Over-pruned mop head hydrangea? No flowers

squirral87k4-WvGwT

I bought a mop head hydrangea last year. I read that in early spring it should be pruned, so I cut it back a little - I cut down to a new set a buds. I didn’t cut much…. However it now hasn’t got any flower buds on it whereas my other, older, hydrangea does. 

Did I over prune? Will it not flower this year…?

AnniD

Even my established hydrangea is only just showing flower buds due to the dreadful Spring weather. It doesn't sound like you over pruned. Any chance of a photo perhaps? 
Have you fed it at all ?

amancalledgeorge

You potentially have done. Macrophylla hydrangeas flower on existing growth. The only ones to prune hard in late spring is paniculata cultivars that grow flowers in the fresh growth. For macrophyllas you leave the flowers on all winter to protect a bit the fresh growth as it comes through and it's a good reminder to not overprune, all is needed is removing the spent flowers.

We've all made similar mistakes at some point, you won't repeat it 😉

But I agree with AnniD both my paniculata and macrophylla ones have barely set flower heads at this stage. 

Lyn

Mine haven’t got any buds yet either, they’re a late flowering shrub, give them time. You’ve done right by just cutting down to the next set of buds. 

squirral87k4-WvGwT

Thanks all. I suspect I have indeed made an error! Perhaps those YouTube videos I watched were directed at more mature hydrangea plants. 

@Lyn I understand your point but isn’t it odd that my two other hydrangea have flower buds and this one doesn’t ?

I will try and post a picture this afternoon. 

Fairygirl

They don't all produce buds and flower at exactly the same time. 
I think mine will be very late this year. They're only just recovering from the frost damage, and the foliage at the top of the stems is still tiny. The foliage lower down is ok though. 
Even my oak leaf hydrangeas have been struggling a bit, having quite a lot of damaged stems. I don't normally prune them at all, other than to remove spent heads or any crossing branches. 

squirral87k4-WvGwT

Thanks @Fairygirl - I hope you’re right!

Do you feed your hydrangeas? Is it necessary?

Fairygirl

I don't feed mine. I feed the soil by adding compost each year, so the shrubs generally get nothing. They might get a bit of B,F&B in spring if I can be bothered, or if other planting nearby is getting some. 
I sometimes give young shrubs a seaweed feed, but I prefer to grow my plants harder. Makes them more robust. 

squirral87k4-WvGwT

Fairygirl said:

I don't feed mine. I feed the soil by adding compost each year, so the shrubs generally get nothing. They might get a bit of B,F&B in spring if I can be bothered, or if other planting nearby is getting some. 
I sometimes give young shrubs a seaweed feed, but I prefer to grow my plants harder. Makes them more robust. 

Perfect - no feeding it is!

squirral87k4-WvGwT

A bud! It’s tiny and only one but it’s still a bud  

Lyn

It looks very healthy, if you don’t get anymore flowers this year it will definitely perform well next.