Hydrangea

The hydrangea is a popular shrub for the garden, known for its beautiful flowers in various colours such as blue, pink, white and red. With its spherical or umbel-shaped inflorescences, the hydrangea adds an atmospheric and colourful touch to any garden. Originally from Asia, the hydrangea has been given the scientific name Hydrangea, which possibly means 'water jar' because of its need for a lot of water. With the right care and pruning, the hydrangea can bloom abundantly every year and garden lovers can enjoy its beautiful flowers. Place the hydrangea in the border, in a bed or even in a large pot for a colourful accent in the garden.

The Hydrangea likes a sip of water

The hydrangea needs regular watering, especially in spring and summer. It is important to keep the soil slightly moist, but make sure that no layer of water remains to prevent root rot. The plant needs less water in the winter. When the leaves start to droop, this is a sign that the hydrangea is thirsty and needs water. Hydrangeas in pots need to be watered slightly more often than hydrangeas in the open ground. It is important to place the plant in a place with shade or partial shade, but some species can also stand in the sun as long as they are watered regularly. It is advisable to water the hydrangea in the morning or evening, when the plant is dormant.

Summer

During the summer it is very important that this plant, when it is outside, is kept well moist. Especially during the warm days it should be watered every day, so that the root ball is well moist. On the less warm days this can sometimes be skipped for a few days. This is so important because otherwise the plant 'drinks' moisture from its leaves, causing it to become dry and eventually die. This should of course be prevented.

Winter

When winter is upon us, the rules are reversed! If the Hydrangea is outside, it must remain dry so that the moisture does not freeze and damage the plant. The Hydrangea does not suffer from a dry root ball during this period, it is in a kind of hibernation!
When the plant is kept indoors during the winter it should be kept slightly moist, so not soaking wet (as in summer), but just so that the root ball feels slightly damp.

General rules

In addition to the above guidelines, it is best to follow these rules:

First, give the plant a little water. If the soil is dry within 2 days, it means it needs a little more water. Adjust the amount of water until it still feels slightly moist between 2 and 5 days after watering, and almost dry after 5 days. If it feels very wet after 5 days, wait until it is almost dry and water again, but reduce the amount.

Spraying

We recommend that you spray the Hydrangea with water weekly. However, we do not recommend this during warm summer days, so that you do it either in the evening after sunset, or on days when the sun shines little, because the water droplets bundle the incoming sunlight into small points that become very hot. These make the leaves dry, or even burn through.
Apart from the detrimental effect of bright sunlight on wet leaves, misting has beneficial effects for your Hydrangea. Namely, it removes dust from the leaves, allowing them to better absorb sunlight and look more beautiful, and it prevents certain types of pests.

Where is the best place to place the Hydrangea?

The hydrangea thrives best in a spot with partial shade to shade. Although some species can also grow in full sun, it is important to ensure that the soil always remains slightly moist. A moist and humus-rich soil is ideal for the hydrangea, because this plant needs a lot of water to grow well. It is also important to protect the hydrangea from late night frost, because the flower buds can freeze. By protecting the plant with fleece, the flowers remain protected and the hydrangea can grow and bloom optimally. Furthermore, hydrangeas thrive best in moderate temperatures and normal humidity, making them ideal for a garden or terrace.

Light

The Hydrangea is a plant that likes a fair amount of sunlight. It likes to be in full sun or half shade, taking in all the light. Is it indoors? Then it wants a spot near a window or where light comes in. The Hydrangea requires at least 1 to 3 hours of direct sunlight per day

Wind

Make sure the Hydrangea experiences as little wind as possible. Wind can damage the leaves, causing them to die off more quickly. A little wind is no problem.

Temperature requirements

During the day at least: completely winter hardy
At night at least: completely winter hardy

Repotting, why and when?

Repotting a hydrangea is necessary when the root ball becomes too large and the plant starts to get stuck in the pot. This can happen after about three years. A good indication for repotting is when the roots start to grow through the drainage holes of the pot or when the plant is no longer growing well. Repot the hydrangea in the spring, preferably in March or April, when the plant starts to grow actively again. Make sure that the root ball is damaged as little as possible and give the plant sufficient water after repotting. Do not repot the hydrangea too often, because the plant needs time to recover from the move and repotting.

General rules

When the Hydrangea has taken root (often every 2-3 years) we recommend repotting it in the spring. If it is always inside, it does not matter. If it is outside, it is not a problem to repot it in the summer, but we advise against it in the autumn and winter, because it will not grow and take root optimally. This can make it somewhat weak, and possibly suffer damage from frost.

When you choose to repot your Hydrangea, choose a nice pot that is twice the size of the root ball. Place a layer of hydro grains at the bottom of the new pot for better moisture control. It will thank you for that. Fill this layer with some Mediterranean potting soil. This type of soil ensures that the Hydrangea roots optimally and is fed. Then you can place the root ball on the ground. Make sure that the top of the root ball is slightly below the edge of the pot. Aim for a difference of 2 to 6 cm. This difference ensures that the water does not run off the root ball when you water it.
Every year you should replace the top layer of soil, because it hardens and 'wears out' in nutrients, due to regular watering and because of the sunlight on the upper edge of the root ball.

Provide the Hydrangea with good nutrition

The hydrangea mainly needs nutrients in the form of organic fertilizer to grow and bloom well. In the spring, immediately after pruning, it is advisable to apply hydrangea fertilizer or organic fertilizer. These fertilizers contain many nutrients and trace elements that the hydrangea needs. It is important to spread the fertilizer evenly over the soil around the plant and rake it in lightly. In this way, the hydrangea can absorb the nutrients well and it will help the plant to stay healthy and produce beautiful flowers.

It is also important to use the right amount of fertilizer, follow the instructions on the packaging. It is better not to give too much fertilizer, as this can increase the chance of diseases and pests. In addition, the hydrangea needs regular watering, especially during warm summer months, to be able to absorb the nutrients well. With the right nutrition and care, the hydrangea will thrive and produce beautiful flowers.

When the leaves change color

The leaves can get black leaf tips. This can mean that too much water has been released. Brown or yellow leaves can mean that too little water is being released. We then recommend checking this and possibly adjusting the watering. We also recommend making the plant a bit more beautiful by simply cutting off the ugly tips with scissors.

It is also possible that the Hydrangea has been moved from a place with a lot/little light to a place with a different amount of light. This can also cause the leaves to discolour. The new leaves will be more resistant to direct sunlight.

How and when should you prune the Hydrangea?

The leaves of the Hydrangea will eventually wither. If this is the case with a leaf, you can simply cut the stem near the trunk. It is not a problem to prune an entire leaf with the stem of the plant. This is the way the plant forms its trunk.

How can I propagate the Hydrangea?

Hydrangeas can be propagated by cuttings. This is best done between June and September. Cut off a branch of about 10 cm with 2 pairs of leaves, remove the remaining leaves and place the cutting in a pot with sowing and cutting soil. Give sufficient water and cover with plastic if necessary to retain the moisture. In this way you can grow more hydrangeas and enjoy even more beautiful flowers in your garden.