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| Hydrangeas Are Ideal For Planting In Containers! |
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| These showy beauties need not be relegated to being planted only in gardens. Many varieties are suitable and wonderfully effective when planted in large containers. Growing hydrangeas in containers is a bit more tricky than growing them in your garden, but the results are well worth it. For successful growth and long-lasting beauty, gardeners need to be selective about choosing the appropriate varieties for containers. |
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| Mopheads and Lacecaps -- Which is Which? |
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 Before you get the urge to dash out and buy the first hydrangeas that meet your eye, it's wise to learn the difference between "mopheads" and "lacecaps." Chances are, some gardeners may never have heard these terms associated with hydrangeas. As peculiar as these names sound, they truly are the names designated to two cultivar groups of macrophylla hydrangeas! |
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Mopheads
Hortensias {H. macrophylla}, also known as bigleaf or garden hydrangeas, are very popular and widely grown. Hortensias, also known as "mopheads," were named in honor of Hortense, the daughter of 18th century botanist Prince de Nassau. Mopheads feature large round flower heads resembling pom-poms and bloom from mid to late Summer.
Their flower clusters differ from lacecaps in that some varieties produce sterile flowers with petal-like sepals, while others bear smaller fertile flowers with starry petals. Those bearing sterile flowers bloom for several months, although their colour gradually fades toward Summer's end. Mopheads bloom in solid masses, their clusters often so heavy that they cause their stems to droop and bend. |
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Lacecaps
Lacecap hydrangeas bear flat round flower heads with centres of fertile flowers surrounded by outer rings of sterile flowers. Their centre flowers are not exactly showy, however the outer rings of their sterile flowers are quite striking. Interestingly, the structure of these flowers really does remind one of a fancy "lace cap!" The fascinating flower heads of lacecap hydrangeas are also somewhat reminiscent of pinwheels. |
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| Initial Planting and Aftercare Tips for Success |
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Location
Take a look around your garden before you decide to grow hydrangeas in containers. Hydrangeas all prefer full to partial shade or partial sun. You must have a location for contained hydrangeas where they will get minimal morning sun and plenty of afternoon shade. If the only place you have to place your potted hydrangea is on your shaded patio, you and your hydrangea will both be happy! Just remember to avoid placing them in full sun or they simply won't thrive. Also try to place your containers in an area that is protected from wind. |
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Containers and Plant Selection
 Both mopheads and lacecaps need containers that are a minimum of 15-16 inches in diameter. A good rule of thumb is to select containers at least 2-4 inches larger both in depth and diameter than the nursery pot in which it was growing. This will give the root ball adequate room to grow. Choose light coloured containers, as lighter colours reflect heat away from the roots of your plants. It's also critical that your containers have adequate drainage holes, since all hydrangeas insist on well drained soil.
When you've decided on which varieties want, always buy them at a reliable nursery or garden centre. Experienced nursery people can be a big help in selecting what you need. Select plants with well-balanced shapes to achieve a pleasing effect in your containers. Inspect the leaves for signs of disease or insect problems, and always buy only healthy plants. It's best to buy plants already in bloom to make sure you're getting the right variety. |
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Soil, Fertilizer, and Planting
 Always use commercial potting mixes in your containers as they are sterilized and disease free. Your hydrangeas will thrive in a humus-rich potting soil, and using a soil-less mix is also an asset as it helps retain water. There are many potting mixes available with slow-release fertilizer granules that are excellent for container plants.
Should you decide to grow Macrophylla hydrangeas (Big leaf hydrangeas), be aware that they can have either pink or blue flowers, depending on the pH of the soil. Acid soils produce blue flowers, whereas alkaline soils produce pink blossoms. In garden settings, their colours can be changed by adding either sulphur or lime, depending on the colour you want to achieve. This is much more difficult in containers because of the small amount of soil you have to work with.
When planting hydrangeas, place several inches of potting soil in the bottom of your container first. Centre your hydrangea on top of this base soil, then fill in with more soil around the sides so there are no air pockets. Firm the soil gently with your hand, adding a final amount of soil around the top to make sure the roots are covered. Place a layer of fine bark or other mulch on top of the soil to help keep the plant from drying out. Water your hydrangea thoroughly right after planting, making sure the soil is quite moist. |
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Water Requirements
 Hydrangeas are true water gluttons, and even more so when planted in containers. Daily watering will keep your plant from drying out. Lack of water will make for a very droopy, unhappy looking hydrangea with wilted leaves. You may want to invest some "drip" watering systems available these days. Remember, hydrangeas don't want to be soggy or over watered -- just nice and moist! |
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Noxious Pests or Other Problems to Watch For
Ah yes -- even hydrangeas attract a few pests! Among some pests to watch for are aphids, red spiders, leaf tiers, and rose chafers. Hydrangea foliage is also susceptible to leaf spots and powdery mildew. Always treat insects or diseased plants as soon as possible. Your friendly local garden will be able to quickly steer you in the right direction for a proper treatment plan if needed. |
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Pruning
 When to prune is sometimes simply a matter of convenience. We have pruned both in the Autumn and early Spring and had good results either way. It does seem that the later and the more harshly you prune that fewer flower blooms can be expected the next season. This is because most hydrangeas bloom on "old" wood. With young plants, be sure to prune enough growth to form them into a good "shape." This is generally 10 to 20 percent of the growth. Once the plant is established, cut only 3 or 4 of the oldest canes back to the ground each year and leave the others to make flower buds for the next season. |
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Colour
The colour of hydrangeas will vary considerably due to the pH of the soil they are growing in. The blues are best in acid soil and the degree of blueness is controlled by the amount of available aluminium and the capacity of a particular variety to draw it up. The reds and pinks enjoy an alkaline or neutral soil. The whites stay white but usually enjoy the same conditions as the reds and pinks.
To encourage "bluing" of the flowers, you need to raise the acidity of the soil. This can be done by soaking the soil around the hydrangea with a hydrangea colourant several times at weekly intervals in the Spring and again in the Autumn.
To encourage pink to red blooms on plants in high acid soil, apply lime to the soil. The lime should be applied at the rate of one pound to every ten square feet of surface area once or twice a year until the desired bloom colour is obtained.
Note colour correction takes some weeks or even months for the desirable changes to take effect. |
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Drying Blooms
Hydrangea blooms will not dry successfully when freshly flowering. For drying, the flower heads need to be of a "papery" consistency. This is usually towards Autumn before the first frost. Pick the leaves off the flower stems and hang them upside down for a few days in a dark, warm place. Sometimes it helps to use a fan for air circulation. Store or arrange the dried blooms in a dry place away from direct sunlight as this will fade the colour. |
