Hydrangeas are like large clouds of floral beauty in the landscape. There’s a lot you can love about hydrangeas in your garden. Their big green leaves look like bright white snowballs, and their soft pink, blue, and purple balls add color to your yard.
Hydrangeas are so popular because certain varieties are longer bloomers so they provide more color time. Plus, they are hardy and simple to grow, which makes them a great choice if you want to add some fun to your space.
Let’s talk about the different kinds of hydrangeas and how to take care of them so you can get the most out of these beautiful flowers.
Hydrangeas are a popular flowering shrub that produce gorgeous blooms in shades of blue, pink, purple, and white. They make a stunning addition to any outdoor space when in bloom. But many hydrangea plants are sold in pots, often as gifts or holiday plants. So a common question is – can you plant a potted hydrangea outside in your garden?
The short answer is yes, you can plant a potted hydrangea outside with proper care. However there are some important factors to consider first. In this complete guide we’ll cover everything you need to know about planting gift hydrangeas outdoors.
Hardening Off Hydrangeas Before Planting
Hydrangeas sold as gift plants or holiday plants are usually grown in greenhouses so they bloom early. This means they aren’t acclimated to outdoor conditions. Before planting a gift hydrangea outside, you need to “harden it off”.
Hardening off is the process of gradually introducing a plant to outdoor conditions This toughens up the plant and gets it ready for life outside of the protected greenhouse environment
To harden off a gift hydrangea:
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Keep it in a cool spot indoors away from direct sunlight for 1-2 weeks. A porch or garage are ideal if temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Once nighttime temps are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and frost risk has passed, move the hydrangea outdoors to a shady spot during the day. Bring it back indoors at night.
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After 7-10 days, you can leave the plant outdoors at night if temperatures remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
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After 2-3 weeks of hardening off, the plant will be ready for planting!
Hardening off is a critical step to ensure hydrangea health and success outdoors. Skipping this acclimation time often leads to plant shock or death.
Choosing the Right Location
When choosing where to plant your hydrangea, there are two key factors to consider – sunlight and soil pH.
Sunlight Needs
Most hydrangeas do best with morning sun and afternoon shade.Aim for 3-6 hours of direct sunlight if possible. More sun than this can burn leaves and flowers.
East facing locations that get morning sun or dappled sun throughout the day are ideal. North facing spots work too. Just avoid hot, direct afternoon sun from the south or west.
Soil pH Preferences
Soil pH affects hydrangea flower color. Acidic soils with pH below 5.5 will produce blue blooms. Alkaline soils over pH 5.5 will result in pink flowers.
If you want blue flowers, aim for a spot with acidic soil. To make soil more acidic, add aluminum sulfate or elemental sulfur.
For pink blooms, choose a spot with naturally alkaline soil over pH 5.5. Add lime if needed to raise pH.
Testing your soil’s pH with a kit beforehand allows you to choose the ideal planting site to achieve your desired flower color.
Planting Tips
When planting your hydrangea into the ground, follow these tips:
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Dig a hole 2-3 times wider than the pot size. Depth should match the pot.
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Gently loosen roots before placing in hole. Remove any circling roots.
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Backfill with native soil, tamping down lightly around stem. Leave a slight depression.
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Water thoroughly after planting. Top dress with 2-3 inches of mulch.
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Stake for support if needed. Some varieties can get quite large.
First Year Care
With proper first year care, your transplanted hydrangea will establish and thrive. Here are some tips:
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Water 1-2 times per week for the first 3 months, then weekly in first year. Deep watering is best.
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Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early summer and again in early fall.
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Prune only dead or damaged stems in first year. No major pruning yet.
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Monitor for pests like aphids. Treat promptly to avoid spread.
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Protect with burlap or frost cloth if freezing temps occur in first fall/winter.
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Remove any flower buds that form in first year. Energy should go to root growth.
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Mulch each fall with 2-3 inches of bark, leaves, or other organic matter.
With good first year care, your hydrangea will establish a strong root system and be ready for years of growth and gorgeous blooms!
Will It Bloom the First Year Outside?
Sadly, most potted hydrangeas will not bloom again in the first season after planting outside. Here’s why:
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Flower buds form in summer/fall for the next year’s blooms. Digging up the plant often destroys these buds.
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The shock of transplanting forces the plant to focus energy on new root growth rather than flowering.
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Greenhouse plants are forced to bloom early. Natural bloom time is mid-summer.
So while you may not get flowers the first year, have patience! If the hydrangea survives the winter, it should settle in and bloom beautifully in year two. Ensuring good first year care gives the plant its best chance to thrive.
Winterizing Tips
The first winter is critical for a newly planted hydrangea. Follow these tips to help it survive:
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Stop fertilizing by September so growth can slow and harden off.
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Prune only dead or damaged branches. Never cut healthy stems now.
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Mulch heavily after ground freezes. Oak leaves, bark, or straw all work well.
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Wrap or mound soil 1 foot high around the base for insulation if very cold.
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Cover with burlap, frost cloth, or straw if temperatures drop below 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Water once a month if winter is dry. Soil should never fully dry out.
Protecting the roots, crown, and any buds that set from extreme cold will ensure your hydrangea makes it to spring. Then you can look forward to beautiful blooms in year two!
Ideal Species for Planting Outdoors
While all hydrangeas can be planted outside with proper care, some species are better choices than others for transplanting. The best types include:
Hydrangea macrophylla – These popular bigleaf hydrangeas produce the iconic mophead and lacecap blooms. They thrive outdoors if winters are moderate. Hardy to zone 5.
Hydrangea paniculata – Panicle hydrangeas are cold hardy, tolerating temperatures down to zone 3. Easy to grow, they flower on new wood. ‘Limelight’ is a popular panicle.
Hydrangea arborescens – Smooth hydrangea blooms every summer on new wood, so it’s not prone to winter damage. ‘Annabelle’ is a favorite arborescens.
Hydrangea quercifolia – Oakleaf hydrangeas have beautiful foliage and conical blooms. Extremely winter hardy for zones 5-9.
Stick with these bulletproof hydrangea species when planting a gift plant outdoors, and you’ll have the highest success rate. Avoid more delicate types like Hydrangea serrata.
Troubleshooting Problems
Despite best efforts, sometimes issues pop up when transitioning a hydrangea outside. Here are some common problems and solutions:
Few or no blooms – This is very common in the first year after planting as energy goes to root growth. Fertilize and wait until second year to evaluate blooms.
Wilt – Drooping leaves usually indicate under watering. Check soil moisture and water deeply if dry beneath the surface.
Leaf spots/discoloration – Fungal disease is common. Apply fungicide and improve air circulation.
Root rot – Overwatering can lead to rotten roots. Let soil dry out between waterings.
Dieback – Harsh winter damage can kill stems. Prune dead branches in spring and protect in future winters.
Pests – Aphids, scale and caterpillars may appear. Use horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps for treatment.
With proper care, most issues can be corrected and your hydrangea can bounce back healthy! But it may take some time and TLC.
When to Plant Hydrangea Cuttings Outside
When it comes to hydrangea cuttings, plant those in the spring when the shrub’s growth is peaking.
This also allows the cutting a whole growing season to mature into a full-size plant. Just like planting full plants, plant cuttings in the early morning or evening to avoid heat stress.
How to Care for Hydrangea Plants Seasonally
Hydrangeas are generally very easy to take care of. Most of them don’t like it when it’s very hot, so make sure they get some shade, even if it’s only in the afternoon.
While they can be grown in most soils, they like rich, moist soil that drains well.
Seasonally, there are some specific hydrangea care tips you can follow to keep your plants in good shape.
Watering is important to encourage root growth. Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season. Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas tend to require more water, but all hydrangea varieties like consistent moisture.
Adding mulch in the spring can help keep the soil moist and cool. Organic mulch will also break down over time, adding nutrients to the soil.
Bigleaf hydrangeas do best with light fertilization in March, May, and June. Oakleaf and paniculata hydrangeas, on the other hand, do best with two applications in April and June.
You can control some hydrangea flower colors by changing the soil pH. A low soil pH allows hydrangeas to absorb aluminum, turning the flowers more blue. You can do this by adding peat moss to the soil or more aluminum sulfate to the soil as the growing season goes on. Don’t over-do it though as too much can cause toxicity. Accentuate pink and red tones by adding ground limestone to increase the pH.
Hydrangeas grow best in soil that has a good amount of organic material, as well as good drainage.
Fall is the best time to plant hydrangeas.
Late winter is a great time to fertilize smooth hydrangeas.
If cold winters burn the tips of branches, remember to prune dead wood in the late winter/early spring.
When to Plant Hydrangeas
FAQ
Can I plant a potted hydrangea in the ground?
Where is the best place to plant hydrangeas outside?
What is the difference between indoor and outdoor hydrangeas?
When can hydrangeas be planted outside?
Can hydrangeas be planted outside?
It is always best to plant the potted hydrangea outdoors whenever possible. It should only be planted outdoors in early to mid summer as it needs time to acclimate to outdoor conditions before winter arrives. In summary, foil wrapped hydrangeas are best used as a temporary plant in ones home unless it can be planted in the garden.
When should you move a potted Hydrangea outside?
Late spring or early fall is the best time to move your potted hydrangea outdoors. Before moving your plant outside, make sure the temperature outside is suited for your plant. Sudden temperature changes can shock the plant. Slowly expose your plant to outdoor conditions. Moreover, plant changes when brought outside are a change in light exposure.
Where should hydrangeas be planted?
It’s recommended to place the plant near a window facing south. When growing hydrangeas outdoors, keep in mind the changing sunlight throughout the day and season. As the sun moves across the sky, the amount and severity of sunlight on the plant will change.
Do hydrangeas need a hose?
Hydrangeas and most plants actually need good airflow around their roots. So, avoid piling up the mulch too high. Instead, spread it out around the edges of the plant. Make sure you give your hydrangeas a good soak at the roots. You can grab a hose and really get in there to make sure they stay nice and hydrated.