"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:31:08 +0100, "Angela" wrote:
"Chris Hogg" wrote in message
. ..
| On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:52:58 +0100, Evelyn Usher
| wrote:
|
| Hi all,
|
| I am new here and fairly new to gardening.
|
| I wonder if anyone can tell me what compost to use for the beautiful
| Hydrangea I bought from Lidl's this morning. I plan to put into a
| large half barrel.
|
| I have not had much success with Hydrangea before.
|
| In addition to what has already been said, they like to be kept well
| watered. And if you ever get them big enough to need pruning, remember
| that they flower on old wood, so if you cut them right down in autumn
| or spring, you won't get any flowers that year. The trick is to cut
| back between a third and a half of the number of branches, leaving the
| remainder to flower before removing them later in the year.

I'm not sure that's correct. I say that because I had no idea that you
shouldn't prune them hard and that is exactly what I did in the spring,
very
hard down to about 8 inches. Every single bush is loaded with flower buds
on every stem and it looks like I'll be getting more flowers than I ever
have.


It's my experience, and the advice generally given on this NG. They
flower on old wood, although I can't explain your experience!

--
Chris
Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales
E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net


Oddly enough, I have had Angela's experience with Hydrangea Mme. E.
Mouliere. Although I know the rules, I cut this plant back hard because I
needed to move it. It stayed where it was (as it happens), but flowered
better than I'd previously known it, albeit a few weeks later than usual. A
very pleasant surprise.

Spider