How do you take care of hydrangea flowers?
Hydrangeas thrive in consistently moist soil. Check the soil at least once a week. When the top inch of soil is dry, it’s time to water. Once hydrangeas are established, they typically survive on rainfall, except during times of drought. You can clip the dead flowers off the plant just below the bloom, or leave it on the plant into the winter. Most dried hydrangea flowers break off sometime in the winter and any that remain on the plant can be removed in the spring. Don’t “neaten them up”!Give winter- or freeze-damaged hydrangeas time to regrow before pruning back to new green shoots. Drooping plants often just need a deep soak; always check soil moisture before assuming the worst. Protect from poor drainage, harsh sun, and hungry critters—most hydrangeas can recover with care and patience.To help prepare growing hydrangeas for winter, add a fine bark mulch to the base of the hydrangea plant. Remove the top inch of compost and replace with the mulch to add a layer of protection for the winter season.While hydrangeas can grow successfully in a large container for several years, it’s not permanent. If your plant becomes challenging to keep adequately watered, appears stunted, has small leaves, or the flowers are small or diminished, it’s time to move on.Simply water them daily if it’s sunny and hot out, or every other day if the temperature is lower. You’ll know your hydrangeas need water if the leaves and mopheads (or the blooms) start to wilt. On the other hand, if you’re overwatering, the leaves will turn yellow, she says.
What’s the lifespan of a hydrangea?
Hydrangea plants typically enjoy a lifespan of 20 to 50 years, depending on the variety and the care they receive. Under optimal conditions, some varieties can even surpass the 50-year mark, thriving for decades. Add a packet of flower food to extend bloom life. If you don’t have flower food, dissolve half a teaspoon of sugar, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a few drops of bleach in 4 cups of water to create a home-made substitute. Hydrangeas have woody stems that need to be cut to help the flowers uptake water.Mophead and lacecap hydrangeas will bloom satisfactorily with little attention, but annual pruning encourages new, vigorous growth and a better flowering display. Likewise, other species, including climbing hydrangeas, will benefit from a trim.Hydrangeas need nutrients to bloom, but just any fertilizer won’t do. Make sure you’re using a using a bloom boosting, slow-release, granular fertilizer and follow the directions on the packaging for how much to apply. Apply fertilizer in early spring and again in July to help promote the rebloom.Avoid feeding hydrangeas after August, especially in regions with cold winters. A slow-release plant food works well. For best results, try Miracle-Gro® Shake ‘n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food, which feeds for up to 3 months.
Do you deadhead hydrangeas or leave them?
Yes. Hydrangeas should have the spent blossoms removed, a process called deadheading, because otherwise, the plant will put energy into seed production instead of blossoms. Ideally, the goal is to keep the plant producing lots of large, showy flowers, rather than seeds. If you enjoy puttering in the garden or like a neater appearance, go ahead and deadhead your hydrangea as needed. But you won’t harm the plant or affect blooming if you don’t, says Hirvela.Old wood hydrangeas start forming their buds in late summer and early fall. So, these buds are then going to be the next spring’s blooms. Big leaf, oak leaf, mountain, and climbing hydrangeas all bloom on old wood. So, any pruning that you do in the fall, you’re cutting off next year’s blooms.The short answer is no. Pruning your hydrangeas just before winter will leave them even more susceptible to winter damage, and you’re at risk for cutting off future flowers.Pruning your hydrangeas to reduce their height isn’t effective because they will grow right back to their original size, or even larger because the act of pruning stimulates new growth.Pests such as aphids, spider mites, and scale insects can weaken hydrangeas by feeding on their sap. Diseases like powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, and leaf spot can also significantly impact hydrangea health.
Do coffee grounds really help hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas Some hydrangea varieties can bloom pink or blue flowers depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. By incorporating coffee grounds in the garden, you’ll raise the acidity of the soil, potentially causing your hydrangeas to bloom blue flowers exclusively. In acidic soils, hydrangeas can absorb aluminium more easily, which turns the petals blue, while alkaline soils have less aluminium available, which results in pink flowers. Using teabags will help make your soil more acidic, resulting in blue blooms.Planting hydrangeas for the biggest possible blooms: Plant your hydrangeas in good, well-drained soil. In my experiments, better soil and more regular water does matter to size and will lead to bigger blooms.Epsom salt won’t help hydrangeas bloom or change color—it doesn’t affect the soil in a way that generally boosts flowers. However, you can add Epsom salt if a soil test indicates a magnesium deficiency. To turn hydrangeas blue, lower your soil’s pH using sulfur—not Epsom salt.The theory is, applying diluted vinegar to the soil will lower the pH enough to change the color of your hydrangea blooms. This strategy will make the soil more acidic, but not for long!Use a slow-release fertilizer with a higher phosphorus content to promote flowering. Hydrangeas prefer fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic pH.
Do I water hydrangeas every day?
As a general guideline, aim for that one inch of water per week, but try to spread it out. A deep watering three times a week is almost always better than a light sprinkle every day. If you want to dive deeper, the folks at Epic Gardening have some great insights on hydrangea watering. Fall may bring more rain showers, but that doesn’t mean you’re completely off the hook for watering! Your hydrangeas will still need a good soaking about once every two weeks depending on the level on rainfall in your area.
Are hydrangeas better in pots or ground?
Hydrangeas in pots will dry out much more quickly than those planted in the ground, so during the hotter, drier months, check your plants regularly. Butler says: “In the summer, the pots will need watering every day and must be kept moist the rest of the year. To help prepare growing hydrangeas for winter, add a fine bark mulch to the base of the hydrangea plant. Remove the top inch of compost and replace with the mulch to add a layer of protection for the winter season.