How To Grow Hydrangeas In Pots
Hydrangea is an easy-to-grow perennial plant that loves the sun and can adapt to all kinds of soil conditions. Hydrangeas blooms in the late spring or early summer, covering their host with pink or blue flowers, depending on the variety.
Growing hydrangeas in pots allows you to move them around easily indoors, so they will be protected from winter weather. Read below for more information about how to take care of hydrangeas growing in containers.
WHERE TO GROW HYDRANGEAS IN POTS?
First of all, choose a pot that is not too shallow, since hydrangeas need at least 10 inches (25 cm) depth for good root growth.
Then look for a spot that receives lots of sunlight. Hydrangeas love the direct sun, so the brighter the better.
If you don’t have a place for this kind of plant outside, take it out during summer and put it back in next spring once everything freezes. You can also bring it inside where there is plenty of natural light during wintertime.
HOW TO GROW HYDRANGEAS IN POTS?
Choose an appropriate potting mix suitable to grow hydrangea in containers; soil should drain well but should not be too sandy or clay-like.
Organic matter should be peat moss (you can also use coconut chips). Add some compost if you like (this will improve drainage even more). There should always be plenty of holes between the mixture for good airflow.
Fill the pot with soil and make sure to leave some empty space at the top, so you can water hydrangeas in pots freely.
Also, remember that they need plenty of oxygen circulation, so don’t plant them too deeply – just enough so that leaves are not touching the soil.
If you’re growing hydrangea in pots outside, be careful if your area is prone to overwinter frosts or you will lose your hard work.
You can grow hydrangeas in containers indoors instead by planting them in pots during summertime and moving them back outdoors on protected areas when winter comes.
Place your newly bought hydrangea in a bright spot (gardens that receive part shade are also ok) and water it until the potting mix is almost dry.
Stop watering once the soil is completely dry; only water again when you see the top 1in (2 cm) of soil become dry or if leaves start to wilt.
Once established, you will need to water less frequently, maybe every 2 weeks during summertime.
REGULAR PRUNING OF HYDRANGEAS
Pruning is necessary to have a good-looking hydrangea in the long run. During the first year, remove any dead or damaged branches.
Also, prune the back half of the stems after the blooming season is over. In springtime, when new buds emerge, cut them back by about 3/4 so they keep a bushy appearance instead of becoming too open and leggy – this will create more flowers during summertime.
You can also trim your hydrangeas in pots by cutting off old blooms before the next ones come out if you want them to look neater; just remember to leave one flower stem on each branch so it doesn’t break easily.
Important points while growing Hydrangeas in pots
Although hydrangeas grow well in most kinds of soil, they will produce more blooms if grown in acidic soil.
Therefore, try to use peat moss or compost instead of regular potting mix to have this effect.
If you aren’t sure about the pH level of your garden or yard, you can always buy a kit at a local nursery for testing the acidity of your soil.
To summarize hydrangea growing in containers; choose sunny spots with lots of light and plant them deeply enough so leaves are not touching the soil – only about 1/2in (1 cm) below the surface. If leaves wilt even though you water hydrangeas regularly, move them to a place where there is more oxygen circulation.
You can also grow hydrangeas in pots indoors by bringing them outside during summertime and back inside when winter comes, or if you live in a cold area just keep them inside all the time.
Prune them regularly in early springtime to keep them healthy and blooming.
You may also be interested in:
Even though hydrangeas grow slowly, they still need some pruning so they can have a nice shape and not grow too tall with weak flowers.
When growing hydrangeas in pots, remember that they will need to be pruned regularly every year for at least 5 years or so until you have a nice-looking plant.
Once it is established, it shouldn’t require too much maintenance except regular watering and feeding.
The most important thing when growing hydrangeas in pots are that the potting mix drains well and does not retain too much moisture at the same time.
This way your plants will never become waterlogged or wet on top of the soil, allowing diseases to develop more easily.
It’s also important not to over-fertilize them since they may become very nutrient-greedy with faster growth which can result in brown tips on leaves – this indicates overfeeding. Be careful if you choose liquid fertilizer because it can burn the leaves very easily.
Video on how to grow hydrangeas in pots
The takeaways are
There are many different types of hydrangeas available to grow in pots, but most need acidic soil which you can make yourself by adding compost or peat moss.
Remember that they will still need to be pruned regularly for 5 years at least so keep an eye on the plant and decide whether you want it to become bushier or taller with more flowers – prune accordingly.
Once this is decided, prune the back stems and dead branches in early springtime and remove dead flower stems before new ones open up.
If your hydrangea has very old brown leaves, it’s also recommended to cut them off as well since they aren’t helping with nutrient intake any longer.
More interesting articles you may be interested in reading:
10 Cheap Plants / Trees Perfect For Outdoor Privacy
How To Remove A Tree Stump Painlessly
You Can Get Candy Cane Flowers That Will Get You In The Mood For The Holidays
Fluffy Miniature Cows Are SO CUTE and They Make GREAT PETS.
Thanks for reading and be sure to share this info with your friends using the social share buttons below.
Talking about social stuff, consider liking our Facebook page to keep up to date with our articles. Check out our other articles for more mental scoops!
