5. How to Mix the Perfect Bloom-Boosting Hydrangea Tonic
To create the mixture, start by brewing compost tea. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and add a pillowcase full of finished compost. Let it steep for 24-48 hours, stirring occasionally.
Once the compost tea is ready, mix in 1 cup of bone meal and 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt per gallon of tea. Stir well until the ingredients are fully dissolved. This tonic is now ready to be applied to your dormant hydrangeas.
6. When and How Often to Pour the Mixture for Maximum Blooms
Apply the nutrient-rich mixture to your hydrangeas in late fall after the leaves have fallen, but before the ground freezes. This timing ensures the nutrients are available as the plant prepares for dormancy.
Repeat the application once in early spring, as the ground begins to thaw. This second feeding jumpstarts the plant’s growth phase, providing essential nutrients as it awakens from dormancy.
