Caring for hydrangeas in pots is an easy and great way to add stunning color and structure to a patio or deck. And they complement all kinds of garden styles – from cottage gardens to modern plots.
If you are already up to speed How to grow hydrangeasYou’ll find that these plants thrive in organically rich soil that doesn’t dry out in the summer. For this reason, they are usually happiest planted directly in the ground, as containers can dry out very quickly.
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still create a beautiful container display with these blooms. You just need to make sure that you give them proper care, choose your compost carefully and place them in the right place. Some varieties are even better suited to these conditions. Our guide explains everything you need to know about hydrangea care in pots.
Where should you place potted hydrangea in your garden?
Whether you’re growing hydrangeas in pots or your own Garden landscaping ideasThey do best in shaded shade. For this reason, avoid placing your potted hydrangea in a south-facing position that receives a lot of sun throughout the day.
If you don’t have these conditions in your garden, try placing your potted hydrangea in a spot that gets sun in the morning and shade in the afternoon – this will help prevent the soil from drying out.
The beauty of growing hydrangeas in pots is that they are easy to move to different locations in your garden. If it doesn’t thrive in its current position, find a shadier spot elsewhere on your patio or garden path.
What Fertilizer Should You Use When Caring for Hydrangeas in Pots?
“The best potting compost for shrubs is a compost with a high loam content, such as John Innes No.3,” says leading garden expert John Negus, a regular writer for Amateur Gardening.
For hydrangea, the RHS recommends using a two-part mixture of John Innes No.3 (Available on Amazon) and one part peat-free multipurpose compost. Alternatively, if you are growing blue hydrangeas and want to keep their color alive, use an ericaceous fertilizer, such as this John Innes Ericaceous manure from the Amazon.
However, “even the best multipurpose fertilizer only has enough nutrients for four to six weeks of growth, and once that’s gone, plants will need supplemental feeding, either with liquid or by top dressing with a controlled-release fertilizer,” says John. Feed with liquid from early summer to late flowering or top-dress in early summer.
“Loam-based compost retains moisture better than peat-based compost,” continues John. “But, all potted plants need to be watered regularly, unless it rains a lot every day, because their roots are compressed and their compost is covered by foliage.”
Crocus
Vitex Liquid Hydrangea Feed
Formulated for hydrangeas, this liquid feed can be used for plants in pots and in the ground. Mix with water in a watering can and apply around the base of the plant to encourage leaf growth and bigger blooms. Makes up to 50 watering cans.
How do you repot a hydrangea?
Hydrangeas will need repotting when they outgrow the pot, to keep them healthy. This happens every one or two years.
To do this, carefully remove your container from its current container in the fall, once it has flowered. Choose a new one Garden plants which is about an inch or so wider in diameter than the old container, making sure it has drainage holes and planting it at the same depth as before.
Do you need to prune a potted hydrangea?
Pruning is important to keep hydrangeas blooming well. This is the case wherever they are planted – pots included.
It is usually best to approach this garden task in the spring. The correct method varies depending on what species of hydrangea you have.
“For the popular mopheads and lacecaps, flowering branches grow from wood produced during the previous season, and it’s important not to remove them,” says John Negus. “In mid-spring, remove dead flower heads, cutting back to the nearest pair of large, healthy buds.”
What are the best types of hydrangeas to grow in pots?
Are you considering adding potted hydrangeas to it? Cottage garden patio Or want to present a more bloom The front gardenThere are many compact varieties that are suitable for growing in containers.
The RHS recommends Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Red Hot Violet’ – which has dark-pink blooms – and ‘Altona’ (available from Crocus). Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Fireworks’, meanwhile, is a pretty lacecap variety with white, star-shaped flowers that also do well in pots.
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Little Lime’ (available from Dobby’s) Another beautiful choice is when growing hydrangeas in pots. It is a smaller version of the popular ‘Limelight’ which is perfect for Small garden.
Can you plant potted hydrangea in a border?
If you decide to switch displays, it’s easy to plant your hydrangea in a flower bed or border.
Plant them where the soil is rich, fertile, free draining and easy to work, says John. “If possible, choose a lightly shaded site where the soil stays moist in summer. Ideally, work in moisture-retentive well-rotted garden compost or old, decayed compost before planting.
“After tapping the root ball from its pot, pull out the matted and encircled roots and set the plant in a hole three times the width of the root ball.”
Water abundantly after planting and for several weeks thereafter to help plants re-establish. Then, monthly, from mid-spring to early fall, sprinkle the root area with fish, blood, and bone meal (such as this Vitex Blood, Fish & Bone Organic Fertilizer from Amazon) and gently push it into the ground. If the soil is dry, water it.
Should you protect potted hydrangea in winter?
In winter, keep your potted hydrangeas in a sheltered part of the garden and cover them with fleece if sub-zero temperatures are forecast, advises John Negus. Remove the fleece when the temperature rises. It is also a good idea to leave the old flower heads over the winter to protect the buds below.
“In mid-spring, move them out of the shelter and into the larger garden,” he continues. When the soil temperature starts to rise, give it a balanced fertilizer.
Growing hydrangeas in pots is a brilliant way to introduce more flowers to your garden, especially as they will provide extended blooms from summer to autumn. They don’t require a great deal of attention, so they’re a good option if you’re a fan Low maintenance gardens.
Just remember to keep an eye on your potted hydrangeas and make sure they are well watered, especially in their first year and during hot weather, make sure the soil doesn’t dry out too quickly.
The original version of this article previously appeared on Gardeningetc, a sister website to Homebuilding and Renovating.
