This is by far, the BEST video on the Pinky Winky Hydrangeas! The ones I planted last fall are doing okay, the flowers are white but the plants are still small. I can’t wait until they grow big. You’re video has made me so excited for the future of my Pinky Winkys..Thank You Laura ❤
My pleasure, and I’m so glad you liked this video! 😊 The first full season your shrubs will seem like they aren’t growing much - but their roots are growing underground. Next year you’ll definitely see them grow taller. Happy you’re enjoying the white flowers right now. You will love watching the color change happen over the Summer into Fall! 🌸🍂🍃
You made this video for me, right, Laura?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I just planted my first pinky winky this year!!!!! So thrilled! Thank you so much for the video and tips!
Why yes I did Elise! 🤣😊🤣 Congratulations on your new Pinky Winky! You will love it because it’s so beautiful and easy-care. I look forward to getting updates!
@@GardenSanity 🤣🤣🤣 I knew it. So happy to have your video to enjoy & learn from PLUS have my beautiful Pinky Winky in my hydrangea family here on our farm!!! ❤❤❤
You convinced me that I needed Pinky Winky more than any other hydrangea because I like to be pollinators friendly. So I bought 5 starter shrubs. Basically a small, pencil thin branch, about 9” tall, rooted. They slept, they crept, and now they are in the leap year, probably 2x2, flowering and on their way to being gorgeous.
Oh am I thrilled to read this Dora! 🤗 The leap year is the best, as I always feel that's when I can start to breathe a sigh of relief that the shrubs will be just fine and won't need as much watching over! You are right they will be absolutely gorgeous and continue to be, year after year! Congrats! ❤
I'm in SW MO; planted PW last year & it didn't bloom. THIS YEAR it's loaded! Can't wait to see the changing colors; thus, the reason I HAD to have one. I also have Ruby Slippers & Strawberry Sundae. All are beautiful! GR8 video--thanks!
I’m so happy for you Roxie, as there’s nothing sweeter than seeing a Pinky Winky in full bloom! 🌸 And don’t forget the scent too! You’re the second gardener in the comments here to mention Ruby Slippers…and I’ve got to find a spot for one! 😀💛
Im also in SW MO...having a landscaping project done this fall and I think im going to make pinky winky my specimen shrub. Ideally I'd like something that is no more than 6 ft tall...but this is sooooo beautiful, I really need it
Beautiful Laura, thanks for sharing. We have several oak leaf hydrangeas here in zone 7 (Ruby Slippers). Similar cone shaped flowers that start creamy white, turn pink, then deepen to burgundy. Leaves are oak leaf-shaped, and turn a burgundy bronze color in fall. Easy to grow. Morning sun, afternoon shade is best. I might need to find room for a Pinky Winky, just for the name, thanks! 😉
My pleasure Gina! 😊 Just as you want to find room for a Pinky Winky, I still want to find room for an oak leaf hydrangea, and I know Ruby Slippers is beautiful! Now you've reminded me to add this to my way-too-long list, as I bet yours are stunning!
Me too Diane, especially dealing with my Limelight Hydrangea Tree which is an expert flopper after heavy rain. 🤣 Wind and rain never bother mine, even during tropical storms which have done a number on other plants. 🌸😊 Definitely a win win, like you said!
That’s wonderful you found one at Lowes, as you probably got a deal price-wise. 👍 Glad to hear it’s doing well so far. You’ll love how trouble-free it is while just blooming on and on! 🌸🌿 Keep me posted!
You couldn’t resist. Snowdrangeas, even in July. I would just add for people to be cautious of panicle hydrangeas in part sun. I have 3 little limes that get 2 hours of sun. They still bloom, but kind of wonky and they’re a bit small.
Yes, Snowdrangeas to cool everyone off in this heat wave! 😊 So a little sun/shade info . . . Full sun = more than 6 hours of direct sun, while part sun = between 4 and 6 hours. Part shade = between 4 and 6 hours of sun, but mostly before the afternoon. Full shade is considered to be less than 4 hours of direct sun. So….your Little Limes are in what’s considered to be more shade rather than part sun. (I used to think full shade meant no sun.) ☀️ ⛅️ 😊 Also, I use the word wonky too - great descriptive word! 👍
@@GardenSanity Ok, I think they need a better system of sunlight needs. I think I’ll keep my wonky little limes there. The bed has a huge Nikko blue and 4 tiny tuff stuff which will be fading soon.
@willaerley7140 Agree! Full shade means full shade to me! If there’s some sun, it’s partly sunny! 🌞 I have a wonky Little Lime Punch planted in part shade in my backyard, and same thing: it flowers but not as much as the one I have in full sun. But I like where it is.
Hi Bonny! I love how pretty the Pinky Winky trees are! How long ago did you plant the tree? Just curious, in terms of it not blooming until now. Glad you’re getting flowers finally this year. 😊🌸
Hi Mary! So glad to have another South Jersey gardener here! 👋 How fun to have a newly planted Pinky Winky! I know you will love this shrub, and hope you’ll keep me posted on how it’s growing. 🌸😊
Excellent video Laura. I planted 2 last fall from an end of season sale. They came back beautifully but only one of them has a couple of flowers. I am assuming it just needs time to establish and will get a better show next year? If not, what else would cause the plant to have no blooms yet - in August! I garden in Ohio zone 6. Maybe not enough water? Oh! and what is that pretty pop of red next to your shrubs? I love the color combination there with the trio.
Thank you! 😊 In terms of your shrubs, how do the leaves look? Healthy and green? Yes, Pinky Winky definitely needs a lot of water, especially in the first few years and also when it is super hot out. You'll always be able to tell when you've given it too much water, as you'll begin to see some yellow leaves which will eventually fall off on their own or you can pull them off if they bother you. 👍 Now if the leaves look nice and healthy, it is quite possibly the shrub getting its roots established and next year will be better in terms of flowers. Shrubs usually take 3 years to look their best. The first complete year they are getting their root established underground. The second complete year they still may not look as great as you want them to, but they will be better. And then third year is usually surprising with how well they look. (This is true for perennials too, and is referred to as "Sleep-Creep-Leap" for those first 3 years.) 🌿🌸 Another good idea is to give them a good dose of fertilizer in the Spring, after pruning them. It's too late this season to give them fertilizer, but you can put some compost around them in the Fall along with mulch to protect the roots during the Winter season. I've got a separate video on pruning, which is link above in the Description Box area for you, in case you haven't seen it yet. 😀 As for the pop of red, that's Orange Rocket Barberry. Some people don't like Barberry shrubs because they can be somewhat invasive with seedlings and these type of shrubs can supposedly attract ticks. In the 10 years since I planted them, I only have picked out a few seedlings. And because they are in my front yard, there's no worry about ticks, as our front yard is all pavers and garden beds, in a development which doesn't see any deer (in particular, although I know ticks can travel on other animals). I wouldn't plant these in my backyard, as we have woods behind our fence and I know there are ticks back there. (Just giving you an honest warning!)
@@GardenSanity Laura! You are so detailed with your responses! Thank you so much! Yes the leaves look green and good. I did give both plant tone in Spring. So I think I need to probably just have patience :) I have Barberry in my frontyard and love it. But yours is a different variety. I love the contrast it brings out. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome! 🤗 Very happy that the leaves look great, so yes I think they are just taking their time. Next Spring, switch to Holly-tone for the fertilizer, as it’s perfect for them with a bit more acidic properties than Plant-tone. (I use both in my garden, depending on each plant.) Please keep me posted next year as I’m hoping you’ll finally have those wonderful flowers! 🌸 🌿🌸🌿
Thank you for this guide. We have a new Pinky Winky. Planted last Fall so it’s first full season. We are in zone 8B, Eugene, Oregon. It’s a beauty. It is a bit floppy though with some lower stems lying on the ground. Getting plenty of water and also using Holly Tone. Full sun. Is it possible that it’s just because it’s first season?
Yes, no worries at all Cathy!😃Mine did the same thing, way back when, and from time to time I still get some stems that grow out from the base of some larger stems and grow very close to the ground. Sometimes I keep those, as it looks nice, and other times I'll just snip them off. Next Spring, once you do a good pruning on the shrub, those main stems coming out from the ground will begin to get stronger and stronger (and thicker), while the newer stems that sprout up from where you pruned will also develop quickly into strong stems. It usually takes about 3 years until you'll see the shrub looking more mature. I hope this helps put your mind at ease! 💛
Glad you added a Pinky Winky to your garden! It's best to follow the package directions on whichever fertilizer you choose to use. I use Espoma Holly-tone, which is a granular fertilizer. I sprinkle it around the shrub, and gently work it into the soil. You can water it in, or let Mother Nature water it in for you. I apply it once a year, just after pruning in Spring.
Hi Laurie, The link was included at the end of the video to click directly on it and watch next. I also included it in the Description box above these comments (and below the video). 😀👍🌸
I’m about to order some, what do you think about using these for hedging?? Would love your thoughts Zone 6b, part-to-full sun Edited to add: just clicked “buy” haha! I know limelight tends to be the choice but I think a hedge of these will be fabulous and your channel has definitely been a convincing factor for me in choosing this variety!! I think 5 of these in a 25ft long area will make a nice dense hedge for some privacy from the road
Oh my YES for hedging! 👍😍 I’m glad you answered your own question! 😃 I think Limelight has problems with flopping, although Little Limes are nice though shorter than Pinky Winky. The Pinky Winkies will look so wonderful as a hedge, and I hope you keep me posted on how they do over time! 🌸🤗 Congratulations on a soon-to-be beautiful hedge!
Super video! My 3 pw shrubs are approx. 7 yrs old and only 4 feet high approx. I want them much taller but they are slow to reach real height. Any suggestions? Also, I'm zone 5 (Ottawa, Can.) so leaving blooms on during severe winters that we get, weighs them down with the snow. Can I go ahead and snip off the dead blooms in say, late fall?
Hi there! Yes, you can snip off those blooms in late Fall, which will definitely help the shrub from getting weighed down, like you mentioned. 👍 I have a longer Summer season here in Zone 7 (southern New Jersey) which could be part of the reason mine get so tall compared to your season in Ottawa. Are yours in full sun? The more sun Pinky Winky gets, the happier it seems to be, especially in your more Northern climate. The average height of Pinky Winky is between 6 and 8 feet tall. If you give them a good pruning (as demonstrated in my pruning video, link is above in the description area), and then follow that with good slow-release organic fertilizer, your shrub will be happy and hopefully produce more growth for you.
I just bought 2 (in 3 gallon containers) but the blooms are turning brown on one of them. Planted them in the early morning on a day that only warmed up to 80 degrees. They had been at the nursery on 100 degree days...and I felt like I kept them well watered until I planted them using biotone into a well drained berm of fresh rich soil that I bought at my local landscape supplier. Full sun until 2ish in the afternoon. One is doing well, one has had most of the blooms turn brown...help
Hi Marie, it sounds like you are doing everything right. 👍Sometimes, even in the same garden area, two identical plants will have different reactions to being planted in the same area. It happens. In the case of what you describe, the brown flowers indicate that the plant needs more water. Don't fret too much about it, as long as the leaves remain green, healthy and aren't shriveling up and turning brown. Provide more water, best in the morning and best at the base of the plant to make sure the roots are taking in the water to the rest of the plant. Pinky Winky will become more drought tolerant over time, but since both of yours are newly planted they will need more water ongoing to make sure they get off to a good start. Start with giving the one with brown flowers a bit more water than the other one. It's honestly a matter of seeing how much water they need, judging from how they look - which is exactly what you're doing. If you see browning on the petals or leaves, more water. If you see yellow leaves, too much water. It's more important this season to make sure the leaves remain green and healthy, as that's a great sign the shrub is getting acclimated to its new home. I hope this helps, and please keep me posted. 💛
After 3 inches of rain my entire shrub bent to the ground,every stem. I didn't know what to do so I cut all the blooms off. and then the stems bounced back up but I lost all of this years blooms just as they were starting to turn. How can I prevent this in the future?
Hi Sheila, I'm so sorry that happened. 😢 Is it a newer shrub? With younger panicle hydrangeas, their stems haven't become strong yet so flopping can occur during severe rains. Doing a good pruning next Spring will help to strengthen up those stems over time. Once the stems are strong, flopping will be none to minimal. I still have a few that grow "out" towards the sides and bottom of the shrubs - that's how they grow - but mine have even survived tropical storms once they matured. I hope this helps?
Yes you can! There are many videos on UA-cam showing how to do this, depending on the shrub you're interested in. Here's a great one I found: ua-cam.com/video/B5yQEudsdZ4/v-deo.htmlsi=Lq4w6MitoAaNlMuy (I would do it this way, if I was propagating my panicle hydrangeas.) Hope this helps!
I planted a pinky winky this spring that was already blooming. Due to the extreme heat this summer, all the blooms have started to burn. Is this normal?
Hi Jacquie - yes it’s normal because it is such a young plant. Once the roots get established and it grows a bit, your Pinky Winky will better withstand drought and extreme heat. 🌞 Even mine, which were planted 10 years ago, will get a few petals here and there that look dried up or brown during extreme heat. The key is water. Lots of water. 💦 Your Pinky Winky will need a good amount of water during its first season or two. It won’t prevent seeing any browning on some petals, but it will reduce the number of them. 👍 It can be frustrating to see the blooms looking like that, but please know that it is normal for a young Pinky Winky that’s 1) newly planted this year, and 2) dealing with extreme heat in its first year. 🥵 Hang in there, and keep me posted. 💛
There are so many different types of hydrangeas out there. These are panicle hydrangeas which can be much easier to grow than other varieties. They are also considered to be very hardy as well. Have you tried growing a panicle hydrangea? (These include Pinky Winky, Little Lime, Little Lime Punch, Bobo, Puffer Fish, Little Quick Fire, Quick Fire Fab, Vanilla Strawberry, Fire Light and so many more, in all shapes and sizes from miniature to tall.) 🌸 Some of these work well in containers too, if you wanted to try growing them that way. 😀 (Personally, I didn't do well with mophead hydrangeas at all. But panicle hydrangeas have grown much better for me.)
Pinky Winky is a Proven Winners shrub. You can find them at garden nurseries for sale in the Spring and early Summer, or you can purchase them online. 😀
This is by far, the BEST video on the Pinky Winky Hydrangeas! The ones I planted last fall are doing okay, the flowers are white but the plants are still small. I can’t wait until they grow big. You’re video has made me so excited for the future of my Pinky Winkys..Thank You Laura ❤
My pleasure, and I’m so glad you liked this video! 😊 The first full season your shrubs will seem like they aren’t growing much - but their roots are growing underground. Next year you’ll definitely see them grow taller. Happy you’re enjoying the white flowers right now. You will love watching the color change happen over the Summer into Fall! 🌸🍂🍃
I planted a row of these alternating with Limelight and this is year 3 and they grew so much!!! I absolutely love these shrubs!!
Oh my goodness, that sounds like a stunning combination! 🌸🌿🌸🌿 Way to go! 👏😀
Fantastic presentation!!! Thank you, Mike.
You're most welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!
You made this video for me, right, Laura?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I just planted my first pinky winky this year!!!!! So thrilled! Thank you so much for the video and tips!
Why yes I did Elise! 🤣😊🤣 Congratulations on your new Pinky Winky! You will love it because it’s so beautiful and easy-care. I look forward to getting updates!
@@GardenSanity 🤣🤣🤣 I knew it. So happy to have your video to enjoy & learn from PLUS have my beautiful Pinky Winky in my hydrangea family here on our farm!!! ❤❤❤
@eliselook Awesome! I hope you enjoy it for many years to come! 🤗
You convinced me that I needed Pinky Winky more than any other hydrangea because I like to be pollinators friendly. So I bought 5 starter shrubs. Basically a small, pencil thin branch, about 9” tall, rooted. They slept, they crept, and now they are in the leap year, probably 2x2, flowering and on their way to being gorgeous.
Oh am I thrilled to read this Dora! 🤗 The leap year is the best, as I always feel that's when I can start to breathe a sigh of relief that the shrubs will be just fine and won't need as much watching over! You are right they will be absolutely gorgeous and continue to be, year after year! Congrats! ❤
I'm in SW MO; planted PW last year & it didn't bloom. THIS YEAR it's loaded! Can't wait to see the changing colors; thus, the reason I HAD to have one. I also have Ruby Slippers & Strawberry Sundae. All are beautiful! GR8 video--thanks!
I’m so happy for you Roxie, as there’s nothing sweeter than seeing a Pinky Winky in full bloom! 🌸 And don’t forget the scent too! You’re the second gardener in the comments here to mention Ruby Slippers…and I’ve got to find a spot for one! 😀💛
Im also in SW MO...having a landscaping project done this fall and I think im going to make pinky winky my specimen shrub. Ideally I'd like something that is no more than 6 ft tall...but this is sooooo beautiful, I really need it
@@jessicakillian3738 It will grow taller than 6 feet eventually, but it truly is beautiful!
Beautiful Laura, thanks for sharing. We have several oak leaf hydrangeas here in zone 7 (Ruby Slippers). Similar cone shaped flowers that start creamy white, turn pink, then deepen to burgundy. Leaves are oak leaf-shaped, and turn a burgundy bronze color in fall. Easy to grow. Morning sun, afternoon shade is best. I might need to find room for a Pinky Winky, just for the name, thanks! 😉
My pleasure Gina! 😊 Just as you want to find room for a Pinky Winky, I still want to find room for an oak leaf hydrangea, and I know Ruby Slippers is beautiful! Now you've reminded me to add this to my way-too-long list, as I bet yours are stunning!
I have found Pinky Wiinky to be tried and true when it comes to holding it's blooms up. It is not weak or floppy. That's a win win in my book!
Me too Diane, especially dealing with my Limelight Hydrangea Tree which is an expert flopper after heavy rain. 🤣 Wind and rain never bother mine, even during tropical storms which have done a number on other plants. 🌸😊 Definitely a win win, like you said!
이름이 특이한 수국이군요. 꽃도 이뻐요. 영상 감사해요! 관리방법도 유용합니다.
You are most welcome! 🌸
Don't have one...but will be looking for one or more. Just beautiful.
You'll love Pinky Winky, Diana! Truly easy-care. It's so nice to simply just enjoy them all Summer into Fall, without any effort! 😊
Bought one at Lowes earlier this year and planted it. First time I'd seen it in a box store. It seems to be doing great so far.
That’s wonderful you found one at Lowes, as you probably got a deal price-wise. 👍 Glad to hear it’s doing well so far. You’ll love how trouble-free it is while just blooming on and on! 🌸🌿 Keep me posted!
Mine just started ❤ I can’t stop taking pictures. 🥰
That’s wonderful! I do the same thing every year. 📸 I don’t want to know how many photos I have of them. 🤣😊
Such a beautiful plant! I love the dark stems.
Me too Allison! The deep red stems are showy, especially before the shrub begins pushing out flowers! This is my favorite panicle hydrangea! 🌸😀
pinky winky and pinky winky prime ae amazing plants!!
Completely agree with you! 🌸😀
You couldn’t resist. Snowdrangeas, even in July. I would just add for people to be cautious of panicle hydrangeas in part sun. I have 3 little limes that get 2 hours of sun. They still bloom, but kind of wonky and they’re a bit small.
Yes, Snowdrangeas to cool everyone off in this heat wave! 😊 So a little sun/shade info . . . Full sun = more than 6 hours of direct sun, while part sun = between 4 and 6 hours. Part shade = between 4 and 6 hours of sun, but mostly before the afternoon. Full shade is considered to be less than 4 hours of direct sun. So….your Little Limes are in what’s considered to be more shade rather than part sun. (I used to think full shade meant no sun.) ☀️ ⛅️ 😊 Also, I use the word wonky too - great descriptive word! 👍
@@GardenSanity Ok, I think they need a better system of sunlight needs. I think I’ll keep my wonky little limes there. The bed has a huge Nikko blue and 4 tiny tuff stuff which will be fading soon.
@willaerley7140 Agree! Full shade means full shade to me! If there’s some sun, it’s partly sunny! 🌞 I have a wonky Little Lime Punch planted in part shade in my backyard, and same thing: it flowers but not as much as the one I have in full sun. But I like where it is.
I have a Pinky Winky in tree form. This will be the first time that it has bloomed for me. Bonny zone 5b Canada
Hi Bonny! I love how pretty the Pinky Winky trees are! How long ago did you plant the tree? Just curious, in terms of it not blooming until now. Glad you’re getting flowers finally this year. 😊🌸
@@GardenSanity Three years ago but I moved it from it's first spot because it was not getting enough sun.
Ahhhh, I see. Sounds like it’s happy in its new spot, which is wonderful! Enjoy the long season of bloom! 🌸🩷
Love your video. Also in South Jersey so all your tips will apply to my newly purchased pinky winky!😊
Hi Mary! So glad to have another South Jersey gardener here! 👋 How fun to have a newly planted Pinky Winky! I know you will love this shrub, and hope you’ll keep me posted on how it’s growing. 🌸😊
Very informative 👏 thank you 😊
You're most welcome Kathleen! Glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Another great video!
Thanks so much! This was a fun one to make, because I adore these shrubs so much! 🌸
Wow! Thank you for this!
You’re welcome Ray - glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Excellent video Laura. I planted 2 last fall from an end of season sale. They came back beautifully but only one of them has a couple of flowers. I am assuming it just needs time to establish and will get a better show next year? If not, what else would cause the plant to have no blooms yet - in August! I garden in Ohio zone 6. Maybe not enough water?
Oh! and what is that pretty pop of red next to your shrubs? I love the color combination there with the trio.
Thank you! 😊 In terms of your shrubs, how do the leaves look? Healthy and green? Yes, Pinky Winky definitely needs a lot of water, especially in the first few years and also when it is super hot out. You'll always be able to tell when you've given it too much water, as you'll begin to see some yellow leaves which will eventually fall off on their own or you can pull them off if they bother you. 👍 Now if the leaves look nice and healthy, it is quite possibly the shrub getting its roots established and next year will be better in terms of flowers. Shrubs usually take 3 years to look their best. The first complete year they are getting their root established underground. The second complete year they still may not look as great as you want them to, but they will be better. And then third year is usually surprising with how well they look. (This is true for perennials too, and is referred to as "Sleep-Creep-Leap" for those first 3 years.) 🌿🌸 Another good idea is to give them a good dose of fertilizer in the Spring, after pruning them. It's too late this season to give them fertilizer, but you can put some compost around them in the Fall along with mulch to protect the roots during the Winter season. I've got a separate video on pruning, which is link above in the Description Box area for you, in case you haven't seen it yet. 😀 As for the pop of red, that's Orange Rocket Barberry. Some people don't like Barberry shrubs because they can be somewhat invasive with seedlings and these type of shrubs can supposedly attract ticks. In the 10 years since I planted them, I only have picked out a few seedlings. And because they are in my front yard, there's no worry about ticks, as our front yard is all pavers and garden beds, in a development which doesn't see any deer (in particular, although I know ticks can travel on other animals). I wouldn't plant these in my backyard, as we have woods behind our fence and I know there are ticks back there. (Just giving you an honest warning!)
@@GardenSanity Laura! You are so detailed with your responses! Thank you so much! Yes the leaves look green and good. I did give both plant tone in Spring. So I think I need to probably just have patience :) I have Barberry in my frontyard and love it. But yours is a different variety. I love the contrast it brings out. Thanks for sharing!
You’re very welcome! 🤗 Very happy that the leaves look great, so yes I think they are just taking their time. Next Spring, switch to Holly-tone for the fertilizer, as it’s perfect for them with a bit more acidic properties than Plant-tone. (I use both in my garden, depending on each plant.) Please keep me posted next year as I’m hoping you’ll finally have those wonderful flowers! 🌸 🌿🌸🌿
Thank you for this guide. We have a new Pinky Winky. Planted last Fall so it’s first full season. We are in zone 8B, Eugene, Oregon. It’s a beauty. It is a bit floppy though with some lower stems lying on the ground. Getting plenty of water and also using Holly Tone. Full sun. Is it possible that it’s just because it’s first season?
Yes, no worries at all Cathy!😃Mine did the same thing, way back when, and from time to time I still get some stems that grow out from the base of some larger stems and grow very close to the ground. Sometimes I keep those, as it looks nice, and other times I'll just snip them off. Next Spring, once you do a good pruning on the shrub, those main stems coming out from the ground will begin to get stronger and stronger (and thicker), while the newer stems that sprout up from where you pruned will also develop quickly into strong stems. It usually takes about 3 years until you'll see the shrub looking more mature. I hope this helps put your mind at ease! 💛
Hey! I also got a beautiful pinky winky this year and would love to know how much fertilizer would you need to put?
Glad you added a Pinky Winky to your garden! It's best to follow the package directions on whichever fertilizer you choose to use. I use Espoma Holly-tone, which is a granular fertilizer. I sprinkle it around the shrub, and gently work it into the soil. You can water it in, or let Mother Nature water it in for you. I apply it once a year, just after pruning in Spring.
Can you include the link to your video that shows you how to prune the Pinky Winky hydrangea
Hi Laurie, The link was included at the end of the video to click directly on it and watch next. I also included it in the Description box above these comments (and below the video). 😀👍🌸
I’m about to order some, what do you think about using these for hedging?? Would love your thoughts
Zone 6b, part-to-full sun
Edited to add: just clicked “buy” haha! I know limelight tends to be the choice but I think a hedge of these will be fabulous and your channel has definitely been a convincing factor for me in choosing this variety!! I think 5 of these in a 25ft long area will make a nice dense hedge for some privacy from the road
Oh my YES for hedging! 👍😍 I’m glad you answered your own question! 😃 I think Limelight has problems with flopping, although Little Limes are nice though shorter than Pinky Winky. The Pinky Winkies will look so wonderful as a hedge, and I hope you keep me posted on how they do over time! 🌸🤗 Congratulations on a soon-to-be beautiful hedge!
Super video! My 3 pw shrubs are approx. 7 yrs old and only 4 feet high approx. I want them much taller but they are slow to reach real height. Any suggestions? Also, I'm zone 5 (Ottawa, Can.) so leaving blooms on during severe winters that we get, weighs them down with the snow. Can I go ahead and snip off the dead blooms in say, late fall?
Hi there! Yes, you can snip off those blooms in late Fall, which will definitely help the shrub from getting weighed down, like you mentioned. 👍 I have a longer Summer season here in Zone 7 (southern New Jersey) which could be part of the reason mine get so tall compared to your season in Ottawa. Are yours in full sun? The more sun Pinky Winky gets, the happier it seems to be, especially in your more Northern climate. The average height of Pinky Winky is between 6 and 8 feet tall. If you give them a good pruning (as demonstrated in my pruning video, link is above in the description area), and then follow that with good slow-release organic fertilizer, your shrub will be happy and hopefully produce more growth for you.
I just bought 2 (in 3 gallon containers) but the blooms are turning brown on one of them. Planted them in the early morning on a day that only warmed up to 80 degrees. They had been at the nursery on 100 degree days...and I felt like I kept them well watered until I planted them using biotone into a well drained berm of fresh rich soil that I bought at my local landscape supplier. Full sun until 2ish in the afternoon. One is doing well, one has had most of the blooms turn brown...help
Hi Marie, it sounds like you are doing everything right. 👍Sometimes, even in the same garden area, two identical plants will have different reactions to being planted in the same area. It happens. In the case of what you describe, the brown flowers indicate that the plant needs more water. Don't fret too much about it, as long as the leaves remain green, healthy and aren't shriveling up and turning brown. Provide more water, best in the morning and best at the base of the plant to make sure the roots are taking in the water to the rest of the plant. Pinky Winky will become more drought tolerant over time, but since both of yours are newly planted they will need more water ongoing to make sure they get off to a good start. Start with giving the one with brown flowers a bit more water than the other one. It's honestly a matter of seeing how much water they need, judging from how they look - which is exactly what you're doing. If you see browning on the petals or leaves, more water. If you see yellow leaves, too much water. It's more important this season to make sure the leaves remain green and healthy, as that's a great sign the shrub is getting acclimated to its new home. I hope this helps, and please keep me posted. 💛
After 3 inches of rain my entire shrub bent to the ground,every stem. I didn't know what to do so I cut all the blooms off. and then the stems bounced back up but I lost all of this years blooms just as they were starting to turn. How can I prevent this in the future?
Hi Sheila, I'm so sorry that happened. 😢 Is it a newer shrub? With younger panicle hydrangeas, their stems haven't become strong yet so flopping can occur during severe rains. Doing a good pruning next Spring will help to strengthen up those stems over time. Once the stems are strong, flopping will be none to minimal. I still have a few that grow "out" towards the sides and bottom of the shrubs - that's how they grow - but mine have even survived tropical storms once they matured. I hope this helps?
Can I propagate more from an established shrub?
Yes you can! There are many videos on UA-cam showing how to do this, depending on the shrub you're interested in. Here's a great one I found: ua-cam.com/video/B5yQEudsdZ4/v-deo.htmlsi=Lq4w6MitoAaNlMuy (I would do it this way, if I was propagating my panicle hydrangeas.) Hope this helps!
I planted a pinky winky this spring that was already blooming. Due to the extreme heat this summer, all the blooms have started to burn. Is this normal?
Hi Jacquie - yes it’s normal because it is such a young plant. Once the roots get established and it grows a bit, your Pinky Winky will better withstand drought and extreme heat. 🌞 Even mine, which were planted 10 years ago, will get a few petals here and there that look dried up or brown during extreme heat. The key is water. Lots of water. 💦 Your Pinky Winky will need a good amount of water during its first season or two. It won’t prevent seeing any browning on some petals, but it will reduce the number of them. 👍 It can be frustrating to see the blooms looking like that, but please know that it is normal for a young Pinky Winky that’s 1) newly planted this year, and 2) dealing with extreme heat in its first year. 🥵 Hang in there, and keep me posted. 💛
I struggle with growing hydrangeas
There are so many different types of hydrangeas out there. These are panicle hydrangeas which can be much easier to grow than other varieties. They are also considered to be very hardy as well. Have you tried growing a panicle hydrangea? (These include Pinky Winky, Little Lime, Little Lime Punch, Bobo, Puffer Fish, Little Quick Fire, Quick Fire Fab, Vanilla Strawberry, Fire Light and so many more, in all shapes and sizes from miniature to tall.) 🌸 Some of these work well in containers too, if you wanted to try growing them that way. 😀 (Personally, I didn't do well with mophead hydrangeas at all. But panicle hydrangeas have grown much better for me.)
Where can I get lt from?
Pinky Winky is a Proven Winners shrub. You can find them at garden nurseries for sale in the Spring and early Summer, or you can purchase them online. 😀