Why does hydrangea have small inflorescences - causes and solutions to the problem
Content:
Hydrangea is an ornamental plant in the form of a shrub with paniculate inflorescences. It is unpretentious to care for and has a beautiful flowering. Sometimes the flowers can be small. To understand the reason why hydrangeas have small inflorescences, it is worth carefully examining the plant.
The reasons for the appearance of small inflorescences in hydrangea
Proper care is the key to a beautiful, luxurious flowering. Flowers usually become smaller precisely because of violation of the rules of care, namely:
- inappropriate place to grow;
- pruning ahead of time;
- not good enough shelter for wintering;
- depleted soil;
- unbalanced watering;
- damage by pests;
- strong shading.
Small inflorescences of hydrangea
What to do for hydrangea to have large flowers
So, the main reason why the hydrangea was crushed is non-compliance with the rules of care. As a result, the inflorescence is small and weak. To remedy the situation, you must follow the recommendations described below.
Correct pruning
Regular pruning encourages the growth of new shoots, resulting in a luxurious head of the shrub. It is imperative to prune in the autumn, and then you do not have to worry about why the hydrangea is getting smaller.
Pruning is needed for lush flowering
Additionally required:
- anti-aging procedure;
- elimination of wilting inflorescences;
- removal of broken shoots affected by pests.
Protect shrubs from frost
Low temperatures are another reason why small flowers form in hydrangeas. From September 15-16, watering is reduced and preparations for wintering begin.
The roots are covered with spruce branches or humus. The shoots are gently bent to the ground and covered with agrofibre or other dense material on top.
The shelter is removed in the spring when the air is warm enough. With early opening, lower temperatures are possible. The result is small hydrangea inflorescences.
Timely fertilizing
Luxurious flowering can be obtained by adding additional nutrition. This will be an excellent prevention of various diseases to which the plant is prone. Here you need to observe the measure. With an excessive amount of fertilizer, all forces will be directed to the growth of shoots. In this case, the buds will not have enough time to form. With a shortage of fertilizing, the shrub will grow slowly.
Fertilizers are applied at the onset of spring, even before the leaves begin to appear. When the buds begin to form, they are fed with potassium. Organic is suitable for autumn. Fertilizers are preferably applied in the form of a solution, under the root.
Choose the right landing site
Another reason why the flowers of the hydrangea are smaller is the wrong choice of a place for planting. Plants should be placed next to low fences or other shrubs. A slight shadow will only benefit.
Shrub thrives in light shade
Disease and pest control
Frequent "flower" pests: spider mites, aphids. They may well be the reason why hydrangeas have small flowers. To eliminate them, chemical preparations are suitable: Vermitek, Tiofos and others.
Diseases also lead to poor flowering. It could be chlorosis, which causes the leaves to turn pale. The shrub may refuse to bloom altogether. Plaque, powdery mildew also negatively affect the plant. In these cases, treatment is carried out with a Bordeaux mixture or iron vitriol.
Removing first flowers to stimulate flowering
Hydrangea blooms finely in the first year. To get large flowers, you need to prune these inflorescences.
Luxurious flowers are the pride of hydrangea. When they become smaller, decorativeness decreases. This is most often due to inadequate care. It is enough to correct it in order to soon again contemplate the large inflorescences on the bush.
