How to Grow Hydrangea in Planters

Hydrangeas grow just as well in pots as in the ground.

Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) are a large family of flowering plants grown for their showy heads of flowers consisting of tiny florets. The deciduous shrubs and vines bloom in white and shades of pink, red or blue all through summer and well into fall. It is simple to grow the plants in containers for placement on decks and patios. Hydrangeas have a rapid growth rate and thrive best in areas of partial shade. Reducing the number of stems on the plants leads to more prolific blooming.

Things You'll Need

• 1-gallon hydrangea plant
• 15-gallon pot
• Bark-based soilless potting mix
• Slow-release fertilizer

Instructions

1. Procure a 15- to 25-gallon pot in which to grow a 1-gallon-sized hydrangea plant. Make sure there are sufficient drainage holes at the base of the pot.

2. Fill the pot halfway with a bark-based, soilless compost. You can purchase this at any gardening center.

3. Slip the plant out of the container and into pot. Center it on the soil and make sure that that the top of the plant is level with the pot rim or 1 inch below it. Fill the pot to its top.

4. Water the plant well and place the pot in an area of partial shade. Do not let the growing medium get too wet, as consistently wet growing conditions will lead to root rot disease.

5. Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer after planting and then every year during spring.

6. Replace the soil in the container every three years to ensure good growth. Move plants to porches, the garage or a greenhouse to provide adequate winter protection in areas with hard winters.

Tips & Warnings

• Container-grown hydrangeas often get too little to too much water and light. The plants are also prone to get over fertilized. Hydrangeas growing in containers need as much water and fertilizer as the ones grown in the ground. Avoid placing container-grown plants too close together, as this leads to poor air circulation, promoting foliage disorders and pest infestations.

References

• University of California Extension: Hydrangea
• "The Explorer's Garden"; Daniel J. Hinkley, et al.; 2009
• North Carolina State University Extension; Growing Hydrangeas in Containers; Dick Bir; January 2001