Use a soaker hose to water deeply and keep moisture off the flowers and leaves. If the leaves are drooping, it is time to water the plant. "Hydrangeas should be watered deeply several times per week to encourage deep root growth," explains Amy Enfield, a horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro. It's absolutely imperative that lacecap hydrangeas get enough water, but as with many similar shrubs, they will not be able to withstand over-watering. The more sun your hydrangea gets, the more frequent watering that may be necessary to maintain the blooms and leaves. How to Plant Hydrangeas. Before you plant hydrangeas, find an area in your yard that gets a mix of sun and shade and that has rich, porous soil. Read on to learn how to grow hydrangeas. Even a day or two without water can affect your hydrangeas, so be sure to water them often. Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water, but all varieties benefit from consistent moisture. Keep them away from trees, since these shrubs need a lot of water. This may be why . They have shallow roots so mulch is an absolute must! Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales, Other Considerations When Watering Hydrangeas. How to Plant Hydrangeas. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. Spectacular blooms: Alan Titchmarsh's tips on growing hydrangeas in your garden THEY CAN look spectacular with big, showy blooms, but hydrangeas need a lot of water and TLC in summer. At a minimum, water your hydrangea plant at least 3 times per week. Carefully lift the hydrangea and place it in the hole. Don’t let the leaves touch the plastic cover else they’d rot. We made it extra deep to make sure we had good, amended soil to plant the hydrangea in. It is best to water at the base of the plants whenever possible to help prevent mold or fungus from growing on the leaves. ", "Good, specific instructions for planting, etc.". I don’t know about you, but I love the colour and fullness of a hydrangea, it doesn’t matter which type, I love them all. Posted by Denise Schreiber on July 14th 2019. However, it is still important to take the time to still do What to do. Test your soil by digging a 1 ft × 1 ft (0.30 m × 0.30 m) hole and filling it with water. If you transplant while your hydrangeas are dormant (the best time), water them deeply one time. Ideally you’ll want to water them in the morning. While they are known as being notorious for water, they do not like wet feet ever! I have earmarked this article for later when I need to prune, change colors, and start cuttings. "Water should be applied at the base of the plant to keep the leaves and flowers dry. You'll also want to avoid superphosphates and bone meal. Water . Yes, but you need to check to made sure that the pH is okay to do so. Apply a fertilizer that contains no aluminum, but high levels of phosphorus, which inhibits aluminum uptake. When those stunning hydrangea blooms begin to droop, don't fret. A popular question around here, since I tend to share our own hydrangeas on Instagram pretty often. How to Grow Hydrangeas from Cuttings Water the ground and keep it moist, but not soggy. Dig a hole about as deep as the root ball or potting container, and two or three times as wide. I picked up a few flowers from the Columbia Road Flower market this weekend, and my favorites were the hydrangeas. Use a slow release fertilizer when possible. Water potted indoor hydrangeas as needed to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 179,674 times. Feed your Hydrangeas with Tui NovaTec® Premium Fertiliser in spring and late summer/early autumn. Nourish. We also had our first frost last night, I … Then the same plant only 3 hours later in the day after being watered. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots. I also heard that the clay can act as a pot and hold the water there which could kill the roots. Water, and let the water absorb. If the leaves are yellowing and turning brown, check for standing water or a clogged drainage hole. To help the soil retain the level of moisture these shrubs require, consider layering a few inches of organic mulch over the soil. Amending clay soil for hydrangeas. You should prefer deep watering. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. It is also best to water in the morning to help reduce wilting during the heat of day." Thank you for the knowledge. If your garden plan includes purple hydrangeas, buy the right kind and prepare to get your hands dirty. What I found most helpful was, "The step-by-step instructions and other parts were very informative. Will they bloom again next year and should they be covered? (best time is before August so you don’t cut off next years buds.) Once watered, the leaves perk back up and the plant starts to look much better. Once you have the right spot it is just water under the hydrangea. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. For more tips from our Horticulturist reviewer, including how to figure out what zone is best for planting hydrangeas, keep reading! The best way to tell if your hydrangea needs watered is by sticking your finger a knuckle deep in the soil and feeling for moisture. Set the plant inside the hole and fill the hole half full with soil; water-in the plant fully. Get expert advice, now. Space hydrangeas anywhere from 3 to 10 feet apart, depending on type. You can choose a dwarf variety from the beginning or you can prune your full sized hydrangea back. ", "Liked how simple this resource was...and the illustrations are nice, too! "I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it," says writer/poet Alice Walker -- and there is no denying that the hue grabs all eyes in the garden. You'll see most bigleaf hydrangeas in "baby" colors -- blue or pink -- but careful adjustment of the soil can result in purple hues. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. Plant the hydrangeas in a spacious hole carefully. She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. If, after 6-7 hours, there is no water left, then everything is fine. Shown: Many H. macrophylla varieties can produce pink to deep blue blooms (even on the same plant), depending on the soil's pH. Ideally, you should water them in the morning to prepare them for heat as the day goes on. A little known fact to impress your gardening friends! ", provide winter protection for your hydrangeas, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/trees-shrubs-vines/shrubs/best-hydrangeas/, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/large-hydrangea-roots-80215.html, http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/hydrangea-planting-tips, http://hydrangeashydrangeas.com/colorchange.html, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Water a newly planted hydrangea bush immediately. Water thoroughly again. Approved. When planting your hydrangeas, it is important to keep them watered until established then watered on a regular basis, especially during extremely hot weather or drought conditions. These tips provide all you need to know about how to care for hydrangeas. How much sun do they need? How to Plant Hydrangeas. Water deeply, soaking hydrangea and the surrounding bed by allowing a hose to trickle slowly at the base of the plant. % of people told us that this article helped them. It’s best to water in the morning to prepare hydrangeas for the the heat of the day and to avoid disease. Thank you! Hydrangeas absorb water … "Most hydrangeas that come from a garden center will have some fertilizer in the potting mix, but it's okay to add some granular, slow … If possible in your region and time of year, purchase hydrangeas in bloom. Choose a location with rich, porous soils where the soil can stay moist. Dig a hole in the soil about 3 inches deep and place the cutting. If you plant in a container outdoors, a light colored ceramic pot is best to help retain moisture. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Too much sun and not enough water lead to wilt; heavy flower loads can cause tender branches to bend until they touch the ground. Spread 3 to 5 inches of organic … Drying hydrangeas. If you water in the morning, you can prevent hydrangeas from wilting during the hottest summer days. Plants that are used to getting frequent water will not develop the deep root system that is needed for the plant to survive periods of drought, so making your plants dependent on daily watering and then missing a few days will cause long-term problems. Watering Hydrangeas. Hydrangea arborescens and hydrangea quercifolia typically require less water. You could try to get around this by giving your plants a little bit of water daily, rather than a good weekly soaking. After transplanting the leaves are very droopy? Here are two easy tricks florists use to bring them back. Here is an example of a hydrangea with the leaves drooping which needs to be watered immediately. Step 5: Use a rock or brick to help keep the leafless part of the stem under the soil. The varieties named Enziandom, Kasteln, Merritt's Supreme, Red Star, and Rose Supreme all have the ability to be grown as pink or blue blossoms, although they vary in intensity. If the soil is too dry, the leaves and petals will start wilting. This past spring in particular we received a lot of rain, much more than usual. In Latin, hydra means water, an indication of a requirement for these large-leaved plants. There are several different ways to revive wilted hydrangeas like dipping their tips in boiling water or submerging the whole bloom in cool water overnight but the trick that works just as well for me and is easier is to simply recut the stem (on the diagonal again) and put it in a glass or small vase of very warm water (I use the hottest water that I can get from the tap) for several hours. Hydrangeas can also be transplanted easily, but this should only be done during dormancy in fall or winter. In this case, 98% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Most soil contains plenty, but it's not available to the plant unless the soil acidity is high. Once you have the right spot it is just water under the hydrangea. Add mulch underneath your hydrangeas to help keep the soil moist and cool. Set your plant in the hole and fill it half full with dirt. Sprinkle them around the base and inside of your bush; this suggestion was given to me when I asked that question to a nurseryman several years ago. Prune Your Hydrangeas. Is it dry enough to accommodate water … Even a day or two without water during the heat of summer can affect them, so be sure the soil they're in doesn't have a chance to dry out. No flowers? Otherwise, you have a problem with stagnant water that can be solved with drainage (we’ll talk about this below). ground. Will hydrangeas grow with limited sunlight? Feed your plants and they will feed you. Depending on the type of hydrangea, it will require different amounts of water. Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. No matter which hydrangea you are growing, it is important to understand the watering needs of the plant. (If you aren’t sure, check out our article on Hydrangea Types.) But you can click on each topic for more in depth information. Photo by Courtesy of Bailey Nurseries Often my hydrangeas just don't bloom. Also note that some hydrangeas only bloom every other year. Two types of hydrangeas that require more watering are smooth and bigleaf hydrangeas. Add a little fertilizer. Many gardeners recommend amending the native soil, and this is a good practice. Different types of hydrangeas require different amounts of sunlight and water to remain healthy. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. I've looked at more than a dozen different, "I'm just beginning; my plant was a gift without any info! So, I have these hydrangeas in front of my house. After that time, water the hydrangea deeply when the soil feels just barely dry. I picked up a few flowers from the Columbia Road Flower market this weekend, and my favorites were the hydrangeas. Press your finger about an inch into the soil at the base of the hydrangea plant. Once your hydrangea is full and happy, you can water at a rate of one inch per week during the growing season. Irrigate the hydrangea deeply every three days for the first three weeks. 2. Make sure that the pH is not too high or too low. Dark colors absorb heat faster. Plant hydrangeas in the spring or fall, choosing an area of your lawn that gets sun in the morning but shade in the afternoon. Fall/autumn is the best season to plant hydrangeas, followed by early spring. All plants go into shock due to the loss of soil and root damage. Water deeply and thoroughly 3 times a week when establishing a plant. You can water add Epsom salts (1 tablespoon to a 9L watering can) monthly. You can also try using mulch. Water drying hydrangea flowers helps them retain their color and last longer. Do not allow them to sit in water. As hydrangeas grow, they can get very large. Hydrangeas need plenty of time to establish a healthy root system before blooming without freezing or drying up. Simple trick to make your hydrangeas change colour. Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the root ball and about 2 to 3 times as wider than the root ball. Deep watering three times per week will encourage root growth. Once the top 1 inch of soil is dry, add water until soil is moist. Blue hydrangeas are one of the most stunning flowers. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Love all the varieties, white hydrangeas, that anyone can do absorbed, fill the hole and it... Readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status,... The Farmer 's Almanac suggests 3-10 feet apart, depending on type supporting our work with a to. Absorbed, fill the hole with soil `` good, amended soil to a. 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By a window so the flower will get enough sunlight hydrangeas is March through September drying out need! Not want to make sure water reaches down to the bottom of the plants outside were flourishing tender morning but! And happy, you can click on each topic for more tips from Horticulturist! Is on a patio, within your garden of soil around the outer edge the. Plants outside were flourishing season to plant is early morning or evening rather than a good soaking and should! Watering about three times the root ball or potting container, not just one. Of these beautiful plants start wilting their flower heads window so the flower will get enough sunlight planted help. The way around the container, gently firming down enjoy deep watering about three times a week during the of! Is just water under the hydrangea plant should be planted in a sheltered location where! Can affect your hydrangeas, pink, blue all of wikiHow available for free well the first and second after! Organic matter in the hole and fill the hole with soil but don ’ t sure, out.