Best Fertilizer for Hydrangeas in 2024

Hydrangeas are of course some of the most beautiful flowers that you could have in your garden. There’s just nothing like those big bulbs with those bright blue colors. 

With that being said, to get your hydrangeas to bloom properly, you need to feed them right. This is of course what we are here to do today, to help you find the best fertilizer for hydrangeas. 

Now, we have done our very best to select the five best products on the market. We tried our best to include very simple-to-use products that are also fairly natural and organic. 

We’ve also tried to include some products that have more benefits than just being plant food alone. Let’s get to it and take a look at the top five contenders for the best fertilizer for hydrangeas.

Best Fertilizer for Hydrangeas: Reviews

1. Miracle-Gro 1038361 Shake ‘N Feed All Purpose Plant Food

Here we have a great multipurpose product designed for a wide variety of benefits. Of course, it is plant food, but it’s also a great way to prevent weeds from occurring. Keep in mind that you also get quite a sizable container of this plant food for a very reasonable price.

Review

This particular plant food features a fairly balanced NPK ratio. The point here is to help your plants grow a lot of foliage, but also to bloom properly. The nutrient ratio that it contains features a lot of phosphorus and potassium. It does also contain a bit of nitrogen. 

When all is said and done, this means that this is a great bloom booster to use for a wide variety of flowers. Yes, this includes hydrangeas, but also so much more.

Do keep in mind that these are granules, not liquid plant food. Therefore, the best thing you can do is to mix it in with your soil. 

Moreover, keep in mind that you do also want it use it around established flowers, vegetables, and other plants. It should not be put into the soil when you plant seeds, or are growing small seedlings. You just have to pour it onto the soil and then use a small garden rake to mix it in with the soil.

Something else you take note of here is that this product is also designed to prevent weeds from occurring. It contains special ingredients that stop weeds from growing before they get a chance to sprout. For the best results in terms of preventing weeds from growing, this product is best applied before the growing season.

You may appreciate the fact that you get a full 4.5 pound container here. This is enough to fertilize up to 135 square feet. That’s a whole lot of space covered. On that note, just 4.8 ounces of this fertilizer is enough for 10 square feet of your garden.

Furthermore, it does come in at a fairly reasonable price. Generally speaking, this is absolutely one of the more cost-effective products that you could invest in. The fact that it is both plant fertilizer and weed preventer is of course very beneficial.

Pros

• Cost-effective
• Covers a lot of space
• Plant food + weed preventer 
• Easy to use
• Ideal for most flowers, veggies, herbs, and more

Cons

• It needs to be mixed into the soil before the growing season
• Unspecified ingredients 

2. Espoma FT18 Flower Tone Flower Food

Here we have a very special flower food that is designed to produce very large blooms. It’s a good option to go with because it can be used for both perennials and annuals, as well as hanging baskets too. On a side note, this product is made in the USA, something that should speak to its overall quality.

Review

One of the defining features of this particular plant food is of course the fact that it is 100% organic. It is designed for people who want to engage in organic gardening. 

It does not contain any toxic chemicals or man-made pesticides whatsoever. This particular plant food is made out of 100% organic and natural materials that can be found in nature.

The fact that it can be used for all sorts of flowers is, of course, a bonus too. Something else worth noting is that this is a very long-lasting formula. It is designed for very slow release. 

This means that you only have to apply it very occasionally. It will release its nutrients over a long period of time, thus keeping your plants fed. It’s definitely something that can help make your life a little easier.

One of the most important things to note here is that this product is very high in phosphorus and potassium, yet fairly low in nitrogen. It does contain enough nitrogen to spur on healthy vegetative growth. 

However, the high phosphorus and potassium content is ideal for creating large blooms. This will definitely help produce some very large and colorful hydrangeas.

Do keep in mind that this plant food comes in granule form, not liquid. This means that you do need to mix it in with the top layer of the soil, and then water it. It’s not the easiest to use plant food around, although it is very beneficial.

Another nice aspect of it is that it comes complete with beneficial microbes. These microbes perform many functions within the soil. The bottom line is that these microbes are designed to support healthy plant life and root growth.

Pros

• Allows for large blooms
• Natural and organic ingredients
• Slow-release formula
• Low in nitrogen 
• Fairly cost-effective
• Ideal for a wide variety of flowers

Cons

• Not ideal for vegetative growth 
• Must be mixed with soil, and then watered

3. FoxFarm FX14650 Happy Frog Organic Fruit and Flower Fertilizer

Here we’ve got another organic and totally natural plant and fruit fertilizer for you to check out. It works just as well for hydrangeas as it does for many other flowers and plants. It also comes with a variety of beneficial ingredients designed to allow for fast and healthy plant growth.

Review

This particular fertilizer is 100% guaranteed to be totally natural and organic. It does not contain any man-made or inorganic materials whatsoever. Everything that is contained within this fertilizer is 100% natural. This means that you can rest assured that you aren’t putting anything toxic into the soil. 

Yes, we are talking about hydrangeas today, but this is, of course, also very beneficial when it comes to growing your own edibles.

In terms of the NPK ratio here, it is 4, 9, 3. This means that it contains a balanced ratio of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. It contains just enough nitrogen to allow for great foliage and vegetative growth. This will allow your hydrangeas to grow very large. 

It then also contains a good deal of both potassium and phosphorus. Both of these ingredients are extremely important for the flowering of your hydrangeas. Both of these substances together will produce some very large and colorful blooms.

What is also worth noting is that this particular fertilizer is designed with active soil microbes as well as beneficial fungi. 

Both of these things work together to help increase the efficiency of the roots of your hydrangeas. In other words, these ingredients allow for faster and improved nutrient uptake. The more nutrients your plants can take in, the faster they will grow, and the better they will bloom.

What is surprising is how cost-effective this particular fertilizer is. You get a full 4 pounds of it for a very low price. 

Yes, this fertilizer does come in the form of granules, although they are easily dissolved in water. You just have to mix the granules in with the top layer of the soil, and then water the soil. It might not be quite as convenient as liquid fertilizer, but it’s still easy enough to use.

Pros

• Water-soluble
• Fairly cost-effective
• 100% natural and organic
• Ideal for flowering plants and fruits
• Active soil microbes and beneficial fungi
• Allows for fantastic root growth

Cons

• Shelf life is not great

4. Miracle-Gro Watering Can Singles All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food

Although plant food might not be specifically designed for hydrangeas, it can certainly be used for these flowers. As you can tell, this is all-purpose plant food. It works well for both vegetative growth as well as blooming. It actually comes complete with a wide variety of benefits.

Review

One of the biggest benefits that you get with this plant food is the convenience factor. As you can tell by the name, these are so-called singles. They are just little packets that you open up and pour right into your watering can. You just pour them into your watering can, add water, and mix it around a little bit. 

These granules will dissolve in the water in just a few seconds. Watering your plants is therefore made quite easy. You don’t have to mix these granules in with the soil to use this product. This convenience factor is definitely something that a lot of people are going to greatly appreciate.

Of course, this is an all-purpose plant food. It can be used for a wide variety of vegetables, house plants, roses, all flowers, shrubs, and trees. This does make it convenient because you only need one type of fertilizer for your whole garden.

What is also worth noting about this particular fertilizer is the fact that it is quite long-lasting. This product is designed to be slow-releasing, which means that your plants get an ideal amount of nutrients over a prolonged period of time. This is also convenient because it means that you don’t have to fertilize your plants all that often.

In terms of the nutrient or NPK ratio, it is fairly balanced. Remember that this fertilizer is designed for a wide variety of flowers and plants. For this reason, the NPK ratio is reasonably balanced. It contains enough nitrogen for healthy vegetative growth. However, it also contains great amounts of potassium phosphorus to get some really big and colorful flowers.

Pros

• Very easy to use
• Great for single fertilizing sessions
• Easily mixes with water in your watering can 
• Ideal for all flowers, shrubs, trees, and more 
• Balanced NPK ratio for best results

Cons

• Not overly cost-effective
• Unspecified ingredients – may not be organic

5. BioAdvanced Bayer All in One Flower Care Granules

If you want what is by far the most versatile plant food around, this is probably it. The reason why it is so versatile is that it serves many other functions than just feeding your plants. It’s definitely not the cheapest option around, although it may certainly be the best one on the list today.

Review

First and foremost, this is of course plant food. It is designed specifically for flowering plants, specifically for things like roses, hydrangeas, and more. It contains a relatively balanced ratio of the three main nutrients, NPK. 

It does contain quite a bit of nitrogen, to help with vegetative growth. However, it contains even more phosphorus and potassium, which helps with blooming. In fact, this is one of the best products on the list today when it comes to creating large and colorful blooms. This should of course, be ideal for hydrangeas and much more.

However, this product is also so much more than that. This all-in-one flower care product is also designed for optimal insect control. It helps to prevent and get rid of aphids, Japanese beetles, caterpillars, and much more. This is beneficial because it means that you won’t have any pests eating your plants or infesting your garden.

Next, this product also serves a third purpose, which is disease control. This product contains special ingredients that have the ability to control black spot, powdery mildew, southern blight, and rust blight too. 

Now, what does need to be said is that in order to serve all of these purposes, there are some pretty strong ingredients. No, not all of these ingredients are totally natural. 

What is really cool, however, about this product is the fact that it can last for up to six weeks. This means that you don’t need to feed your plants very often at all. This does of course help might life easier. It also features rainproof protection, so it won’t all dissolve and wash away with heavy rainfall. 

Do keep in mind that this product comes in the form of granules that have to be dissolved in water before you can feed your plants. It’s definitely not the cheapest product around, although still fairly cost-effective. You do get a full 4 pounds for a fairly reasonable price.

Pros

• Great flower food
• Works for most flowers and plants
• Ideal for large blooms
• Protects against disease
• Protects against pests 
• Rainproof protection
• Easy to use

Cons

• More expensive than most others reviewed today
• Contains some chemicals – not for use with edibles 

Buyers Guide

Before you go out and buy the best fertilizer for hydrangeas, there are some important things that you need to know. Here is all of the information you need to choose the best possible hydrangea fertilizer out there.

1. NPK Ratio

One of the most important things to look out for when choosing hydrangea fertilizer is the NPK ratio. NPK stands for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. These are the three most important nutrients that all plants need. 

Now, as far as hydrangeas are concerned, nitrogen is not all that important. Nitrogen is beneficial when it comes to vegetative growth, or in other words for growing big leaves. 

That said, the two most important nutrients for hydrangeas are potassium and phosphorus. Therefore, when it comes to the NPK ratio, looking for a slightly smaller first number, and larger second and third numbers is recommended.

2. Organic Ingredients

You do also then want to look for a product that contains mostly organic ingredients. After all, this is something that you are putting into the soil, and into the earth. It’s always best if you can limit the amount of chemicals and toxins that you put into the ground. 

Now, this might not be 100% necessary for hydrangeas, because it’s not like you are going to eat them. With that being said, being a bit eco-conscious and environmentally friendly is always good. This is especially the case considering the dire situation on earth is currently in.

3. Time Release

What is also beneficial is if you can find plant food for hydrangeas that feature some kind of time-release action. This means that the fertilizer will release its nutrients slowly over a certain period of time. 

This is much better than the full amount of the nutrients being released into the soil at once. A slow-release formula will ensure that you don’t need to feed your plants all that often. It can also help prevent your plants from being burned by the nutrients.

4. Granules vs. Liquid Food

You then also want to consider if you want to get liquid plant food or granules. Generally speaking, liquid plant food is easier to deal with, although you risk burning your plants. Granule plant food is generally the better of the two, especially because it also allows for that slow-release action to take place.

5. Pest & Disease Control

There are then also certain plant foods that serve more purposes than just feeding your plants with nutrients. For instance, some of the products we have reviewed today also contain ingredients that are designed to help control both pests and disease. Hydrangeas are somewhat susceptible to both pests and disease, so this is a fairly beneficial entry to keep an eye out for, 

6. Beneficial Microbes 

The other thing to look out for here is plant food that also comes complete with beneficial soil microbes. These help to break down the nutrients in the soil. They also allow the roots of your hydrangeas to absorb nutrients faster and more efficiently.

FAQ

1. What is the best nutrient ratio for hydrangeas?

Generally speaking, a very balanced NPK ratio is best for hydrangeas. Of course, the second and the third numbers are the most important ones to look out for. Hydrangeas don’t need as much nitrogen, but they do need a good deal of potassium and phosphorus.

2. What kind of soil do hydrangeas grow best in?

Hydrangeas are well known for liking fairly acidic soil. For this reason, many people add some Epsom salt into the soil. This helps to lower the pH level and to make the soil a bit more acidic. Thoroughly acidic soil will also cause your hydrangea to be very blue.

3. Why is my hydrangea not blooming?

There are a few reasons why your hydrangeas might not be blooming, including incorrect pruning, damage, the weather, and more. However, adding too much fertilizer, or fertilizer that doesn’t have enough potassium or phosphorus may also be the cause.

Conclusion 

If you are looking for the best fertilizer for hydrangeas, it is BioAdvanced Bayer All in One Flower Care Granules we recommend. Not only is this great plant food, but it also assists in disease and best control.

Of course, if you are aiming for the brightest hydrangeas around, getting that Grow More Hydrangea Bluing formula will also come in handy.