You could try to get around this by giving your plants a little bit of water daily, rather than a good weekly soaking. Hydrangea Plant Care: Water Requirements. Plant in the spring after spring frosts but before the hottest summer months have set in. Once your hydrangea is full and happy, you can water at a rate of one inch per week during the growing season. When backfilling, combine one half of the original soil with an equal amount of organic material. They enjoy deep watering at least once a week, especially in dry weather. Water in the morning or evening rather than in the heat of the day, and avoid overhead irrigation. You'll see most bigleaf hydrangeas in "baby" colors -- blue or pink -- but careful adjustment of the soil can result in purple hues. How do I know what supports my hydrangeas need? That information should be on the plastic soil tag that came with your plant, so check there to make sure that you have the right information for the type that you have. Is it dry enough to accommodate water … The hydrangea should be watered thoroughly at least 3 times a week. I love the flower, and nearly all my questions were, "I have found that I planted two of my hydrangeas in full sun, which is not good - I will replant them. To ensure maximum soil moisture retention, it is recommended to use plastic film shrubs to ensure effective water retention. There are many species and varieties of hydrangeas, which produce blossoms in a wide array of colors and shapes. Look for a 25/5/30 fertilizer blend. Mulch the plant to … You should prefer deep watering. Different types of hydrangeas require different amounts of sunlight and water to remain healthy. Water deeply, soaking hydrangea and the surrounding bed by allowing a hose to trickle slowly at the base of the plant. Dig a hole deep enough to accommodate the root ball and about 2 to 3 times as wider than the root ball. The deep watering will encourage the roots to extend further into the ground and establish their place in your garden. Use a slow release fertilizer when possible. If the winter forecast predicts unusually cold or prolonged frost, or if you are planting in a lower than recommended hardiness zone (see above), you may need to. The soil should feel moist; if it is dry to the touch, it is time to water. Carefully lift the hydrangea and place it in the hole. What should I do? Subsequent hydrangea container care is relatively easy too. Blue hydrangeas are one of the most stunning flowers. After you water the hole and allow it to drain for 15 minutes, fill the rest of the hole with soil. Just let the water evaporate by itself over the next few weeks and the hydrangea blooms should be dried by the time the water is gone. I picked up a few flowers from the Columbia Road Flower market this weekend, and my favorites were the hydrangeas. Water your plant well and continue to water regularly. Yes, but you need to check to made sure that the pH is okay to do so. It is based on average temperature and weather. Then the same plant only 3 hours later in the day after being watered. My hydrangea hasn't flowered in a couple of years. Timing is important. Choose a location with rich, porous soils where the soil can stay moist. Place them near a bright window in a cool room for optimum results. Dig a hole as deep as the roots of your plant, and 2 to 3 times as wide. This article was co-authored by Katie Gohmann. Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. How to Grow Big, Beautiful Blue Hydrangeas . Two types of hydrangeas that require more watering are smooth and bigleaf hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are my favorite flower to use in our home’s landscaping. Use a soaker hose to water deeply and keep moisture off the flowers and leaves. ", 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. This past spring in particular we received a lot of rain, much more than usual. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. "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. If you can't find that information, The Farmer's Almanac suggests 3-10 feet apart. By proper watering you will have hydrangeas that will make the neighborhood jealous! I've looked at more than a dozen different, "I'm just beginning; my plant was a gift without any info! Or water when it is noticeably dry. How to Water a Hydrangea Through the Fall. (If you aren’t sure, check out our article on Hydrangea Types.) They don't need to be covered, and hydrangeas are perennials, so they will come back each year, and grow more every year they come up. This may be why . Make sure that the pH is not too high or too low. Drying hydrangeas. Soaker hoses are a great way to water deeply while also keeping moisture off of flowers and leaves. Once you have the right spot it is just water under the hydrangea. If you have a drip irrigation system where you are guaranteed that the garden really will get a daily watering, that's fine. Be careful not to scrape or break the roots while moving the plant. We moved into our new home last May and the plants outside were flourishing. The organic matter helps break up the soil and creates air pockets in the dirt that help with water drainage. Fill the hole with soil but don’t pack it. One thing to do is ask friends who have hydrangeas for some of their flower heads. How to Plant Hydrangeas. ", how to plant, where to plant and how to take care of these beautiful plants. I picked up a few flowers from the Columbia Road Flower market this weekend, and my favorites were the hydrangeas. Water. Keep them away from trees, since these shrubs need a lot of water. 2. 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. Watering? Hydrangea macrophylla usually require the most water. This guide has the basic information needed to get started. Hydrangeas will ‘tell’ you they need a drink by wilting a little. Remove any decorative foil from the pot so that water drains, and place the hydrangeas in full sun. If it drains within 5 to 15 minutes, then your soil is fine for flowers. This includes choosing the correct hydrangea for your space, planting, watering, fertilizing, pruning and more. If you transplant while your hydrangeas are dormant (the best time), water them deeply one time. Wise water plants are deep enough once a week, and the water is completely absorbed from the soil surface about 9 inches below. If you like the color of your hydrangea, you don't have to change it. You can also try using mulch. Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water, but all varieties benefit from consistent moisture. Water the soil again lightly to help it settle. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Some are hardy and can withstand little to no sunlight and water, whereas others need more water to stay healthy and grow well. "Hydrangeas should be watered deeply several times per week to encourage deep root growth," explains Amy Enfield, a horticulturist at ScottsMiracle-Gro. Water hydrangeas as much as it takes to keep them from wilting; for the most part, this means watering once or twice or week, perhaps more during periods of hot, dry weather. They were getting what they needed-- lots of shade and tons of water. Keep an eye on hydrangeas in these positions, and transplant them to a new area if they are struggling to grow or produce flowers. Preventative and Corrective Measures Instead of watering frequently, change your watering schedule to watering only two or three times a week. Hydrangeas grown outdoors as shrubs and garden plants do not need as much attention to watering. Hydrangeas need steady watering in summer to prevent leaves and flowers from wilting. Apply a fertilizer that contains no aluminum, but high levels of phosphorus, which inhibits aluminum uptake. Although we’ve mentioned a watering frequency, always consider the condition of the soil. Even an extra dose of fertilizer may contribute to droopy hydrangea plants. You need to dig a hole 20 inches wide and 10 inches deep and fill it with water. In Latin, hydra means water, an indication of a requirement for these large-leaved plants. ", articles, and this one was by far the best! Amending clay soil for hydrangeas. Hydrangeas require minimal maintenance in this area. How much should I water the tree in the soil conditions it is in. Ideally, you should water them in the morning to prepare them for heat as the day goes on. You want to make sure you have at least 5% organic matter in the soil. Watering Hydrangeas. Once a plant is water-stressed, it can take weeks to recover, and in the case of annuals and vegetables, every week counts. Hydrangeas prefer some shade in the afternoons. If not planted deep enough, your hydrangeas could fall over in heavy rain or strong wind. 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. If you plant in a container outdoors, a light colored ceramic pot is best to help retain moisture. At a minimum, water your hydrangea plant at least 3 times per week. You might also notice browning leaf edges. For more tips from our Horticulturist reviewer, including how to figure out what zone is best for planting hydrangeas, keep reading! Set the plant inside the hole and fill the hole half full with soil; water-in the plant fully. Hydrangeas are growing in popularity and for good reason. Read on to learn how to grow hydrangeas. Water the ground and keep it moist, but not soggy. Hydrangeas absorb water … So we’ve put together the ultimate guide for how to care for hydrangeas. Set the plant inside the hole and fill the hole half full with soil; water-in the plant fully. Plant the hydrangeas in a spacious hole carefully. This article has been viewed 179,674 times. Struggling to get a new job? Last Updated: June 1, 2020 If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. It is best to water at the base of the plants whenever possible to help prevent mold or fungus from growing on the leaves. Generally, this means you'll need to water hydrangeas once or twice a week during the summer season. This will also depend on rainfall and weather patterns in the area. Irrigate the hydrangea deeply every three days for the first three weeks. How to Plant Hydrangeas. You may transplant established Hydrangeas absorb water quickly. Shown: Many H. macrophylla varieties can produce pink to deep blue blooms (even on the same plant), depending on the soil's pH. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. References Feed your plants and they will feed you. If possible in your region and time of year, purchase hydrangeas in bloom. Water should come out the bottom of the pot. % of people told us that this article helped them. Leave it be for now and give it normal waterings and good sun. Dig a hole that is three times the root ball's width and only as deep as the root ball itself. Generally, this means you'll need to water hydrangeas once or twice a week during the summer season. They have shallow roots so mulch is an absolute must! Hydrangeas are the show-stopping blooms of your landscape. What I found most helpful was, "The step-by-step instructions and other parts were very informative. Approved. 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