Hydrangeas in containers

Hydrangeas in pots or containers

Gardeners love hydrangeas for their abundant and long-lasting blooms from spring to late autumn. The colours are varied: Hydrangeas come in white and cream, pink and deep purple, blue and red. This is why this flower is beloved by florists. It has also become popular with online flower shops. Nowadays, It’s not a problem to haveĀ flowers delivered to Berlin, Moscow or anywhere else in the world. But back to hydrangeas and how to grow them in pots or containers.

Hydrangeas make a great plant of growing in containers or pots when using a soil-based compost such as John Innes number 2 soil-based compost making sure your pots or containers have some drainage holes.

If you have limited space such as a shady inner-city garden or a basement garden hydrangeas are especially useful used in combination with other plants such as large-leaved hostas in separate containers to create an overall display

Planting Hydrangeas in Pots
The first step in planting is to pick out the right sized planter for the hydrangea that you have. Hydrangeas do not do very well in smaller containers because their roots are aggressive and quickly fill smaller containers. Smaller containers also dry out too fast for what hydrangeas prefer. We typically recommend getting a medium to a large-sized planter that is at least 2 feet wide.

Once you have the planter picked out, you need to ensure that there are drainage holes at the bottom. This is a requirement to grow hydrangeas in containers and pots, because the roots will rot if the soil doesn’t have enough drainage. We also prefer to put a layer of rocks at the bottom to help with drainage. Proper drainage is the most critical step for healthy plants.

Next, you will need to get a compost specifically designed for planters we recommend John Innes number 2 soil-based compost.

When putting the plant into the pot, plant the hydrangea the same depth in the soil as the plant was growing in the pot it was growing in previously. Leave at least 2 inches from the top of the soil to the top of the planter, so you can water the planter without the water washing out of the top. Gently push down on the soil around the plant to remove air pockets and help firmly hold the plant in the pot.

Caring For Hydrangeas in Pots
Looking after hydrangeas once the shrubs are planted is pretty simple, and very similar to caring for the shrubs in the ground. Be sure the location of the hydrangea meets the growing requirements of the variety that you have. Most hydrangeas prefer morning sun, with afternoon shade to protect the plant during hot summer days with intense direct sunlight. This also reduces how often you will need to water the plants. However, some hydrangeas prefer full sun and some prefer more shaded areas. So knowing the requirements of the variety you are growing is very helpful.

Watering hydrangeas in planters is the 2nd most important step after ensuring there is proper drainage in the container. Different variables will dictate how often you should water, including how large the planter is, how large the plants are, and outdoor weather conditions. Using a soil-based compost is helpful with water as it tends not to dry out too quickly and when it is dry it’s a lot easier to re-wet.

Follow the same guidelines as normal for pruning hydrangeas in pots. Typically, hydrangeas do not need to be pruned though.

With feeding during the summer spring and summer months feeding with liquid tomato feed which contains lots of potash will ensure lots of flowers. To create a deeper blue coloured flower feeding with some iron such as iron sulphate will help create a deeper blue coloured flowers.

Caring for Potted Hydrangeas in Winter
In colder climates, you may need to add extra protection for your hydrangeas in planters. The roots are more exposed, especially on the edges of the planters. We’ve made a guide for protecting hydrangeas in winter if you would like to learn more. Another option is to overwinter hydrangeas in pots in the garage. That way the plants still keep cool, but will not be exposed to extreme freezing or windy conditions.
If you have to keep your hydrangeas in exposed positions over winter then you can wrap the pots or containers plus the plant with some horticultural fleece.