Hybiscus and Hydrangea Help Needed

[kmtrent]

I am needing some information about a couple of flowers. I have a hybiscus tree that I found on sale that did not have any information on how to care for the tree. I am curious to learn how to prune the tree to give it some shape.

The other problem I am having is with a couple of hydrangeas. I purchased them about 5 years ago and they have yet to bloom. They are healthy but just have not produced any flowers or even buds.

If you have any information that you could share with me concerning either flower, I would appreciate any help.

[administrator]

My wife and I have been having excellent luck with out hydrangeas. I'm not an expert, but here's what we've learned. Some varieties of hydrangeas are not very cold hardy and will refuse to bloom after a cold winter. My best advise is buy plants from a knowledgable local nursery. A few hydrangeas grow on old stock, so if you prune the plants in the fall, they'll never flower. Again, you should buy from a local nursery so you know exactly what you have. We plant ours in locations that don't get harsh noon sun but get good amounts of morning or afternoon sun and we give them LOTS of water. The hydra in hydrangeas means water. We've transplanted some of our plants more than once, and they don't seem to mind. You might try a different location, particularly if they're in a shady spot.

[Jilliebean]

Yup, move your hydrangea and don't prune in the fall. The variety we have grows on old stock. Our hydrangea is in a full sun location. It wasn't too happy about it for the first couple of years but it has resigned itself to the fact that we aren't moving it so it has adapted as long as I give it plenty of water.

As for Hibiscus....check your zone. They really don't overwinter well in most northern locations. They have to be brought in each winter which is hard on them. Ours routinely dropped all its leaves in protest but would always grow back. We have a local nursery that sells them for cheap so I've often thought of treating them as annuals because one year I did plant it in the ground and it was absolutely stunning with enormous blooms.

[kmtrent]

Thank you very much for the information. I will see what happens.