Hydrangeas can add color and beauty to your gardens. Here’s how to plant them in the ground and in pots, urns, and planters. This post will help you make a beautiful summer display for years to come by telling you where to plant hydrangeas and how to take care of them.
When you want to add a lot of color and charm to your gardens or the area around your patio and porch, hydrangeas are the clear choice. These hardy ornamental shrubs will make your outdoor spaces more beautiful and interesting with their big, showy flower clusters. Here is the ultimate guide for planting hydrangeas in the ground, in pots, and in urns.
Hydrangeas are easy to plant and grow. If you give these old-fashioned beauties a little care and attention every once in a while, they will give you a long season of bright mophead flowers.
This post shows you how to easily and step-by-step add the color and beauty of hydrangeas to your outdoor areas.
Hydrangeas (genus hydrangea) are woody shrubs native to the Western Hemisphere and Asia. These Grandiflora shrubs grow in zones 3-7 as perennials. There are over 75 hydrangea varieties, with new varieties popping up every year.
Typically, hydrangeas bloom in the spring and summer, and some varieties can last through the fall. The flowerheads start as buds from sturdy stems. Depending on the type of hydrangea, some blooms grow on old wood and some on new. Knowing this will determine when to prune hydrangeas back.
Hydrangeas are stunning flowering shrubs that can add vibrant pops of color to any garden. With their large, showy blooms, hydrangeas are a favorite for many gardeners. However, in order to get the most out of your hydrangeas, it’s important to plant them in the right potting soil. This complete guide will teach you everything you need to know about choosing the best potting soil for hydrangeas.
Why Potting Soil Matters for Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas have specific soil requirements that must be met in order for the plants to thrive. When grown in the ground it’s a bit easier to amend and alter the existing soil to create the ideal growing medium for hydrangeas. However when grown in containers, the only soil the plant has access to is the potting mix you provide.
Choosing a subpar potting soil means your hydrangea’s roots won’t be able to spread properly or take up nutrients effectively. This leads to poor flowering and stunted growth. The right potting soil on the other hand will set your hydrangea up for success.
Key Characteristics of Quality Hydrangea Potting Soil
So what should you look for when selecting a potting mix for hydrangeas? Here are the most important characteristics to consider:
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Good drainage Hydrangeas need soil that drains well. Their roots are prone to rotting if left in standing water or sodden soil for too long. Look for potting mixes that contain materials like perlite vermiculite or bark to help improve drainage.
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Moderate water retention: While drainage is crucial, the soil should also be able to retain some moisture. This will reduce the frequency at which you need to water. Incorporating materials like coconut coir into the potting mix can help improve moisture retention.
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Slightly acidic pH: Most hydrangeas prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5-6.0. When grown in pots, you’ll likely need to amend the soil with aluminum sulfate or other acidifying agents to reach this optimal pH range.
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Nutrient-rich: Potting soil designed for flowering plants usually contains some fertilizer to feed hungry bloomers like hydrangeas. Slow-release fertilizers are ideal since they provide nutrients over an extended period of time.
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Light and fluffy: Hydrangea roots need room to spread out. A loose, airy potting mix allows for better root growth. Soils that are dense or get compressed over time won’t work as well.
The Best Potting Soil Options for Hydrangeas
With these key criteria in mind, here are some excellent potting soil options specifically formulated for hydrangeas:
Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix
This potting soil from Miracle-Gro checks off all the boxes. It contains coconut coir and other water-retaining polymers to help prevent drought stress. Perlite provides drainage while a special fertilizer feeds for up to 6 months. The lightweight mix is ideal for container gardening.
Espoma Organic Potting Mix
For a more eco-friendly organic choice, look to this blend from Espoma. It contains sphagnum peat moss, peat humus, perlite, and Espoma’s proprietary myco-tone mycorrhizae. The mycorrhizae helps maximize nutrient uptake. The mix is suitable for a wide variety of container plants, including hydrangeas.
Sun Gro Black Gold All Purpose Potting Soil
This top-selling potting mix provides an excellent balance of drainage, water retention, and nutrition for hydrangeas. It’s a peat-based blend amended with controlled-release fertilizer and horticultural vermiculite. Sun Gro is one of the most trusted names in potting soils.
Miracle-Gro Nature’s Care Organic Potting Mix
Miracle-Gro also makes an organic potting soil ideal for hydrangeas. It contains compost, sphagnum peat moss, and coconut coir for moisture retention. There are also added organic fertilizers like bone meal and feather meal to gradually feed plants.
Black Gold Hydrangea Potting Soil
As the name suggests, this Black Gold potting soil is specially formulated with the needs of hydrangeas in mind. It has a lightweight texture and proprietary water retention gels to prevent drought stress. An acidic pH helps hydrangeas bloom their best.
Potting Soil Tips for Healthy Hydrangeas
Once you’ve selected an appropriate potting mix, follow these tips to keep your container hydrangeas thriving:
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Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season, using options tailored for acid-loving plants.
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Check soil pH periodically with a soil test kit. Use aluminum sulfate or soil acidifier as needed to maintain optimal acidity levels.
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Add a 2-4 inch layer of mulch on top of the soil to help retain moisture. Shredded bark or pine needles both work well.
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Water whenever the top inch of soil becomes dry. Potted hydrangeas often need daily watering in hot weather.
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Repot into fresh potting mix every 2-3 years as the old soil loses structure and nutrients.
Follow this complete guide to ensure your potted hydrangeas get the specialized soil they need. Paying close attention to potting mix selection and care will lead to spectacular blooming hydrangeas all season long.
Picking And Pruning Hydrangeas For More Blooms
Endless Summer hydrangeas were my choice because they bloom on both old and new wood, so they will be full all summer.
To promote new blooms, deadhead spent blooms and cut them back to a new bud. When the season is over, you might want to let the plant’s flowers dry on their own.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hydrangeas
Best soil mix for Hydrangeas
FAQ
What is the best potting soil for potted hydrangeas?
Is Miracle Grow potting soil good for hydrangeas?
Do hydrangeas do better in pots or in the ground?
What do I put in my soil before planting hydrangeas?
Do hydrangeas need potting?
A hydrangea that is kept in a small-or-medium-sized container will need potting on after two-to-three years. John Negus, a gardening expert, advises that hydrangeas are ‘not fussy about the pH of their soil, but the soil does need to be fertile, well fed and slow to dry out’.
How do you plant hydrangeas?
The best way to do this is first to research your soil, then visit a nursery to see which products they have available to amend your soil to the desired pH. Besides soil chemistry, there’s also something called soil structure to consider when planting hydrangeas.
How do I choose the right soil for hydrangea plants?
Choosing well-drained soil for planting, whether in the ground or in pots, provides the necessary foundation for healthy root systems and encourages vigorous growth. For varieties like Hydrangea paniculata, known for their large panicle-shaped blooms, considerations for soil amendments come into play.
What is a good soil pH for hydrangeas?
Blue Hydrangea Magic: For that enchanting shade of blue, aim for a soil pH below 5.5, signaling an acidic soil. The key player here is aluminum, the artist behind the mesmerizing blue canvas that makes these fertile flowers a favorite in small gardens.
Do hydrangeas need good soil?
Hydrangeas, regardless of the species of hydrangea, exhibit their best traits when planted in well-drained soil that prioritizes good drainage. This ensures the avoidance of common issues like leaf spots and fungal infections.
How do you care for a hydrangea in a pot?
Leave some room below the rim of the pot, so you can water. Gently firm the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets. When the top inch or so of the potting mix feels dry, water your hydrangea thoroughly.