I’ll never forget the first time my hydrangeas bloomed properly. After multiple seasons of failure, lots of patience, and pruning, I was rewarded with vibrant, lush flowers that appeared to shimmer in the sunlight.
It was a reminder of how the right care — especially proper fertilization — can truly transform a garden.
In this guide, I’ll share some of my top tips and insights on fertilizing hydrangeas, drawn from my own experience and research, to help you achieve the best and most stunning blooms possible. Let’s get into it!
And, if you’re as passionate as me about hydrangea, you’ll also enjoy reading these 10 things every Hydrangea owner need to know!
Tip 1: Cater To Your Hydrangea Type/Variety
Different hydrangea varieties have different fertilization requirements.
Although it might be tempting, you can’t just feed the same amount or kind of fertilizer to every hydrangea variety and expect optimal results.
For example — something like the Bigleaf Hydrangea will have much different nutrient needs than Panicle Hydrangeas.
The former benefits from a higher concentration of potassium in the soil while the latter can thrive with a rather balanced blend. So, identify your hydrangea type and tailor your fertilization accordingly.
Tip 2: High-Quality Fertilizer
A balanced fertilizer blend will be a jack of all trades but master of none. It can do the job of fixing nutrient imbalances in the soil well and make the soil fertile to accommodate better growth, but sometimes you might need something stronger, or more specific.
Pick your fertilizer carefully and make sure it does exactly what you need it to do.
The most optimal choice for hydrangeas would be a slow-release, balanced formula (considering soil conditions are stable) like a 10-10-10 (NPK) fertilizer or one that is specially formulated for flowering plants.
After many years of search, trial and error, I decided to make my own fertilizer. It made such a huge difference on my blooms!
If you want to know more about it, learn here about these easy homemade fertilizers.
Tip 3: Learn How To Use The Fertilizer Properly
Yes, this is an important one. Many gardeners get overly creative with their fertilizing, experimenting with different mixtures when they really don’t need to.
The best approach is often much simpler — just follow the instructions provided on the back of the fertilizer bag.
Manufacturers typically include precise guidelines for proper application, so stick to those for the best results without overcomplicating things.
Tip 4: Avoid Going Overboard With The Fertilizer
It’s often tempting to fertilize your hydrangeas more frequently, especially when they appear to be greatly benefiting from it.
In those moments of temptation, hold your horses as over fertilizing can be detrimental to your blooms. Too much fertilizer is likely to trigger more foliage growth at the expense of blooming; this is exactly what you don’t want.
Tip 5: Adjust pH For Color
Yep, you heard that right! Adjusting the soil pH can significantly impact the color of your hydrangea blooms. While this effect is more pronounced in certain varieties, it’s still a fascinating and fun change to experiment with.
You can add amendments like aluminum sulfate (or coffee grounds for an easier alternative) to raise the acidity of the soil or lime to make it more alkaline.
Learn more here about how to change the color of your hydrangeas.
Final Words
Every second I spend in my backyard garden, surrounded by breathtaking hydrangea blooms, I’m reminded of the power of care and the right kind of fertilization.
Learning how to fertilize properly has transformed my garden and I hope these tips I discussed help you achieve similar stunning results. With the right approach, your hydrangeas can become the showstoppers of your garden, blooming year after year with great vigor and vibrancy. Happy blooming!
