About This Episode
A reader has difficulty growing their summer hydrangeas. Additionally, here’s this week’s featured plant from Grumpy.
Question Of The Week
”
My hydrangeas
will not leaf out on the old branches. All new growth comes from the bottom. Is this because we had a warm spell in early spring, followed by a sudden freeze?” – Janet
Grumpy Gardener:
Spot on, Janet. It’s not unusual for big leaf hydrangea, the one that has a blue or the pink flowers to be killed all the way back to the ground by a hard freeze that was preceded by mild weather. All new growth then comes from the ground up. If your hydrangea is an older one blooming type like Nicco blue, that means that all its flower buds are dead. It won’t bloom this year. However, re-blooming types like the Endless summer series and the Let’s Dance series bloom on both old and new growth. That means you can still get flowers after a deep freeze. No matter which kind you have, Janet, cut those old dead stems to the ground. They’re done for.
Plant Of The Week
Waikiki Elephant Ears.
Waikiki builds up into a compact hill approximately three feet high and broad.
Growing conditions:
This plant thrives in partial to full sunlight and requires consistently damp soil. It can withstand temperatures down to around 15 degrees Fahrenheit without issue. Should your area experience colder winters, move the plant indoors to a cooler space during the cold season. In rooms lacking natural light, prune the foliage and induce dormancy; once warmer weather returns in spring, relocate it outdoors and provide regular watering—it should produce fresh growth as a result. To purchase one of these plants, visit local garden stores known for stocking them.
Southern Living Plant collection
.
Learn More
About Ask Grumpy
Ask Grumpy
is a podcast that features Steve Bender, who goes by the nickname
Southern Living’s
The Grumpiest Gardener. With over two decades of experience, this irascible green thumb has been guiding you through choosing plants, planting times, and tackling pretty much everything else in your garden. Join us each week on Wednesdays and Saturdays for brief yet informative segments where he responds to listener inquiries, untangles timely gardening puzzles, and delivers essential tips seasoned with his trademark gruff wit. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Ask Grumpy
on Apple
Podcasts
,
Spotify
, or wherever you choose to listen so you won’t miss an episode.
Please remember that this transcript has not undergone our usual editorial process and might include inaccuracies and grammatical mistakes.
Read the initial article on
Southern Living
