During the hotter months, the hydrangea plant should be watered around 3 times per week. Keep hydrangeas in fertile but well-drained soil. Plants use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients ensures your plants grow to their full potential. When hydrangeas are drooping, they're often expressing their dislike of local conditions. Hydrangeas need to stay hydrated to survive, especially during the first couple of years. It is best to water at the base of the plants whenever possible to help prevent mold or fungus from growing on the leaves. It should be deep enough that the plant sits level or slightly higher than the surrounding soil. By proper watering you will have hydrangeas that will make the neighborhood jealous! This guide has the basic information needed to get started. For more tips from our Horticulturist reviewer, including how to figure out what zone is best for planting hydrangeas, keep reading! A little known fact to impress your gardening friends! She has been a home gardener and professional gardener since 2008. For more tips from our Horticulturist reviewer, including how to figure out what zone is best for planting hydrangeas, keep reading! Water deeply, soaking hydrangea and the surrounding bed by allowing a hose to trickle slowly at the base of the plant. You do not want to plant them in an area that has standing water, especially after rainfall. One variety however, can soak up the sun for a full eight hours – the Panicle Hydrangea. Water drying hydrangea flowers helps them retain their color and last longer. 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. 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. Set the plant inside the hole and fill the hole half full with soil; water-in the plant fully. Set the plant inside the hole and fill the hole half full with soil; water-in the plant fully. Once your hydrangea is full and happy, you can water at a rate of one inch per week during the growing season. (best time is before August so you don’t cut off next years buds.) When backfilling, combine one half of the original soil with an equal amount of organic material. This article has been viewed 179,674 times. 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. I love all the varieties, white hydrangeas, pink, blue all of the colors. 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. It is based on average temperature and weather. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The deep waters encourage the roots to grow down, deeper. Don’t let the leaves touch the plastic cover else they’d rot. If you have a drip irrigation system where you are guaranteed that the garden really will get a daily watering, that's fine. Hydrangeas absorb water … If the leaves are drooping, it is time to water the plant. The best way to water is deeply. How to Plant Hydrangeas. Place them near a bright window in a cool room for optimum results. Dig a hole about as deep as the root ball or potting container, and two or three times as wide. Before you plant hydrangeas, find an area in your yard that gets a mix of sun and shade and that has rich, porous soil. A popular question around here, since I tend to share our own hydrangeas on Instagram pretty often. Posted by Denise Schreiber on July 14th 2019. The basic rule to tell if a hydrangea needs to be watered is by looking at the leaves. They prefer at least 4 hours of morning sun that will allow the best color and flowers on the plant. Hydrangea care isn’t complicated once you know whether the particular variety you have prefers sun or shade. You’ll also want to leave enough space for the bushes since they can grow to 4 feet by 4 feet. The lacecap hydrangea requires a rich, well-draining soil--which should remain evenly moist--along with the addition of organic matter (such as manure or compost). Blue hydrangeas are one of the most stunning flowers. But you can click on each topic for more in depth information. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. 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