Thanks for the info. I've always pruned that one in the spring, so I guess I was doing something right. I just wish my peegee tree was about a foot taller. It's got a central stem to maybe three feet, then it was cut off so it would branch at that point. without that central leader, I haven't been able to prune for added height...I guess it's just destined to be the size it is forever. I too use MirAcid for all my hydrangeas, azaleas, magnolias, etc. Although they changed the name...it's MiracleGro azalea and rhododendron food now, which wouldn't be so bead, but they changed the box from light blue to green, just like the regular MiracleGro. It just makes it that much harder to grab the right one off the shelf in the store...not to mention grabbing the right one in the potting shed. Sometimes change is not good...
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 09/25/02 8:42 AM CentralDeb Grossnickle, I have my peegee trees for two years and I am trying to determine the best pruning techniques. I do not want them to get very tall and the main trunk is still quite thin. In the fall I cut back the 2 or 3 main branches By this I mean any ancillary growth off the 2 or 3 main branches was removed. I was directed to do this by a landscape architect----so with fear I did it.Their appearance for the winter was not attractive. In June, I thought that I had ruined them and suddenly buds appeared. Before I knew it long branches grew and by July flowers. Actually the supporting branches grew too long. I inquired atat a very good nursery that gives seminars on hydrangeas(unfortunately timing was such that I could not attend) and was told to prune them in June and then I will not have these leggy branches. I will follow the advise this year. Iwould love to hear from you or anyone who can help us learn how to best care for peegee's. I noted on the message board or on Pete's tips to use Mir-Acid for fertilizer this fall.kgdillon@optonline.net
FROM: Ruth J. Jeske rjjeske@bigfoot.com 09/24/02 8:26 AM CentralMy Hydrangeas looked very healthy this year. But did not produce any flowers, Why?
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 09/23/02 11:13 PM CentralRobin Brooksby I don't have your e-mail address.You asked where my hydrangea are in my garden. I HAVE 10 in front of my house(5 on either side of the front door),this is the east side which gets morning sun.They have grown very well here.Another 4 lacecaps are thriving in front of a large cedar on the north side. The leaves were very big but few flowers until I trimmed the tree and let in a little more sun.These are set away from the house. Also,on this side and about 2-3ft.from the house I have two peegee hydrangea mini-trees.I am learning and experimenting with the art of properly pruning them. I want them to keep their graceful umbrella shape.They seem fine and flower and grow well here.I will severly prune them in November.My west exposure gets the most really hot sun in summer.I have 4 hydrangea here.In August,it was extremely hot and we did not have one day of rain until Labor Day.I had to water them in early evening because they were drooping even though they receive water 5 out of 7 days in the morning from the sprinkler system. Then I have 2lacecaps on the south and they receive protection and shade from a large rhododendron that is behind them.I hope this answers your question, if not try e-mailing me kgdillon@optonline.net
FROM: Patsy Lanello1@chartermi.net 09/23/02 4:04 PM CentralI have been given quite a large hydrangea and want to transplant it to my property now (September 23). It will need to be trimmed, I know. Is this a good time to do this? I live in Michigan, zone 5. What else do I need to know?
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw www.clement@primary.net 09/22/02 7:21 PM CentralThere have a lot of people asking about their white hydrangeas turning a lime green at the end of the summer or after a long bloom. This is definately a characteristic of the Annabelle and most other hydrrangeas. Even our pink and light blue macraphylla and some of our panniculata varieties have been doing this. Usually our annabelles in full sun ultimately burn up in full sun but most in slight shade our in cooler overcast periods will green up. Don't worry this is a good color change.
FROM: Kathy Truebeauty4u2@aol.com 09/22/02 3:46 PM CentralI live in zone 7. My neighbor had a small hydrangea that would not seem to grow much at all. She had this plant for a year and is about a foot tall. It also has brown spots on the leaves. I dug it up and re potted it in a pot and put it on my deck. I was wondering what the brown spots were, can you help me?
FROM: Kathy Truebeauty4u2@aol.com 09/22/02 3:42 PM CentralI live in zone 7. My neighbor had a small hydrangea that would not seem to grow much at all. She had this plant for a year and is about a foot tall. It also has brown spots on the leaves. I dug it up and re potted it in a pot and put it on my deck. I was wondering what the brown spots were, can you help me?
FROM: Judy Carbone purplejsouth@msn.com 09/21/02 8:21 AM CentralI live in Ocean County, New Jersey. I would like to plant a hydrangea garden along the back fence of my yard. Dont' know who to begin. I would like various types, including climbing. This area has full sun. Please help! Thanks
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 09/20/02 8:41 PM CentralBarbara Turner,the e-mail address you gave seems to have an eror, as I was unable to E-mail you. I had a similar situation. I cut back overhanging foliage let in more light and the next thing --- I had flowers. Two other plants were transplanted to a slightly more sun exposed situation and again flowers. Good luck
FROM: Rachel Babitz rachel@n-jcenter.com 09/20/02 2:38 AM CentralI have some young about 1 & a half to 2 feet tall Hydrangeas in large five gallon plastic pots on the patio. They are about 6 month's old. I live in zone 9, and would like to know how to treat them during the winter. Should I plant them in the ground or bring them into the house. If I do keep them in the house what kind of care will they need? I sure would appreciate any good advice that you can offer me. Thank you very much.
FROM: Rachel Babitz rachel@n-jcenter.com 09/20/02 2:34 AM CentralI have some young about 1 & a half to 2 feet tall Hydrangeas in large five gallon plastic pots on the patio. I live in zone 9, and would like to know how to treat them during the wintershould I plant them in the ground or bring them into the house. If I do keep them in the house what kind of care will they need? I sure would appreciate any good advice that you can offer me. Thank you very much.
FROM: Roe Dohm ysaler1@yahoo.com 09/19/02 8:09 PM CentralI have a Hydrangea paniculata (could be a Grandiflora)planted in full sun (zone 7). It is just beautiful when its all white in August but come September after it gets a slight touch of pink and, of course, to soon to cut for drying it turns green. I've seen Pee Gees in New York that were white with lots of pink right into the middle of September. What could be wrong with mine.
FROM: Barbara Turner Barbara_Turner@dom.com 09/19/02 1:16 PM CentralI have one hydrangea that has been in my flower bed for at least three years now. The foliage is beautiful, but no flowers so far. What might I be doing wrong?
FROM: Jann Blett jannscs@msn.com 09/19/02 1:05 PM CentralWe bought 5 hydrangea bushes this year, out first. Don,t know what kind they are but all have had flowers! The bushes are about knee high. Do I cut them back for the winter or wait and do it in the spring or not at all? I live in Western Michigan. Thanks for any and all help. Jann Blett
FROM: Mary Sue Olson2259@cs.com 09/18/02 9:15 PM CentralI've had 3 small mophead plants in clay pots all summer and they have thrived. When is the best time to plant them, now or wait until spring. Thanks.
FROM: deb 09/17/02 1:38 PM CentralKris - I live in ND, and I can tell you exactly what to do to get your Annabelle ready for winter...nothing. This is one tough little plant...just leave stems intact, and in the spring cut it right to the ground. This one blooms on new wood, so they look and bloom their best if you don't try to salvage last year's stems. Just start fresh each spring, and it will just keep getting better and better.
FROM: Kris H. klh6389@hotmail.com 09/17/02 1:26 PM CentralHi! I have an Annabelle Hydrangea and I live in Minnesota. How do I prepare this plant for the winter?
FROM: deb 09/16/02 11:49 PM CentralRita...Sometimes the answers are posted, sometimes people respond in an email directly to the person asking the question. And, as in life, not all questions HAVE an answer...
FROM: rita ritamorrow@sbcglobal.net 09/16/02 11:42 PM CentralWHERE do I find the ANSWERS to these questions? I have the some of the same questions!
FROM: deb debgrossnickle@webtv.net 09/15/02 3:44 PM CentralI too have several hydrangeas with scorched leaves this year, and many others that are doing great. this has been a pretty hot dry summer in ND, and we've had to water almost daily. It seems like the ones that are having the most problems with their leaves are in areas that get more sunlight or in places that are more isolated so they tend to not get watered as frequently. This is the first year I've really seen this, so I hoping it's just the growing conditions, and not a pest or disease problem with some of my hydrangeas. If you've just purchased yours, and have kept them watered well, it may well be a problem with conditions or care at the nursery where you purchased them.
FROM: deb debgrossnickle@webtv.net 09/15/02 3:43 PM CentralI too have several hydrangeas with scorched leaves this year, and many others that are doing great. this has been a pretty hot dry summer in ND, and we've had to water almost daily. It seems like the ones that are having the most problems with their leaves are in areas that get more sunlight or in places that are more isolated so they tend to not get watered as frequently. This is the first year I've really seen this, so I hoping it's just the growing conditions, and not a pest or disease problem with some of my hydrangeas. If you've just purchased yours, and have kept them watered well, it may well be a problem with conditions or care at the nursery where you purchased them.
FROM: Martha B. Gass urbangass@earthlink.net 09/15/02 2:56 PM CentralI live in the North-Midwest USA. Purchased this year from a Nursery and the leaves look like they are scorched around edges. Very dry and brown looking even though we have watered them faithfully. Nursery will give us no satisfaction as to what the problem is. Please help. I have no one else to turn too. Thanks very much.
FROM: Martha B. Gass urbangass@earthlink.net 09/15/02 2:54 PM Central
FROM: Martha B. Gass urbangass@earthlink.net 09/15/02 2:49 PM CentralWhat causes hydranges leaves to become very brown and dry, like they have been scorched? We bought these from a Nursery and almost 2 weeks later, both plants looked like this. We have watered them faithfully. Please help. The Nursery even said they don't know whats wrong.
FROM: karen dillon kgdillon@optonline.net 09/15/02 2:26 PM CentralMy question was can I transplant Nikka blues and lacecaps in Zone 6a to west and south exposures that receive afternoon,more intense sun. They love the east and north but I would enjoy viewing them from my porch on the west side. This summer they did not respond well in August(very dry this year).I do have a sprinkler system.
FROM: 09/15/02 2:19 PM CentralHi I found the zone map. My zone is north east 6A for East Hampton, N.Y. Karen Dillon kgdillon@optonline.net
FROM: 09/15/02 1:49 PM Central
FROM: 09/13/02 7:14 AM Central
FROM: Robin robinbr57@yahoo.com 09/12/02 7:34 PM CentralHi. I'm new here but so glad to have found you all. I have lived my entire life in Zone 9 and have now moved to Zone 6. I planted two hydrangeas by my front door - no sun - mid summer. They seem to be healthy enough but no new blooms. One is a Nikko Blue and I can't remember the little pink one's name. My biggest question is....How do I protect them for the coming winter. In CA I just trimmed them back and they loved life the following spring. This new zone 6 has me learning how to garden all over again. Help!
FROM: Carol carol.mangiatordi@valueoptions.com 09/12/02 1:12 PM Centrala lot of sulphate (to change color of flower?) was spread around the hydrangeas and now the leaves are all dead - anyway to recover this plant
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 09/10/02 10:26 PM CentralTim Ryan, I am in zone 7 and it is too hot here to plant a hydrangea. Water it every day and see if you can save it until cooler weather. You must be in zone 7.
FROM: kat pkgirtz@msn.com 09/10/02 10:03 PM CentralHi, I live in N.central MN and bought a peegee hydrangia this summer and planted it in my garden. It has yet to produce any blossoms. My parents also bought and planted one this year and theirs is blooming like crazy. Any ideas?? Thanks!!!!
FROM: deb 09/10/02 9:50 PM CentralTim...I almost wonder if it's too wet. I ost an oakleaf this summer because I thought it was trying to tell me it was thirsty...when it was actually trying to tell me the ground was saturated below. That sure taught me to not judge the dryness by the surface. Try digging down a little, kind of close to the plant. If it's wet, you're probably going to need to add material to improve the drainage. Good luck!
FROM: Tim Ryan tryan10273@aol.com 09/10/02 8:14 PM CentralI bought a hydrangea plant from a local nursery here in Columbus GA om memorial day weekend. Since I have planted it, the plant appears to be in a state of shock, wilted leaves and not looking very healthy. I am watering it about once a week, but it only seems to be getting worse. Any sugesstions as to what might be wrong, or what I am doing wrong? Thanks for your advice. Tim Ryan
FROM: Dale McElhany AirDaleIM2@aol.com 09/10/02 8:25 AM CentralNo message right now. Just wanted to get on the list.
FROM: barb barrett barb.barrett@verizon.net 09/09/02 11:04 PM CentralDoI need to cut down the spent flowers so that I will get new flowers next year? How far should I cut back? Thanks, I love your website barb barrett
FROM: Joan smitty1820@msn.com 09/09/02 10:48 PM CentralIs it okay to prune the blooms after they have turned brown, and if so how do you prune hydrangeas? Also, how much sun can hydrangea's tolerate? I live in Portland, Oregon and I do not know the Zone.
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 09/08/02 5:01 PM CentralStacey, I am not an expert on drying hydrangeas but I would like to share my experience with you. This year is the first time I have had any success at all with drying the beautiful blooms. I cut 100+ blue blooms from two shrubs. I cut the stems at an angle (in the morning as soon as they were dry) and put them in buckets of warm water, about 2". When the water is gone, they should be dry. I had enough "good" blooms to completely cover a huge wreath which is behind my blue couch in the living room and make six arrangements for a friend for a school reunion and a few blooms for a half basket on the wall in the dining room. I covered the window in a bedroom with black fabric so they would be in a dark room. I also tried Silica Gel, following the directions in the container, and I had a problem with the blooms getting mashed from the weight of the Silica Gel. I dried one large bloom in powdered bleach and cornmeal and it dried o:k but lost some of its blue color. How I wish I could have saved all the blooms this year. I could have given away lots of beautiful bouquets. A friend of mine cut her green blooms, which were huge, put them in 2" of water and they were sitting all over her house drying when I saw them. She used them for a wedding 2 weeks ago. She didn't put them in a dark place and hers dried beautifully. Another friend told me she hung hers upside down in the garage and had plenty of beautiful blooms for her wedding. Next year I will try all the methods I have heard of and hopefully be able to keep more than I kept this year. The first method I will try is to cut the stems at an angle and put them in 2" of warm water and put the containers all over the house. After about 3 weeks if there are still blooms on the shrubs, I will try hanging some upside down in my garage. If anybody has had success with any other method, please let us know. If you include your first name and e-mail address with your reply, all of us can read your answer. Noone else uses our e-mail address.
FROM: Stacey bsvana@nycap.rr.com 09/08/02 8:56 AM CentralI ran through the archives and couldn't find an answer to my question. I have a hydrangea (no idea what type, or its age) and it's blooming beutifully. Huge white blooms that have tinges of pink on some. I want to dry these. How? Help?
FROM: mary ftgroup@mindspring.com 09/08/02 0:40 AM CentralI live in Tennessee (zone 6a)and went to Atlanta and saw beautiful blue hydrangeas everywhere. I have purchased some and want them to be blue. When is the best time to add acid?
FROM: Angel netdollusa@aol.com 09/07/02 10:43 PM CentralI just bought a lace caps hydrangeas and it has white on the side of the leaves and it has no bloom. We didn't have rain the past few days and I had to leave for vacation, My plant dried up, I am really upset because I want it to bloom, Please tell me what I should do to make it alive again. I've been watering it everyday and it seems not to show any sign of being back to lush green, Please tell me what to do,please?
FROM: denise dendiven@aol.com 09/07/02 5:06 PM Centralhi, i live in zone 5a and we have quite a cold, long winter. i have 5 hydrangias in my back yard. 3 are very large, 2 are smaller as they dont get enough sun. i am unsure of the exact type they are. they all flower however only one gets the very large round flowers. the others start budding but dont fill out like that and dont seem to completely bloom either. i was wondering if there was anything i could do about that and also, do i need to prune them for the winter? the last 2 years i have really just left them alone but i was wondering if there is something special i need to do with them. thankyou!
FROM: Tory Igrowrocks@yahoo.com 09/07/02 1:46 PM CentralOn 8/11/02 Melissa Horman wrote:
This message is for Tory from the pictures page (or anyone else who is able to help me)- Your plant is beautifull. I have a plant just like it - Do you know what kind it is? I am unsure of pruning after blossom and in the fall. How are you pruning yours? I used aluminum sulfate only once and about half of the heads turned blue. It was great. I think i need to start earlier in the year next year with that. My plant only has blossoms on the outer edges of the head and nothing in the middle. Is that unusual? Thank you for a response if you have time. Ps - I live in Wisconsin - Lower south west corner - Zone 4
Hi Melissa, Thanks for the compliment on my Hydrangea. It's a Lacecap Hydrangea, sorry I don't know the variety name. Lacecaps have a ring of unfertile flowers around the edge and tiny fertile flowers in the center. It's the mopheads that have all unfertile flowers, like the picture at the top of Pete's webpage. If yours is like mine then yes, it is normal!
Pruning questions are a little tricky ... In your zone you should probably leave the flowers on till spring, they'll provide a little cold protection for the buds below them. Even in my zone 8 I leave them until spring. Other than removing dead or broken branches I don't prune at all. It took me a long time to realize hydrangea's don't _need_ to be pruned, and I admit I was scared to do it! Luckily where I planted mine it had room to reach it's mature size.
If you want to prune, or need to for size, the rule of thumb is to remove one third of the branches cutting them to the ground. You can repeat that process year to year to keep the plant shorter. By leaving two thirds of the plant unpruned you won't have to worry as much about when you prune; the third you prune probably won't flower the next year but the other two thirds should flower normally.
I hope this makes sense to you and maybe helps a little even though it's a very late reply!
You can see a picture of my plant for size (I'm 5'4) at
http://members.aol.com/igrowrocks/neverpruned.jpg
And one of a winter withered bloom for fun, kinda pretty.
http://members.aol.com/igrowrocks/winterbloom.jpg
Tory
FROM: TED MSF@I-PLUS.NET 09/06/02 11:34 PM CentralI FIGURED IT ALL OUT....THERE ARE NO RESPONSES, ONLY QUESTIONS.
FROM: Darlene Zahringer darjohn@atlantic.net 09/06/02 9:18 PM CentralI can't find the replies to the questions either. Please email me and tell me what I'm doing wrong.
FROM: Linda philabau@mail.ucf.edu 09/06/02 1:52 PM Central
FROM: Linda philabau@mail.ucf.edu 09/06/02 1:51 PM CentralAll I see are inquiries - where are the responses?
FROM: Barbara cscapes@quixnet.net 09/06/02 1:31 PM CentralI want to purchase more hydrangeas like the one existing when I bought the house. It is hortensia that blooms with both pink and blue flowers in 7.5 ph soil. In the fall both the pink and blue flowers turn blood red before turning buff. I live in zone 5. Anyone know what the variety might be?
FROM: John Thurmond johnbt4429@yahoo.com 09/05/02 7:45 PM CentralI once saw a bright Yellow Hydrangea in a magazine, It was Beautiful! Anyone with Info on this flower please E-Maail me......
FROM: Polly polly@kineticfountains.com 09/05/02 8:22 AM CentralI have a hydrangea that I was given when I son was born 3 1/2 years ago. We have move 2 times since then & so has the hydrangea. At present it is on my patio in an approx. 14" container. It has not bloomed since the last move (2 years ago. What should I do? Since we are living in an apartment I do not want to plant it, for fear of the lawn people. Please help
FROM: Barbara Collinson, LCSW 09/04/02 4:25 PM CentralPlease tell me the best way to dry hydrangias. Do I put them in water or just let them be in a vase with no water. Thanks so much.
FROM: julia calliebella@msn.com 09/04/02 1:54 PM Centraltrying to find out if my moms shrub is a hydrangea. it is very large and it blooms big white blooms like a hydrangea. but is has very small leaves. probably and inch wide and maybe 2 inches long.
FROM: Gail Verdon GailVerdon@aol.com 09/03/02 11:48 PM CentralI live in Southern California. I have to Hydrangia Bushes that I just planted this summer. Both have done wonderful, with many blooms. My concern is that the color has left the blooms, even though I fertalized them, and they have gone back to green. Now they are turning brown around the edges. How do I care for them? Should I snip the blooms and how far back should I cut them. Will new blooms apear before next season? Is there a special time of year to cut the blooms?
FROM: TED MSF@I-PLUS.NET 09/03/02 8:03 PM CentralI'M LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON FORCING POTTED HYDRANGIAS IN A GREENHOUSE FOR SPRING SALES. I ALSO NEED A SOURCE OF CUTTINGS.
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 09/02/02 7:58 AM CentralTo the writer with the green colored annabelles. Don't worry about this natural change of color. We are in zones 5 and 6 here in the St, Louis area and our flowers stay white for about 5 to 8 weeks. This is a real long period for ny flower to hold its color. Two changes accur after this period, one is the most natural which is to turn a lime green and the other is just to burn up in the extreme sun that we have. Most of the Annabelles we have seen in partial, filtered, or full shade turn green. In our back yard ours are in full sun and just burn up after 6 or 7 weeks. We have one in front of our office that is under i new small tree and this has turned lime green. One year, and I guess we just had many days of overcast and cooler weather our backyard annabelles turned the lime green. We felt this just added another dimension. Recently we noticed an early change of color on one of our P.G.'s. Where the flowers had flopped the bottom side was green and the top side was turning pink. Most of the color in our macraphyllas faded thi year to an off green, while som also burned up from the sun. We have noticed that as our trees are growing we have less burn and more late change to the lime color. It would be interesting to find out from others if the type and timing of their fertilising has any influence on this.
FROM: L.L. rbldjrseth@aol.com 09/01/02 4:55 PM Central9/1/02 Hi. We have some beautiful Annabelle hydrangas that are growing beautifully. We also have some kind of vandal who puts chemicals on our plants. Our beautiful white Annabelle's turned green overnight, and have not returned to the white color. They are large, healthy, and suddenly GREEN. I am wondering if anyone knows what to do to turn them white again. Thank you for any advice.
FROM: Katie Kt.Jerry@gte.net 08/31/02 9:49 PM CentralHi, I live in Wasington and love Hydrangeas I have 4 plants, light blue, purple, and two pinks. One of the pinks was a white hydrangea when I got it at the store. I really want a white Hydrangea I was told that if I planted it, it would stay white and I wouldn't have to worry about the soil. Well As soon as I planted it in the soil it tuned pink. PLEASE PLEASE someone tell me what can I do to get a white Hydrangea to stay white!! No one seems to know when I have asked. I don't want to buy another white one and have it turn on me again. Any suggestions? Thanks-
FROM: Sandy Burke burkeskb@msn.com 08/31/02 7:13 PM CentralHI..I am trying to find a resource where I could purchase some naturally dried hydrangeas...I love them so and would like to make a large bouquet in a special crystal vase that was left to me by my mother, who also had a special interest in these flowers...I live in St. Louis Mo and have had no luck finding them here...I also live in an apt and can not grow my own..i would appreciate any information as to where I could purchase some...thanks to all...sandy burke
FROM: Margie Easter1916@aol.com 08/31/02 3:25 PM CentralI have a mature hydrangea that was planted in the early 1950's and it is very beautiful. We are new owners of the home and the bush was under care from an elderly neighbor for some time. I would like to assume the care of this bush and am not sure when to fertilize it. It's current blooms are a combination of blue/purple/pink. So I am not sure how it has been fertilized in the past. Please advise me as to when to fertilize and what product would be best. Thank you.
FROM: Doug Van Cook dvancook@optonline.net 08/30/02 8:13 PM CentralI am a new grower to the hydrangea and live in upstate NY. I would like to know if I cut back my plants this coming fall or just leave them be. Any advice would be welcome.
FROM: Doug Van Cook dvancook@optonline.net 08/30/02 8:12 PM CentralI am a new grower to the hydrangea and live in upstate NY. I would like to know if I cut back my plants this coming fall or just leave them be. Any advice would be welcome.
FROM: carol tcchristi@msn.com 08/29/02 9:37 PM Central
FROM: carol tcchristi@msn.com 08/29/02 9:37 PM CentralWhat type of soil does the pg Hydrangea like? Do the deer like them? and do they do well in sun or shade or both?
FROM: Marion Mglacroix@aol.com 08/28/02 9:43 PM CentralMy hydrangeas have not bloomed this year, could anyone give me some advice, on what I am doing wrong. They are in a shady spot, and get watered every day. Do they need a special type of soil?
FROM: Pamela arnesons@pon.net 08/28/02 8:36 PM CentralI live in Zone 8b in Extreme Northern California. I have had problems with wintering over my hydrangeas and would appreciate ANY feedback as to protecting canes from spring freezes after successfully getting through the snowy months. I have managed to get my hydranges to grow a couple of feet a year and every spring new growth comes out of last year's canes and every spring warm weather tricks the plants into coming out of hibernation early only to be froze back to the ground when normal 15-20 degree nights return until the REAL spring weather arrives. What should I do? I'd really like to enjoy flowers some day.
FROM: trixie trixie2@nwinternet.com 08/27/02 3:53 PM CentralI need to place the plant outside and wanted to get information as to where to plant. Does it require morning sun, afternoon sun, full sun or shade?
FROM: Betty breynolds63@comcast.net 08/27/02 11:40 AM CentralMy hydrangea bushes are over twenty years old, and really need to be cut way back, they didn't come in as full this year, and they have alot of wood inside, when do you suggest is the best time to trim them back, and should I cut out most of the wood?
FROM: Tony stm_makoto@yahoo.co.jp 08/27/02 2:27 AM CentralI pruned Blue Hydrangea(Blue donau, Blue Meister) in May, and I would like to flower in November-December. Any suggestions? Thanks!
FROM: Inez Abbott jdabbott1@yahoo.com 08/26/02 9:54 PM CentralMy Nikko blue mophead has been blooming for about 5 years. Last year there were only 2 blossoms. This year there are no buds. I live in Western New York. We had a late frost (June) and a very dry summer,but last year was normal.
FROM: Inez Abbott jdabbott1@yahoo.com 08/26/02 9:48 PM Central
FROM: Inez Abbott jdabbott1@yahoo.com 08/26/02 9:48 PM Central
FROM: Inez Abbott jdabbott1@yahoo.com 08/26/02 9:47 PM Centraly Nikko blue mophead is approx. 6 yrs. old and has bloomed well until last year - only 2 blossoms. This year there are no buds. Plant appears to be healthy and continues to grow. We did have a late frost - in June - and a very dry summer. Would this be why? I live in western New York. Soil condition is acid. Gets about equal amounts of sun and shade. y
FROM: deb 08/26/02 9:09 PM CentralRich...Sounds like your hydrangea is either too dry or too wet. Figure out which, and fix it quick! If it's too wet, take it out of the pot and repot it in new soil, and make sure your pot has good drainage. As muh as hydrangeas love water, nothing will kill them faster! I read somewhere that their roots just keep absorbing water until they burst...at that point there's no saving the plant. Good luck...let us know what happens!
FROM: 08/26/02 8:49 PM Centrallooking for a home for purchase.
FROM: Sandy 08/26/02 4:43 PM CentralI have a Nikko Blue hydranga plant and would like to dry the flowers. I am having a difficult time. Every year the flowers wilt. I am in zone 4. The flowers are beautiful and plentiful.
FROM: Rich rich@framesbc.com 08/26/02 11:04 AM CentralI recently purchased a hydrangia. I planated it in a large pot and set it on the porch, north facing, nearly total shade. It is drooping severely. I fear it will croak. Any advise to help this poor plant?
FROM: Eric Huizer eric@huizerbv.com 08/26/02 11:03 AM CentralI wood like to preserve Hydrangea's in f.e. Glyserin. Does annybody now how do it ore now how to get more information about this subject.
FROM: Patti 08/25/02 3:05 PM CentralI would like to dry my hydrangea blossems. Any suggestions? Thanks!
FROM: Janice janiceroneill@hotmail.com 08/25/02 10:13 AM CentralI have a pee gee that is newly planted, three weeks. It seems to be doing well, except that we noticed that about five inches of bark is missing from the bottom, apparently eaten by sem small animal. IT is eaten all the way around. I'm told by Paul Parent and my nursery that the tree is doomed. Any more hopeful advice? I would attempt to root, but it is the end of august. Thanks. Janice
FROM: carol cvbosco@compuserve.com 08/23/02 5:22 PM CentralI have 3 hydrangea bushes - one will get one flower and the others never bloom. I have had them in the ground for at least 3 years. What are we doing wrong?
FROM: SANDI SSANDI42368@AOL.COM 08/23/02 11:54 AM CentralI CUT A FEWW BRANCHES OFF A HYDRANGAS. CAN I GROW THEM AND HOW? WATER, IN THE GROUND?
FROM: Bob RSu1045031@aol.com 08/22/02 5:42 PM CentralJust getting started on landscaping my home at the jersey shore (zone 6)and wish to plant hydrangeas. I know absolutely nothing and would appreciate any and all help on getting started. Thanx.
FROM: Polina. myl891@AOL.COM 08/22/02 4:10 PM CentralI have a 2-year old Nikko Blue which does wonderful, despite hot afternoon sun in zone 6-7. Unfortunately, during the blooming, stems are lying on the ground. What should I do to keep them up and in the shape.
FROM: Bob Oddy 08/19/02 9:14 PM CentralI have been cutting my hydrangeas down every year and not getting blooms the next spring. If I don't cut them back this fall, can I expect blooms on plants that haven't bloomed in years?
FROM: Elizabeth beth@dog.com 08/19/02 12:06 PM CentralHas anyone heard of a "hydrangea nasja"? Any info would be appreciated.
FROM: 08/19/02 12:06 PM Central
FROM: Michael mmb@usa.net 08/19/02 10:34 AM CentralOn Long Island, NY, near the water, which hydrangea is best to grow? And is it true that colors can be changed by altering the soil's chemistry? I am a novice at this.
FROM: brenda brendamick@hotmail.com 08/19/02 1:41 AM Centralhow do i take cuttings from my lacecaps and how to prune them to a nice shape and when? thank you
FROM: Frank horvathfj@sympatico.ca 08/18/02 8:04 AM CentralDo I need to deadhead Hydrangeas in order to get more flowers?
FROM: 08/15/02 6:52 AM Centralto the post when do you cut nikko now is the time you can cut only the tips to a node or prune to shape the bush
FROM: Elizabeth beth@dog.com 08/14/02 8:55 PM CentralI received a hydrangea as a gift, and I am trying to find its name. All I can remember from the tag is "red hydrangea". Any help would be appreciated. The leaves look similar to the macrophylla hortensia, except they are slightly more pointy; however, the colour of the leaves differs. The stem of the leaf and the veins are wine-coloured, while the rest of the leaf is green. I don't know what the flowers will look like, since the bush has not yet flowered. Thanks for your help.
FROM: Elizabeth beth@dog.com 08/14/02 8:54 PM CentralI received a hydrangea as a gift, and I am trying to find its name. All I can remember from the tag is "red hydrangea". Any help would be appreciated. The leaves look similar to the macrophylla hortensia, except they are slightly more pointy; however, the colour of the leaves differs. The stem of the leaf and the veins are wine-coloured, while the rest of the leaf is green. I don't know what the flowers will look like, since the bush has not yet flowered. Thanks for your help.
FROM: karen whitworth whitjk@greenhills.net 08/14/02 5:17 PM CentralWhen do you cut back nikko blue hydranges?
FROM: ron lupton ron@rmlupton.com 08/14/02 1:52 PM Centrallooking for landscapers-nurseries who need lots of hydrangeas
FROM: Deb debgrossnickle@webtv.net 08/14/02 0:02 AM CentralDoes anyone have experience with over-wintering container planted hydrangeas indoors? I'm in zone 4b, so I'm kind of limited on what varieties I can grow in the ground. I probably have 50 or so planted, mostly Nikko Blues, with some Oakleafs and Annabelles, and several different PeeGees. The problem is...I love the variety that you can find in hydrangeas. I've been trying to grow some in containers to bring in before winter, but that's where I need advice. Do I try to keep them in my sunroom, growing all winter? Or would it be better to let them go dormant in the cool dim basement? I've got several in pots right now, including a Buttons & Bows, Blue wave, varigateds, Sister Therese, and a couple of pink that I have no names for...one is a mophead, the other a lacecap. If anyone can give me some good advice, I would be very grateful! Also, does anyone know good source for buying hydrangeas...either catalog or on line. It's funny, but you just don't see too many offered for sale up here in the frozen tundra. I've snuck most of mine back home in a suitcase everytime I head somewhere warm.
FROM: Libby 08/12/02 8:36 PM CentralI have a blue colored hydrangea plant that I want to plant in a pot. I live in Los Angeles and it is very hot here but they seem to thrive. Since the plants grow so large, will this one be happy in a pot or should I try to find a place for it outside in the ground. I know it needs to move out of its little pot. Any help would be appreciated
FROM: Ian Veal ian_veal@lineone.net 08/12/02 7:50 PM CentralCan anyone please explain why my mophead is still growing mopheads around the top of the bush, but this year also has lace caps around the base as well? We are living in southern England (in the middle of the south coast). The plant (5 feet high) is exposed to the sun virtually all day, all year long.
FROM: Linda Haley bouvielady@aol.com 08/12/02 7:11 PM CentralI have two common hydrangeas, large round blooms. We've had little rain this summer, but I water them twice a day. They still wilt, and now the blooms are dryin up. Is there anything I can add to the soil to strengthen the branches, and how much water do they need? They get about 3 hours of sun per day. I live in Zone 5/6 - northern Ohio on Lake Erie. Anothe question, I have a lace cap, Glowing Embers. It bloomed the last year, but this year nothing. This plant gets only about an hour of sun per day.
FROM: Melissa Horman jhorman@pressenter.com 08/11/02 2:44 PM CentralThis message is for Tory from the pictures page (or anyone else who is able to help me)- Your plant is beautifull. I have a plant just like it - Do you know what kind it is? I am unsure of pruning after blossom and in the fall. How are you pruning yours? I used aluminum sulfate only once and about half of the heads turned blue. It was great. I think i need to start earlier in the year next year with that. My plant only has blossoms on the outer edges of the head and nothing in the middle. Is that unusual? Thank you for a response if you have time. Ps - I live in Wisconsin - Lower south west corner - Zone 4
FROM: brenda croc@mnsi.net 08/10/02 1:41 PM Centralmartha stewart living had a show on last year explaining how to dry hydrangeas, first by dipping them in a boiling water solution and then hanging them to dry. I'd like to know exactly how this is done. Apparently when the flowers are dipped in the "boiling water solution", they change color. Please help me if you know this process. Thank you.
FROM: Maureen mgroer@utk.edu 08/09/02 9:51 PM CentralMy 3 hydrangeas bloomed beautifully last year. I pruned them in the fall and in the spring new leaves were abundant...the plants are large..but they have no blooms at all! What am I doing wrong?
FROM: Kathy and tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 08/07/02 6:32 PM CentralTo the gardeners who can't get blooms on their hydrangeas. What type are they, how long have they been in your garden, how did you prune them and WHEN ?. These are the most important factors. ( P.S. please excuse the spelling in our last message,bad typing.)
FROM: Renee Buck moverstek@aol.com 08/07/02 6:06 PM CentralWant to know the same as lady down below. I have several very bushy green happy hydrangeas but they will not bloom. How do I get them to show some color. They get morning sun....I have fertilized them...have pine straw around them..but no blooms... HELP In North carolina area
FROM: Marcy UK 08/07/02 2:41 PM CentralThanks - a really useful site for a total novice
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 08/06/02 7:41 AM Centralto the gardner with the con shaped white flowers. It souunds like you have one of the Paniculata varieties. Could be a Pee Gee, or Tardiva, Unique, Pink Diamond. These are the most common of the paniculatas. This plant has woody stems and a panicle shaped flower, blooms white in mid to late summer turning slightly pink in fall. If yours is drooping down due to a heavy flower it is most likely a Pee Gee(paniculata grandiflora) These are the hardiest of all hydrangeas. To determine what individual paniculata you have look at the pictures under www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com under pee gees, There are numerous other descriptions or catalogues on the internet most of whose addresses are shown in Petes' pages.
FROM: Pamela Barney pjhb59@wi.rr.com 08/05/02 9:53 PM CentralWe have a newly landscaped lot and have pink hydrangeas now planted on north side of our home. I am new to growing this plant and would like tips on proper fertilization and winter mulching. We are in zone 4. What kind of mulch for winter is best? Also any growing tips for our climate would be appreciated.
FROM: Ellen mdecarr@aol.com 08/05/02 9:47 PM CentralCan you tell me what kind of Hydrangea I have? Healthy green foliage but blooms are white cone shaped, instead of round balls. Blooms are large heavy and weigh down the stalk. Can I get the blooms pink or blue by changing the acidity as with other types of Hydrangeas?
FROM: Billie Martina6@frontiernet.net 08/04/02 8:54 PM CentralI just picked beautiful hydrangas from bushes. I need help really quick to learn how to dry them to use for a wedding.
FROM: Barbara Riggs daveyforus2@attbi.com 08/03/02 11:37 AM CentralI just bought my first hydrangea bush. don't know what color it will be, buds were gone when i bought it. how can i ensure that i will be likely to get white blooms next year. will it bloom the first year? it's about a foot and a half high, nice and bushy.
FROM: yvonne yvonnemonique@hotmail.com 08/03/02 9:03 AM Centrallace cap hydranga-how do I care for it, how big will it get? It's a mauve pink in color, and about a foot high in it's container.I bought it at a local farmers market. I live in zone 5, and plan on planting it in a shady spot that gets a few hours of morning sun.
FROM: yvonne yvonnemonique@hotmail.com 08/03/02 9:00 AM CentralLace cap hydranga-how big will it get? How do i take care of it? It's a pale mauve pink in color, and about a foot high in it's container.
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 08/02/02 9:10 PM CentralThe green hydrangea is a paniculata variety called limelight. It looks like a Pee Gee except I think it might be stronger. Most growers are just beggining to grow them It will be a big plant and will have woody branches that will prune well for fuller shape. We are growing over 30 from liners this year and their growth is prolific, especially their root growth. It is a lime color. A friend of ours saw a lot of these in the Chicago area last year (north shore)
FROM: Jens greenhouseman@hotmail.com 08/02/02 6:33 PM CentralHow many cuttings can be taken from a well established bush? It is Lace Cap zone 8 Wash state
FROM: naim sknaim@aol.com 08/02/02 11:44 AM Centralplease inform me where I can buy a niko blue Hydrangea Plant with flowers on it this year. Thanks
FROM: Alyce Jordan alyce_jordan@hotmail.com 08/01/02 4:13 PM CentralHello Hydrangea Lovers, Wanted to share another hydrangea forum. If you haven't tried gardenweb.com you should give it a try. There are an enormous number of forums hydrangea forum being very helpful there is also a forum on just drying flowers. Give it a try. Happyy Gaardening,Alyce
FROM: Nancy Harsh curtnan@iceweb.net 08/01/02 12:37 PM CentralMy Hydrangea plant is about two years old but has never bloomed. What should I do to get it to bloom? Any suggestions.
FROM: Nancy Harsh curtnan@iceweb.net 08/01/02 12:36 PM CentralMy Hydrangea plant is about two years old but has never bloomed. What should I do to get it to bloom? Any suggestions
FROM: Shannon scox@exop.net 08/01/02 11:31 AM CentralOne of my hydrangeas is turning yellow and looking unhappy in general. I don't know much about them. I think it may have some kind of disease. Please help. Thanks, Shannon
FROM: Sheilah Altomare sheilahaltomare@hotmail.com 08/01/02 11:09 AM CentralI am looking for a green flowering hydrangea.
FROM: Darlene darjohnmtn@skybest.com 07/31/02 8:02 PM CentralWould like to plant a hydrangia BUT I need information...as to varieties, sizes, where to plant and anything else that might be helpful. When do they blossem? We're in the mountains of North Carolina.
FROM: Janice janice.gaskell@ukonline.co.uk 07/31/02 3:18 PM CentralOn holiday recently in Cape Cod, I saw lots of pale blue and pale pink hydrangeas.Can anyone tell me the names of these varieties - please.
FROM: Patty brown_eyed_lady63@yahoo.com 07/31/02 8:40 AM Centralcan anyone please tell me how to prune hydraneas?
FROM: Kathy a d Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 07/31/02 6:51 AM CentralTo the gardener in Minneapolis with the Annabelles. Here in the St, Louis Area the Annabelle is our most reliable Hydrangea and most of the proffessionals are using them very extensively as well as the Oakleaf . In mos of their gardens the apparantly cut back to within 10 inches of the ground to obtain the maximum size flower and just let them flop. We have about six or seven annabelles and this year we tried not to cut back so far and left about 15 to 18 inches and they appeared a little stronger until some really bad storms nd winds. We have in the past staked them and used the green degradible string with fair results. One friend has a narroe bed betweem two short brick pillars and fronted with a short cast iron black fence with his annabelles behind the fence. His plants hold up long after they turn green. I will try to put a picture in the scanner and put it in Petes gallery, I'm sure there will be a load of suggestions coming in.
FROM: 07/30/02 8:57 PM CentralI live in Raleigh NC and we have 4 beautiful blue hydrangeas that are more than 10 years old. Despite wonderful color early in the summer the plants have faded to a pale blue grey. We have been under a drought and my assumption is that a lack of water has caused this. I wonder whether anyone else has experienced this and if there is a way to get the color back. Thanks. Carol
FROM: Sharon sharonroddy@yahoo.com 07/29/02 9:05 PM CentralTo make hydrangea blooms blue, use aluminum sulfate. Use one level tablespoon per each foot of plant height and scatter the aluminum sulfate around the base of the plant and water thoroughly. Start in January or February and apply the aluminum sulfate at 4 to 6 week intervals until the flowers have formed. I live where the soil is very alkaline and the aluminum sulfate works great.
FROM: Linda dutchpenny@ntlworld.com 07/29/02 6:12 AM Centralwhat needs to be added to the soil to make a blue hydrangea? when and how to add?
FROM: marg fuchs mafuchs@earthlink.net 07/28/02 8:54 PM CentralHello. I live in Minneapolis Minnesota. I have 3 Annabelle Hydrangea in my front yard. They receive about 3-4 hours of sun daily. They have grown to about 4 feet tall with profuse blooms. However, the stalks have all wilted and they now lay flat on the ground. The plants are about 3 years old. It appears than the stalks in the center are woody, but have not produced any greenery or flowers. The wilted stalks are growing on the outer perimiter of the plant. I'd appreciate any advice you can share on how to strengthen my plants. Thanks much. M. Fuchs
FROM: mary ellen mwarner174@aol.com 07/28/02 4:41 PM Centrali have niiko blue hydrangeas that are apparently healthy, and growing like crazy-but not blooming. why? i'm in southwestern ct, zone 6. it seems everyone else's are blooming-and mine have bloomed once before, but weren't too bountiful to say the least. any tips? thanks.
FROM: Detta Stout flowerpetal68@yahoo.com 07/28/02 3:29 PM CentralHow do I take care of the rust spots on my Hydrangea's leaves? I just planted them this year and they have bloomed beautifly and all but I don't understand the rst spots. I live in Zone 7.
FROM: Karen stratman9@comcast.net 07/28/02 11:57 AM CentralMy hydrangeas are still blooming. They are in sunlight most of the day. Many of the blooms are skipping the blue/purple stage and going straight to green. They've never done this before. What could be causint this?
FROM: Jens greenhouseman@hotmail.com 07/27/02 9:39 PM CentralHow many cuttings would be recomended to take from 1 bush?
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 07/27/02 11:45 AM CentralFor those that have dried the blooms successfully by hanging them upside down, do you put the stems in water before hanging them or cut and hang in a dark room? I have more blooms to experiment with. I cut 100+ blooms and put them in about 2" of warm water in a dark room. I had enough nice blooms to cover a large wreath but so many of them just shrunk to an ugly look and can't be used for anything. I am grateful for the ones that came out looking beautiful. I want to try a different method with the last blooms and see if I can be more successful.
FROM: robyn cross dcross54@comcast.net 07/27/02 11:15 AM CentralHow do you dry hydrangea blooms?
FROM: jill 07/26/02 11:09 PM Centralhi. i recently went to the bellagio in las vegas and they had these cute small blue hydrangea plants growing in their gardens. All the hydrangeas i see around here are huge bushes. how do i get small ones like the ones at bellagio? are they they same kind of hydrangeas, just smaller plants? or are they dwarfs? also, i know that around easter time, they sell these little blue potted ones...can i just put these in larger pot? or will these grow into those huge bushes also. i thought these would be great for my wedding in a couple years. thanks
FROM: Albert Savoy asavoy@optonline.net 07/26/02 6:50 PM CentralI have a large beautiful hydrangea, which I believe is macrophylla or serrata. Every year it gets flowers which start whitish, turn pink and finally violet. However, the flowers soon begin to shrivel and turn crisp brown. This happens all over the plant. I spray with various insecticides, and this sometimes seems to delay the problem. Sometimes, even before the flowers bloom, the ends of the branches weaken and die. This happens to my yews also, but I have recognized the fletcher scale insect and can control for that. I can't seem to find, or recognize a similar insect on the hydrangeas. If this is an insect, what kind is it? What is the best control and timing for application?
FROM: Ann Dreger amdregs@hotmail.com 07/26/02 8:30 AM CentralHow do you dry hydrangeas?
FROM: susan burns Burnz@attbi.com 07/26/02 6:13 AM CentralI want to know how to dry hydrangeas. If the flowers are cut does it promote new flower growth?
FROM: Glenda gkh@freese.com 07/25/02 4:12 PM CentralI have purple-ish black spots on the leaves of my hydrangea's that are planted outside. I don't know how to treat them. These plants are several years old I do not want to let them die.
FROM: Pete Smith cpsmith@conweb.com 07/25/02 11:00 AM CentralTerry
Thanks for the info on the Southern Living article.
Miracle Acid changed the name to Miracle Grow for Azeleas. I guess they thought too many of us 60's types were trying to smoke it :")
Edna
The brown around the edges is the begining of the color change or just too much sun. I don't concern myself with the changes as long as there is no evidence of bugs eating the plant or fungus. If the leaves are drooping, all water.
Sherrie
On the links page are three links to information on drying.
Elsie
I responded to you earlier message off the board on growing on the window sill.
Curt
H. like acid soil and at least partial sun. Try a cup of aluminum sulfate around the base late in the winter. At least two or three treatments, work into the soil, and water slowly but completely. Also use Miracle Grow for Azeleas - it's for acid loving plants like H.
Carol
Check your soil to make sure it is acidic - if not see answer above. Try the Miracle Grow for Azeleas - follow instructions. I also use coffee grounds during the season to add to the acidity. Also, check the pruning page to understand that blooms grow on last years stems.
Renee
I suspect that you do not have enough sun. Make sure that the bloom booster is for acid loving plants - I have not used any of it so I can't comment if it works on H. You probably can't do anything for this year's season.
Dardin
See Edna's answer above.
Tim
I don't know about viburnum.
Marita
Thin the branches out a little and take off a couple of the mopheads. See the pruing page before cutting.
Joanne
Thanks for your comments on drying.
Marguriete
I don't know about the climbers. I have one in its second year and only a couple of feet tall and no blooms. Anyone that can help here, please jump in.
Ten
See the pruning page. I suspect that you got a late freeze after the buds started to form on the old wood. That has happened to a lot of people this year. A lot of mulch at the base of the plant after the buds start forming and covering the plant if the temps get mid 20's or below is said to help. I have not done that.
Catherine
PG's bloom later in the year than the typical mopheads. I believe you have to trim the plant to force a tree like look instead of a bush look. I have been told you can prune PG's heavily, but I don't have personal experience with this.
Ann-Marie
Yes on typical Nikko Blue mopheads and many other varieties. Acid=Blue, Alkaline=pink. Don't overtreat with alkaline as that can hurt the plant.
Flower Power
My guess like the above is a late freeze. Also try thinning out some of the old wood stems during the early winter after the leaves have dropped. Maybe 1/4 to 1/3 of the old wood to force larger blooms - but a lesser number of blooms.
Lin
See previous comments on color change. It depends on the variety you have whether they can change color.
Mary Lou
See drying comments previous.
Nancy
H. look like they have died completely during the winter. Don't know about Forever Pink. Don't prune it and see previous comments on late freezes.
Dee
I don't know what cultivar you have.
To All.
I think that catches me up on the Message Board questions. To repeat, I am an amateur and would appreciate others helping with the answers at any time.
Right now, most of my mopheads have a dirty linen look mixed in with some late purple colors. Most of the leaves are very healthy and the branches are continuing to grow. Some of the leaves on the potted plants are starting to get brown around the edges as are some of the leaves on the plants that get the most sun. We have had 90's and mostly dry in north central Alabama for most of July. The inches of rain is good, but most of it came in a couple of hard rainstorms rather that frequent showers that help growth much better.
One on my PG's is a pot has a panicula bloom. I will cut the end and try to root that in a month or so. The shorter stem on the remaining plant should help it to grow more stems from the base - at least that is my plan until Mother Nature intervenes.
It's been a good year for my H. I hope everyone else is enjoying this wonderful plant.
Pete Smith
FROM: Terry Newman tlnewman@hotmail.com 07/25/02 10:09 AM CentralThere is an excellent article on propagating hydrangeas in the June 2001 issue of Southern Living magazine. To propagate the cuttings, do it in mid-summer and dip the cuttings in a rooting hormone. Plant directly in the ground in a shady spot and keep the ground muddy for a while. I have had about 90% success rate using this method. Question: Who makes miracle acid and is it like miracle gro for acid loving plants? Terry
FROM: EDNA WEEKS epweeeks1@alltel.net 07/25/02 6:25 AM CentralWHAT CAUSES HYDRANEAS LEAVES TURN BROWN AROUND EDGES.THEY START OUR BEAUTIFUL AND BLOOM. LATER THE LEAVES TURN BROWN.
FROM: Sherrie Barker tsbarker@glacierview.net 07/24/02 9:30 AM CentralI have 3 beautiful hydrangea bushes all different colors and want to know the best way to dry them.
FROM: Elc Elsie1154@aol.com 07/23/02 10:10 PM CentralHello! I was just given a blue mop head hydrangea. I live in NYC. It is summer right now around 85-90 degrees. My question is can I grow my hydrangea on my window sill? I can repot it to a pot that is about 12 inches. will it survive and bloom again? some of the flowers have wilted. Thanks for your help.
FROM: Curt Hayes chayes3374@aol.com 07/22/02 4:48 PM CentralMy Hydrangea bloomed the first year, skipped the second bloomed profusely the third but hasn't put on a blossom the last four years. Nearly full shade, alkaline soil, it's under an Arbor Vitae tree,it's watered regulary. It did have some obvious chlorosis but Fe stopped that. I fertilize with Miracle-Grow and some times 10-20-10 dry fertilizer. I live in Oklahoma City (center of State). Sorry I can't recall the cultivar.What's going on?
FROM: Carol carol_nathan@hotmail.com 07/22/02 2:06 AM CentralMy hydrangeas were here when I moved into our house last summer. (I live in S.E. Mass. I think it is zone 6) They were about 2 feet high last summer, and about 2.5 high this summer. My problem - NO BLOOMS. I have not fertilized them. They get morning sun. I have not watered them either - they look ok - i.e. not droopy. What's going on? What do I need to be doing to get blooms??
FROM: Renee whitecolumnsga@msn.com 07/21/02 6:34 PM CentralHi, I live in central Ga. The plants were planted last year. They bloomed great the first time then after they died back the blooms came on again but are not turning blue. They were fertilized and i have been putting bloom booster on them. They are in the shaded and get a little afternoon sun. How can I get some color in the blooms. The blooms are staying green.
FROM: Dardin Dardin@charter.net 07/21/02 3:43 PM CentralI live in the southwest (just north of El Paso Texas) and I gave my hydrangas miracle grow fertilizer. The leaves are turning brown now. What should I do?
FROM: tim timothy_m_r@yahoo.com 07/21/02 11:10 AM CentralIhave a viburnum snowball tree (40 years old, 12 feet), that I would like to propagate a new plant from. I've tried cuttings and rooting hormone but no luck. Dispite the giant flowers it doesn't seem to make seeds. Does anyone know the procedure to reproduce them? Thank you in advance.
FROM: Rachel Babitz 07/21/02 0:05 AM CentralWhat a wonderful Link I am enjoying it very much. I am very new to Hydrangeas, I just bought one young plant called "Lemon Wave" I live in zone 9 and hope this little plant does well for me. I just want to say Thank you for sharing this wonderful page with me. I will be referring to it many more times. Thanks again. Rachel Babitz
FROM: Rachel Babitz rachel@n-jcenter.com 07/21/02 0:04 AM CentralWhat a wonderful Link I am enjoying it very much. I am very new to Hydrangeas, I just bought one young plant called "Lemon Wave" I live in zone 9 and hope this little plant does well for me. I just want to say Thank you for sharing this wonderful page with me. I will be referring to it many more times. Thanks again. Rachel Babitz
FROM: Rachel Babitz rachel@n-jcenter.com 07/21/02 0:01 AM CentralWhat a wonderful Link I am enjoying it very much. I am very new to Hydrangeas, I just bought one young plant called "Lemon Wave" I just want to say Thank you for sharing this wonderful page with me. I will be referring to it many more times. Thanks again. Rachel Babitz
FROM: Marita Bellias jaymarmax@aol.com 07/20/02 3:45 PM CentralI am not able to lookup the answers in the archives so this question may be a repeat. I am very sorry, but also desperate. My big, beautiful hydrangeas in Northern New Jersey are so big and heavy that they are weighing the branches down. If I cut them now, will they re- bloom? I want to keep them as long as possible, but they are making the whole plant look very peicey and open. If so, how do I cut them?
FROM: Mr. P 07/18/02 10:51 PM CentralFlower Power, you need an Email Address to answer your question.
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 07/18/02 10:50 PM CentralI am new to drying hydrangea blooms well enough to be able to use them. Today I had enough dried blooms to almost completely cover a huge wreath. I wanted to share what I did to get these beautiful dried blooms. I took buckets of warm water to the bushes and cut the stems on an angle so they could absorb the warm water. I had them in a dark (I put black fabric over the window) bedroom for about 2 weeks. Once they felt papery and I could hear a rustling sound when I touched them, they were dry. Some of the blooms were not pretty and I had to throw them away but I had enough good ones to almost complete the wreath. I still have lots of blooms in the bedroom waiting for them to dry. I cut the blooms at two different times so the others have only been drying for a week. I will have more to cut and dry because one of my bushes has produced more blooms since I cut. I also have small white blooms I will try to dry. Even though this process has not been 100% successful, it has given me more dried blooms than I have ever been able to have before. I hung the wreath behind our blue couch and it is beautiful but I need a few more blooms to complete the decoration. I will experiment with the blooms left in the yard when it is time to cut them. I will use silica gel in the microwave for 2 minutes and see what happens. I also want to experiment with glycerine using half glycerine and half water. I'll try one bloom hanging upside down in the dark bedroom. What works for one person doesn't always seem to work for somebody else. I plan to experiment with drying until I find something that works for me. I appreciate everybody sharing any method that has worked for you. I am willing to try anything that may work. Good luck to everybody that is trying to dry the beautiful blooms. So many beautiful decorations can be made with the dried blooms. After we all learn how to dry them, we will have to share ideas on what to do with the dried blooms.
FROM: Marguerite mneuahus@webquill.com 07/18/02 9:46 PM CentralHello Hydrangea Lovers wherever you are! I live in SouthEastern Conn (Zone 5, I think) and have several NIkko Blues planted in sun facing south. They flower beautifully in the sun, mostly Clear Blue with some touches of Lilac, Periwinkle and Mauve sometimes on the same flower... they are divine. I have tried to DRY them with very mixed success and I cant seem to find any consistent results. I have tried letting them get "papery" on the plant and they seem to get lt brown dried frizzies on par? of the flower even before it gets Papery! i have tried the one inch of water bit, I have tried no water, and also dark place. they just shrivel up. then, sometimes they dry and turn white with touches of green. not bad, but i want to have some blue looking ones! Has anyone had better luck??? When they dry totally on the plant they get white to maroon which again is nice but not the color Im after... I also have planted Climbing Hydrangea on a wall that borders part of my back area and its been two years and it has grwon maybe 8 feet but so far no bloom. is this normal?? Is the link page referred to on the message below related to THIS email list or just on the hydrangeas plus site? thanx in advance, Marguerite
FROM: Teri Cooper redsand3333@yahoo.com 07/18/02 7:44 PM CentralI have 3 Nikko Blue and 2 Annabelle red hydrangeas. They are planted on the north side(shade all day) of my house, next to the foundation. I live in zone 5 Chicago area. I planted them in 1994. They are healthy full bushes in summer. My problem is that the reds have never bloomed and the blues have had little blooms (last year none). I've treated them like perenials and cut them down to the ground in the fall. One year I left them alone, however, in the spring what looked like new buds never leafed. There was the usual new growth from the base. The stems from the previous years were dead. Any suggestions? I've recently learned pruning is bad. Please help!
FROM: Catherine Flynn CathyD6@msn.com 07/17/02 11:50 PM CentralI bought a Pee Gee Hydrangea this spring and planted it in a full sun location in zone 6. I expected a tree hydrangea and have a beautiful bush growing. It has not bloomed this year yet. Did I buy the wrong kind of hydrangea or do I have to prune it into a tree. I had a Pee Gee Hydrangea tree at a former home in the same zone that was beautiful and I want to replicate it.
FROM: Catherine Flynn CathyD6@msn.com 07/17/02 11:47 PM CentralI bought a Pee Gee Hydrangea this spring and planted it in a full sun location in zone 6. I expected a tree hydrangea and have a beautiful bush growing. It has not bloomed this year yet. Did I buy the wrong kind of hydrangea or do I have to prune it into a tree. I had a Pee Gee Hydrangea tree at a former home in the same zone that was beautiful and I want to replicate it.
FROM: Anne-Marie asavage@vancecronin.com 07/17/02 9:19 AM CentralIs it true that you can change the color of your blooms by adding Acid or Akaline to the soil?
FROM: FlowerPower 07/16/02 10:17 PM CentralWife really likes the big mop head Hydrangeas. We have several and they are very happy in nice shaddy spots and growing well. This year (and last), though, they did not produce the big, full mop heads. Instead, only a tiny fraction of the individual flowers actually popped out while most just stayed closed. Our nice mop heads this year are just a bloom here and there and they look lousy. Any ideas?
FROM: Lin heslinl@dowling.edu 07/16/02 5:21 PM CentralHow do I turn purple hydrangea light blue?
FROM: Mary Lou Eisenmann MLEisen12@aol.com 07/16/02 4:02 PM CentralI would like to get info on how to DRY Hydrangeas.
FROM: Nancy jnfink@sssnet.com 07/16/02 3:48 PM CentralI have a Forever Pink hydrangea that I bought 2 yrs ago from a nursery. It bloomed the second yr. It has died back to the ground every winter and this year grew back to about 1 ft. high with one bloom. What do I do. It shouldn't die back like that should it? Northern Ohio here , away from lake.
FROM: Dee Unruh dinahunruh@aol.com 07/16/02 9:05 AM CentralPlease help! I am trying to find the name of a white mop head hydrangea given to me three years ago as a Christmas gift. I planted it and it is spectacular! It is pure white with very dark glossy leaves. Each florette is scalloped on the edges, and also about 2 to 2 1/2" in width ..... it is like Sister Teressa on steroids. If anyone has any information I would love to hear from you. I am sure this gift came from a florist and not a nursery.
FROM: moorea216@aol.com 07/15/02 5:12 PM Central
FROM: Pete Smith cpsmith@conweb.com 07/14/02 7:59 PM CentralCarol
Go to www.hydrangeasplus.com and look under Paniculatas for a description of tardiva.
Mary Lou
There is a new set of links on the link page for drying.
Darlene
There are pruning instructions on the web site.
H. leaves turn brown in the fall and eventually drop off. Mulch is good at the base of the plant for the winters. The concern is always a late winter/early spring deep freeze after the buds begin to form on last year's stems. The plants don't like that and may need to be covered during those freezes. Guessing I would say a light freeze into the high twenties for a few hours would not hurt the buds too much, but the low twenties, high teens freeze that we had in North Central Alabama in late Feb hurt the buds a lot.
FROM: Carol Cumming crcumming@yahoo.com 07/14/02 2:09 PM CentralI am trying to determine whether "oak leaf" hydrangea is the same as "tardiva." I ecstatically admired the hydrangeas blooming in my mother's neighbor's garden, who told me they were "tardiva," but that was in Greenville, SC, and I live near Charleston, SC. I haven't been able to find anyone where I live who is familiar with the name "tardiva." Since I want to plant what she had (huge leaves, huge, almost cone-shaped blooms in a thick creamy vanilla color), I want ot try to find the right plant. Can anyone help me?
FROM: Mary Lou mleisen12@aol.com 07/14/02 1:27 PM CentralHow do you Dry Hydrangias?
FROM: Mary Lou mleisen12@aol.com 07/14/02 1:26 PM CentralI am interested in how to dry hydrangias.
FROM: Faith grg106@hotmail.com 07/14/02 11:56 AM Central
FROM: Faith grg106@hotmail.com 07/14/02 11:56 AM CentralHow do you dry hydrangea's Please Help!
FROM: Darlene Overcast darleneovercast@msn.com 07/14/02 10:41 AM CentralI need to know what to do with my hydrangea before the first frost. I have had one for two years and every time it frost the leaves turn brown and the plant looks awful. This is the first year my plant has bloomed and it is gorgeous. I don't want to lose this plant. Please help with information on when and how to prune and how to protect my plant in the winter monnths. Please help. Darlene
FROM: Loee 07/14/02 10:38 AM Central
FROM: Loee haugen2@racc2000.com 07/14/02 10:36 AM Centralzone 5 northern Mi. white moth hy.new plant west sun part shade soil med. general care,how & when to fertilize?
FROM: lesley lesley707@aol.com 07/13/02 7:47 PM CentralI just planted nikko blue, in June and leave near the water in MA, they are planted in an area that has morning sun and afternoon shade, but they dont look so good the leaves seem to be turning brown and limpy, what can I do to make sure that they last?
FROM: Kathy G 07/13/02 2:33 PM CentralHello. Last fall I purchased a home in Virginia Beach, VA that has a garden containing two Hydrangea plants. One is smaller than the other and blooms wonderfully, but the other larger one has only produced two blooms this summer. What can I do to get the larger one to bloom more? I have never pruned either plant. Thank you for any advice you can give me.
FROM: shirley martin martin@ismis.com 07/11/02 8:22 PM CentralLast year I planted beautiful round mophead hydrangeas. This year they bloomed, but they look more like lacecaps. I really want mopheads. What can I do?
FROM: Alyce Jordan alyce_jordan@hotmail.com 07/10/02 7:41 PM CentralDear John, All my reading and research and hydrangea gardening experience says stop pruning. A quote from Hydrangeas a Gardeners Guide states on page 56,"whenever any part of a branch is removed it takes away with it the flowers for the season. Pruning is best done after the plant is mature to enhance the shape. You can dead head the blooms and still have blooms but as all blooms are on old wood if you take any part of a woody stem or branch you'll have a nice green bushy plant and no flowers. Hope this helps AJ
FROM: Brenda r.bpost@verizon.net 07/10/02 7:00 PM CentralWe have a big beautiful nikko blue the only problem is If so pleasethat they all drag down to the ground when we water them. We only water from the bottom,the hose is on the ground on the lowest spray possible. What is the problem? Does any one else have this problem!
FROM: Linda in Arkansas lhendri479@aol.com 07/10/02 6:02 PM CentralRegarding - DRYING HYDRANGEAS - The question of How to Dry H. always comes up this time of year. Linda from Arkansas answered a Message Board question recently with her method. I asked her for more information and she graciously did some research for everyone and came up with some great links. Thanks Linda for your help. Go the LINKS page to find the addresses. Please see the FOLLOWING POST: FROM PETER SMITH (cpsmith@conweb.com) DATED 07-01-02 From there you will be able to click on the links to the sites having to do with drying hydrangeas. A final note to everyone concerning answers to questions. I have set up this Message Board as a place where everyone can contribute. We have 185 members on this list as of today. I appreciate the replies from Country Garderns, Mr. P, Linda, Sharon, Kathy & Tom, and the many others. Sometimes questions will be asked without checking if the answer is already some place else on the Message Board, the Archives, or in the Web Site. I am just an amateur and not familar with all of the 800 to 1200 different cultivars of the H. species. I sometimes answer a question off the board when it is not of general interest and have, on occasion, answered questions on the Board. There is no hidden place to find the answers to question. Everything is available to you. In many cases, the people who read the questions either don't know the answers or choose not to reply on the Message Board. I encourage everyone to help with answers to the questions, BUT PLEASE do NOT just hit reply when you try to answer a question. It only comes back to me alone, and not to the people on the list. Follow the instructions on the bottom of each message to go to the web site address, click to the Web Site and then to the Message Board to post a reply for everyone to share. Thanks for your patience. One additional announcement. We have recently formed an Alabama Chapter of the American Hydrangea Society. For additional information, please contact me off the Board. Pete Webmaster of Pete's Hydrangeas
FROM: John Fowler jdfowler2001@yahoo.com 07/10/02 12:45 PM CentralWe have four hydrangeas which are beautifully healthy, but only one is blooming and it only has one blossom. What is the problem. I cut them all the way back sometime during the winter or early spring. thanks, John
FROM: barb ba32347@fuse.net 07/10/02 12:36 PM CentralMy plant has not bloomed. I planted it in 2001 and it is about 3 ft tall. It is not in good soil is this why
FROM: larry tree126@hotmail.com 07/10/02 8:31 AM Centralplease help, i planted several peegee whips i use a sprinkler to water, last few days i noticed some of the tips of leaves are turning black and drying off the plant. is this a disease or do i need to change the way i water?
FROM: Brenda Flack coco_41004@yahoo.com 07/09/02 2:57 PM CentralHello: I have a Nikko Blue Hydrangae that is approximately 5 years old. This summer something is really going wrong. The stalks are wilting down and then dying. I thought insects at first because I saw small grey bugs on underside of leaves. When I brushed the leaves they would fly up. So, I used an Ortho spray. Bugs are gone now but the stalks are still wilting and dying like a blight. The leaves are no longer a dark green; they are light in color. I have been searching sites all over the internet and just found this one. Looks like a really great site! Please help me if you can! I would really like to start some more of them here in Kentucky. I have two more young Nikko Blues that are in a separate bed and growing and blooming beautifully. So scared that whatever this is might hit them too!
FROM: Alyce Jordan alyce_jordan@hotmail.com 07/09/02 6:37 AM CentralDear Non Bloomers, Be sure to review the archives as many of your questions are addressed there. This site seems really to share the information and experiences of others as no guru seems to answer every question. Thought I would share my experience from western Pa. zone five. I planted about twenty blue nikko from a local nursery and was told the plants were three years years old. They were all planted in full sun and mulched. Lots of growth the first two years and healthy I never had to spray hydrangeas in zone 5. I basically ignored them then and never cut them back. Then the third year they went wild with blooms and continue to do so. I think the trick is buy mature plants, mulch well, prune in full bloom only the brown stems that are obviously dead. I put aluminum sulfate on once a year it must be mixed with water and poured around base. I threw it around the base of the plants one time dry and burned the leaves.My plants always wilted on very hot days but always seemed no worse for the wear when I watered they look so thirsty I never ignored their need for a drink and they perked right up. In the fall the leaves often took on a redish cast which I believe was due to a drop in temperature Pgh gets cold nightime temps. When I dried them it was slowly in the shade of the garage hanging upside down no more than three large blooms to a bunch. They always faded somewhat but were still blue. I perked up the color by spraying with floral spray. I used either deep blue or hyacinth for color. This is a thin aerosol transparent color wash that soakes in and doesn't go on like paint. I bought it at a floral supply but a good craft store should have it. I'm no expert just an obsessed gardener who loves hydrangeas. I always planted my cuttings taken from green plants directly into the garden in shade. I took a cutting maybe eight inches long, stripped all the leaves but the top growth dipped the stem in rooting hormone and planted up to its neck and mulched. Ignored it for a season and then moved it to a sunny spot the following year. I fertilize all my perennials with Osmicote granules as my garden is too big to to do it more than once a year. This benign neglect seemed to work. Hope this helps. Happy Gardening, Alyce
FROM: Theresa Meinert Tjpav68@aol.com 07/09/02 5:05 AM Central
FROM: Theresa Meinert Tjpav^8@aol.com 07/09/02 5:04 AM CentralPlease provide me with tips for drying hydrangeas
FROM: Linda T linda-lou-t@attbi.com 07/09/02 2:02 AM CentralHelp! I have 2 Hydrangea plants and no blooms! One plant that is 4 years old has bloomed 1 time. The other is in a container and started to get 1 bloom and it died and now the plant has yellow leaves, some curled leaves and I really want blooms. Do I feed them, when do I feed them, and what about pruning? I'm not to sure since winter they seem to die off and I just cut the stems back-wrong?
FROM: julia casteel calliebella@msn.com 07/08/02 1:42 PM Centrali see several messages on no blooms. i have 16, 2 are from cuttings last year, but the other 14, 4 are blooming, 2 only have one bloom each, 2 have several, but 10 others which are 3 to 4 years old and one that was here when i moved in 4 years ago are not blooming. help
FROM: Mary Q sisnTwig@aol.com 07/07/02 8:08 PM CentralHi, I need to know if anyone has dryed or preserved the blue/lavender hydrageas, if so how is the best way to do this? I would love to have these year round . thanks Mary Q.
FROM: marie l. green marielgreen@aol.com 07/07/02 6:52 PM CentralHydrangea macrophylla masja plants on Cape cod have brown; curled leaves. what treatment do they need. new plants 2002 i plant for zone 5
FROM: Ricki Risk726@aol.com 07/07/02 2:24 PM CentralHi! I have several hydrangea plants in my yard. When I look at them it is hard to believe that my mother won prizes for the garden. In the last 5 years several of the plants have died. The others seem to be stunted in growth. I live in West Cape May, NJ. The colors of my flowers went from blue to pink to deep purple. Can you or someone please advise me if there are any hydrangea plants that love the sunlight? These plants are on the west side of the house which means they get sun all day long. I an thinking about trying to transplant a few of the bushes to theNorth or east side of the house, preferably near the outside shower. Please help me!!!
FROM: nancy nindoll@hotmail.com 07/07/02 1:52 PM CentralFrom the picture on your web site I seem to have the same variety of hydrangea: they are blooming so profusely this year that the blossoms are much smaller than other years and their stems seem weaker than other years. I did use 2 applications of alum sulfate this spring and in late June after the blooms had formed, I used an application of miracid just to fertilize. I am concerned about the weak stems. Can you suggest a remedy for next year. I live in Mi and they have a southern exposure.
FROM: Alyce Jordan alyce_jordan@hotmail.com 07/07/02 12:37 PM CentralDear Harold, Recently planted a climbing hydrangea and was motivated to do research as to conditions required etc. I only realized after I planted it that it is slow to start , only has white blooms and may take up to eight years to get the first blooms. I had two climing hydrangeas in Western Pa zone 5 which received morning sun and afternoon shade and both were unimpressive.I planted mine here in St.John zone 10 thinking I could change the color with aluminum sulfate and tht it would grow much faster here as we get such accelerated growth we have to be careful what we plant. NO luck. All my nikko blues in zone five were in full sun all day rarely pruned always blue with aluminum sulfate and show stoppers.I have transplanted ten Nikko Blues here and so far so good excellent growth no blooms but they were so severly cut back for shipping I don't expect much in the way of flowers this season.My climbing hydangea hasn't moved in the six weeks its been in the ground. I'm not sure it will bloom in my lifetime. Good Luck, AJ
FROM: Mary Sunday JSMS42@webtv.net 07/07/02 9:12 AM Central
FROM: Mary Sunday JSMS42@webtv.net 07/07/02 9:12 AM CentralWhat kindof fertilizer should I use on new plant Hydrangea macrophylla "All Summer Beauty" to keep blue color,in Central PA,Sun from llam to 2pm. dont know soil conditions.
FROM: 07/07/02 9:08 AM Central
FROM: Pete Smith cpsmith@conweb.com 07/06/02 6:10 PM CentralDiane...
Be sure to stop in and see the Aldridge Gardens in Birmingham - actually just south in Hoover. These gardens just opened and specialize in Hydrangeas. They have 20 or so varieties.
http://www.hooveral.aa.psiweb.com/content/development/aldridgegardens.htm
I recommend everyone check out the web site and makes plans to visit the gardens if you get to Birmingham. Yo'all come see us, now hear!
FROM: Dianne harrisdw@iswt.com 07/06/02 4:39 PM CentralI will be visiting in Birmingham, AL. in late Sept. What sources are best there to purchase hydrangeas? I live in TN
FROM: harold proffitt harpro@kemba.com 07/06/02 1:02 PM Centralhi guys I would like to plant a climbing hydrangeas the location (cincinnati oh. zone 5) receives afternoon sun. shade the rest of the day can anyone suggest some available varieties also what kind care (pruning & fertilizing) do they need thanks every one
FROM: Jean Dolby Jeanldolby@aol.com 07/06/02 4:12 AM CentralSome of my blooms will last for weeks after they've been cut and some wilt immediately. I want to use my hydrangea's for a wedding without them wilting. How can I keep them from wilting, at least for a couple of days? They are the mophead variety and I live in the Pacific NW; Olympia, Washington
FROM: Pat pastmissbluff@aol.com 07/05/02 4:52 PM CentralWe have 7 Hydrangeas that are Nikko Blue. The first couple of years that we had them we had so many blue flowers. We fertilize and give them the aluminum sulfate to keep them blue. We cut them back each fall. The bushes are a nice size but no flowers! We water also. So what is our problem? What are we doing wrong? I love the blue Hydrangeas and always cut them for drying to put in vases in the house. We have only 2 flowers on one bush and one flower on another. The other's have no flowers. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
FROM: Cathy CMO2L@aol.com 07/04/02 2:45 PM CentralI live in Silicon Valley (zone 8b I think), CA. I received two hydrangas last summer. One had blue flowers and one had pink flowers. They are planted side by side with about 4 feet between the plants. This year they both have blue flowers. I want one plant to produce pink flowers. What do I do?
FROM: Sue in VA Sitsnchair@aol.com 07/04/02 4:20 AM CentralHello, I just read the note message sent in by Deane Mills York County Virginia, country gardens (thanks so much Deane:) Now I know what zone I'm in. I'm in zone 7b-8a (Tidewater Virginia). Now Deane, or someone? Can you please let me know what might be wrong with my plant? There looks to be some sort of redish discolorazation on the leaves, what can this be, and how do I get rid of it? Also on the same plant, the leaves are turning a bit yellow in the centers, does anyone know why this happens? My aunt gave me a cutting off her plant years ago, hers hydrangea bush always produced fantastic blooms, and yet mine has never done very well. I planted it on the northeast side of my house and just recently moved it because it just wouldn't thrive, hardly any blooms, wouldn't grow very tall. It now is on the back of my house, the southeast, where it gets morning sunshine for a few hours and the rest of the day it gets shade. We bought 2 other hydangea bushes in gallon pots and planted them right next to the older plant, they have been really thriving, getting tall with lots of big blooms. They all get the same amount of water and sunlight. All had the same potting soil added to the dirt when planted. They're getting just the right amount of water, the leaves on the other 2 plants look fine and vibrant. I've fed them all some miracid twice this year. Given them all some Aluminum Sulphate to help those pink blooms turn blue. (well that works just great by the way:) But what is this redish discolorazation?? Any help greatly appreciated! Sue in Tidewater VA ps you are so right about leaving them alone, the 2 plants that I bought are doing fantstic and I've basically left them alone, haven't cut them or fussed over them.
FROM: Sue in VA Sitsnchair@aol.com 07/04/02 3:33 AM CentralHello, Thank you for letting me be on your list. I hope someone can answer my question. I wonder if anyone knows the common diseases of hydrangeas? And can someone tell me please what might be wrong with mine, there looks to be some sort of redish discolorazation on the leaves, what can this be, and how do I get rid of it? Also on the same plant, the leaves are turning a bit yellow in the centers, does anyone know why this happens? My aunt gave me this plant years ago and it has never done very well. I planted it on the northeast side of my house and just recently moved it because it just wouldn't thrive. It now is on the back of my house where it gets morning sunshine for a few hours and the rest of the day it gets shade and there's been no change. Someone help? Thanks, Sue in VA
FROM: Laura Andy1laura@aol.com 07/03/02 10:23 AM CentralI have beautiful full hydrangea bushes but very rarely get blooms. I tried miricle acid and still no luck. Does anyone have a solution?
FROM: sydlevin@aol.com 07/03/02 0:36 AM CentralI live in Redwood City, CA - a 10a zone. I have a lavender,pink hydranga that is doing very well on the shady side of my house. I would like to match it with a hydranga that would get more sun on the other side of the house. In my shopping, I have found hydrangas that require "sun" and "shade to partly sunny" exposures. I have been told that all hydrangas require mostly shade. Please let me know if there are types of hydrangas which can tolerate sun vs shade and how I might find one which will get probably 60% sun. Please comment on "large leaf" hydrangas and their better ability to tolerate sun. Another question: I have heard that the color of hydrangas can vary according to soil acidity. Please comment on what one does to make these color changes within the same plant. Thanks, Peggy
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 07/02/02 11:12 PM CentralToday a lady in a store told me the "old fashioned" way of drying hydrangea blooms was to use 1/2 cup powdered bleach with 4 cups cornmeal. Have any of you tried this? After buying $36.00 worth of Silica Gel and only being able to dry 3 blooms at a time, I am going to try the cornmeal and bleach. Please let us know if any of you have used the "old fashioned" method. If you have, about how long was the drying time? Thanks - Joanne
FROM: country gardens country.gardens@cox.net 07/02/02 10:03 PM Centralre: the hydrangeas that Shirley is having trouble with..... if your soil is rather sandy perhaps you have not watered them quite enough although the symptoms you describe (the loss of color in the leaves and the brown edges indicate, to me, that they are being over-watered....I wonder if the plants are getting too much sun, being planted on the south side of your house. Are they getting ANY shade during the day? They absolutely MUST have some shade part of the day; at least in zone 7. Also, the weekly feedings that you mention might be part of the problem. It has been my experience that newly planted shrubbery does best if it is not fed for the first year or so, or until the plant has become established. That being said, I DO put some Espoma fertilizer in the bottom of the holes in which I plant shrubbery but that is because that particular product is "organically" formulated and is so slow to release that I don't think that it puts undue stress on the plant to "perform" while it is still trying to adapt to its new home. Also, regarding some of the queries about hydrangeas that are not putting forth lots of blooms: I have found that incorporating a fertilizer with a high "middle number", i.e., phospherous content, encourages more blooms on all blooming plants. Sometimes I spray Miracle-gro for Roses on my hydrangeas and everything else in the garden that is a blooming plant (geraniums, daylilies,perennials, annuals, etc). It is lower in nitrogen and higher in phospherous which is desirable as the more nitrogen a fertilizer has the more green growth is promoted while the more phospherous (the middle number in the equation), the more blooming is promoted. The third number in the ratio is for potash or potassium which promotes general vigor and helps with disease resistance. I cannot recommend more highly the Espoma products which are available in many different formulae. I have had much success with all the different products that that company offers. I do not own any of their stock nor am I affiliated with the company but I DO swear by their fertilizers! DFM York COunty VA
FROM: Shirley Brown bsbrown@lakewebs.net 07/02/02 5:42 PM CentralMy hydranges were planted this spring from 1 gallon containers. The plants were dorment when purchased, but started leaving out not long after they were planted. They were planted on the south side of my home, which is located in zone 7. The soil is slightly on the sandy side and bagged top soil was added as replacement dirt. The plants are watered regularly and feed weekly. Each of the plants started blooming and than the leaves began to pale in color and developed a brown color around the edges. They are not doing well, but I don't know what to do for them.
FROM: Kathy Anderson playball@netexpress.net 07/01/02 4:43 PM CentralNow I have another problem it seems with the one annabelle that was blooming - I have a few white petals on the edges but the rest of the flower looks rather furry. What kind of an annabelle is this? The petals that bloomed look like an annabelle petal but the whole head is not blooming. HELP!!!!!!!!!
FROM: Pete Smith cpsmith@conweb.com 07/01/02 1:52 PM CentralThanks to Country Gardens for the reply on why some plants die. I agree with everything that was said and wanted to add my $0.02 about the frequent question regarding bushes not blooming.
I am assuming that those who have blooming problems are pruning properly and not cutting back to the roots as the blooms on many mopheads form on last years wood.
I have a number of Nikko Blue that do not bloom or only produce a few blooms. One reason I believe is the lack of enough sun. Second, and this applies I believe to many of the people who have asked the question and shared their location, we had a freeze here in North Central Alabama around February 28th where it went down into the high teens for a few hours.
H. can take the normal winter cold in most of the country depending on the variety. But once the buds on the mophead varieties begin to form in early to mid-February (Zone 7b) they become very susceptable to freezing. Some of the evidence of this is smaller leaves on the stems than usual.
Using a lot of mulch around the base and covering the plants during the freezes has been suggested. I have not done this so I cannot report one way or the other.
The question of How to Dry H. always comes up this time of year. Linda from Arkansas answered a Message Board question recently with her method. I asked her for more information and she graciously did some research for everyone and came up with some great links. Thanks Linda for your help. Go the LINKS page to find the addresses.
A final note to everyone concerning answers to questions. I have set up this Message Board as a place where everyone can contribute. We have 185 members on this list as of today. I appreciate the replies from Country Garderns, Mr. P, Linda, Sharon, Kathy & Tom, and the many others. Sometimes questions will be asked without checking if the answer is already some place else on the Message Board, the Archives, or in the Web Site.
I am just an amateur and not familar with all of the 800 to 1200 different cultivars of the H. species. I sometimes answer a question off the board when it is not of general interest and have, on occasion, answered questions on the Board. There is no hidden place to find the answers to question. Everything is available to you. In many cases, the people who read the questions either don't know the answers or choose not to reply on the Message Board.
I encourage everyone to help with answers to the questions, BUT PLEASE do NOT just hit reply when you try to answer a question. It only comes back to me alone, and not to the people on the list. Follow the instructions on the bottom of each message to go to the web site address, click to the Web Site and then to the Message Board to post a reply for everyone to share.
Thanks for your patience. One additional announcement. We have recently formed an Alabama Chapter of the American Hydrangea Society. For additional information, please contact me off the Board.
Pete
Webmaster of Pete's Hydrangeas
FROM: Mr. P 07/01/02 10:54 AM CentralThe information to dry Hydrnageas in on this board. Look under Linda Hendricks note. 31939@aol.com is not a good Url
FROM: linda klier 31939@aol.com 07/01/02 10:25 AM Centralwhat is the best way to dry hydrangeas
FROM: Linda in Arkansas (Zone 7b) lhendri479@aol.com 07/01/02 3:12 AM CentralThis is for: countrygardens@cox.net Your read that book too?
FROM: Linda in Arkansas (Zone 7b) lhendri479@aol.com 07/01/02 3:09 AM CentralThis is for anyone who wants to find out what kind of bugs, etc are eating/bothering or being a nuisance to their hydrangeas. Try this web address. I use this all the time for any bug in my garden. Sure does help if you know what you are dealing with. This will link you to the Entomology Department at Texas A&M. If anyone knows bugs - they should and do !! http://insects.tamu.edu This should do ya. Have fun with all those lovely colored pictures !!!
FROM: Paulette Rozman Luv2scotties44@aol.com 06/30/02 6:36 PM CentralI Live In Michigan. I just bought 2 Hydrangea plants from Home Depot. I don't no the name of them? How to care for them, were to plant them? What they like? I have all clay, will have to remove and replace, with what? ThanksOh one is pink and one is blue, but the have no names on them they are in a pot.
FROM: Paulette Rozman Luv2scotties44@aol.com 06/30/02 6:23 PM CentralI Live In Michigan. I just bought 2 Hydrangea plants from Home Depot. I don't no the name of them? How to care for them, were to plant them? What they like? I have all clay, will have to remove and replace, with what? Thanks
FROM: Paulette Rozman Luv2scotties44@aol.com 06/30/02 6:19 PM CentralI live in Michigan, and just bought 2 Hydrangea plants from Home Depot. I don't no were to plant, or how to plant.Need to no how to take care of them, and what they like?
FROM: DJ dj526@avon.net 06/30/02 5:48 PM CentralI received a Hydrangea plant as a gift that had 4 blooms. Will it get more blooms this summer?
FROM: J 06/30/02 5:47 PM CentralI received a plant as a gift that had 4 blooms. Will it get more blooms this summer?
FROM: country.gardens country.gardens@cox.net 06/30/02 5:06 PM CentralAfter reading several queries recently about the problems some folks are having with their hydrangea blooms, I thought that I might say a few things based on my experiences from growing hydrangeas for over 20 years in zone 7b-8a (Tidewater Virginia). Around here growing hydrangeas is a bit of a "no-brainer". Even so, I have found that the best way to have healthy, vibrant hydrangeas is to plant them in a spot where they are afforded some sun and some shade......filtered light seems to work best. In spots where my hydrangeas have had too much shade they have thrived but not produced many blooms and those that they have produced have been small and insignificant. Selective pruning of the trees around those hydrangeas has helped improve their bloom size and "yield" tremendously. A few years ago I had to remove over 20 hydrangea macrophylla bushes because the large tree that had provided their 1/2 day of shade was lost in a hurricane. I tried to keep them going with frequent watering but they simply burned up in all that fierce, southern sun. I think, therefore, that proper placement regarding sun and shade is vital. I have also noticed that the way to make sure that your hydrangeas get off to a good start is to plant them, keep them watered and, sort of, forget about them. A little benign neglect seems to be best. That means forget about cutting any blooms for a few seasons until those plants get well enough established and to a size where they can handle being hacked up for their scrumptious, buxom flowers! The exception to this rule is, of course, the "Annabelle" hydrangeas which REQUIRE being cut back to the ground in the winter in order to grow healthy and strong and produce the best blooms. Regarding the comments that some folks are concerned because their blooms are turning "green". It has been my experince that as the blooms begin to lose their color and enter a stage where they are drying out, they do seem to take on a greenish hue. Not being a botanist, I don't know why that is but it does happen to certain varieties. I would like to offer a tip from my own experiences. In the early Spring, many of the stores, i.e., grocery stores that have floral departments, begin to offer for sale forced, blooming hydrangeas....often around Easter. I used to buy several of these at a time, maybe four or five, and I would stick them around my house, sometimes in the cleaned-out fireplaces in my house. After they had finished blooming, I would plant them outside. THAT is one of the ways I ended up with about 75 hydrangea bushes! I have also planted hydrangeas en masse........a row of them along the side of my property. For some reason, that seemed to work well for me. And that way when you start cutting them, there are lots of plants from which to cut. Every once in a while, I will lose a plant. Why one suddenly "ups and dies", I don't know. Why one plant will just never take off when so many others do, I do not know. Someone explained to me once that plants are like humans. Sometimes they, like us, get sick and die. I am not a plant pathologist nor a botanist. I just like to garden. But the best thing to do is to enjoy yourself and not give up in spite of some bad luck. Always remember, too: GARDENING IS NO PLACE FOR SISSIES! Deane Mills York County Virginia
FROM: Betsy Nineballgoddess@aol.com 06/30/02 2:02 PM CentralHello! I am a relatively new gardener. Just picked up a lovely Hydrangea Macrophylla "Glowing Embers" today, but the care card is missing. Can anyone tell me how much spacing I should allow for it to grow? Also, how quickly should I expect it to grow? And if you *really* feel like sharing a lot, what do I need to do for winterization? I am in Zone 5.
FROM: Anna igavin@juno.com 06/30/02 12:29 PM CentralMy newly bought Hydrangea Macrophilla started to turn green in 2-3 weeks. What is wrong? How can I fix it?
FROM: Spot Vicars spotvicars@mac.com 06/30/02 9:12 AM CentralI am an amatuer hydragea grower in zone 7a. My hydranges are Nikko Blue and they are 3 years old. They are planted in a location that gets direct sun most of the day and shade in the late afternoon. They are watered regularly. My question is, why are they not blooming profusely? I have tried cutting them back in February and had no blooms. This year, I tried not cutting them back to see if that would help... still, only 5 blooms on 4 plants. I also have 3 hydrangeas whose flowers are white and cone shaped. they are in mostly shade and they are watered regularly. they are not blooming either. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
FROM: Vivian Achen vapa@iowatelecom.net 06/29/02 8:07 PM CentralI have recently purchased a hydranga paniculata, pink diamond. Is there any special care? Do they really get 18 feet tall?
FROM: Vivian Achen vapa@iowatelecom.net 06/29/02 8:05 PM Central
FROM: Vivian Achen vapa@iowatelecom.net 06/29/02 8:05 PM CentralI have just purchased a Hydranga Paniculata, pink diamond, is there any special care for this bush? Do they really grow to 18 feet?
FROM: Denise Green rott@oknet1.net 06/29/02 5:50 PM CentralHelp!! I love hydrangea and miss the blooms. My hydrangea are about 4 or 5 years old. They are blue mopheads. Had blooms when I bought them, and bloomed the next year. Since then, no blooms at all. The leaves are full, lush and healthy. I have not pruned, only cut off 2 small dead branches this spring after leaves were growing. Live in lower northeast Oklahoma, zone 6b to 7a. Have fertilized with fertilizer for hydrangea and other flowering plants. Thanks. Denise
FROM: Barbara Trailor medior@earthlink.net 06/29/02 11:47 AM CentralI live in costal North Carolina I have some cuttings that were started last year that have come back strong with beautiful foliage but have no blooms both the big leaf and the verigated veriaties, what is the problem
FROM: John jsarradet@cox.net 06/29/02 9:23 AM CentralMy Hydrangea flowers are turning green. What the heck does that mean? Are they sick? Is it normal? I just planted them 3 weeks ago and live in New Orleans La.
FROM: Linda in Arkansas lhendri479@aol.com 06/29/02 3:03 AM CentralI am going to be sending email to everyone concerning: How to dry hydrangeas (and other flowers, herbs, etc.) I have been using Silica Sand/Gel for about 10 years now and it does a beautiful job on all flowers. It is the only thing I have found that helps keep the shape and the color of the hydrangea. Hopefully ---("if the creek don't rise") I will have all the info ready tomorrow/day after at the latest.
FROM: Carol clperl@my-netlink.com 06/28/02 9:54 AM CentralI have something white under the leaves of my hydrangea. Is this a fungus. The plant is in bloom. I live in RI, don't know the zone. Thanks.
FROM: Sharon sharonroddy@yahoo.com 06/27/02 7:57 PM CentralTo make hydrangea blooms blue, use aluminum sulfate. Use one level tablespoon per each foot of plant height and scatter the aluminum sulfate around the base of the plant and water thoroughly. Start in January or February and apply the aluminum sulfate at 4 to 6 week intervals until the flowers have formed. I live where the soil is very alkaline and the aluminum sulfate works great.
FROM: Debby S. 06/27/02 5:39 PM CentralCan I grow hydrangeas in central florida?
FROM: Pat Primo714@aol.com 06/27/02 10:00 AM CentralHow do you change the color ofthe hydrangeas from pink to blue? They used to be blue but now they are pink. Someone mistakenly tld me that they needed more acid, now they are pink! Can someone help me???
FROM: Dombo 06/25/02 10:55 PM CentralK. Anderson You need an Email destination for your answers.
FROM: K. Anderson 06/25/02 8:48 PM Centralwhat kind of fertilizer should I be feeding my annabelles and Sister Theresa mophead hydrangeas as they are white. Do you still feed them acid or do the white ones need a different type of fertilizer?
FROM: Elaine Taff mrsetaff@aol.com 06/25/02 2:00 PM CentralHow do you dry hydrageas? How do you get a bush to flower if it doesn't?
FROM: Richard Richard@matthewdavidevents.com 06/25/02 1:27 PM CentralI Am looing for lace cap hydrangea topiaries....do they exist? ....this would be for the end of july
FROM: Linda Hendricks lhendri479@aol.com 06/25/02 2:03 AM CentralRE: drying in silica sand - can't give you a "rule of thumb" as to the drying time. Depends on size, how many you are drying, etc. Since I use mine for wreaths usually, I break them into "flowerettes." I make sure there is at least 1 inch of silica under the flower(s) and 1 inch over the top of the flower. Now you have 2 options - just let them sit covered in the silica for 3-4 days, OR - microwave them (again all variables apply). Read the directions that come with the silica. Be prepared for the price of this stuff. The good part is you can keep reusing it forever. The VERY BAD part is that you should not breath any of it in. PLEASE WEAR A DUST MASK !!!!! IT REALLY IS NOT GOOD TO BREATH THIS STUFF. The test to see when they are dry is to VERY CAREFULLY pour off some of the silica and see what the flowers feel like. If they feel dry to you, well then, they are. Of course, once they are out of the silica, they will slowly start to reabsorb any moisture in the air. Next year - add new flowers to your wreath. I dry all my flowers this way. Marigolds, dusty miller,lavender, etc. and combine all on one wreath. Keep them "dry" inside a sealed box with a little bit of silica in the box until you are ready to use them. Hope this will help. I have tried to dry them naturally (cutting at different times, smashing stems, etc.) It just doesn't work for me, BUT THE SILICA DOES. I am no longer frustrated about drying these beauties!!! Have Fun
FROM: Debbie Liipfert liipfert@surfsouth.com 06/24/02 12:48 PM CentralI want to learn!
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 06/24/02 6:12 AM CentralHow long do you leave the blooms in silica sand for drying?
FROM: Linda lhendri479@aol.com 06/24/02 3:38 AM CentralIn answer to: Price92562@aol.com regarding drying hydrangeas. I have tried almost every method. The only sure one for me is to dry them in SILICA SAND. This also retains their color.
FROM: mary frances price price92562@aol.com 06/23/02 9:34 PM Centrali need help and information about drying hydrangeas for flower arrangements. thanks!
FROM: JoAnn Batchelor joannbatchelor@realtor.com 06/23/02 8:15 PM CentralMy dad lived on long island and had the most magnificent blue hydrangea with little white flowers surrounding the bloom. Probably the lacecap mentioned by many. I trans- planted one five yrs.ago To north central connecticut & have not had a single blossom. The plant has trippled in size and is a lush green. It is in full sun for half the day. I am sure I need to add something to the soil. I would appreciate any advice you could give me. I do not know how to retrieve the responses to the readers questions.
FROM: COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/23/02 5:10 PM CentralRE OBTAINING "ANNABELLE" HYDRANGEAS. WOODLANDERS IN AIKEN, SOUTH CAROLINA CARRIES THEM. THEIR TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 803-648-7522 THEIR WEB SITE IS WWW.WOODLANDERS.COM THEY ALSO RECOMMEND ANOTHER WEB SITE , WWW.HYDRANGEASHYDRANGEAS.COM WHICH APPEARS TO BE, AT A QUICK GLANCE, VERY INTERESTING.
FROM: Dawn Greiner bgreiner@wycol.com 06/23/02 11:12 AM CentralSomething is eating my hydrangeas. I would like to use a organic remedy to deter bugs as opposed to insecticides. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
FROM: Phil Sarris PSarris1@AOL.Com 06/23/02 11:07 AM CentralHills of Snow--cannot find locally--similar to Annabelle-----but does well in sun on "new" wood--have several offspring --would like to purchase additionally plants but cannot find locally or apparently anywhere else---no one seems to know about it--bought plant a number of years ago from a local nursery--find the name in old books but not new material--Thanks for any information that you give me.
FROM: Terri Bizzimomx2@aol.com 06/21/02 10:39 AM CentralI have a hydrangea that I transplanted two years ago. It's folage is green and healthy and the plant itself is healthy and get's plenty of sun, but no blooms. This is the second summer it has not bloomed. Anyone have any blooming tips?
FROM: country gardens country.gardens@cox.net 06/20/02 9:02 AM CentralRe cut hydrageas for the house: When cutting hydrangeas to bring inside and make an arrangement, one MUST, MUST, MUST crush the ends of the stems. This can be done with a small knife by simply making a one to two inch slit up the bottom of the stem or, my preferred way, to take a small hammer and just smash the bottom one to two inch end of the stem. Why do we need to do this? Certain plants with woody stems require this bit of mutilation which enables the stem to draw up the water that is necessary to prolong the freshness of the flower. I think that it also helps to plunge the cut hydrangea into water that is warm or even, almost but not quite, hot. Changing the water daily helps to prolong freshness, too. Also, make sure that you do your cutting during a part of the day that is not too hot; i.e., when the blooms are at their freshest and not struggling in the heat (although I doubt you have that problem where you live in California, but here in Tidewater Virginia, it is a serious consideration when cutting). I also do this to viburnum cuttings. There are some good books "out there" on the various ways to properly condition flowers that are being cut for arrangements. Doing so will extend the enjoyment of those cut flowers immeasureably. The Garden Club of Virginia sells a booklet that gives good advice on these practices. Let me know if you would like information on how to obtain a copy. DFM York County Virginia
FROM: country gardens country.gardens@cox.net 06/20/02 9:01 AM CentralRe cut hydrageas for the house: When cutting hydrangeas to bring inside and make an arrangement, one MUST, MUST, MUST crush the ends of the stems. This can be done with a small knife by simply making a one to two inch slit up the bottom of the stem or, my preferred way, to take a small hammer and just smash the bottom one to two inch end of the stem. Why do we need to do this? Certain plants with woody stems require this bit of mutilation which enables the stem to draw up the water that is necessary to prolong the freshness of the flower. I think that it also helps to plunge the cut hydrangea into water that is warm or even, almost but not quite, hot. Changing the water daily helps to prolong freshness, too. Also, make sure that you do your cutting during a part of the day that is not too hot; i.e., when the blooms are at their freshest and not struggling in the heat (although I doubt you have that problem where you live in California, but here in Tidewater Virginia, it is a serious consideration when cutting). I also do this to viburnum cuttings. There are some good books "out there" on the various ways to properly condition flowers that are being cut for arrangements. Doing so will extend the enjoyment of those cut flowers immeasureably. The Garden Club of Virginia sells a booklet that gives good advice on these practices. Let me know if you would like information on how to obtain a copy. DFM York County Virginia
FROM: Nancy Higgins jnhiggin@san.rr.com 06/19/02 10:39 PM CentralI live in Southern California and have several beautiful hydrangea plants. My problem is cutting them for bouquets. No matter what I do, they just die quickly after I cut them. Any ideas?
FROM: judy symonds jusyms@webtv.net 06/19/02 8:11 PM Centralhow do you take care of hydranga bush and how do you get them to flower.
FROM: Cheryl 06/19/02 6:46 PM CentralI inherited a huge hydrangea with my house that bloomed the first year and has rarely bloomed since. Huge pink blooms, and the plant is 4' around and about 3' tall. I don't have a clue what kind of hydrangea it is, how do I identify it ?
FROM: terri terrinelles@aol.com 06/19/02 6:22 PM CentralI planted a peegee hydrangea(tree form) in my NW Illinois shady yard 4 days ago. It looked great until today. It is wilting around the bottom leaves. I have watered each day, very well. Any ideas? Am I going to lose this treee?
FROM: Kathy or Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 06/19/02 8:36 AM CentralTo the gardner in St. Louis Area withe the blue (last year) hydrangea. One of the more popular selling hydrangeas in our area (St. Louis) is the Nikko Blue. Apparantly you purchased your plant in Spring of 200l, the same year that most of us suffered total bud loss due to late frosts. First it is not unusual for container grown plants not to shaow blue for two or three years after they are removed from their container. Planting in dappled sun in our area is perfect and will prolong the flowers life and avoid extreme wilt. To obtain the color blue you need acid soil which is contrary to the alkalinety found in foundation planting areas, This can only be offset by supplements. Most highly advised is aluminum sulphate and when you add this you should use a lower phosphate fertiliser.Sooner or later ( this year your plant should start showing color and it most likely could be pink. However, this year we had several of our Nikko Blues start off with the white color and the are now a real pale blue, This is their first blue color after three years. We drenched the ground around them several times this year with the aluminum sulphate solution. We are in the Defiance-New Melee area and our public water is highly alkaline while your probbly in St.Louis County Water Co,district and not quite so bad. We have a quarterly mailer which we send to about 100 plus gardners in west St. Louis County and South St. Charles County, If you would like to be on our list you may call our secretary(Sharen Weis) at 636 532 1922. (Tom Shaw Realtors ) And she will send you some of our previous news letters. Also to the gardner in northwestern Illinois. The Annabelle Hydrangea is the easiest and best one for your area. As a previous writer mentioned be sure to prune these back in early spring to within 12 inches of the ground. We usually use very lighi fertilisers (10-10-10) or sometime we use the slow release fertilisers. An important point to remember with the annabelles is that they grow by runners so the bigger the diamater of the planting hole the bigger the width of your plant. We have six Annabelles and they never fail us. Another great one for your area ia Panniculata Pink Diamond or Unique. We raise about 100 plants a year and give these to friends and customers in our area and we have experimented with numerous varieties if you would like ust to add you to our mailing list you may reach us toll free @ 1 888 tom shaw. Good luck and dont give up on your Annabelles
FROM: Kathy Anderson 06/17/02 9:10 PM CentralHi Deane - In answer to your question, I live in the northwest corner of Illinois. I had said the 2 annabelles get some morning sun. They probably only get afternoon sun. Would that hurt the blooming? I have a couple of blooms on the bottom, I see, of each plant. Can I hope that more will be coming - almost seems like they could all over but I keep getting more leaves. They are very healthy with lots of green foliage!
FROM: COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/17/02 4:45 PM Central> Hi Kathy, > What part of the country do you live in , may I ask? > Also, do the Annabelles that got chewed back show signs of life? > If they do, then perhaps they're just slow emerging. > Actually, Annabelles are SUPPOSED to be cut back to the ground every spring > (early), that way they have much bigger blooms. The rabbits may have done > you a favor, unless they are still munching away at it .....then you may not > get any blooms. > But if you live in a section of the country that has long winters, perhaps > they're just a bit slow. > Here in Virginia my Annabelles are going strong. > Good luck. > Deane Mills
FROM: COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/17/02 4:45 PM Central> Hi Kathy, > What part of the country do you live in , may I ask? > Also, do the Annabelles that got chewed back show signs of life? > If they do, then perhaps they're just slow emerging. > Actually, Annabelles are SUPPOSED to be cut back to the ground every spring > (early), that way they have much bigger blooms. The rabbits may have done > you a favor, unless they are still munching away at it .....then you may not > get any blooms. > But if you live in a section of the country that has long winters, perhaps > they're just a bit slow. > Here in Virginia my Annabelles are going strong. > Good luck. > Deane Mills
FROM: COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/17/02 4:44 PM Central> Hi Kathy, > What part of the country do you live in , may I ask? > Also, do the Annabelles that got chewed back show signs of life? > If they do, then perhaps they're just slow emerging. > Actually, Annabelles are SUPPOSED to be cut back to the ground every spring > (early), that way they have much bigger blooms. The rabbits may have done > you a favor, unless they are still munching away at it .....then you may not > get any blooms. > But if you live in a section of the country that has long winters, perhaps > they're just a bit slow. > Here in Virginia my Annabelles are going strong. > Good luck. > Deane Mills
FROM: Kathy Anderson playball@netexpress.net 06/17/02 10:19 AM CentralI have 3 annabelle hydrangea that I planted last year. One gets dappled sun and never got pruned and is full of fairly good-sized buds. The other 2 are getting some morning sun and afternoon sun. These were chewed back by a rabbit during the winter and have very little blooming. I have given them acid fertilizer and not much is happening. What is going on? The 2 plants seem very healthy otherwise.
FROM: patricia arklein@ix.netcom.com 06/16/02 9:06 PM Centralhello fellow gardeners.Last year Iplanted a hydrangea that was blue. It survived the winter well. This year it has about 7 blooms {it is still rather small} Iwas very excited but to my surprise all the flowers are pure white, although it is very pretty I wanted some from of pink to blue to show up. It is planted in clay soil,close to house with dappled{from tree} shade. This plant has grown well, I'm in zone 5, st.louis,mo.No seems to know why this color change has happened. Please help, white is pretty, but i wanted color. Thanks
FROM: Marlene Weatherall 06/16/02 1:28 PM CentralDelete my name from the mailing list please
FROM: Susan Johnson SueJ54@aol.com 06/16/02 10:29 AM CentralI have a 4 year old NIkko hydrangea that I replanted last fall into a large container. It appeared to survive the move, but the buds and leaves seem small and the leaves are turning yellow around the buds. Also, the stems are turning brown. I can't put my finger on it but it just doesn't appear healthy to me.
FROM: roberta molinaro robertaEGM@aol.com 06/15/02 5:21 PM CentralI have read & read everything in your archive pages. I am brand new to this site. I have read many of the same questions I have about hydrangas but NO answers?!!! Where can I find these answers????? My one MAIN question is why my two, healthy lookimg with lots of beautiful leaves, hydgranga plants DO NOT BLOOM ? They are in two different ares of my garden, each getting morning sun. I live in south east Penna. I have pruned one & not the other. I have given them Miracid. I have tried everything but still no blooms. They are approx. 7 or 8 years old. I know people that do absolutly NOTHING with there bushes & get massive blooms year after year. I am soo frustrated. I have dried hydranga flowers all over my home but got these flowers from my friends plants. I want my OWN flowers. Please help!! Thanks, Roberta
FROM: Frank fshinneman@att.net 06/15/02 4:25 PM CentralMy climbing hydrangea has some leaves and flower buds turning browna and dry at the edges. EAstern full sun, moist, well drained soil. Is this a problem or normal?
FROM: Mary mjesman@scn1.com 06/13/02 1:55 PM CentralHey Pete, I just wanted someone to answer my question. Please take me off your e mail list ok? Thanks
FROM: Marcy Weavil mweavil@lucent.com 06/13/02 1:47 PM CentralMy hydrangeas have not bloomed in several years. They may have just three or four blooms at the most on them. I have three bushes and I'm not certain what the exact variety is. From the pictures and descriptions on this web site it looks like they may be the mopheads. I am very confused about when and how much to prune them and I believe this is where my problem is. I don't do anything to them until late spring and then I break off the very brittle dead branches. Is it possible that new blooms are supposed to form on what I'm breaking off even if it's completely dead?
FROM: Marcy Weavil mweavil@lucent.com 06/13/02 10:33 AM CentralMy hydrangeas have not bloomed in several years. They may have just three or four blooms at the most on them. I have three bushes and I'm not certain what the exact variety is. From the pictures and descriptions on this web site it looks like they may be the mopheads. I am very confused about when and how much to prune them and I believe this is where my problem is. I don't do anything to them until late spring and then I break off the very brittle dead branches. Is it possible that new blooms are supposed to form on what I'm breaking off even if it's completely dead?
FROM: ginger gingerpayne@cei.net 06/13/02 7:32 AM CentralI planted a pee-gee hydrangea in April. It looks really healthy in the spot I put it. I recently noticed that several of the leaves near the center have turned yellow. I removed approx. 20 leaves this morning and I noticed they were attached tightly. I hope this will help me see if anymore leaves continue to turn. The rest of the plant looks so healthy. What could be the problem? Watering, disease? Is this just natural?
FROM: COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/12/02 8:51 PM CentralRE TRANSPLANTING YOUR HYDRANGEAS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT YOU WAIT UNTIL FALL TO TRANSPLANT THEM AND BE SURE TO MOVE THEM TO A SPOT THAT OFFERS SIMILAR GROWING CONDITIONS TO THAT WHICH THEY ARE ACCLIMATED. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS SOAK THE SOIL AROUND THE ROOTS OF THE PLANTS THAT ARE BEING MOVED TO GET THOSE LITTLE ROOTS HYDRATED AND PLUMPED UP AS THAT WILL HELP LESSEN THE SHOCK AND THE TEARING AWAY EFFECT THAT COMES FROM BEING UPROOTED. .....ALSO SERVING TO SOFTEN THE SOIL WHICH MAKES IT EASIER ON THE PLANT AS IT IS BEING FORCED TO LEAVE ITS HAPPY HOME. HAVE THE NEW BED/SPOT ALREADY PREPARED AND GET THE PLANTS INTO THEIR NEW HOME ASAP. I WOULD ALSO NOT DO ANY OF THIS MOVING ABOUT IN THE HEAT OF THE DAY OR DURING A PARTICULARLY HOT AND DRY SPELL.......LIKE WE HERE IN SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA ARE ENDURING NOW. AFTER TRANSPLANTING THE BUSHES, KEEP YOUR EYE ON THEM AND MAKE SURE THEY DON'T DRY OUT. YOU MIGHT WANT TO CUT THE FOLIAGE BACK BY ABOUT 1/3 AND FORGET ABOUT THIS YEAR'S BLOOMS. THE STRESS OF BEING MOVED IN SUMMER WILL PROBABLY PREVENT THE BUSHES, IF THEY ARE OF ANY SIZE, FROM PRODUCING MUCH IN THE WAY OF FLOWERS. IT REALLY IS BEST TO WAIT UNTIL FALL.
FROM: Jennifer jmack27@hotmail.com 06/12/02 8:24 PM CentralI have 4 blooming hydrangeas and need to replant them due to some work we have to do where they are planted? Any advice?
FROM: Betsie betsie@fenrir.com 06/12/02 9:39 AM CentralIn upstate New York, we had a very old hydrangea that was planted (50-100) years ago. It had a triangular (rounded angles - not sharp), white head that was fairly flat. The plant itself was very spindly as a result (?) of being battered by the winds off the lake. Does anyone have any idea what the name of this hydrangea?
FROM: 06/11/02 10:57 PM Central
FROM: Rita from Ma pdugal@bcn.net 06/11/02 8:18 PM Central
FROM: Rita from Ma pdugal@bcn.net 06/11/02 8:17 PM CentralI live in western Massachusetts. Last year I bought a nikko blue hydrangea from a green house. They told me it was a hardy plant. It was beautiful last year until late August when the leaves started turning black. I wastold that i had given it too much alum. For the winter my husband covered it with leaves and wrapped it with burlap. it started getting green foliage this year and then we gat a frost. I have been watching it and giving it Miracid and even though some of the branches look dead, when I scrape them they are green but there are no leaves on them. At the base of the plant I am getting green leaves. Is there hope for this plant? Why is the foliage coming from the bottom. I think I'll get that book at Barnes and Noble
FROM: Mary mjesman@scn1.com 06/11/02 2:52 PM CentralHi, I have a climbing hydrangia that was supposedly 8 years old when I bought it, I've had it for 4 years. When will it bloom? I live in zone 5, the soil is good and it has early morning sun until around 1 p.m.
FROM: DF MILLS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/10/02 5:50 PM CentralREGARDING GROWING HYDRANGEAS IN FULL SUN: HERE IN TIDEWATER VIRGINIA WHERE IT GETS PRETTY DARN HOT, THE ONLY HYDRANGEA THAT CAN HOLD UP IN FULL SUN IS THE WHITE ONE CALLED HYDRANGEA ARBORESCENS "ANNABELLE". IT'S FLOWERS ARE H*U*G*E , SNOW WHITE,FLORESCENCES....SOMETIMES THE SIZE OF A SOCCER BALL! THEY NEED TO BE CUT BACK TO THE GROUND EVERY WINTER, HOWEVER, AS THEY BLOOM BEST ON NEW GROWTH (UNLIKE MOST OF THE OTHER HYDRANGEAS WHICH NEED TO BE PRUNED VERY CAREFULLY AS THEY BLOOM ON OLDER GROWTH) SOME VARIETIES OF HYDRANGE QUERCIFOLIA CAN HANDLE LOTS OF SUN. MOST OF THE MACROPHYLLAS BURN UP (HERE IN VIRGINIA, ZONE 7-8) IF THEY DON'T HAVE AT LEAST A HALF A DAY OF SHADE. IN MY EXPERIECES OF GROWING HYDRANGEAS IN THE SOUTH, KEEPING THEM HYDRATED (FORGIVE THE PUN), IS THE SECRET TO THEIR SUCCESS. DEANE MILLS YORK COUNTY, VIRGINIA
FROM: 06/10/02 5:36 PM Central
FROM: s white snwhite5@austin.rr.com 06/10/02 10:29 AM CentralSomeone asked if hydrangeas could take full sun in Texas. I am just in my second year of growing these beauties...so take my advice with a grain of salt. No to full sun. In our heat, morning sun only. By midday sun the blooms can scorch. Evidently there is a white variety that can take more sun if anyone knows which that is.
FROM: Jim Miller jrjim711@aol.com 06/10/02 9:38 AM CentralI live in Maryland, zone 7, I think. I received an oak-leaf hydrangea and need some advice on planting, feeding, care, etc. Thanks!
FROM: Joanne JHubbardAL@aol.com 06/09/02 11:14 PM CentralI have now finished reading all the messages posted on this web site. Thanks for such a good site - Joanne
FROM: Jeanne JRKerby@cs.com 06/09/02 9:54 PM CentralWill Hydrangas survive in full sun. This Texas Sun seems to burn them.
FROM: Joanne 06/09/02 8:43 PM CentralI have a beautiful blue hydrangea bush with 54 blooms on it and would like to dry the blooms for bouquets. I have tried several different methods but nothing has worked for me. Can someone please tell me how to be successful in drying the blue hydrangea blooms? Also, a friend told me yesterday that I should not cut out the dead stalks. Is that true? Thanks - Joanne
FROM: Bill Pease william.pease@verizon.net 06/09/02 5:32 PM CentralAfter 6 or 7 years my climbing Hydrangea anomalis petiolaris (hope that is correct) is taking off in growth up my brick chimney. Unfortunately, it is also growing on my house's aluminum siding, which I think is a No No. Is there any trick of pruning that will allow me to restrict my plant's growth to my brick chimney and stop it from growing on my aluminum siding? I realize this is probably asking a lot. If not, am I correct in believing that my climbing hydrangea will harm my aluminum siding-- get under it & pry it off, etc? I will very much appreciate the benefit of any other grower's experience with this plant, pruning it, and aluminum siding.
FROM: COUNTRY GARDENS COUNTRY.GARDENS@COX.NET 06/08/02 10:45 PM CentralDOES ANYONE OUT THRE KNOW WHERE I CAN FIND A FAIRLY LARGE QUANTITY OF HYDRANGES "ALL SUMMER BEAUTY" AT A REASONABLE COST? I NEED 15-20 OF THEM N*O*W. THEY DO NOT NEED TO BE LARGE PLANTS....ONE GALLON SIZE IS FINE....AND I DO NOT WISH TO SPEND MORE THAN 10.00 A PIECE FOR THEM. EAST COAST SUPPLIER IS BEST AS THAT IS WHERE I AM. THANKS SO MUCH FOR ANY HELP ANYONE CAN OFFER.
FROM: Ricki Zummo Risk726@aol.com 06/08/02 7:17 PM CentralFor your wedding, if you order them through a florist they can get anything at anytime. If the hydrangeas are not in bloom in your area, you can bet they are in bloom in a hot house somewhere!
FROM: sjillwoods@aol.com 06/08/02 6:36 PM CentralI want to use hydrangea's in my wedding in September. I live in California's central valley. Will the plants still have blooms?
FROM: Dumbo 06/07/02 10:54 PM CentralDumbo here, and I want to explaine the last message. I have a some gardening experience and always think I should have more. Because everyone is getting on a bandwagon for something I think is misleading. For example, My neighbor (two weeks ago) and (he is 40)has lived in his home for at least ten years. Two weeks ago he was out spraying danidlions. I did not bother to ask what he was doing and he continued to spray every danidlion he could see. One week later I saw brown spots all over his yard. I couldn't think what the problem was because he was spraying so much and on my lot also. Someone had told him to use Roundup (a vegitation killer to kill danlions). I hope this can be related to my last note. Do we want many or single individuals to have problems. I believe of it is not in the test data of Universities it is a chance we might loose the things we like the most.
FROM: Dumbo 06/07/02 10:23 PM CentralSharon, what if 25 people have a different answer for the same question? What happens and if many use the incorrect answer might kills all the individuals who used their suggestion? I don't understand what the problem is???????
FROM: gplobo@aol.com 06/06/02 10:06 PM CentralI have a property in what i believe is zone 7a (new jersey) I am in a definite flood area and get high water frequently to the point that the streets flood with storm (sea) water and rain water. My hydrangeas often get covered with this water. However the sea water doesn't seem to affect the plants. I have a small plastic water pipe (1/4") connected to a timer that is connected to an outsede faucet. this plastic piping runs below the polyethelene that i have in the flower bed with stones on top, and is routed thru the garden. I drilled real small holes in the tubing at the location of each plant (about 1/32" hole). I have my timer set to water twice a day. once in the early am and once in the late pm. ALL of my hydrangeas are blooming and have been for the last two weeks. PLENTY of WATER is ONE of THE ANSWERS.
FROM: Sharon sharonroddy@yahoo.com 06/06/02 9:30 PM CentralI agree - it is very helpful when someone answers your question with a personal e-mail message, but the purpose of a message board is to post both questions and answers that everyone on the list can read so all benefit.
FROM: 06/06/02 9:28 PM Central
FROM: 06/06/02 6:36 PM CentralI agree....its too many emails...with questions...and very little answers... Maybe some of us can unsubscribe and just visit from time time...unless subscription is necessary for reading the message board...?
FROM: 06/06/02 6:34 PM Central
FROM: Connie Boyd millefailte@yahoo.com 06/06/02 6:18 PM CentralThis is a response in agreement with a message posted yesterday from priesen@aol. I too find it diffucult to see how this set up helps. While I have received a kind and hopefully helpful suggestion from one member, there are endless questions coming to my mailbox. Perhaps there is another format so we could see both the questions and suggestions made all at once, and be able to check out any that are pertinent to our personal problem.
FROM: Thomas Keys tkeys314@aol.com 06/06/02 2:58 PM CentralWhere can I purchase the best Hydrangeas for planting in middle Georgia (zone 8)
FROM: anthony antinous11@aol.com 06/05/02 7:58 AM CentralHi, I am doing a friend's wedding this weekend and have tried everything to keep my hydrangeas from wilting when I try to condition them after trimming (all purchased from the flower market in NYC). Finally found this site and hope someone can help. Thanks.
FROM: priesen priesen@aol.com 06/05/02 7:45 AM CentralI have asked this before but did not get a clear answer. Is there someway to see ALL the answers. Otherwise I feel this is not a very helpful board. All I see are questions. Is there something I am not finding?
FROM: 06/04/02 10:31 PM Central
FROM: Diana R Malin Malin255@msn.com 06/04/02 10:31 PM CentralI planted macrophiles Hydrangea about 5yrs ago, My husband pruned them when I was out of town, i did not kow that until the following yr. to my dismay I have not had a flower in 3 yrs. for the past 2yrs I have not let any one near my hydrangea garden of 20 plants, Please help when and how do I prune? I want my pride and joy back thank you all you girls and guy put your heads together and help Diana
FROM: Diana R Malin Malin255@msn.com 06/04/02 10:17 PM CentralI planted macrophiles Hydrangea about 5yrs ago, My husband pruned them when I was out of town, i did not kow that until the following yr. to my dismay I have not had a flower in 3 yrs. for the past 2yrs I have not let any one near my hydrangea garden of 20 plants, Please help when and how do I prune? I want my pride and joy back thank you all you girls and guy put your heads together and help Diana
FROM: Meg Murphey Murphey@gmi.net 06/04/02 8:22 PM Central
FROM: Meg Murphey Murphey@gmi.net 06/04/02 8:20 PM CentralHello - I have four, 1 year old, Nikko Blue Hydrangeas planted on the northeast side of my home, right on the border of zones 7 & 8. Each morning my Hydrangea blooms look great, but as soon as the morning sun heats up, all the blooms tend to flop out. The blooms stay flopped out the rest of the day and into the night, then sometime during the night, they form back into their normal shape. It is sunny in this location for half of the day. Are they getting too much sun? Is this the reason why they flop out? I love the plants in this location, but I am afraid I will have to move them. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
FROM: Bonnie bpcameron@mindspring.com 06/04/02 6:37 PM CentralI am trying to root some cuttings, but as of yet, there are no roots, but little leaves are starting at the first joint. The cutting itself looks totally "gone." Will there be roots? and at what point? Should I dip in rooting hormone and set in soil at this point? I have never had a cutting do this and wonder if this is the way a hydrangea does it. thanks
FROM: cara carakshops@aol.com 06/04/02 12:17 PM Centralif i would like to use hydrangias at my july 13, 2002 wedding on long island, can you tell me how they hold up in warm weather(wedding is outdoors at 9:00p.m.} and approximately what should i spend on these type of flower?
FROM: cara carakshops@aol.com 06/04/02 12:17 PM Centralif i would like to use hydrangias at my july 13, 2002 wedding on long island, can you tell me how they hold up in warm weather(wedding is outdoors at 9:00p.m.} and approximately what should i spend on these type of flower?
FROM: Kathy and 06/03/02 3:03 PM Central
FROM: Kathy and 06/03/02 3:03 PM Central
FROM: Donna peteypus@semo.net 06/03/02 9:38 AM CentralHello all! I'm new to hydrangeas and I have one small Nikko Bkue that I planted this spring. I'd like to learn all I can about them and what are the hardiest ones for a beginner. I live in SE Missouri, about 100 miles SE of St. Louis. I'd appreciate any info from anyone to help me get off on the right foot.
FROM: Rebecca Pfleger pfleger317@msn.com 06/02/02 7:43 PM CentralI have just purchased a "kaleidscope hydrangea". I am interested in finding out some more information regarding this type of hydrangea. I live in North Texas, and if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thank!
FROM: Jacquelyn jquem@juno.com 06/02/02 6:36 PM CentralMy new hydrangea bush was doing just fine until yesterday when I noticed that some of the leaves were turning black on the edges. Can anyone help?
FROM: April Petunia717@aol.com 06/02/02 6:16 PM CentralI recently purchased a hydrangea about 2 weeks ago,it started off fine but now the tips of the leaves are turing brown and curling up.Although it is blooming,it looks beautiful except for the leaf problem.Anyone that knows anything I can do please help.Thank You!
FROM: Rose Anne millefailte@yahoo.com 06/02/02 2:23 PM Central
FROM: Rose Anne millefailte@yahoo.com 06/02/02 2:23 PM CentralHello, I just planted two hydrangeas purchased from a reputable nursery here near the ocean in mid-New Jersey. Next door is a bank of spectacular hydrangeas that receive no special care but for pruning. Sigh. My first battle was an attack of aphids that got a good hold because I was away for several days. Spraying, and then a soap and water bath seemed to rescue the red one. But the one with white flowers surrounding a lavendar center still has problems. No aphids to be seen, but reddening, curling and wilting leaves. Blooms are coming along and there is new growth. Help please, they were fairly expensive but "locals".
FROM: Ruby Loehr r_loehr@msn.com 06/02/02 12:31 PM Centralam looking for informatio regarding planting, feeding and general care for lacecap hydrangias. Thank you ruby
FROM: Cheri ccorneil@hotmail.com 06/01/02 9:10 PM CentralI live in zone 8 and I have a Climbing Hydrangea that I planted 4 or 5 years ago. It is becoming established now, and has grown to about 10 ft. The problem I am having is something is chewing on the leaves. There are holes in the middle of some leaves and on others they eat from the edges in....Does anyone know what may be doing this? I haven't seen any bugs on it during the day, so it must be happening at night. Thanks for any help you are able to give. Cheri
FROM: Pete Smith cpsmith@conweb.com 06/01/02 2:27 PM CentralThe swap page should be operational now.
FROM: Kathi crabtfn@cox-internet.com 05/31/02 1:12 PM CentralHow old do hydrangeas need to be to start blooming? I have planted them in the spring of 2001 and have morning sun(till 12:30) then shade. The plants have grown to about 3 feet high and are very healthy, but no blooms. I am very dissappointed. We did have a late freeze, but everyone else hers in Arkansas has wonderful blooming hydrangeas. Also if they have not bloomed yet is there any chance they will later in the summer? Thanks any advice appreciated. Kathi
FROM: Kathi 05/31/02 1:11 PM Central
FROM: Kathi 05/31/02 1:10 PM CentralHow old do hydrangeas need to be to start blooming? I have planted them in the spring of 2001 and have morning sun(till 12:30) then shade. The plants have grown to about 3 feet high and are very healthy, but no blooms. I am very dissappointed. We did have a late freeze, but everyone else hers in Arkansas has wonderful blooming hydrangeas. Also if they have not bloomed yet is there any chance they will later in the summer? Thanks any advice appreciated. Kathi
FROM: Kathi crabtfn@cox-internet.com 05/31/02 1:07 PM CentralHow old do hydrangeas need to be to start blooming?
FROM: Janet janet@usahealthdirect.com 05/28/02 8:48 PM CentralI need Hydrangea macrophylla LEAF ONLY. I want organically grown as possible,no pesticide use on plant. Looking for someone to sell me dry or wet leaves only. This is for research. I WILL GLADLY PAY SHIPPING & what you feel is fair for collection. Janet in Phoenix, AZ
FROM: Maria mariolina1@aol.com 05/28/02 8:15 PM CentralRE: Nicko Blue. I have had the plant for three years. The first year it bloomed great and had lots of flowers. I pruned it that Fall but did not have any blooming at all last spring/summer -- and it doesn't look good this year. Leaves are brown at the edges and curling. Help!
FROM: 05/28/02 8:12 PM Central
FROM: Mary DeSanto desantm@mail-ope.stjohns.k12.fl.us 05/28/02 8:32 AM CentralI have 2 hydrangeas in pots by my front door. The leaves on one are brown at the edge and are curling up. Anyone know why they would do this? The are in morning sun and afternoon shade! Thanks!
FROM: Ingrid ingrid@nettally.com 05/27/02 4:00 PM CentralHow do I dry hydrangeas?
FROM: Mr. P 05/27/02 11:10 AM CentralKarin Counts kcounts@goeaston.ent There is something wrong with your Email address. I sent this note and it came back as not delivered. Just wanted to let you know. This is the first I have ever heard of a fungal problem. It could be a watering problem because Nikko Blues need moist soil and not wet soil. This results in about an inch of water a week to keep them moist. I would pull the mulch back so air can get to the root system. They need air also that people don't talk about much. If the leaves are really bad pull them off and one good leave and take it to your local University Extension center for evaluation. You can also call your local Junior colleges Biological Department and as them and even show them the leaves. It usually free information and probably help you solve your question. Please let me know what you find out.
FROM: Karin Counts kcounts@goeaston.ent 05/27/02 10:11 AM CentralI live in zone 7 and have new nikkos in a shady spot, well-watered, heavily mulched but there are mushroom-like fungi growing out of the mulch. The leaves of these new plants are bright green but twisted and puckered and there are few flower heads, although the plants have grown since being planted (they were small). Is this a fungus, a water problem, or what?
FROM: Charles Mayone chasmay1@aol.com 05/26/02 9:43 PM CentralI am thinking of buying a a climbing hydrangea in a 10 gal tub, setting it between my two garage doors & building a trellis up & over the doors. There is little if any direct sun & the plant costs $250 at a local nursery. Will this plant thrive in this environment & should I spend that much? My wife & I have several other thriving hydrangeas in our garden. Thanks for any help.
FROM: John Courtney J.L.Courtney@att.net 05/26/02 7:08 PM CentralWe purchased a house in east texas. on the north side were these hydrangeas that were dead looking so i cut them down to the ground. they came out this spring and look fine but, they did not bloom. will they ever bloom again?I DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND THEY ARE.
FROM: Priesen priesen@aol.com 05/26/02 9:45 AM CentralWhy do I see/ and recieve lots of questions but no answers. Is there somehwhere else I should be looking?
FROM: Trudy tcheney@neo.rr.com 05/26/02 9:10 AM CentralHi. We moved into a home with a hydrangea TREE. It looks like it's about 100 years old! The flowers are absolutely beautiful (ranging from white to deep rose...apparently depending on the weather) and quite profuse. This year I've noticed alot of dead branches...and I'm worried about the tree. Is it okay for me to prune the dead wood from the tree (which is about 12 feet tall)or will it hurt it? I'm a novice, but I adore this tree. Thanks for your help.
FROM: Marlene Weatherall jmw@bmts.com 05/26/02 7:14 AM CentralI live in Collingwood, Ontario, Zone 5. I have a climbing hydrangea that has never flowered. It's about 5 years old. Any suggestions?
FROM: sue jas08@earthlink.net 05/26/02 7:02 AM Centrali live in west palm beach and want to plant the pink hydrangas i received on mothers day. i think they go in the shade and partial sun, about 4 hours a day?
FROM: Alyce Jordan zone 11 alyce_jordan@hotmail.com 05/25/02 11:42 PM CentralDear Hydrangea Enthusiasts, Purchased a new book that has been very helpful.Title is "Hydrangeas" author Glyn Church ISBN 1-55209-521-5.It was on the shelf at Barnes & Noble for $16.95. The one thing it did not answer for me was do the climbing hydrangeas ever go to a color or are they all white? If their are any Hawaii hydrangea lovers out there at latitude 18 let's connect and share results. Thanks, Alyce
FROM: Sharon snwhite5@austin.rr.com 05/24/02 8:35 AM CentralI live in central Texas. I have three hydrangeas in pots. 1 Nikko which I have managed to get a lavender flower, 1 oak leaf and the other unknown pink. We have alkaline soil. This is second year and each has only 2 or 3 blooms. Otherwise very healthy??? What do they need? THank you
FROM: Rose Sofia Franco ROSESOFIAFRANCO@MSN.COM 05/23/02 7:59 PM CentralHELP!!! i LIVE IN CHICAGO AND I WANTO TO KNOW IF I CAN LEAVE MY ONE MONTH MOPHEAD HYDRANGEA IN IT'S POT. I DO NOT WANT TO PLANT MY HYDRANGEA OUTSIDE, SO IF I LEAVE IT IN THE POT HOW LONG WILL IT LIVE? THANKS.
FROM: Susanna kmatneyk@aol.com 05/23/02 2:53 PM CentralThank You to JonDeer4U! I appreciate your help. And so quickly too. I believe I need to move them, thanks for telling me how.
FROM: diane Vlasek edndiane@mitec.net 05/23/02 2:01 PM CentralI bought a Hydrangea from a flower shop and now want to plant it outside. I live in Omaha, NE. I want to do it right.
FROM: Mr. P 05/23/02 1:01 PM CentralTo Sue in Zone 5 Aluminum Sulfate will make your soil more acidic. Sounds like you have something more going on there than the acid soil.
FROM: Susanna kmatneyk@aol.com 05/23/02 0:26 AM CentralMy Hydrangeas are about two years old. I can't remember the exact types. I purchased them in gallon pots, they have never gotten any bigger than when I bought them and planted them. Each year they look as if they are burned up, they start out looking pretty good, with green leaves but by the end of summer they appear to be dying. Some get black spots on edge of leaves some don't. I have given them up for dead for two years, however, in the spring they come back out to about the size I bought them and then start the cycle all over. A couple even put on flowers but just won't get any bigger. I have been told to put miracid on them and I have. How long after the first application of miracid should I see improvement? I would like to put aluminum sulfate on them too but I don't want to overdo. I am not sure if the black spots are fungus, too much or little water, or to much hot sun. I live in the heart of Oklahoma(uppersouth zone). The plants face the south and seem to get the afternoon sun. A couple are shielded by a tree and they tend to do better. These are the ones that actually flower. I haven't a clue where to begin on the road to recovery, if that is even possible. I could replant them elsewhere if need be. If so, how do I do that? Where should they be? Am I getting ahead of myself? I tend to do that!(ha ha)HELP!!!
FROM: Sue 05/22/02 8:24 PM CentralI just received a hydrangea as a gift. It's supposed to be blue. I realize soil type changes colors a bit but the buds have turned an ugly brown. Leaves are healthy. Zone 5. I think my soil is somewhat acidic as I have a large pine tree nearby. How can I get the plant to bloom blue.
FROM: Jean Jeana919@aol.com 05/21/02 6:04 PM CentralI'm sure that this question has been asked before, but what can the reason be that some of my hydrangeas have no signs of blooms on them? Some of these hydrangeas did not bloom last year. They are healthy looking and are growing, but no blooming flowers on them.
FROM: Rosa carmen_bz@hotmail.com 05/20/02 11:37 PM CentralI live in Northern California is there any Nurserys where I can buy hydrangeas. I will be using it for my wedding. Also, Should I add any other flower to by center pieces besides the hydrangeas? And if so what flower or flowers would look nice with hydrangeas. Thank You
FROM: Lynn Mickels CalicoPOB@aol.com 05/20/02 11:20 AM CentralI bought a niko blue and a lace cap 2 years ago. Both have healthy leaves and seem to"bush" up real well,but no flower blooms. What do I need to do to make these bloom??
FROM: Lynn Mickels CalicoPOB@aol.com 05/20/02 11:20 AM CentralI bought a niko blue and a lace cap 2 years ago. Both have healthy leaves and seem to"bush" up real well,but no flower blooms. What do I need to do to make these bloom??
FROM: Myrna B. Adriano 05/20/02 2:46 AM CentralI saw my messages in my e-mail. When will you give the reply to my previous questions?
FROM: Myrna B. Adriano adrianomb@pnb.com.ph 05/20/02 1:57 AM CentralMy plant seem drying up. I live in the tropics,Philippines. Should I water my plan every day? The flowers & leaves are becoming smaller, tinier than when I planted it? What causes this?
FROM: Myrna B. Adriano adrianomb@pnb.com.ph 05/20/02 1:53 AM Central
FROM: Myrna B. Adriano adrianomb@pnb.com.ph 05/20/02 1:24 AM CentralHow do I eliminate the white flies that are killing my hydrangea plants? If I use Malathion what is the proper measurement per gallon of water. Thank you.
FROM: gilberte jillaub@hotmail.com 05/19/02 7:27 PM CentralFOR MOTHERS DAY I WAS GIVEN A HYDRANGEA [MATHILDA GUTGES], I LOVE THE COLOUR,IT IS IN AN 8" POT, MY QUESTION IS CAN IT BE TRANSFERED OUTSIDE IN MY FLOWER GARDEN? this is the first time i have seen this flower.
FROM: judi pierce sjpierce@psouth.net 05/19/02 5:52 PM Centrali have 2 year old climbing hydrangas, nver have seen any blooms. the canes are alive what kind of fertilization do the need and or special care
FROM: Linda Johnston jmom42@aol.com 05/19/02 11:27 AM CentralI received a hydrangea for Mother's Day & would like to plant it in the garden. I live in S.W. Colorado at an altitude of 6500 ft. I am not sure of the zone, possiby zone 6, Will this plant survive & grow in this climate? Thank you Linda Johnston
FROM: Mr. P 05/19/02 0:02 AM CentralClare Warder: Yes, the Nikko Blue plants bloom on old wood. Sometimes the stems above the ground are frozen off and you probably will not have blooms this year but if the leaves and grass has covered the base of the plant it is possible to have blooms this year. I have mophead plants and live in Zone 5. I am 150 miles west of Chicago and have blooms all the time but I have protected them from our nasty winters we have here. I would wait and see what will happen to your plant. If you scrap off some of the bark on the long stems to see if there is any green inside indicating life. If so don't cut it off and wait for 2 or 3 weeks to see what happens.
FROM: Clare Warder 05/18/02 10:52 PM CentralI live in Chgo zone 5A. Our landscaper planted Nikko Blue hydrangeas last Fall. As of this date, I see old wood that looks dead. BUT there is new growth coming up from underneath. Now I am told by our Botanic Garden that Nikko Blue is not appropriate for our zone. What now? Is it impossible to grow blue hydraneas in CHgo? I HAVE seen them. Also are Nikko Blue the type that bloom on old wood? Help! I went to the Message Board but cannot find the answers to the questions that seem related to mine? Can you direct me?
FROM: Clare Warder 05/18/02 10:52 PM CentralI live in Chgo zone 5A. Our landscaper planted Nikko Blue hydrangeas last Fall. As of this date, I see old wood that looks dead. BUT there is new growth coming up from underneath. Now I am told by our Botanic Garden that Nikko Blue is not appropriate for our zone. What now? Is it impossible to grow blue hydraneas in CHgo? I HAVE seen them. Also are Nikko Blue the type that bloom on old wood? Help! I went to the Message Board but cannot find the answers to the questions that seem related to mine? Can you direct me?
FROM: Robin M. j.mclaughlinjr@att.net 05/18/02 2:28 PM CentralSorry I posted an incorrect email address, so here I go again. I live in central/north NJ and planted 18 Nikko Blue bushes last year (partial sun). They had beautiful leaves last summer and grew remarkably, but no flowers. This year, the leaves are coming back on most, but not all bushes. Some bushes have a lot of branches with no leaves -- just bare. I'm concerned because we had a warm winter -- early spring, then a touch of frost. The leaves were growing well in early spring, and after frost many leaves withered up/"died" on branch. Anything I can do to help? Thanks!
FROM: m.s. mschmidt@tradenet.net 05/18/02 8:43 AM CentralI planted a pee gee hydrangea last fall (in SE Pennsylvania). This spring, there are no signs of any green tissue growing from the "canes" where the flowers and leaves should be emerging from, but there are green leaves sprouting from the base of the trunk, just above ground level. What should I do???
FROM: Mr. P 05/17/02 8:32 PM CentralWarning to all Hydrangea lovers in the mid west. I have watched the weather channel and it seems tonight and the next two or three are going to be near freezing. I have covered my plants (45) and hope the frost does not kill the blooms. Hope you do the same.
FROM: deborah brewer dbrh801@AOL.COM 05/17/02 5:20 PM CentralPEEGEE HYDRANGIAS, LOCATION, SOIL PREP, PRUNING, AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION. i live in zone 5
FROM: deborah brewer dbrh801@AOL.COM 05/17/02 5:18 PM Centralinformation on peegee hydrangias, location,soil prep, pruning, and care information.
FROM: joe beacham joebeacham645@hotmail.com 05/16/02 5:26 PM Centralany idea where to purchase yellow hydrangias? Thanks, Joe
FROM: joe beacham joebeacham645@hotmail.com 05/16/02 5:25 PM Centralany idea where to purchase yellow hydrangias?
FROM: Tim Goodin goodin@brtc.net 05/16/02 3:41 PM CentralI could not get the swap page to work so here is my list if anyone is interested. Some of these are very small but I would consider starting some cuttings to swap for hydrangeas I do not have. Email me if interested. Hydrangea macrophylla Domotoi Hydrangea paniculata Pink Diamond Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle Hydrangea macrophylla Goliath Hydrangea macrophylla Masja Hydrangea macrophylla Glowing Embers Hydrangea macrophylla Pink Beauty Hydrangea macrophylla Merritt Supreme Hydrangea paniculata Grandiflora Hydrangea serrata Preziosa Hydrangea macrophylla Mariesii verigated Hydrangea macrophylla Niko Blue Hydrangea macrophylla Ayesha Tim goodin@brtc.net
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 05/16/02 2:37 PM Centralto Joyce, you were asking about your snowball, and the fact it has not foliated to the end of its branches. I would have to assume it is an Annabelle. This ahould of been pruned in late To Joyce who is experiencing difficulty with a "snowball hydrangea" I would assume that this is a Annabelle, and this should of been pruned to within 9 to 12 inches of the ground in late February or early March. This would give you flowers almost ten to twelve inches in diameter. Since you didnt do that just trim off the tops where the foliation stopped. You will get good blooms but not as big
FROM: Ann Soady annsoady@yahoo.com 05/16/02 12:43 PM CentralHi, I live in Los Angeles, CA and grow my hydrangeas in pots. I have been reasonably successful with pruning and keeping them alive, but just noticed a withering of the leaves. I have looked in books and found descriptions of different types of diseases and viruses that can effect the plants, but no pictures. The leaves look burned and some are even white along the edges and then curl up. HELP!!!
FROM: P priesen@aol.com 05/16/02 9:34 AM CentralI have 3 year old nikko blues. Live in Cnetral NJ. Last year had abundant blooms. This year they all appear dead. Only one has some leaves. We had a mild winter, dry. Any clue??
FROM: Mark markg00001@msn.com 05/16/02 0:24 AM CentralIf anyone is in northern Virginia/metro D.C., email me directly. I am interested in trading varieties as well as other perennials.
FROM: Joyce joyjam27@yahoo.com 05/16/02 0:13 AM CentralWhere in central alabama do you live Pete. I live in Tuscaloosa. I have been trying to find a variety of hydrangeas to look at before I bought any but there aren't that many places here in alabama. Do you know of any. Thanks
FROM: Joyce joyjam27@yahoo.com 05/16/02 0:06 AM CentralI also asked about the Tory picture and wanted to know what was the name of it but I never got a response. Thanks
FROM: Joyce joyjam27@yahoo.com 05/15/02 11:59 PM CentralI also asked about the Tory picture and wanted to know what was the name of it but I never got a response. Thanks
FROM: lag lagarfias@aol.com 05/15/02 3:09 PM CentralI received a beautiful white, potted hydrangea for Mother's Day. I have no idea what kind of hydrangea it is (I did not even know there were different kinds until I found this web-site!) or how to properly care for it. I love it, though, and would like to see it live beyond next Mother's day!!! ha ha! I live in an apartment, so I repotted it with some kind of potting soil and a clay pot the day I received it. I am watering it every morning until water comes out the bottom of the pot (I think that means stop), and the pot "sweats" water all day; my land-lord's carpet is damp. Any information or comments on my ignorance would be greatly appreciated. But bear in mind, I have never had a house plant before! But I do have 2 children I also water daily. Thanks!
FROM: 05/15/02 0:14 AM Central
FROM: missnancy2000@al.com missnancy2000@aol.com 05/14/02 11:57 PM CentralI recieved a hydrangea plant for mothers day and have no idea what to do with it. It is one of the most beautiful flowers I've seen. I live at Nocona Lake in north Texas near the Tex/Okla./RedRiver border. Zone 7b. I would like to try and grow this flower outside. My property is mostly postoak shaded, waterfront, sandyloam. I've had very little luck with flowers here due to the shade and sand. Can anyone help me identify the flower or does it matter what kind of hydrangea (as far as growing tips/location/sun)? Can I leave it out all winter? Should I put it in the ground now? Or pot it? It is in an 8 in pot from the florist right now and I think I should at least get a real pot for it. It has bluish purple round shaped clusters, dark leaves kinda like the one in the pic in the corner of this message board web page. I don't believe I've seen anything like this growing in this area, so I wonder if I should even try? Is it too hot in Texas for hydrangea? help!
FROM: Maxine Allegret allegret@attbi.com 05/14/02 2:46 PM CentralI am searching for Blue Billows Hydrangea in the Atlanta area. Does anyone know where I can find them?
FROM: Merry DeGuire merrydeguire@aol.com 05/14/02 1:36 PM CentralCould you tell me if hydrangea's will grow well in the Dallas/Ft.Worth Texas area? Also, I saw the most beautiful hydrangea's in Woodstock, Vermont ...the PG variety. Will that grow in my area> Regards, Merry
FROM: stephanie stephkarner@yahoo.com 05/14/02 1:35 PM CentralHi Can you please tell me the species of Tory's picture posted in the Gallery and if it's hardy in zone 4 ? thanks
FROM: stephanie stephkarner@yahoo.com 05/14/02 12:56 PM CentralHi Can you please tell me the species of Tory's picture posted in the Gallery and if it's hardy in zone 4 ? thanks
FROM: Jennifer wordenj@pathwaynet.com 05/14/02 12:35 PM CentralHello! I was at my local greenhouse where I have purchased all my Hydrangias. I found a new one I had never heard of before. It simply read on the tag: Orange Hydrangia. It is a mob head hydrangia, but I have never heard of an orange one. Does anyone out there have one or know much about it? Jennifer in Michigan
FROM: Mary DeSanto desantm@mail-ope.stjohns.k12.fl.us 05/14/02 10:32 AM CentralI have 2 hydrangeas in pots on my front porch. I believe they are mopheads. I would like to plant them but have no shade in the yard. Our house faces east and our back yard backs up to wetlands. We do have 2 very small trees in our front yard but I'm not sure if it is enough shade. Any ideas? Thanks! (I live in Florida)
FROM: HG hg747@siliconinvestor.com 05/14/02 0:26 AM CentralI would like to keep my white hydrangea white....in the past they tend to have changed colors when put in the ground....is any soil amendment or anything else i can do to ensure the white blooms ? Regards and TIA.
FROM: Robin M. j.mclaughlinjr@att.com 05/13/02 7:32 PM CentralI live in central/north NJ and planted 18 Nikko Blue bushes last year (partial sun). They had beautiful leaves last summer and grew remarkably, but no flowers. This year, the leaves are coming back on most, but not all bushes. Some bushes have a lot of branches with no leaves -- just bare. I'm concerned because we had a warm winter -- early spring, then a touch of frost. The leaves were growing well in early spring, and after frost many leaves withered up/"died" on branch. Anything I can do to help? Thanks!
FROM: Dolly Gumma227@aol.com 05/13/02 8:45 AM CentralHello everyone, this is my first visit, what a great, easy site! I live in zone 5,Detroit Michigan. Last year my favorite nursury had a great sale on hydrangeas$2.99 a gal.So i went nuts and bought quit afew! I have never grown them before so I am wondering if someone can reassure me if I did the right things. I planted them on the west side of my house,creating a courtyard under a 100 year old maple tree,they get some filtered sun-lite in the late afternoon.We have sandy soil so I planted them in a mix of composted manure,peat and a half a handful of 10-10-10.I am wondering if I should work in more composted manure and what type of fertilizer should I use? Oh last year I fed them muracid every once in a while, someone said to water them w/ muracid every 2 weeks, is that too much?They are under planted w/hostas and primrose.Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated as my love of hydrangeas heightens! Thank you all and happy growing!!! God bless.
FROM: DEB WINTERS TEAMWINTRS@AOL.COM 05/12/02 6:03 PM CentralI WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A HYDRANGEA GARDEN I NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO PLANT IN MY YARD AND HOW TO CARE FOR IT THIS ONE IS A MERRITT'S SUPREME, BUT I HOPE TO HAVE ALL TYPES I LIVE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA IT IS JUST ONE STEM ......APPROX. 1 1/2' TALL
FROM: Joyce JLLJ@optonline.net 05/12/02 5:34 PM CentralI live in zone 6. My 4 year old snowball has a problem this spring. Many of the stems did not get leaves. Are these stems dead? Why did this happen? Should I cut them off? The other stems have leaves and flower buds. It gets about 3 hours of AM sun a day. This was a pretty warm winter. Thanks for your help!
FROM: Kelley Bizeeymom@aol.com 05/12/02 2:57 PM CentralHello All, I am new here and in fact new to gardening. I received a hydrangea plant for mothers day today and have no idea what to do with it. It was purchased from my daughters at our grocery store and the tag only reads "hydrangea" not a type. It is in a pot and it looks to be blue/purplish and about a foot tall. It is looking really droopy too! Do I put this in the ground? In sun or shade? And how big will this get? Thanks so much. Oh yes, do I deadhead the droopy flowers?
FROM: John Law john@lifeupnorth.com 05/12/02 10:56 AM CentralDoes anyone have some seeds they would be willing to share or sell?
FROM: Sandra Najjar snajjar@mindspring.com 05/11/02 7:58 PM Central
FROM: Sandra Najjar snajjar@mindspring.com 05/11/02 7:58 PM CentralI have the regular hydrangeas and the snow balls, and also pee-gee hydrangeas.They have to be cut back due to space and snake problems.When can I cut them and maybe move a few. They are so messy the way they are but because of snakes I have to cut them back.
FROM: Sharon sharonroddy@yahoo.com 05/10/02 10:45 PM CentralTo make hydrangea blooms blue, use aluminum sulfate. Use one level tablespoon per each foot of plant height and scatter the aluminum sulfate around the base of the plant and water thoroughly. Start in January or February and apply the aluminum sulfate at 4 to 6 week intervals until the flowers have formed. I started late this year (probably in March or April) and I can see that it has still worked - the blooms are just beginning to open and they are blue. I live where the soil is very alkaline, and the aluminum sulfate works great.
FROM: 05/10/02 10:38 PM Central
FROM: Rex Ritax2@aol.com 05/10/02 9:24 PM CentralI bought some Aluminum Hydroxide soil additive today for my hydrangea...I am hoping that this will make the soil acidic and help her blooms turn blue...any thoughts on this?
FROM: Rex Ritax2@aol.com 05/10/02 9:21 PM CentralMr. P. this is my corrected email address...i left out the "2" i'd appreciate your input.
FROM: Mr. P 05/10/02 9:23 AM CentralTo Ritax@aol.com I tried to send you information and the system has a problem with sending info to you.
FROM: 05/10/02 6:31 AM Central
FROM: Rex Ritax@aol.com 05/10/02 2:01 AM CentralI helped a friend of mine, Amy Cocca, plant 2 hydrangeas in her back yard. One is a Pee Gee, and the other is a Nikko Blue. They are both doing well...and she calls them "the twins" they are her babies and she nurtures the heck out of them. She is concerned because has had conflicting words of advice from the people at the garden center, the information tag on the plant, and several web sites on the internet. The information about the light requirements conflict with each resource. How much light do they need? can anyone help her?
FROM: HT htmkaiser@netzero.net 05/09/02 0:52 AM CentralI bought 2 mac. hydrangea plants (don't remember the name)from Home Depot last year. They're supposed to be mopheads but turned into lacecap blooms. What did I do wrong? I'm in Zone 5b/6a and planted them part shade. I altered the soil with commercial topsoil. Please advise.
FROM: Mr. P 05/07/02 10:21 PM CentralKaren: If you want some Info then you must include your Email address.
FROM: Karen 05/06/02 2:44 PM CentralMyself being a novice, this is a great site, however - where are the answers to everyone's questions. The answers sure would be helpful
FROM: 05/05/02 7:38 AM Central
FROM: Rex RITAX2@aol.com 05/04/02 11:37 PM CentralI just bought a hydrangea today from my local garden store...it is called "goliath" I live in a condominium and have a rather small balcony about 5'x 10'. I was told that hydrangeas grow well in containers...I was wondering if that is indeed true and if there is anything that I have to do differently regarding the care for my new plant. I welcome and would appreciate anyones advice about this. thanks!
FROM: Carolyn veiled101@aol.com 05/04/02 2:09 PM CentralMy daughter is getting married on 6/15 and would like to use fresh blue hydrangeas in her wedding. Can you tell me what the availability would be at that time of year? We live in Wichita Falls, Texas. I NEED HELP!!!
FROM: Vicki vahelms@webtv.net 05/04/02 4:15 AM CentralI Love and have almost 70 hydranga plants in my yard...does anyone know where I can get a throw with hydrangas or a catalog with throws in it?...Thank you so very much...
FROM: Vicki vahelms@webtv.net 05/04/02 4:13 AM CentralI Love and have almost 70 hydranga plants in my yard...does anyone know where I can get a throw with hydrangas or a catalog with throws in it?...Thank you so very much...
FROM: Karen Tappon moomanwife@aol.com 05/03/02 10:47 PM CentralA friend has a beautiful French hydrangea. How do I get a clipping and start it? Thanks so much for any help you can give me. I live in Washington State.
FROM: Chris clopez57@yahoo.com 05/03/02 12:35 PM CentralI bought the most beautiful lavender bluish color lacecap from Rite Aid last night for $10.00. I have never seen such huge flowers; they must be at least 2". This seems to be a well established plant as there is plenty of woody growth and the stems are quite large and sturdy. As this was in the indoor garden section, I left brought inside last night and placed it in a window where it will get filtered light. Can I continue to keep this plant indoors? It really is majestic and certainly want to keep it that way.
FROM: Joyce James joyjam27@yahoo.com 05/02/02 11:52 PM CentralI looked at the gallery of pics, what kind of hydrangea is the one that was submitted by Tory, deep violet in color. Also, a friend of mine is giving me two hydrangeas, not sure what kind, they have been rooted. Should I go ahead and plant them in the ground or leave them in pots for a while. Thanks, Joyce James
FROM: Kathy and Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 05/02/02 2:15 PM Centralto Julie in southeast Iowa, your best bet for southeast Iowa are probably... Annabelle,all or the Panniculata varieties(pink diamond,unique,grandiflora,tardiva etc.) and Oak leaf. Remember that annabelle and the paniculatas bloom on new growth and the Oak Leaf blooms on last years growth.
FROM: Bruno Albanesi brusi@aol.com 05/02/02 1:19 PM CentralHi, I have a large 7'+ tree type bush and it has red flowers with a touch of yellow pollen stems on the inside. The nursery tag is broken and I can only read ....rangea .....erveille. I would like to know 1)if indeed it is a hydrangea (it does not look like the classic hydrangeas I know) and 2) if it is, what does the '....erveille' stand for. Thanks to anyone who can answer. Bruno
FROM: June Knox jknox@bayou.com 05/01/02 9:10 PM Central
FROM: June Knox jknox@bayou.com 05/01/02 9:10 PM CentralWhat type of fertilizer do I need to use on my hydranga's and how often? Also, what do I use to change the color? I would love to have beautiful blue hydranga's but often end up with a lilac color in with blue.
FROM: Janie Hagmann Janiehagmann@aol.com 05/01/02 8:24 AM CentralI recently purchased 4 dry root hydrangeas, niko blue, how many years until they bloom?
FROM: Teri gldnfily@msn.com 04/30/02 5:26 PM CentralI live in WA, I am interested in changing the color of my hydranga bushes I have heard a few different ideas. Also what is the best time of the year to cut for drying? If anyone has had success I would appreciate the help.
FROM: Mary desantm@mail-ope.stjohns.k12.fl.us 04/29/02 9:53 AM CentralI love in Jacksonville, Florida. It is of course very hot and humid here. I bought 3 hydrangeas, not knowing anything about them(bad idea) but loving their beauty. I have them in pots on my covered front porch. The blooms on 2 are dying and I asked a neighbor landscaper whether to cut them off. He said yes so I tried it on 1. Was this a mistake? The leaves are wilting and it doesn't look good. I didn't cut the others. Can I bring it back? How can I get them to bloom again? Help!!!
FROM: Mr. P 04/28/02 9:37 PM CentralWendy Condon If you do not hear from anyone I hope I can help you. Mr. P Jondeer4u@aol.com
FROM: Wendy Condon 04/28/02 6:43 PM CentralThree summers ago I bought 3 climbing hydrangea from a local K-Mart. I planted them next to columns to an arbor hoping that in afew years they would climb upward with multitudes of flowers. I don't remember the name of the variety and was wondering how many different types of climbing hydrangeas there are? I have not yet seen one flower and it doesn't look like anything is developing for this year either. Is there a special food I can give them? We live in northern NJ. Any info is greatly appreciated.
FROM: jan bfreesynergy@aol.com 04/28/02 12:39 PM Centralhow do you grow hydrangea from cuttings or root fr cutting i took a cutting fr a climhing hydrangea anomala petiolaris in north ga atlanta i live jacksonville fla got back here yesterday
FROM: Ann m888ann@aol.com 04/28/02 8:21 AM CentralI have justbought a hydrangea with blue petals edged with greem -threre is a tinge of pink at the centre. How can I keep it like it and what is it called? I live in the south-east of England,near the coast.
FROM: Julie gleason@kdsi.net 04/27/02 11:10 PM CentralI want to plant hydrangeas in southeast Iowa. What would be a good kind to start with in this area. I am partial to the blue French hydrangeas.
FROM: 04/27/02 11:09 PM Central
FROM: Stephanie emeraldblue70@yahoo.com 04/26/02 11:39 PM CentralHas anyone heard of "Red Star" hydrangea? I have checked every hydrangea site online and there is nothing about this variety. I bought two plants last week at Lowe's and the tag did not say much in terms of the color they are. Since they were among the healthiest plants there, they were too nice to pass up. I hope they are a red or crimson but it is still asurprise to me.
FROM: Janiehagmann@aol.com 04/25/02 3:14 PM Central
FROM: Rosemarie rgoldbeck1@charter.net 04/25/02 7:07 AM CentralTo aestevens1@juno.com. www.driedhydrangea.com sells fresh, air dried and freeze dried Hydrangea's. They are located in Oregon.
FROM: Dana wrightpaws@cs.com 04/25/02 0:59 AM CentralI purchased a Nikko Blue Hydrangea a week ago at Home Depot. I planted it right away and today I noticed it is starting to bloom. The buds are kind of pink and white in color. Is this normal? Will the color change to blue as they get bigger or was the sticker on the container wrong when I bought it? Thanks for your time
FROM: Lori Lpeterman@celinaisd.com 04/24/02 10:28 AM CentralI recieved a beautiful hydrangea for Secretarys Day. I think by looking at the pictures on this site it is the "mophead variety". I live in NE Texas in zone 7B. The soil here is sort of "clayey". I have no idea what to do with this lovely plant! Help!
FROM: Rosemarie rgoldbeck1@charter.net 04/24/02 6:59 AM CentralHi, I do hope someone can help me with this. I'm right out of the St. Louis area & I ordered a 3 yr old Annabelle Hydrangea plant from a Nursery in Oregon. It looked very healthy when it arrived and I planted it in a pot till it was safe from any frosts. I would sit it out during the day and bring it in at night. It really took off and had all kinds of new growth but now all of a suden the leaves are are going limp and then dry up and die.I see no bugs or webs on it. I sprayed it with water with a little soap in it and now it looks worse than ever. I do have ants out in the yard and though I don't see any is it possible that thet would have got done into the dirt. Would anyone have an idea of how I can salvage this plant?
FROM: Jen jendhuey@yahoo.com 04/23/02 11:35 PM CentralI just bought what I believe is a blue mophead? hydrangea on Sunday. It has 5 large blooms on it and was sold in a 1gal (I believe-forgive me as this is my first ever "garden experience.") My husband and I planted it in a large clay pot using "Miracle Grow Gardeners Potting Soil". We also planted 2 small labillias and verigated ivy's at it's base to cascade over the edge of the pot. The pot is placed in a mostly shaded area of our front porch, it gets little sun. We forgot to water it immediately (duh!) and therefore watered it Monday evening. It looked fine on Monday. When I went out to look at it today, most of the petals on the once beautiful blooms had fallen off and the plant looked terribly wilted. What did we do wrong? Can it be saved? Will it bloom again?
FROM: Ricki Zummo Risk726@aol.com 04/22/02 9:18 PM Central> My daughter had them at her wedding . They were the centerpieces the > bridesmaids as well as the bride carried them as their bouquets. As the > mother of the bride I can tell you they were very expensive. We had the > wedding in PA and the florist had to get them from somewhere. The price she quoted sounded reasonable but the final bill escalated immensley. > > I must say that even though they were pricey they were beautiful and I would do it again, but all my girls are married now. > > Good Luck! > > Risk726 >
FROM: Amy Stevens aestevens1@juno.com 04/22/02 5:10 PM CentralI am interested in using Hydrangeas for my wedding which is June 15th. We have some in our yard but will need more any suggestions for reasonably priced blue hydranages I live in the Sacramento, CA area.
FROM: David DavidB2436@aol.ccom 04/20/02 9:25 PM Central
FROM: Tom and Kathy Shaw clement@accessus.net 04/19/02 9:56 PM CentralTo Julianne in St. Louis, my wife and I are long time residents of the St. Louis area and moved to the Defiance New Melle area seven years ago. We are now in zone 5, and there is a definate difference between here and Chesterfield (temperature) were we formally lived. We have brutal winds, and no high canopy. Our best here are Annabelle, Petiolaris(climbing) oak leaf, and the Paniculata varieties For color we see best results for all summer beauty, forever pink. We are now experiamenting with Dooley, merrits supreme,presocia, and a lace cap called cereulia lace. Weve not seen many successful lace caps in this ared. In ou office we have accumulated a mailing list of over loo friends that we send a hydrangea letter to quarterly. We recently met one of the best local authorities on hydrangeas Ms Mary Ann Fink. She does a lot of gardening lectures and is on the staff at the Mo. Botanical Gardens. She also runs a tour at the Wine Country Gardens nursery at 8:30 A.M. the first saturday of each month. Growing hydrangeas can be a problem here but you will have much better luck on your side of the river..Tom Shaw. E.mail is clement@accessus.net
FROM: Julianne ricepad7@gtw.net 04/19/02 9:16 AM CentralI live in the St. Louis area (zone 6a) and would like to plant some hydrangeas in my yard, specifically the lace cap and climbing varieties. When is the best time to plant, and do the lace cap hydrangeas need more sun than shade? Also, is it necessary to prepare the soil in some way? Thanks :-)
FROM: Joan Lovelace Ocean1245@aol.com 04/18/02 1:31 PM CentralI need information regarding the care of hydrangeas in zone 10a, since we have hardly any change of seasons.I just planted two (from grocery)using MIRACID, but am wondering what effect this year- round heat is going to have on them. Thanks
FROM: Majella janobarn@aol.com 04/18/02 12:28 PM CentralI have 3, 10 year+ mop head hydrangeas that are way too large for their spots in my garden. Can they be transplanted? Divided? B/c they are so large, I did prune 2 back (oops!) 1 is in mostly shade, 1 in morning sun, and 1 in part shade. I live in NW OH.
FROM: robbie talley robbietalley@hotmail.com 04/18/02 11:37 AM Centrali have the same question as shelly meade on 4.10.02. please help!
FROM: Joyce Joyjam27@yahoo.com 04/17/02 11:49 PM CentralI was wondering if anyone was near Tuscaloosa, AL I haven't bought any hydrangeas yet, I just wasn't sure to look to find the best variety. I checked Lowes and Home Depot here but they didn't really have any. I thought I would proably have to go to Birmingham to find a good selection. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks
FROM: Mr. P 04/17/02 12:49 PM CentralWanda Email me and I can add some information. Mr. P Jondeer4u@aol.com
FROM: Wanda 04/15/02 1:52 PM CentralCan you go hydrangeas in part sun. I put two in and they get a little afternoon sun. I put cypress mulch all around the base to keep the soil moist. Is that o.k.?
FROM: Rosemarie rgoldbeck1@charter.net 04/11/02 5:31 AM CentralLike Sharon, I too have had a bush that gave me beautiful mopheads 2 years ago and last year they turned out to be lacecaps. Where do I find the answers to all the interesting questions that people put on this message board.
FROM: Sharon sharonroddy@yahoo.com 04/10/02 10:39 PM CentralI have several hydrangea plants (I think they are hydrangea macrophylla) that started out with mophead blooms when I first got them. Now, they produce lacecap blooms, instead. Is there a way to get them to produce mophead blooms again, instead? Also, does anyone know what made them switch?
FROM: Shelli Meade rmeade@radford.edu 04/10/02 10:49 AM CentralMy grandmother's blue hydrangeas, according to family legend, originated in her mother's yard in Washington, D.C., moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and moved again to Kensington, Maryland. I do not know what kind of hydrangea they are, only that the flowers are purple/blue, sometimes with a pinkish tint. After grandmother passed, grandfather was threatening to cut them down, so I dug up a couple of canes with a large part of root attached, wrapped them in wet newspaper, and drove them home to Christiansburg, Virginia. The entire above ground portion (about two/three canes) died. But, miraculously, I have seen a bit of green poking up from the woody section just above the ground. What do I do? How can I help this plant flourish?
FROM: Mary Kemp mlkemp@bellsouth.net 04/08/02 9:07 PM CentralI moved into a home that has several hydrangeas and they are huge and have beautiful foilage, but I only had one bloom last summer. Why are they not blooming? Do I need to add something special to the soil or can I prune them this spring? I love hydrangeas, and I want to see them bloom. Please help me.
FROM: Vicky 04/08/02 7:34 AM CentralAlyce, Please do not use poisons on your hydrangeas or anything else you grow. It is so damaging to the environment! Water them and care for them and hope for the best.
FROM: Alyce Jordan alyce_jordan@hotmail.com 04/07/02 7:54 PM CentralHello, Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide. I have recently dug about thirty blue Nikko from my Western Pa garden cut them back savagely for mailing and have received them in my new permanent home on St. John in the USVI a switch from zone 5 to zone 11.Many questions of Hawaii gardenes. Any special fungal or insect protection. I spray regularly here with Malathion and Immunex. What amount of sun can Hydrangeas take at our latitude of 18 degrees? Should I test for ph or wait and see? Are blooms in our region also based on time of year? Do they need bloom booster. Do I need to provide a cool period for them/ Thanks, Alyce
FROM: Mr. P 04/07/02 12:24 PM CentralFaina, I can answer both of your questions. Please send me a note at Jondeer4u@aol.com
FROM: JC chasej8@aol.com 04/07/02 8:05 AM CentralLast fall we planted several oakleaf hydrangea. Do we prune now (spring) or do we wait until fall?
FROM: faina 04/06/02 2:35 PM CentralIs Nikko Blue a good choice for Chicago area? I am getting different answers from different catalogs. But what confuses me the most that I already have 3 bushes for about 4 years, they are on the shady side of the house and even though they are not big, they look good and blooming all the time. However instructions said that they will not survive tempurature below 15 F, but we have -25F sometimes. Any thoghts? Also what about annabelle type? whill that be a good choice for chicago? Thanks
FROM: vicky barnes 04/06/02 7:49 AM CentralRoberta, The answer to pruning your hydrangeas is "it depends". If you want to clean them up and get ready for spring, just take off the spent flowers from last year. If, however, you want to thin your plant, you can remove stems at the ground. That can be done now. If you want to shape your plant, by cutting it back, it should be done after it blooms this summer because it may cut off the flower buds. This all depends on whether it is a macrophylla hydrangea like the Nikko Blue varieties seen all over the Cape. If it is a native - arborescens variety, or paniculata, like the Pee Gee's also seen here, it can be cut back close to the ground, because they bloom on new growth each year. There are a couple of good books on hydrangeas that you can get at local bookstores. And the websites you can find on the internet are quite good to read if you love hydrangeas. I live on the Cape. Call if you want to talk about hydrangeas 548-0521. Vicky
FROM: Susanne Briggs sebriggs1@msn.com 04/05/02 9:20 PM CentralHello Hydrangea lovers...I purchased some aluminum sulfate to give to my hydrangeas to produce blue flowers. I can't find out how often I have to give the plants the sulfate. Does anyone know? Do I do it once in the early spring? I appreciate any information you can give me. Thank you
FROM: Chris clopez57@yahoo.com 04/05/02 4:03 PM CentralHi, I'm new to this list. Anyone got any ideas or suggestions for growing these beauties both indoors and out in Sacramento, CA? I live in an apartment and purchased two without blooms to palce on my patio and several with blooms in my house. Sacramento is Zone 9 and I'm hoping beyond hope this will do well. My only experience was with the HUGE blue plant that mom had in her front yard about 40 years ago. She could make rocks grow this bush was spectacular. That was also in a different climate in California where it didn't get quite as hot as here in Sac. Thanks in advance.
FROM: Jeri Jeri255@aol.com 04/03/02 8:04 PM CentralI'd like to plant climbing and annabele hydrangea in my yard. The yard is shade to bright shade in Northern VA (zone 7).Its full of VA scrub pines and hollies. Will climbing or mophead hydrangea grow well under tall pines? THere are 3 large silver maples also. How will they do under the maples also.
FROM: Anita Jennings auburnannie@hotmail.com 04/03/02 10:58 AM CentralLinda, Last winter i bought my first Hydrangea (It had one flower). I replanted it, and am proud to say that it is doing very well. There are numerous Blooms!!!! The variety that i have, is a light green. Can someone tell me how to change color? I also wish to know the best type of fertilizer to use.
FROM: Linda DeJong Linda_DeJong@msn.com 04/03/02 8:57 AM Central
FROM: Linda DeJong Linda_DeJong@msn.com 04/03/02 8:57 AM CentralI am a relatively new gardner wanna-be with a passion for hydrangeas. Have seen one called (will spell phonetically as I haven't a clue) "Key-oo-shu". Any info will be welcome. I am in zone 5.
FROM: Linda DeJong Linda_DeJong@msn.com 04/03/02 8:56 AM CentralI am a relatively new gardner wanna-be with a passion for hydrangeas. Have seen one called (will spell phonetically as I haven't a clue) "Key-oo-shu". Any info will be welcome.
FROM: Roberta roberta.anslow@sun.com 04/02/02 4:14 PM CentralWe live on Cape Cod, MA. How and when do you prune back Hydrangeas?
FROM: Candy Wolf buzzleon3@aol.com 03/31/02 10:25 PM CentralI would like to find a "Jermyns Lace" hydrangea. Does anyone have any ideas for me. Thank you. Candy
FROM: Kimosmommy balotin1@cox.net 03/31/02 12:54 PM CentralMr. P. Sorry for not putting in my email address. The plant is not doing well at all. The ground is soft and I could plant it outside but in Southern New England it is still cold, not today of course. What can I do to make sure the white hydrangia lives till it can be planted?
FROM: Martha Santos isantos2@yahoo.com 03/26/02 1:49 PM CentralPlease help. I was given a potted hydreange over Christmas, flowers lasted a little under a month (3 flower head -2 blue 1 pink). I live in an apartment and have a balcony facing west (live in zone 11+) but after flowers died placed my plant protected by big ferns so it would not get direct hot sun, water daily and sofar doing very well, the thing is I don't know if I should move it to a larger pot and if plastic or terracota, how/when to fertilize. As you can see I'm not asking for much just everything. I love all plants & have all sorts in my 5x9 balcony -potted, baskets, mounts (orchids), and windowboxes but have no idea how to care for my hydreanga and would like to see it thrive and give new flowers this year.
FROM: Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 03/25/02 9:14 PM CentralI just read my message (our summers) thanks
FROM: Tom Shaw clement@accessus.net 03/25/02 9:12 PM CentralTher should be sveral hydrangeas that can take full sun if Pennsylvania. The best ahould be any of the paniculata varieties. Pink Diamond, Unique, Grandiflora, tardiva all would be great. Of, course one of the absolute best would the the annabelle. These are all whites, but can provide you with spring blooms in June through August and are sure fire never fail. we live just west of St. Louis and are mid to late summers are brutal and the only effect is browning out on some of the panniculatas that would turn pink in partial shade .
FROM: Terri jburkeburk@aol.com 03/25/02 7:01 PM CentralI am trying to locate a red hydranga tree, can anyone help me?
FROM: Mr. P 03/25/02 2:45 PM CentralKimosmommy I would like to help but no Email address to send you a message. Mr. P
FROM: Pat Mowrey samadhigardens@att.net 03/24/02 3:58 PM CentralIs there a hydrangea that can take full sun in central Pennsylvania?
FROM: Kimosmommy 03/23/02 2:11 PM CentralPlease help. Sent a white hydrangea by dear friend day before a funeral. I am not good with plants. Intention was to be able to plant it outside and remember loved one. It seems to be dying. Is there anything I can do. I gave it sunlight and water today and it looks worse. Soil seems loose like maybe these were cuttings intended to look pretty for a week and nothing else. Is there anyway to keep it alive till it is warm enough to plant outside?
FROM: HONEY NOLAN46516@AOL.COM 03/22/02 3:35 PM Central> OKAY....HERES MY EXPERIANCE WITH BUYING A HYDRANGEA PLANT AT THE > STORE AND BRINGING IT HOME AND PLANTING OUTSIDE......WELL, OFCOURSE > WHEN I SEEN THEM AT THE STORE THEY HAD A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER ON THEM. I > BROUGHT THEM (4) HOME, AND PUT THEM IN MY WINDOW FOR ABOUT A > MONTH UNTIL IT WAS WARM ENOUPH TO PLANT OUTSIDE ..OFCOURSE WHILE > THEY WERE INSIDE THE FLOWERS DIED AND LEAVES EVEN LOOKED NOT TO > GOOD....BUT HAD NEW GROWTH AT THE BOTTOM SO I HELD MY BREATH AND > FINALLY GOT THEM IN THE GROUND...THEY LIVED....NOT MUCH FOR > FLOWERING.BUT I DID STILL END UP GETTING A FEW BLOOMS THAT YEAR....BUT > THE BIG QUESTION WOULD BE ARE THEY GOING TO COME BACK NEXT > YEAR..................YIPPIE!!!! THEY DID...I HAVE LEAVES STARTING TO COME > OUT.....THEY MADE IT ...SO IN MY OPINION......GET YA SOME GIRL!!!!!! I
FROM: Kathy Rubenzer krubenzer@gglt.com 03/22/02 1:04 PM CentralHELP! Very simple question: There are some ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL blue lacecap hydrangea's at my local grocery store (inside) (I know, I know, garden center is preferred place of purchase, but they are calling my name!). Can I buy one and plant it successfully outside? (live in L.A.) I don't know much about hydrandeas yet (with regards to inside/outside ones either), but am eager to learn. Please hurry, would love to buy one this weekend. Thank you all!
FROM: 03/22/02 10:11 AM Centrallooking for isabell williams this is chuck oster from renton,wa......... remember me....... call my mom if you want to get in touch.
FROM: steve 03/19/02 0:30 AM Centralwhat type of hydrangea is it that tory submitted in the gallery? anyone know?
FROM: joni Spires spiresjaysp@aol.com 03/18/02 1:19 PM Centralthanks so much for everyone's help, I water everyday but wonder if I am watering too much, a sprinkler system that cuts on every afternoon. I'll try all the suggestions, thanks again Joni Spires
FROM: natalie greatneckteacher@aol.com 03/18/02 10:58 AM CentralHydrangeas need a lot of wayering the first year that you plant them...I used to water mine every day. Make sure that they get a half a day of shade.. atleast
FROM: 03/18/02 8:28 AM CentralI live in lexington ky. and would like to plant a climbling hydrangea on my 10 foot fence in my backyarn. I've read that this might not be a good idea but i would like something like this plant growing their.Thanks for the help.
FROM: Emmelita angoradoes41@aol.com 03/16/02 5:41 PM CentralI have the same luck with hydrangeas. I have tried just about everything and they just curl up and die. I live in Central Oklahoma
FROM: joni spires spiresjayspi@aol.com 03/16/02 4:22 PM CentralI love hydrangeas, in fact they are my favorite flower. But it seems that everyone that I purchase, dies...What am I doing wrong? Do they need full sun, partial shade, a wet condition, pruned and if so when? We live in Northern Florida, and I just can't get the swing of growing them. Thanks Joni Spires
FROM: Vivian Beck vivross2427@aol.com 03/09/02 12:57 PM CentralI am not sure what type of hydranga I have. It did well when it was set out 5 years ago, but kept getting spindlier every year. Last year I cut it back pretty far and now it is just a mess of long branches going all over the place and real close to the ground. What did I do wrong? I live in Illinois. The bush got part shade and part sun in the morning time and the rest of the day mostly shade. Thanks for any help
FROM: Vivian Beck vivross2427@aol.com 03/09/02 12:51 PM Central
FROM: Vivian Beck vivross2427@aol.com 03/09/02 12:51 PM Central
FROM: 01/29/02 9:00 AM CentralBrenda need more information and your Email address.
FROM: Mr. P 01/28/02 2:25 PM CentralAlan Fox send me your address and I will try to help you. Mr. P Jondeer4u@aol.com.
FROM: 01/28/02 2:24 PM CentralAlan Fox send me your address and I will try to help you. Mr. P Jondeer4u@aol.com.
FROM: Brenda 01/28/02 9:42 AM CentralI need to move 2 hydrangia plants, is there a preferred location for these plants(northern exposure or whatever) the plants are mature.
FROM: Alan Fox afoxdvm@hotmail.com 01/26/02 9:13 PM CentralSorry, forgot to include my e-mail address.
FROM: Alan Fox 01/26/02 9:07 PM CentralI planted 4 'Anabelle' hydrangeas on the east side of my house last year. I was very pleased with the shape of the plants, and the HUGE white blooms were very attractive. The problem, however, was when the summer rainstorms came. When wet, the large blooms were so top heavy that the stems could not support the weight and toppled over. Once dry, some of the stems would stand back up but often the stems would crease. The only way I found to keep them looking decent was to stake them up. By late summer, after the blooming was over, I pruned the stems back by about half (probably to a height of about 2 feet). My hope is that the lower stems will toughen up and be more supportive for this year; however, since Anabelle's bloom on new growth, the portion of stem just below the bloom will again be fresh and non-rigid, so I fear the same problem may keep happening. I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thank you. Alan Fox, Ft. Wayne, IN
FROM: ash blondi_75@Hotmail.com 01/26/02 4:54 PM Centrali want info on hydrangea shrubs . i live in northern minnesota.cold here. what is hardy and easy to care for here ?????????????????
FROM: Mary 01/26/02 8:44 AM CentralI live in zone 4a. Are there any hydrangas that will grow here in a shady are and tolerate a normal Minn. winter of snow and cold?
FROM: Mary 01/26/02 8:42 AM CentralI live in zone 4a. Are there any hydrangas that will grow here in a shady are and tolerate a normal Minn. winter of snow and cold?
FROM: Jawahar Choudary,Ravi raajchoudary@rediffmail.com 01/26/02 8:11 AM CentralWant to know about manufacturers of Equipment for conducting test on Steel Pipe 1.Portable surface Roughness tester.2.Portable Hardness tester.3.Portable Ultrasonic thickness Guage.
FROM: pj iota@gte.net 01/21/02 1:58 AM CentralI am a florist and have a bride who wants hydrangeas in her wedding. The only colors I can get at this time are white, blue and possibly green. Can I color them after they have been cut from the grower? She would like some purple and darker blue and cream color. These brides,,,,,haha
FROM: sally knights@gwtc.net 01/20/02 9:52 AM CentralPete, I have two pee gee's. The small one blooms, but the large one does not. Both in the same soil. Can you help?
FROM: don dupecheck@aol.com 01/19/02 10:48 AM Centrali just bought at auction 3 hydrangea vines the tag said they will grow to 75' anyone have any info on them i know nothing about them..i.e. soil flowerrs etc
FROM: Kathy GFEICKE@GTE.NET 01/15/02 3:19 PM CentralMy email below.
FROM: Kathy 01/15/02 3:17 PM CentralI received a hydrangea (it was blooming) plant when my mother passed away in December. I brought the plant from Illinois to Tampa, Florida where I live. Do you think I can plant this hydrangea in the ground in Florida and expect it to bloom or should I maybe repot it in a larger pot?
FROM: Nik YellowroseNik@aol.com 01/11/02 4:36 PM Central
FROM: Nik YellowroseNik@aol.com 01/11/02 4:35 PM CentralI am looking for P.G. Hydrangeas. (mature ones) I want to buy them. You may know someone who has one in their yard that they may want to get rid of. I am located on the East coast. Please contact me if you know of one.
FROM: Jed Jennings Ethosguy@aol.com 01/08/02 7:41 PM CentralI live in North Texas, could you please tell me what type of hydrangea will survie our summers? High heat, High humidity,then dry hot 108 degrees for several days in August.
FROM: ellen ellenl414@yahoo.com 01/06/02 5:44 PM CentralI planted 2 hydrangeas last spring - unfortunately the only place they fit in my Brooklyn NY backyard receives direct afternoon sun. The past summer was not one of our worst so they survived, although they wilted on really hot afternoons. Any ideas/hints?
FROM: E. Hoskins angoradoes41@aol.com 01/06/02 3:40 PM CentralI live in Ok. and have tried to raise hydraneas without success. I need help. I do love Hydrandeas.
FROM: honey nolan46516@aol.com 01/05/02 9:32 PM CentralI bought a beautiful hydrangea at a store in a little pot and it ahd blooms on it. i bought it in the fall and am trying to keep it through the winter it looks good and heathly but its not blooming at all now if i plant it this spring will it bloom??
FROM: Natalie greatneckteacher@aol.com 01/02/02 12:01 PM Central
FROM: Natalie greatneckteacher@aol.com 01/02/02 12:01 PM CentralI am devasted.. My lawn mower, while I was at work by mistake went into my garden and cut my hydrangeas 2 inches above the ground. 6 of them. Some were over 30 years young. I live in ny any suggestions???
FROM: Natalie greatneckteacher@aol.com 01/02/02 12:01 PM CentralI am devasted.. My lawn mower, while I was at work by mistake went into my garden and cut my hydrangeas 2 inches above the ground. 6 of them. Some were over 30 years young. I live in ny any suggestions???
FROM: Dizzyizzy lizzabell1700@peoplepc.com 01/01/02 9:30 PM CentralCan anyone suggest the planting time for Hydrangias for zones 6B to 7A?
