When you plant Hydrangeas, you expect to have large masses of showy flowers on your plants. That is what Hydrangeas are known for, after all. But sometimes, once you get them home, Hydrangeas do not always produce the large blooms that you see at the garden center. Sometimes, the blooms are smaller than you expect.
So what causes small Hydrangea flowers? Improper care is the most common cause. Too much water, sunlight, or fertilizer can stunt Hydrangea flowers resulting in small blooms. Try adjusting the items above to ensure that Hydrangeas are properly cared for. Once you’ve got that right, they’ll produce the large flowers you desire.
Hydrangeas have a Goldilocks complex. They need just the right amount of sunlight, water, and fertilizer to be happy–not too much, not too little. Examine your Hydrangeas to decide whether one of these areas is the problem. If you are confident that proper care is not the issue, but your Hydrangeas are still not showy enough, then you might simply have a variety with smaller blooms.
Why Are Your Hydrangeas Producing Small Flowers?
The most common reason that Hydrangea flowers are small has to do with less than ideal care. Check that your Hydrangeas are getting the right amount of water, sunlight, and fertilizer. In all of these areas, too little can cause plants not to flower at all, while too much can cause stunted blooms. Keep reading to see the best ways to provide just the right amount of water, sunlight, and fertilizer for Hydrangeas.
Even with optimal care, some types of Hydrangeas naturally produce smaller clusters of flowers than others. Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Mophead and Lacecap) tend to have the biggest blooms. Mophead varieties usually produce the largest blooms, although some Lacecap varieties can produce monster flowers as well.
Mountain Hydrangeas generally have smaller blooms, but they are more cold-hardy which makes these a good choice for those living in cold climates, despite the smaller blooms.
Expecting a Mountain Hydrangea to look like Mophead Hydrangea is not realistic no matter how carefully you care for it. If you dream of gigantic pom-pom blooms, selecting a variety of Mophead Hydrangeas can give you what you want–as long as you can give the plant the environment it needs.
Tips for Encouraging Fuller Hydrangeas With Larger Flowers
If your Hydrangeas have smaller flowers than you expect for the variety, try changing how you care for them. Hydrangeas are not overly fussy. Even with minimal care, they will still look decent. But to transform your Hydrangea from the girl-next-door pretty to Hollywood starlet status, you have to be a little more particular with water, sunlight, and fertilizer.
Water Your Hydrangeas Deeply
Water is vital to lush Hydrangea blooms. As the name implies (hydra = water), Hydrangeas need water. When they don’t have enough water, these plants begin swooning faster than a Victorian lady.
You might be tempted to water your Hydrangeas more often to combat this problem, but that isn’t the solution. Hydrangeas don’t want to be standing in water either. Hydrangeas get a little bit picky about hydration.
Deep watering keeps Hydrangeas the happiest. Rather than watering a little at a time, soak your plants thoroughly. Use a drip hose or soaker hose several times a week to ensure that your plants are adequately hydrated.
Not sure whether your Hydrangea needs to be water? Stick your fingers an inch or two deep into the soil during the morning or early afternoon (not during the heat of the day). If the soil is dry at that depth, it’s time to water. If it’s still wet, wait until the next day to give Hydrangeas a good soak.
Plant Hydrangeas in Areas With the Correct Amount of Sunlight
Without enough sunlight, Hydrangeas will not bloom at all. With too much sunlight, Hydrangeas have smaller blooms. Hitting the sweet spot in the middle produces the best blooms, but how do you do that?
Hydrangeas do well in areas with morning sun and afternoon shade. In warmer climates, Hydrangeas require more shade. That being said, even in the warmest climates, Hydrangeas will barely develop blooms if planted in complete shade. In especially cool areas, Hydrangeas may only need light shade.
If a Hydrangea is not getting the right amount of sunlight in its current location, transplant it to a better area. We’ve got an article that details this process step-by-step, so click here for instructions on relocating a mature Hydrangea.
Use the Right Amount of Fertilizer
Fertilizer can be a fantastic tool in the belt of the flower gardener, but only when used correctly. Different types of fertilizer will affect Hydrangeas in different ways. So you’ll want to make sure you’re using the proper type of fertilizer and the proper amount.
Applying too much fertilizer can cause Hydrangeas to have fewer blooms, while selecting the wrong kind, like one with too much nitrogen, causes Hydrangeas to prioritize growing leaves over flowers. A balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (like 10-10-10) gives Hydrangeas a dose of everything they need.
Start fertilizing Hydrangeas in late spring. Follow the directions on your fertilizer packaging but remember that in this case, too much of a good thing can be harmful. I generally like to dilute all fertilizer to half strength before applying it to my plants, as it’s much easier to add more than to try to take some away.
Generally, the ground should be slightly moist when you fertilize, and you should water the fertilizer into the soil after applying. However, follow directions on your fertilizer if they differ.
Which Hydrangeas Have the Biggest Blooms?
Now that you know how to encourage Hydrangeas with small flowers to produce larger blooms, you may want even bigger blooms. Sometimes bigger is just better.
Even with proper care, some varieties have smaller clusters of flowers than others. This doesn’t mean that you are doing anything wrong. It is because of the Hydrangea variety.
If you want truly massive Hydrangea blooms, then you have to choose a variety that is known for large blooms. While all Hydrangeas produce beautiful blooms, these varieties are the biggest showstoppers.
All Summer Beauty: A reblooming Mophead that produces masses of blue or pink blooms depending on the soil. The blooms can reach up to 6 inches in diameter.
Nikko Blue: A showy Mophead variety with blooms that are blue or pink depending on the soil. The blooms can reach up to 5 inches in diameter.
Mathilda Gutges: A compact Mophead variety with violet-blue or pink blooms depending on the soil. This variety can have multiple colors of blooms on a single plant. The blooms can reach up to 6 inches in diameter.
Glowing Embers: This Mophead variety has truly massive blooms that are either blue or pink, depending on the soil. Although the plant is compact, the blooms can reach up to 8 inches in diameter.
Let’s Dance Big Easy: A small Mophead variety with huge blooms that are either purple or pink depending on the soil. This variety can be challenging to find. The blooms can reach up to 8 inches in diameter.
Putting It All Together
You can have the massive Hydrangea flowers of your dreams even if your Hydrangeas currently have small flowers. Start by evaluating the amount of water, sunlight, and fertilizer that your Hydrangeas receive.
Remember, too little water, sunlight, and fertilizer can cause Hydrangeas not to bloom at all. If that’s the case, then try adding more. On the other hand, too much of these elements can cause Hydrangeas to produce smaller flowers. Check to make sure that you are not overwhelming Hydrangeas with too much of a good thing.
If all else fails, or if your Hydrangeas aren’t giving you the lavish blooms you want, look for a different variety of Hydrangeas. Mophead varieties produce the largest blooms, with some varieties reaching up to 8 inches in diameter.