How is your Pinky Winky doing?

15 years ago

I am wondering how your Pinky Winky is doing, because I must say that I have not been impressed with mine so far. I planted a number of paniculatas over the last couple of years (Limelight, Little Lamb, Quick Fire, Pink Diamond, and Pinky Winky), and my PW has to be the least vigorous one. While all of the other paniculatas are fully leafed out, my PW is still rather sparse with its foliage. Many of these paniculatas are in the same area, so I don't think that it's the soil or the location.

Is it just me? Or is it a general issue with PW? I would love to hear your experience with PW so far.

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Comments (7)

echinaceamaniac
15 years ago
I was wanting to purchase one, but someone bought the last one before I could get it. They were replacing their Pinky Winky that died. I hope it's not a sign of things to come if I buy one! I ended up getting Limelight instead, but I like the pictures I've seen of Pinky Winky's blooms. Please post if your plant gets better.
annie4
15 years ago
I planted one last summer. I pruned it so it has 4 main stems. Right now it has about 1' of top growth but bare below that. Maybe it grows this way??
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Hello, margaret700.123. If your soil is really "very bad soil," you may want to send a sample to your Agriculture Extension Service for analysis in order to determine what minerals it has too few/too many of. The test result should also offer suggestions on how to correct things. Some nurseries also provide this service free (they hope to sell the amendments that your soil needs). Growing hydrangeas in dense shade, pruning just as it is getting ready to produce flower buds in June-ish, having a soil pH that is extremely acidic/alkaline and/or having too much nitrogen in the soil could cause your PW to not bloom. There are kits sold at nurseries that will give you some idea of how much nitrogen, phosphorus and pottasium. It is a general idea and not as good as a formal soil test, mind you. These kits do not check for other "minor" but important minerals; the soil test does. A newly planted shrub can be fed in June about 1/2 to 1 cup of compost, composted manure, cottonseed meal or you could apply a general-purpose slow-release chemical fertilizer. Maintain the shrub well mulched year around (3 to 4 inches). Luis
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Yeah, paniculatas like PW typically do very well. It is a good choice so check: (a) that you are not feeding it too much fertilizer - a single application of a general purpose, slow release fertilizer in the Spring should do well for the whole year (assuming your soil has no mineral deficiencies); (b) paniculatas need more sun but do not go overboard with sun exposure or the leaves may complain; (c) watch out for deer/squirrels/etc, pests that like to eat the flower buds and which would prevent you from getting bloomage; (d) do not prune them once they leaf out (just in case you are pruning when the shrubs are developing the flower buds). They bloom quite early here too so it is best to not prune once they leaf out. Instead, prune when they have lost their foliage or better yet, do not prune at all. If planted where they can attain their estimated size at maturity, hydrangeas should need minimal pruning. Maybe only pruning of any stems that died out during winter. Some shrubs may need 2-3 years to develop a good root system so they shrubs may delay blooming *or may delay good blooming) until then. Also, maintain the soil as evenly moist as you can so the plant does not abort the flower buds during a dry spell in late Spring or Summer... 3-4" of mulch helps with watering issues... Water when soil feels dry to a depth of 4". A 1g to 2g watering is sufficient (depends on how to tall the plants are) per watering when the soil feels dry or almost dry.
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You don't need to reduce the height of a 4' plant to 1 1/2' by deadheading, just removed the dried flower heads only at the base of the faded petals. Next years growth buds will appear in the leaf axils (where leaf joined stem). You can shape your plant when those buds begin to swell in Spring and you can see where to make cuts if shaping is needed. First dry day we have I will probably remove the old flowers from my own pee gee, not Pinky Winky and many years old - or I'm finding the flower heads blown around to be picked up after winter storms. Any major pruning or shaping I will do earliest Spring.
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lmschneider
15 years ago
I planted one early last fall. It was started just that year, so very small - only 2 branches. This winter my dog stepped on it and took it down to one branch.
I would say it was the latest of my hydrangeas this year to leaf out (I also have 3 Little Lambs & 1 Burgundy Lace - they were also planted last year but probably 2nd or 3rd year plants). But overall I have been pleased...it has at least tripled in size with at around 8 striking red branches loaded with clean foliage at about 2' high. No signs of buds yet - 2 of my LL's do, one does not & the Burgundy Lace does not yet either. It is young though so my comments are limited, so far everything seems healthy but I may have to wait another year before I see blooms and some size to it.

Compared to my LL's, I also think its less vigourous - but then those little guys are awesome.
ostrich
Original Author
15 years ago
It is very interesting that at least a couple of you also thought that it was not as vigorous as the other paniculatas. Now, I also have quite a bit of top growth, but nothing much below. So it now looks pretty weird - lots of bare stems with many leaves at the top! Hmm... not sure how I would like this "look". I guess I will give it at least another season. If it really does not come back well, then I got to see whether it should take up my prime real estate in the backyard.... LOL!

If anyone else has any experience with PW too, I would love to hear from you too! :-)
ego45
15 years ago
Actualy, if indeed it will be like that in a future, you could use such habit to your advantage.
For example, leggy PW surrounded by low (3') growing evergreen azaleas,
or encircle by ESs,
or to train it as a tree and suround by large bright hostas (Gold Standard should work perfectly).
Paniculata's roots are very hospitable to neighbors.
ostrich
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh, George, while I entirely agree with you, I am seeing this as a perfect excuse for me to move my PW out of the kidney-shaped bed, then move Limelight into PW's current position and put in rose bushes where Limelight is right now!!! LOL!
silvergold
15 years ago
Well, the rabbits got to mine so it was nothing more than a couple short twigs this spring :) However, I left it in place to see how it does.

How is your Pinky Winky doing?

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echinaceamaniac

annie4

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How is your Pinky Winky doing?

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echinaceamaniac

annie4

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