Hydrangea gift plants look great for a month or more and then slowly lose their color. Bright pinks and sky blues gradually fade to a dirty white and often turn green. Before your plants become too unattractive remove the old flowers clusters and then find them a permanent home.
This is one plant you can keep in a container to flower again next spring. It?s best to give the hydrangea a one to two inch larger pot to allow room for new roots. Set the plant on a patio, balcony or along a walkway to continue growth.
Most gardeners like to find a site in the landscape for in ground planting. The ideal spot receives morning sun and afternoon shade. Also, mix lots of organic matter with sandy soils to help maintain a moist root system.
Just before you plant, have the soil tested for both container grown and in ground plantings. Pink hydrangeas need an alkaline soil and blue and acid soil. Now use these additional tips to ensure good growth.
- Feed container plantings monthly March through November and in ground plantings March, June and September. Or substitute a slow release fertilizer following label instructions.
- Keep the soil moist watering as needed.
- Maintain a 2- to 3-inch mulch over the root system
- Perform all needed pruning immediately after flowering.
- Control powdery mildew and leaf spots with a fungicide as needed
Hydrangeas are a bit of a challenge to grow but the flowers are attractive and long lasting. There are many new varieties arriving at your garden center and many flower for months.
