Hydranga

Flower252

3 years ago I bought a very small hydranga plant, not much bigger than a cutting that had a picture of a lacecap type.  I put it in a flower bed that faces north west and gets sun from about 3pm.  Its grown beautifully but never flowered. Last year I pruned it in late March but due to late snow the new growth turned black but soon improved.  When I pruned it I potted on 3 pieces to make new plants and kept them near my garage window. They all rooted and grew well and one has a flower coming but now the other 2 or the mother plant.  I can grow mophead types but this has me baffled.  Why doesn't the original plant flower?  Maybe it is not enough sun.  Also why has only one of three cuttings got a flower?  What should I do, any ideas and also when should I prune?  I have done no pruning this year, looks very healthy but alas no flowers.  Has anyone on here had this problem and what did you do to overcome.  Thanks in advance.

Lyn

Far too early for flowers this year,  mine are not even showing signs of buds yet.
young plants need time to make roots before they flower,  I wouldn't let mine flower as young plants. 

Flower252

That's good to know Lyn especially as you are in Devon and I'm in North Yorkshire so much colder. Very windy here too. This will be the 4th summer it's been in so I will leave it yet again and see what happens. Thanks

Fairygirl

If it was a cutting three years ago, it should have been left to grow and not pruned at all until it was a decent sized shrub. 
I'd also remove any buds, as @Lyn describes. They need to put their energy into producing a good root system  
If the ones you had inside are growing and trying to flower, its because they're essentially being forced. It's what they do to produce those flowering hydrangeas at Easter.  

Flower252

I haven't pruned it since March last year. Lovely bushy shrub now. Any idea when it will flower?  Do you think that maybe it is not getting enough hours of sun? So disappointing when yet another season passes without seeing a bloom. Thanks Fairygirl.

Sendmesun

I think mine flower in mid July onwards ( both mopheads, one blue/ pink  and one cerise in colour) The bonus after such a long wait is that they look good up until about October. I'm further north than you and surrounded by trees. I never really prune them unless renovating them. 

Lyn

This is one of my lace caps, taken 12th August.
Although  I’m in Devon, we are 960’ above,  and quite windy,  the nights can be cold. 

Flower252

Wow Lyn, that is a beauty and Sendmesun good to know that your mopheads grow in shady positions. I have read so many confusing things on the internet that lacecaps won't flower without at least 6 hours of sunshine and that they should be pruned at different times to mophead varieties. I thought that if it was going to flower this year then I would see small flower buds appearing but nothing so far but leaves, yet again. Do you have flower buds on yours yet Lyn?

Lyn

I don’t see any buds yet,  give them time,  like any shrub I plant, I like to leave them to make a good root system before flowering.  
Once establish they’ll get going then you’ll find your own pruning time,  for me it’s mid to late April,  even then the frost can blacken the tops, it’s a question of knowing your weather.
this photo shows how much later the lace cap is to the mops.  These are in deep shade,  just early morning sun. 

Flower252

Many thanks for that Lyn, reassured that it's not a lack of sun problem. Amazing how much later the lace caps are to the mops.  I will leave them alone and wait.  If I do get some flowers this year I'll post a photo and hang the flags out!

Fairygirl

I've only just seen this - no, no need for lots of sun for hydrangeas, although some can cope well if the soil's right. 
The oak leaf ones can cope better than many with sun though.