Care of Hydrangea Plants in Orlando, Florida

Hydrangeas will grow in Orlando, Florida.

Orlando, Florida, sits right in the middle of USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. Mild winters and hot summers make it easy to grow many varieties of hydrangeas in Orlando, with more being bred and introduced each year. If you want to include this beautiful flowering shrub in your Orlando garden or yard, choose varieties like Endless Summer, Hovaria or Japanese Lady. Oak-leaf hydrangea, with cylindrical flowers and dark green foliage, will also grow in your zone. Care for hydrangeas by giving them the proper moisture, shade and soil conditions, and enjoy their blooms all through the growing season.

Things You'll Need

• Hydrangea bushes
• Peat
• Sand
• Water
• Mulch
• Fertilizer
• Pruning shears

Instructions

1. Plant hydrangeas in a location that gets partial shade during the day. The Florida sun can scorch leaves and flowers, leaving them rust-colored and discouraged. Plant hydrangeas near buildings, under trees or in sheltered areas where midday and late afternoon sun will not beat down on them.

2. Check soil conditions where hydrangeas are planted. Hydrangeas thrive in rich soils that drain well. Orlando has wonderful, sandy loam for the most part, but check it anyway. Pour half a bucket of water at the base of your hydrangea. If it does not drain quickly, amend the soil in a 3-foot circle around the plant with equal parts peat and sand to improve drainage.

3. Water hydrangeas thoroughly during dry spells, particularly during the growing season. Orlando has been prone to drought in recent years, and drenching the soil once a week will help hydrangeas bloom and thrive, provided the soil drains well.

4. Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch around the base of hydrangeas to conserve moisture and reduce competition from weeds. Do not allow mulch to accumulate around the trunk, or you risk causing bark rot and fungus. Remove old layers of mulch annually, and spread a fresh layer rather than let it pile up.

5. Prune hydrangeas during the dormant season, from December to March. Cut branch tips back to the previous year's wood with pruning shears to promote new flowers and vigorous branching. Locate "old wood" by following the flexible green tip of the branch back to a brown, hardened stem, and clip.

6. Fertilize hydrangeas once a year in late spring for best results, following package instructions carefully. Fertilizing during the dormant season is not recommended, because Orlando has the occasional winter frost, and new growth can be "nipped in the bud."

Tips & Warnings

• Hydrangeas make great cut flowers when blooming, or dried arrangements after they have faded.

• Don't water hydrangeas too often. Waterlogged soil will cause root rot, particularly if the soil doesn't drain well to begin with. Curling, browning leaves and wilting are sure signs of a root rot problem.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension: French Hydrangeas for North and Central Florida
• University of Florida: Hydrangea quercifolia
• GardenWeb: Growing Hydrangeas in Florida
• A Central Florida Garden: Florida Hardiness Zone Map

Resources

• University of Florida IFAS: New Hydrangeas for North and Central Florida
• Selected Shrubs for Central Florida