How to Care for Hydrangeas Outdoors in Pots

Planting and growing Hydrangeas in pots can be a gorgeous way even if you only have limited space. Sure, you can move the potted Hydrangeas to any spots around your homes. In the morning, you can place them in enough sunlights and in the afternoon, move them to a spot with little shade as soon as possible.

We think growing Hydrangeas in the pot will really give you a bunch of benefits. Aside from delivering a pretty touch of colour inside your home, taking care of the potted Hydrangeas will be easier for you.

However, caring for Hydrangeas in the pot is actually simple which is similar when taking care of Hydrangeas in the park or garden. The potted Hydrangeas only need three important things to grow including enough sunlight, well-drained soil and high humidity.

Here’s how to care for Hydrangeas outdoors in pots!

Choose the appropriate pots

Before you grow the Hydrangeas in the pot, make sure to choose the proper pots. It’s recommended for you to find the pots with the wheels on the bottom to consider sturdy and rolling plant stands as it will ease you to move it in one spot to another spot.

A larger pot at least 10 to 20 inches in diameter is a very great option for Hydrangeas. We think that small pots usually dry out too fast which cause the plant to wilt. Make sure your pots have holes, if not, you can drill some into the bottom. Sure, water that stands around the roots will cause rotting.

You also have to use a good quality soil with organic matter, not ordinary garden soil. Then, plant Hydrangeas at the same level that it was in its original pots. Here, you also need to leave some room below the rim of the spot, so it will be easier to water your Hydrangeas.

If you intend to move your Hydrangeas from one place to another, please notice that your pots will get really heavy after you add dirt and plants and water into the plant.

Put your Hydrangeas in half-shade

When you grow the Hydrangeas outdoors, make sure to place the plant in half-shade and away from the wind. As most Hydrangeas prefer the morning sun and afternoon shade, choose  a bright and cool spot. By placing the Hydrangeas in half-shade, it also easier to give them the growing conditions they prefer.

It’s important to note that some varieties probably have other requirements. So, check carefully the Hydrangeas varieties you will choose. In this case, too much sun which exposes your Hydrangeas can potentially burn the flowers.

Feed your Hydrangeas sufficiently

Hydrangeas do not need a lot of fertilizer. You should also use a slow release generic fertilizer in early spring. Fertilizing once or twice a year is likely enough for you to care for your Hydrangea. A kind of great fertilizer for Hydrangeas are composted manure, a slow-release balanced fertilizer and a 10-10-10 granular fertilizer.

Never fertilizer your hydrangeas in late summer after July or August even if you live in a warm climate. However, it will encourage tender, new growth when Hydrangeas should start going dormant for the winter. Aside from that, don’t fertilize if your Hydrangeas already looks sick or diseased as you can make them stress. Try to snip them off to encourage new growth.

Water your Hydrangeas twice a week

For watering tips, we recommend you to only water your Hydrangeas twice a week. However, it’s also depending on the size of the pot and the plant and also the weather conditions, especially if you plant Hydrangeas outdoors.

Well, if you see the Hydrangeas’ leaves hang, it indicates your plant is thirsty. So, water them as soon as possible thoroughly. However, it will be better under water than overwater. Check your Hydrangeas every day to get the signal that they really need water. You may need to increase your watering in periods of drought or high temperatures.

Moreover, the different varieties of Hydrangeas will determine how often you must water including how big the plants are, how big the planters are and outdoor weather conditions. Despite a general rule that you can water your Hydrangeas twice a week, but it may change based on the conditions.

By protecting your  Hydrangeas from very intense direct sunlight during hot summer days, it can also reduce how often you need to water your plants.

Maintain your Hydrangeas to keep reblooming

You surely want your Hydrangeas to bloom again. Sure, to keep them reblooming, you should take some tips such as by cutting back a Hydrangea’s shoots when the plant has stopped flowering. You also have to leave two pairs of leaves on each shoot.

You can also choose a new pot for your Hydrangeas which measure around 2 to 4 inches deeper and wider than its current pot. Make sure to keep your Hydrangeas indoors near a south-facing window or bright artificial light. Providing enough water to keep the soil moist at all times is a great way for you.

Then, you can move your Hydrangeas outside in the spring after the chance for frost has passed. Make sure to place your Hydrangeas in a spot where it receives bright morning sun and dappled afternoon shade.

Bring your Hydrangea indoor just before your area’s first predicted frost date. To rebloom your Hydrangeas, removing all leaves by hand in the middle of autumn is a must for you. Instead, you can also put the Hydrangea in complete darkness and allow the leaves to fall off.

Place your Hydrangeas in an unheated room with temperatures between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t water your Hydrangeas during the cooling period. After that, move the plant to a warmer room with temperatures between 55 and 60 degress Fahrenheit after six weeks of cooling.

Continue your regular watering and fertilizing schedule. Finally, your Hydrangea will bloom again in around four months. To note, your Hydrangeas really need a cold period to bloom again. If you keep your Hydrangeas in the garden, make sure to protect them with a winter veil and keep it away from cold winds.

Well, those are plenty of tips and tricks for caring for your Hydrangeas outdoor.