It’s not difficult to grow hydrangea in Houston (South Texas), but it’s also not simple. It can be very difficult to grow a beautiful hydrangea shrub that will blossom and endure in the sun and humidity.
It gets difficult when you have to choose the right variety up front. The Oakleaf hydrangea is the kind that thrives in our climate (Hydrangea quercifolia). Although it performs better than other varieties, this lovely shrub does not resemble the hydrangeas we see in books or at flower shops. The cream-colored, cone-shaped flowers on this 8-foot-tall shrub have a rounded appearance. Throughout the season, flowers will transform to pink and even reddish brown in the autumn (note: you cannot change the color of Oakleaf hydrangea by changing acidity of the soil)
PeeGee hydrangea follows as the best performer for South Texas on our list of hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata). Again, not the hydrangea you see in magazines. Typically white-green, cone-shaped blossoms eventually turn pink with maturity. If unpruned, PeeGee hydrangea can reach a height of 15 feet, which is impressive for a shrub. PeeGee hydrangeas can often be taught to resemble trees with correct pruning.
However, the picture-perfect French hydrangea or mopheads are what the majority of us would like to grow (Hydrangea macrophylla). These hydrangeas are undoubtedly the most challenging to grow in Houston (and southeast Texas). Do you feel up to the task?
Starting with the ideal location for hydrangeas: The east side of the home (or any other structure) will receive morning sun and afternoon shade. If space on the east side is not a possibility, your other choice is the north side. Of course, if you’re like me and have trouble with orientation, pull out your compass or pour yourself a cup of tea, and spend some time watching: Find a location that receives some morning sun but is sheltered for the majority of the day.
The size of your site is the second thing to think about. Hydrangeas require space to expand. Take into account that French hydrangeas can reach heights of 7 feet and a width of 8 feet. For your hydrangea to flourish, leave at least 2 feet in each direction (from the plant’s center) when you plant it.
The hue of the hydrangea is the third factor to take into account. In Southeast Texas, pink and red colored blossoms are the easiest to grow (our clay soil is very alkaline and as such works best for pinks and reds). Once you master hydrangea cultivation, you can experiment with altering the soil’s acidity (If you want blue hydrangeas, you will need to add Aluminum sulfate to the soil, to lower your pH and make soil more acidic).
Got it all? Let’s make a large hole. The hole must be twice as wide as the pot that your hydrangea came in. The hole should be dug to a depth equal to the soil in your pot plus 4 inches. Fill the hole with compost to a depth of about 4 inches. Add the soil you dug out over your hydrangea before planting it. Mix potting soil in with your clay soil if it’s too dense (keep the ratio 3:13 part potting soil, 1 part clay). Mulch should be applied to the top 4-5 inches of the plant. We advise using cedar mulch (keeps the termites away). Water the mulch until it’s evenly wet.
Maintaining the health of your hydrangea comes last but not least. Moist soil is ideal for hydrangeas. Hydrangeas require daily watering until they are established (2-3 weeks). Just water the dirt (mulch) around the roots; don’t water the leaves or the flowers; let the rain take care of it. Early in the morning is advised for watering hydrangeas, followed by late at night. Once established, you must experiment and make a few observations. Water your hydrangea bush every other day as of now. Maintain that schedule if your leaves appear healthy (not drying out or wilting). You need to reduce the frequency of watering if your leaves begin to turn yellow to rust-colored. Mulch will quickly become your closest ally. It safeguards the roots, effectively holds water, and gives bugs a place to live.
When should your hydrangea be planted is the next concern. The best response for our area is: When the weather is nice outside. It shouldn’t be very hot, wet, or cold: between November and April (weather report should not mention any hard freeze). Only from February to May do we often sell hydrangea at Scent & Violet.
Would you like to raise the ante a bit? Place thyme, lemon balm, and chives close to your hydrangeas. These plants may thrive in the shadow and will aid in luring helpful insects. Why not utilize some of them in your cooking as well? Also think about growing some native Texas flowers that do well in shade.
Your hydrangea lived and flourished, right? You want to prune it since it has gotten too huge. Check out this video from North Coast Gardening to learn how to prune hydrangeas properly.
A full-service florist in Houston, Texas, Scent & Violet, flowers and presents offers flower, plant, and gift delivery in Houston, Katy, Richmond, Fulshear, Sugar Land, and Bellaire. We want to develop a hassle-free, regular buying source for presents, plants, and flowers. We really believe that giving gifts can lead to stronger relationships, better settings, and better mental states than receiving them.
In Texas, where do hydrangeas thrive?
The fact that hydrangeas prefer indirect sunlight is the most crucial consideration when choosing where to put them. They prefer a little morning sunshine, followed by cold shade for the rest of the day. According to this reasoning, the east side of your house is the optimum location to plant hydrangeas. This manner, the hydrangeas will be exposed to the sun in the morning, but by midday, when it is at its brightest, your house will be casting some shadow over them!
If there isn’t much open space adjacent to your East wall, lying in the dappled shade of a tree canopy would be a suitable alternative. Your hydrangeas will receive a few spots of sunshine as the limbs move in the breeze, but they’ll still stay cold.
Make sure the soil is in good condition once you’ve chosen a location for your new shrub. Your hydrangea can wind up having a minor fit if the soil is excessively sandy or too heavy and clay-based. To help with drainage and to enrich the soil with essential nutrients, make sure that a lot of organic matter has been incorporated into the soil (Natures Way Leaf Mold is ideal). The ideal weather for hydrangea planting is mild; it shouldn’t be too hot, too cold, or too stormy. Choose a clear day in the spring or fall to plant your shrub so that it has time to establish before having to withstand the coming hotter days.
Hydrangeas can they survive in Texas?
The following hydrangea types do well in Texas when grown as hydrangeas:
- Oakleaf hydrangea (this kind is less appealing to me because the flowers are cone-shaped and less colorful)
- Hydrangea PeeGee (similar but better to me than the oakleaf because the flowers turn pink eventually)
- Hydrangea Endless Summer (this variety has fared the best in the summer heat)
- Hydrangea named Annabelle (I haven’t personally tested this one, but it’s claimed to be more durable.)
- Light-up hydrangea (Another one I was thinking about trying next year)
When do hydrangeas bloom?
The type, cultivar, planting zone, and hydrangea blooming season all affect when they bloom. The majority of hydrangeas with new growth form buds in the early summer in preparation for blooming the next spring, summer, and early fall. Hydrangeas may stop flowering in the heat of the summer in hot locations, but they will blossom again in the fall.
How do you cut back hydrangeas?
Hydrangea plants don’t require pruning if they are allowed plenty of room to develop in the garden. Only the periodic clearance of dead wood is necessary.
Do you need to deadhead hydrangeas?
Your hydrangeas will continue to bloom into the fall if you deadhead them. Hydrangeas make wonderful cut flowers, so there’s no need to wait until the flower wilts. Leave the early fall blossoms alone so they can fade naturally. In the days leading up to your freeze date, you don’t want to promote new growth.
How do you control hydrangea color?
The distinction of hydrangeas is that you can modify their color. But keep in mind that not all hydrangea varieties can change their color. H. macrophylla, a species of bigleaf hydrangea, responds to changes in soil pH. Hydrangeas can absorb aluminum thanks to a low soil pH, which gives the blossoms a lovely blue hue. Reduce the pH of your soil by mixing in sulfur or peat moss to enhance the number of blue hydrangea flowers. Throughout the growth season, you can keep amending your soil with extra aluminum sulfate. When you add ground limestone to boost the pH, pink and red blooms shine.
You may precisely modify your hydrangea color using a soil pH test. To avoid the plant from being harmed, keep the pH level below 7.5. In the fall, all hydrangeas will naturally fade regardless of the modifications you’ve made. Don’t worry, the plant will display vibrant, new blossoms once more in the spring.
Can hydrangeas grow in shade?
Although they won’t blossom in complete shade, hydrangeas prefer dappled or infrequent shade. How much sun do hydrangeas need is more important to consider than whether they love the sun or the shade. Your hydrangeas require more sunlight the further north in your garden you are. A general guideline is six hours of sunlight each day. However, southern hydrangeas can thrive with just three hours of sunlight per day.
Can hydrangeas grow in full sun?
While hydrangeas prefer morning sun, they struggle in the hot, afternoon sun. For these gorgeous creatures, partial shade in the later hours of the day is optimal.
Can you grow hydrangeas in pots?
Even if you don’t have enough room in your garden to cultivate hydrangeas, you can still enjoy these lovely blossoms by learning how to grow hydrangea in a pot. As long as you follow the fundamentals of caring for hydrangeas, the procedure is rather straightforward. Select a pot with at least an 18-inch diameter to accommodate the mature size of the particular hydrangea you are growing. In order to maintain the constant moisture level that hydrangeas demand, look for non-porous containers. Excess water will be able to adequately drain thanks to drainage holes. Consider growing dwarf hydrangeas like Buttons ‘n Bows, Mini Penny, and Little Lime.
How do you keep hydrangeas from wilting?
Morning irrigation on a regular basis can assist stop withering. Some hydrangea cultivars simply can’t stand the heat. No matter how much water you give them, they will begin to wilt in the afternoon heat. Mulch applied in layers can help soil retain moisture and stay cool. You shouldn’t be concerned if your hydrangeas bloom again once the day cools. A little midday wilting is preferable to overwatering and drowning your hydrangeas.
Where to plant hydrangeas:
- A location with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. They’ll take more sun if you reside further north (possibly full sun all day).
- Think about the mature size and give it lots of room to expand.
- Pick a location with great drainage. If necessary, add compost to the soil.
- Plants won’t thrive if they are planted too close to a tree because of root competition and a lack of sunshine.
- Planting should not be done in open locations where strong winds could snap stems.
How to plant hydrangeas:
- By amending your soil with up to 15% organic matter and an all-purpose slow-release fertilizer, you may give your plant a good start (use half of what is recommended).
- Plant a little higher than you did while you were in the nursery container.
- In order to give the roots plenty of freedom to expand, the planting hole should be two to three times broader than the root ball.
- Before planting, gently untie the roots from their pots.
- Add the modified dirt back in and thoroughly water it.
- If planting a grouping, space at least 3 feet apart (more, if planting larger varieties).
Planting hydrangeas in pots:
- Use a bagged potting mix rather than garden soil.
- Mix in a slow-release fertilizer.
- Leave 1 to 2 inches between the top of the soil and the rim of the pot for watering.
- Make sure the pot has drainage holes and sufficient area for the plant to expand.
Which side of the house should hydrangeas be planted?
Bushes called hydrangeas bear white, pink, or blue blooms. These are small flowers that grow in voluminous bloom clusters. These bushes will typically reach a height of four to six feet and bear flowers that can range in length from six to eighteen inches. These shrubs thrive best in damp soil and are extremely cold hardy. These shrubs prefer some shade and cannot stand full sun or complete darkness. H. anomala, a climbing variation of hydrangeas, is also available. This type can either be let to grow along the side of a structure or planted on a trellis on the north side of the house. It has the capacity to grow as tall as 80 feet. Hydrangeas do well when planted close to small evergreens or woody shrubs because they also do well in woodland regions.
- No matter where in the nation you reside, the north side of your house receives little natural light.
- Hydrangeas do well when planted close to small evergreens or woody shrubs because they also do well in woodland regions.
How simple are hydrangeas to grow?
The hydrangea plant is adaptable and simple to grow. They have no preference as to where they are planted. All they require is well-drained soil, some water, and some summertime shade.
What month should hydrangeas be planted?
Choose a time in late spring or early fall when the nights are cooler and there is little risk of frost. If you garden in an area where the ground freezes, put seeds at least six weeks before the first deadly frost of the fall. This allows plants to establish roots before the ground becomes really cold. To improve root insulation, place a 2-inch mulch layer around plants after planting.