The majority of hydrangeas enjoy sites with rich, moist soil, some shade, and some sun. For optimal performance and health, they often prefer a little morning light and cooling shade in the late afternoon.
In garden centers and flower stores, you can frequently find a variety of hydrangea species (and many, many varieties of these species). Four different hydrangea varieties—’Endless Summer’ bigleaf, ‘Bluebird’ lacecap compact, ‘Tardiva’ hardy, and ‘Alice’ oakleaf—represent three different species in my landscape.
Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)
The most popular species of bigleaf hydrangea is one that blooms in the spring. Round or flat flower clusters in hues of white, red, pink, blue, purple, and occasionally scarlet may be present. Large circular bloomers are referred to as “mopheads,” and flat-blooming varieties are referred to as “lacecaps.”
Hardy Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata)
The summer is when these lovely hydrangeas blossom. As the tall cone-shaped blooms mature, their color changes from light green to white to pink or crimson.
Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)
The Oakleaf hydrangea is well-known for its enormous, deep green leaves that last well into the fall as well as its displays of autumnal hues of orange, scarlet, and maroon before dormancy. Early in the summer, the oakleaf hydrangea blooms with white panicles.
Other Tyles of Hydrangeas
- Climbing Hydrangea vines that climb walls, fences, and pergolas with grace are Hydrangea barbata and Hydrangea petiolaris. They are relatively easy to control and prune, in contrast to wisteria.
- Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, sometimes known as the wild hydrangea, is a loose, widely branching shrub that prefers rocky slopes or damp soil.
- The Rough-Leaved Hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera) features broad, flat flower heads and rough leaves. You can even find varieties like this “Plum Passion” from Monrovia with purple leaves.
Can hydrangeas be planted in gravel?
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Hydrangeas might not be the first flower that comes to mind when you think of the ideal plants to grow in pots. But in actuality, hydrangeas are excellent for container gardening! Container gardening might be the best option if your garden space is restricted.
See how to grow hydrangeas in containers below so you can determine whether or not this is a good option for your landscaping plan.
These guidelines for growing hydrangeas in pots and containers will help you create the garden you want, regardless of how much sun or space you have available. Whether you want to add one hydrangea plant or 10, these suggestions can help. Let’s get going.
Here are the procedures to follow in order to plant your hydrangeas successfully in containers, planters, and pots.
1. Select the appropriate flowerpot.
The time is not right to choose little, charming flower containers. Make sure the roots of your hydrangea plants have enough space to spread out when putting them in containers.
Because of their extensive root systems, hydrangeas are especially susceptible to rot.
Make sure the container you’re using has a minimum of 2 feet of width and 2 feet of depth. It makes little difference if it is made of wood, ceramic, or even plastic. The biggest issue is that there is plenty of room.
Make sure the pot has at least 3–4 drainage holes before choosing it. To prevent water from building up and leading to rot, your container needs drainage holes at the bottom.
You can always choose to drill your own holes if your container lacks these holes.
2. Spread some gravel on top.
Add a layer of gravel to the bottom of your planter before filling it with dirt. Better drainage will be made possible by this additional layer.
The extra layer can aid in drawing water away from the plant since hydrangeas dislike having their roots wet or muddy, as was previously indicated.
3. Select the proper soil.
It’s important to use nutrient-rich soil when planting hydrangeas in containers. Typically, topsoil lacks the nutrients a plant needs to thrive.
To improve the soil, it is recommended to add some organic matter or compost before planting. It should be mixed along with the topsoil to produce a mixture that will be adored by your plant.
Check out How to Make a Mini Compost Bin if you’re new to composting. Additionally, a list of starter materials for your compost will be shown.
4. Include a hydrangea!
You have the ideal container, a drainage layer, and the best nutrient-rich soil inside of it.
The exciting phase is about to begin: planting your hydrangea! Hydrangeas are available at any home and garden store.
The ideal hydrangea would be one that is in a quart-sized container. On Amazon, I saw this adorable quart-sized pink to white Bobo Hardy Hydrangea.
How to plant a hydrangea is as follows:
Make a hole that is twice as deep and twice as wide as the plant’s root system.
Place the plant in the hole, and then loosely encircle the roots with soil.
5. Be aware of when to water. Give the hydrangea plant a good soaking after placing it in the container. Make sure the soil is moist by checking it frequently.
In times of high heat and dryness, your hydrangea plant may require up to 2 inches of water every week.
You can usually tell what your hydrangea needs by performing a quick soil test with your finger. Simply feel the ground. It is time to let the plant dry down for a while if it feels muddy and leaves mud on your skin.
It needs to be watered immediately if it is too dry and firm to leave a fingerprint on it. Your soil should be just the correct consistency—soft to the touch, crumbly, and never muddy.
Find some sunshine.
Your hydrangea will benefit most from full sun. This entails positioning the container in a location that receives at least 6 to 8 hours a day of direct sunshine.
Watch your sun patterns to make sure the space you choose satisfies this minimum. Your hydrangea won’t thrive as it should without 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight.
One advantage of growing hydrangeas in pots is that you can easily adjust the pot so that it receives the sunlight it need.
Enjoy your plant, no. 7! Your hydrangea may be readily moved if necessary because it is in a container. Your potted hydrangea should be placed somewhere that could use a splash of color, such a patio or one of your garden beds.
Weeds shouldn’t be an issue because your hydrangea is in a container. Just go ahead and pull any that do emerge in the planter. Don’t worry if your yard space is restricted. Anywhere you choose, hydrangeas are still enjoyable.
See how easy it can be to contain these lovely flowers so you may utilize them in the area you like by taking into account these suggestions for growing hydrangeas in containers!
When you’re through, be sure to read this article on growing hydrangeas. You’ll discover useful advice that will make your hydrangeas glow!
What sort of soil prefer hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas have huge bloom heads and exude an old-fashioned elegance. How to plant and take care of beautiful floral bushes is explained in our hydrangea growing guide. Additionally, learn the answers to frequently asked questions like “why aren’t my hydrangeas blossoming this year?”
About Hydrangeas
These elegant plants are simple to grow, withstand nearly any sort of soil, and produce an abundance of blossoms that are unmatched in the world of shrubs for their stunning flowers. Clear blue, vivid pink, frosty white, lavender, and rose blossoms sometimes grow on the same plant, enticing us with their colors.
From container gardens to shrub borders to group plantings, hydrangeas are great for a variety of garden locations. Breeders seem to give us more possibilities every year, and gardeners have countless expectations for bloom size and color. Varieties abound. Pay attention to the species listed below to get an idea of how your hydrangea will develop as some require different maintenance. The joys you experience will be enhanced when you know what to expect.
Enjoy this tribute to hydrangea beauty and read our guide below to discover how to grow hydrangeas.
Where to Plant Hydrangeas
- The majority of hydrangeas like fertile, moisture-rich soils that drain well. Compost can help improve bad soil.
- Hydrangeas typically prefer some sun. In an ideal world, they would receive full sun in the morning and then some afternoon shade to avoid the intense midday sun. The Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla), with its huge, prone-to-wilting leaves, is a prime example of this. Some kinds can withstand more direct sunlight.
- Depending on the kind, place hydrangeas anywhere between 3 and 10 feet apart. Plants should always be spaced according to their anticipated mature size!
When to Plant Hydrangeas
- The optimum season to plant hydrangeas is in the fall, followed by spring. The cooler shoulder seasons are the ideal times to plant shrubs because they will have plenty of time to build a strong root system before the intense heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter.
- In the early morning or late afternoon, plant the shrubs. The plant is less prone to experience heat stress from direct sunshine because it is typically cooler.
How to Plant Hydrangeas
- Gently remove the hydrangea from its container and examine the root ball. Snip off any rotten or dead sections, and if the plant is very root-bound, pry the roots free.
- Make a hole that is two to three times as big and as deep as the root ball. The top of the planting hole should be level with the base of the plant, which is where the stem joins the earth.
- After placing the plant in the hole, add enough soil to fill it halfway. generously hydrate. Fill the remaining space in the hole with soil once the water has been absorbed.
- once more, thoroughly rinse.
How to Grow Hydrangeas from Cuttings
Cuttings of hydrangeas can be easily grown. They easily take root, and the process is a wonderful teaching tool for propagation. This is how you do it:
- Find a branch on a mature hydrangea that is fresh growth and has not flowered. In comparison to older growth, new growth will appear lighter in color, and the stem won’t be as firm.
- Make a horizontal incision 4 to 5 inches down from the branch’s tip. Make sure your cutting has at least three to four pairs of leaves.
- Trim the cutting’s lowest pair of leaves so that they are flush with the stem. If you can afford to remove more than one pair of leaves, do so. Roots develop more readily from these leaf nodes. But make sure to leave at least two pairs of leaves at the cutting’s tip.
- Remove the tip half of any leaves that are still pretty large by cutting them in half. This keeps the leaves from slamming into the sides of the plastic bag you’ll later use to cover the cutting (to keep the humidity up).
- (Optional) Sprinkle rooting hormone and a plant antifungal powder on the stem’s leafless area (both available at a local hardware or garden store). This will promote roots and deter decay.
- Prepare a small pot and put moistened potting soil inside. The cutting should be planted in the ground, buried down to the first remaining pair of leaves. Lightly water the area surrounding the stem to close any air spaces.
- Wrap a plastic bag loosely around the entire pot. To prevent the cutting’s leaves from rotting, make sure the bag is not touching them. The bag can be supported by chopsticks or other such objects to keep it off the leaves.
- Put the pot in a warm location that is protected from the wind and sun.
- Only rewater your cutting after the top layer of soil is dry after checking on it every few days to make sure it isn’t decaying. In a few weeks, hopefully, the cutting will start to root! If you feel resistance when you gently tug on the cutting, roots have grown.
Watering
- Make sure hydrangeas get enough water for the first year or two after planting and throughout any droughts.
- Over the course of the growing season, water at a rate of 1 inch per week. Three times a week of heavy watering is preferable to shallow watering. Root growth is promoted by this.
- All varieties of hydrangeas benefit from constant moisture, but bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas need more water.
- If the soil is too dry, the leaves will wilt, and there won’t be enough moisture for the flowers to bloom.
- To water thoroughly while keeping moisture off the flowers and leaves, use a soaker hose.
- The best time to water hydrangeas is in the morning to protect them from disease and get them ready for the heat of the day.
- Under your hydrangeas, spread organic mulch to help keep the soil cool and moist, gradually add nutrients, and enhance soil texture.
Fertilizing
You might not need to fertilize hydrangeas if your soil is rich. When fertilizer is applied in excess, blossoms are sacrificed in favor of green growth. A soil test is the most effective tool for determining your fertility requirements.
Apply fertilizer according to the type of hydrangeas you have. Every variety has varied requirements and will profit from applying fertilizer at various times.
- Several mild fertilizer applications in March, May, and June are beneficial for bigleaf hydrangeas.
- Two applications in April and June work best for oakleaf and panicle hydrangeas.
- The only time smooth hydrangea plants require fertilizing is in the late winter.
Winter Protection
- Cover plants with bark mulch, leaves, pine needles, or straw in the fall, at least 18 inches deep. If at all feasible, create cages out of chicken wire or snow fencing and cover the entire plant, including the tip, with the cages. (Avoid using maple leaves; they have a tendency to mat after becoming wet and may suffocate the plant.)
How to Prune a Hydrangea
Many of the queries from readers concern hydrangea trimming. It makes sense that it’s unclear because it relies on the hydrangea kind. Fortunately, identifying which type you have makes determining the best pruning strategy simple. Discover the fundamentals below, then read more about pruning different varieties of hydrangea here.
Pruning Common Hydrangeas
The Bigleaf cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla is the most popular garden hydrangea shrub. (For more, see below.)
Hydrangeas with large leaves, such as Bigleaf (H. macrophylla), Oakleaf (H. quercifolia), Mountain (H. serrata), and Climbing (H. anomala subsp. petiolaris), are pruned AFTER the summer blooms have passed. On stems from the previous season, these kinds bloom (“old wood).
- Avoid pruning after August 1 since flower buds actually grow in the late summer and bloom the next season.
- Dead wood should only be removed in the fall or very early spring.
- To stimulate branching and fullness, trim one or two of the oldest stems by cutting them all the way to the ground.
- Pruning the stems all the way to the base is necessary if the plant is old, neglected, or injured. For the following season, you’ll lose the flowers, but you’ll also revive the plant for subsequent ones.
- The huge Mopheads should not be deadheaded (faded flowers removed); instead, you should leave them over the winter and trim them back in the early spring (to the first healthy pair of buds). Deadheading Lacecaps is OK; simply trim down to the second set of leaves below the bloom head.
- Avoid pruning unless it is absolutely required while growing H. macrophylla (and H. serrata) cultivars in Zones 4 and 5, and then only after blooming. If not, merely remove dead stems in the spring.
Pruning Other Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas called Panicle (H. paniculata) and Smooth (H. arborescens) are clipped BEFORE flower buds develop. On stems from the current season, these kinds blossom (“new wood).
- When the plant is dormant in the late winter, prune. The plant will therefore grow new buds in the spring that will result in blossoms even if the winter kills the buds.
- In general, avoid pruning to “shape the bush” and just remove dead branches.