“For Mother’s Day, my daughter handed me a lovely hydrangea. It has done so wonderfully that I’m curious if I should plant it outside or keep it within as a houseplant.”
Hydrangeas with foil encircling the pot, whether they were a gift or something you bought yourself, frequently differ from those bought at a nursery. The foil-wrapped hydrangea is often grown for a single, grand performance. The plant has been specifically fed to produce a lot of huge blooms quickly, frequently at the price of the plant’s long-term health.
The hydrangeas selected for this project are exclusively grown in greenhouses and might not be winter hardy where they are purchased.
If your locale isn’t warm enough to cultivate hydrangeas outdoors, you might wonder if you can grow them indoors as a houseplant.
A. There are a variety of reasons why growing hydrangeas inside in a home environment is not particularly successful. When hydrangeas may experience a period of dormancy brought on by chilly weather, they thrive. Hydrangeas rarely blossom indoors, attract insects, and lose their leaves unless they are in a greenhouse. They frequently dry out too rapidly and wilt, which makes them weaker.
However, some gift/florist-type hydrangeas may be grown extremely well in the landscape, as you can see from the images below.
Although growing hydrangeas indoors is not the optimal answer, it is conceivable if one lives in an apartment or in an area where they cannot survive:
1) Put the hydrangea in the coolest part of your house; ideally, an unheated room.
2) Position it close to a window so that it receives the most light possible.
The third and most crucial tip is to not overwater the plant by letting it sit in water or by watering it too frequently. It’s preferable to keep it dry during the winter, but it shouldn’t ever get too dry that it wilts.
Whenever possible, it is ideal to plant the potted hydrangea outside. It should only be planted outside in the early to mid-summer because it needs time to get used to the weather before winter.
In conclusion, unless it may be planted in the garden, foil-wrapped hydrangeas are best employed as a temporary plant in a person’s home.
When may I plant my hydrangea in a pot outside?
Mophead hydrangeas can be cultivated outside wherever the wintertime temperature stays above -15oC because they are hardy (5oF). However, as they were grown in greenhouses and given fertilizer to induce early flowering, potted hydrangeas sold as houseplants may require some time to acclimate to life outside before being put out. Place them outside in their pots during the day and bring them inside at night to harden them off for one to two weeks before to planting. Hydrangeas that have been grown for outdoor planting can be planted immediately. Mid- to late April, when the soil has had time to warm up, is the ideal time to plant mophead hydrangeas outdoors.
The optimal conditions for hydrangeas are shade from the sweltering afternoon sun and moist, well-drained soil. They are therefore excellent alternatives for shady gardens, and in mid- and late-summer, their dramatic spherical flowerheads are absolutely gorgeous. Regularly water hydrangeas, especially during dry spells, and in the spring or fall, mulch with compost or other organic material.
Because of the soil’s pH (acidity or alkalinity), pink and blue mophead hydrangea blossoms have the unusual ability to change color. The blossoms will be a deeper shade of blue the more acidic the environment is. Flowers turn a gorgeous pink on alkaline soil. The color of white mophead hydrangeas doesn’t alter.
Is it better for hydrangeas to grow in the ground or in pots?
Maintaining hydrangeas in pots is easy, and they provide a beautiful addition to a deck or patio’s color and structure. Additionally, they go well with modern gardens as well as country gardens.
You already know that hydrangeas want moist, organically rich soil that doesn’t dry out over the summer if you’ve read up on how to cultivate them. They thrive best when planted directly into the ground because containers have a tendency to dry out much more quickly.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t use these blooms to make a lovely container arrangement. Simply make sure to take good care of them, choose your compost wisely, and plant them where they will thrive. Additionally, some kinds are better suited to these circumstances. Everything you need to know about taking care of hydrangeas in pots is included in this guide.
After a potted hydrangea blooms, what should you do with it?
Hydrangeas produce beautiful, vividly colored blossoms on globe-shaped flower heads, and they are frequently presented as gifts during the spring holidays. The United States National Arboretum claims that Hydrangea macrophylla is the most widely cultivated species in the country. Hydrangeas make excellent indoor plants and may be grown outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 6 through 8. If you received a potted hydrangea as a present, it was probably already in bloom. After the petals first fade, many people throw away their hydrangeas, but with the right care, the plant will bloom once more.
Will a hydrangea in a pot last the winter?
Hydrangeas in potsWinter Care Bring potted plants indoors before the first frost for the greatest hydrangea winter protection. They can stay outside and be protected by covering the entire pot and plant if they are too heavy to transport.
What is the ideal location to plant hydrangeas?
Learning the fundamentals of how to plant hydrangeas can help you save time and money, just like with most other items in your garden. You’ll improve your chances of enjoying big, vibrant hydrangea flowers for years to come by picking the appropriate site, getting the soil just right, and planting correctly.
When should I plant hydrangeas?
The best time to grow hydrangeas is in the fall, followed by early spring. The goal is to provide the shrub lots of time to develop a strong root system before it blooms. Early in the day or late in the day are the ideal times to plant. The day’s cooler hours provide relief from heat exhaustion. Water new plants frequently until they get established.
Locations to plant hydrangeas
The first step is knowing where to grow hydrangea plants. Hydrangeas are frequently grown in beds adjacent to houses or fences. This is so because hydrangeas prefer the mild early sun to the hot afternoon sun. A protected area with sunny mornings and shaded afternoons is the ideal spot to plant hydrangeas. This is frequently found on the north or south side of a house. Avoid planting underneath trees since it could cause competition for nutrients and water. Flowers and leaves can both be destroyed by strong winds.
hydrangea-friendly soil
The soil needs to be rich in organic matter for hydrangeas to thrive. Drainage is important. Although hydrangeas prefer damp soil, they cannot stand standing water. Root rot can be brought on by wet, poorly draining soils. Your hydrangeas could pass away in a matter of weeks. Consider adding a lot of compost to your heavy soil before planting to increase the soil’s quality.
Methods for planting hydrangeas
Simply dig planting holes that are 2 feet wider than the root ball for planting hydrangeas. So that your plant lies level with or just higher than the surrounding soil, match the depth of the hole to the size of the root ball. You can improve water drainage away from the plant’s base by making a small mound.
The best way to grow hydrangeas
Simple propagation methods can multiply a single hydrangea into several more. The optimal time to layer bigleaf and panicle hydrangeas is in the early to mid-summer. You only need to:
- Close to your hydrangea plant, make a tiny trench.
- Bend a branch such that the middle of the branch meets the earth in the trench (six to 12 inches of branch should extend past the trench).
- Where the branch meets the trench soil, make scuff marks on the bark.
- After the trench is filled, cover it with a paver, brick, or stone.
- The branch can be transplanted to a different area once it has established its own root system over time.
Hydrangeas with smooth or oakleaf leaves produce new growth from underground stems. Simply separate the baby plant from the main plant by digging it up. After then, it can be moved to a new spot.
Is it possible to grow patio hydrangeas outside?
With their large, floppy blooms in springtime shades of pink or blue, those potted hydrangeas from the flower shop or the grocery store are attractive at this time of year (occasionally white). Naturally, many were turned into mother’s day gifts of gratitude.
If you keep the soil moist, potted hydrangeas, also known as florist hydrangeas, are simple to care for inside. Keep them from drying out! You’ll discover that they are thirsty plants due to their enormous leaves and large blooms.
However, avoid letting water collect at the pot’s bottom. Make a few holes in the bottom of a pot that is covered in foil and place a saucer on top. Letting a plant’s roots sit in water is the fastest way to destroy any indoor plant.
The temptation will be to place the plant on a table in the center of the space. And if you like, that’s okay at night. A hydrangea will need more light during the day, though.
The plant should be placed in a well-lit area with shadows and at least some direct sunlight. If you want to remove the flowers once they have faded, it is acceptable. But it’s not essential.
Don’t believe that, though. A hydrangea in a pot is a present that goes on giving. If you live in Zone 6 or farther south, you can plant it outside once all risk of frost has passed. (Zone 5 is also worth attempting. Simply arrange the hydrangea in a safe area.)
These vintage charmers prefer a little sun to bloom outside. Ideal location would have morning sun and afternoon shade. The same goes for a location with damp soil or one that a hose can easily access. Hydrangeas need a lot of water both inside and out.
The primary issue with these lovely shrubs is that they are extremely vulnerable to spring frost damage. When the TV weather forecaster forecasted frost, I’ve been known to store an old quilt or mattress pad by the back door so I could dash outside in the evening and throw it over my hydrangeas to prevent the flower buds from freezing!
Frost is frequently to blame when a hydrangea doesn’t bloom in the spring. Therefore, if it’s still chilly where you live, hold off on bringing your potted plant outside for a little while.
It’s not a problem, though. Both inside and outside, hydrangeas are delightful.
How long do hydrangeas in pots last?
In U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 5 through 9, hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) gardens are adorned with enormous, vibrant blooms. These shrubs, which share their frothy blossoms for the most of the summer and may grow between 4 and 12 feet tall with proper care, can live for decades.
Hydrangeas are hardy shrubs that, with proper care, can survive for up to 50 years. They require frequent watering during the growing season and prefer early light but afternoon shade. After the blossoms have faded, prune them in the fall so that they will have sturdy stems for the summer after. The hydrangeas may lose their blooms for a year while the plants heal if they are pruned when they are in bloom.
Common hydrangeas, sometimes known as bigleaf hydrangeas, bloom in a variety of hues, including blue, pink, and purple. These hydrangeas typically start to bloom in May, which is sooner than some other kinds. Usually, the plants keep producing blooms until July. According to the characteristics of the soil, bigleaf hydrangeas are known to shift their bloom colors; a plant that blooms pink one year may bloom blue the following. Aluminum sulfate, which is added to the soil, promotes blue flowers, whereas hydrated lime, which is added to alkaline soils, promotes pink blossoms. Ayesha, Nikko Blue, and Preziosa are cultivars.
Longer blooming than other hydrangeas, the smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) frequently displays color from early June through September. The cultivars “Anabelle” in white and “Invincibelle Spirit” in pink are examples. Smooth hydrangeas often bloom on wood from the current year, which means you should severely prune them, in contrast to other hydrangeas that bloom best on ancient wood. Trim them to a height of 6 to 12 inches above ground.
The panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) blooms later in the year because it prefers the heat of summer to the mild weather of spring. Panicle hydrangeas often begin blooming in July and continue through September. Their blossoms are initially white, but as fall approaches, they start to turn rusty pink.
However, if you relocate the plants or transplant one from a pot to the ground, the hydrangeas may not bloom for a year or perhaps two. Hydrangeas can produce big flowers in their first year. This does not imply that their time of flowering is over. Once the roots of the plants have recovered from the shock of transplantation, they should begin to blossom. To this end, keep the plants well-watered and treat them with a balanced fertilizer throughout the spring, summer, and fall.
Shala Munroe has been writing and copy editing since 1995 from her home outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She began her career in journalism at publications like the Marietta Daily Journal and the Atlanta Business Chronicle. She most recently had managerial and communications positions for a number of charity organizations before opening a flower business in 2006. She graduated from Jacksonville State University with a BA in communications.
Are hydrangeas grown indoors and outside different from one another?
Remove any foil wrapping from the hydrangea if it was a gift. Remember that hydrangeas offered for sale around the holidays might not be hardy enough to endure indoors. If you’re serious about growing hydrangeas indoors, your chances of success may be higher if you buy them from a nursery or greenhouse.
Place the hydrangea in a sizable pot filled with superior potting soil. Put the plant in an area with lots of light. Hydrangeas planted outside can take some mild shadow, but interior plants require lots of light (but not intense, direct sunlight).
When the plant is blooming, give your potted hydrangea indoor plant periodic waterings, being cautious not to overwater. After blooming, reduce watering but never let the potting soil go completely dry. If at all feasible, use distilled water or rainwater to hydrate potted hydrangea houseplants because tap water frequently contains chlorine and other pollutants.
If the air inside is dry, use a humidifier or put the plant on a humidity tray. Particularly when flowering, hydrangea thrive in a cool environment with temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees F (10 and 16 degrees C). The environment is probably too warm if the leaves start to get brown and crunchy around the edges.
Keep heat sources and drafts away from the plant. While the plant is blooming, feed it once a week with a water-soluble fertilizer that has been diluted to half strength. After that, limit feedings to to one monthly.
It is advised to give hydrangeas a time of hibernation in the fall and winter when growing them as houseplants. Place the plant in a room that isn’t heated and is about 45 degrees Fahrenheit warmer (7 C.). To keep the plant from wilting, the potting mixture should be kept on the dry side but only lightly watered when necessary.