Potted hydrangea plant care advice

Hydrangeas are known and loved for their large flowers. However, while these may look like big blooms, they are in fact clusters of small flowers grouped together on a single stem. Not only are they popular in garden plants and cut flowers, but also as potted plants. If you want your potted hydrangea to thrive, it is important that you follow these basic care tips.

Springtime

During the spring months, you should place your potted hydrangea in a bright spot. This will encourage them to grow thanks to the extra light but you don’t have to worry about excessive heat.

Evening temperature

Your potted hydrangea will thrive provided night temperatures remain between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. They don’t do well in very warm conditions or extreme cold.

Water needs

As the name suggests, these plants are particularly thirsty. For this reason, you should keep a close eye on the soil. When the top layer dries out, you need to water your potted hydrangea. Place the pot in a tray of water and allow it to rest here for about 45 minutes. The soil will soak up the water from the bottom upwards. Once the soil is nice and moist, you can remove the pot from the water tray and back on the drip tray.

Added nutrients

All plants need nutrients along with water and sunlight in order to thrive. Hydrangeas are no different so you should make sure that you fertilize every two weeks during the growing season between May and the onset of the autumn season. There is no need to add fertilizer during the dormant phase.

Trimming your plant

If you do not want your potted hydrangea to outgrow its home, you need to make sure that you trim them regularly. Cut off any additional shoots so that you only have three left. Trim back long shoots in June to keep your plant looking its best. You should stop trimming from August until the following June.

Care during winter

When the plant is dormant in the winter, you should keep it indoors and temperatures should get no lower than 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Stop watering for about six weeks during the winter and make sure that the plant is placed in a sunny room. Now is a good time to repot the plant in some fresh potting mix. When the weather warms up, you can return the plant outside.

As you can see, the potted hydrangea plant will not require complex care. By ensuring that its basic needs are met, you will enjoy some of the most amazing blooms year after year. Not only are these plants great for decorating your own home, but they make wonderful gifts too.