Because these hydrangeas are not planted in the nutrient-rich ground, it is important to plant them in good commercial potting soil that has peat moss and organic material. We used Miracle Grow Moisture Control Potting Soil because hydrangeas like to be well-hydrated. But any good quality potting soil will do.
Hydrangea growing in pots, planters and other containers will appreciate a moist but well-drained soil. We suggest the use of a quality potting soil or potting mix or, better yet, a 50/50 combination thereof. Make sure the container you are planting in has a drainage hole(s).
Loam soil is best. Loam indicates nutrient-rich soil, well-draining, and good at retaining moisture between waterings. This is the ideal soil structure for hydrangeas.
Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
While it may look like a simple mix, it's actually made to meet the needs of hydrangea plants. It contains perlite, peat moss, vermiculite, and fir bark. It also comes with a wetting agent, providing your plant with enough but not too much water.
To loosen the soil, mix dehydrated cow manure, garden compost or peat moss (up to 1/3 concentration) into your pile of topsoil. Make sure the peat moss you get is either baled sphagnum or granular peat.
Use a good quality potting soil with organic matter, not ordinary garden soil. Plant the hydrangea at the same level that it was in its original pot (that is, don't plant it deeper or higher than it was already growing). Leave some room below the rim of the pot, so you can water.
Fall is the best season to plant hydrangeas, followed by early spring. The idea is to give the shrub plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before blooming. The best time of day to plant is early morning or late afternoon.
*We don't recommend oakleaf hydrangeas because they don't often look their best when grown in a container. They flourish when planted in the ground. But if you enjoy the look, go for it!
Some gardeners report success in turning their hydrangeas blue by applying coffee grounds to the soil. The coffee grounds make the soil more acidic, allowing the hydrangea to more easily absorb aluminum. In addition, fruit peels, lawn clippings, peat moss and pine needles, are thought to have a similar effect.
Homemade compost is a great source of slow release nutrients for hydrangeas. Either top dress the soil beneath your plants with your compost and water well or brew up a batch of compost tea and give your plants a deep drink of it. You can repeat your application of compost tea in 2 to 3 weeks.
For best results when planting hydrangeas, follow these steps: Create a hole twice as wide as the plant's root system, and about six inches deeper than the plant's pot. Break up the soil a bit before you plant to help the roots easily establish themselves.
Best Fertilizer For Hydrangeas
Organic, slow-release fertilizers for roses (such as a 15-10-10, or 10-5-5 formula) work well on hydrangeas, giving the plants the nutrients they need to increase the size and quantity of their blooms.
Most common hydrangeas prefer a partial sun location - ideally receiving sun in the morning hours and shade in the afternoon. The reblooming Endless Summer® Hydrangea series prefers part shade.
There is one more trick up the apple cider vinegar sleeve: You can actually change the color of hydrangea flowers from pink to blue. Hydrangea flowers will be pink in alkaline soil, but change to blue in acidic soil. So, mix up some apple cider vinegar and water, and give all the acid-loving plants a treat.
In most cases, the grounds are too acidic to be used directly on soil, even for acid-loving plants like blueberries, azaleas and hollies. Coffee grounds inhibit the growth of some plants, including geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.
When you deadhead hydrangeas, you aren't harming the plants at all. Removing the spent blooms triggers flowering shrubs to stop producing seeds and instead put their energy toward root and foliage development. This makes plants stronger and healthier, so by deadheading, you'll be doing your hydrangeas a favor.
Watering Hydrangeas in Pots
Make sure there is a drainage hole! The hydrangea should be watered thoroughly at least 3 times a week. Always water the plant all the way around the container, not just in one place.
Mulching around your hydrangea will encourage deep roots to develop, adding to winter hardiness. Right now, your hydrangeas should be leafed out. The size and height of the plant will vary depending on how old your plant is.
While you can plant hydrangeas at any time, the best time is spring or fall. If you plant in the middle of the summer, they're going to need lots of attention to survive. Place and Plant. Once you've found the perfect spot (ideally with well-draining soil,) dig a hole twice the width of the hydrangea's container.
Keep good air space between the plants; don't crowd them together or against other plants. Don't give bigleaf hydrangeas too much love; if they're too comfortable (water, fertilizer, etc.), they may devote all their foliage to leaves instead of blooms.
Hydrangeas need more water than most garden plants and will begin to wilt quickly without it. To ensure that Hydrangeas thrive, water deeply two to three times a week in the summer. Be sure to water in the morning or evening so that water does not evaporate as quickly as it would during the heat of the day.
If you're growing hydrangeas, use coffee grounds to affect their color. Coffee grounds add extra acidity to the soil around hydrangeas. On a chemical level, this increased acidity makes it easier for the plant to absorb naturally occurring aluminum in the dirt. The effect is pretty blue clusters of flowers.
It's a good question, since the potted hydrangeas given as gifts rarely last more than a few weeks. The good news is that they can, as long as you treat them right. Since they can get quite big and produce stunning blossoms all summer long, growing hydrangeas in pots is well worth it.