Hydrangers

JuneBow

I bought two hydrangers in the late summer. They are still in the pots but look too big for the pots. Some of the flowers have come out and are dying but others are still in bud.
What do I do with these over the winter?
Presumably they will not now flower.
Do I cut them back and plant them where they are eventually going to go, or am I too late for that?

wellused

Hydrangeas prefer sunny positions so I doubt that the light levels will allow them to flower this time of year, plant them but don't cut them back as they flower on the previous years growth.

Mojisola

If they are garden varieties and not forced, plant them out now. If they've been forced into flowering, the plants might be a bit tender and will need to be acclimatised before planting out.

Leave the flowers on over the winter - they look nice, especially when covered with frost, and they help to protect the new buds from late frosts in the Spring. Remove the heads when the buds open and start to grow away.

I wouldn't prune them now or next Spring as they're young plants. I always cut out about a third of the stems on my old plants each Spring - choose the oldest stems and badly-placed ones - this keeps the plant young and healthy.

Davesnave

wellused wrote: »

Hydrangeas prefer sunny positions so I doubt that the light levels will allow them to flower this time of year, plant them but don't cut them back as they flower on the previous years growth.

They are supposed to prefer semi shaded conditions and soil which doesn't dry out too much, but mine in a temporary home have survived sun and drying-out many times, so it's clearly not crucial. They are toughies.

Your plants have had time to get over nursery withdrawal, so get them in and do any mild pruning in spring.

Mojisola

Davesnave wrote: »

Your plants have had time to get over nursery withdrawal, so get them in and do any mild pruning in spring.

If they've been outside. Many florists now sell small hydrangea plants as indoor plants which can be moved outside after flowering has finished.

I've got one hydrangea in a sunny position and it does need plenty of extra watering during the summer. It's not the best place for it but it was all that was available when I had to move it and I've never got round to moving it again.

Davesnave

Mojisola wrote: »

If they've been outside. Many florists now sell small hydrangea plants as indoor plants which can be moved outside after flowering has finished.
Good point.
I've got one hydrangea in a sunny position and it does need plenty of extra watering during the summer. It's not the best place for it but it was all that was available when I had to move it and I've never got round to moving it again.

Mine are where they are until I can put a fence between the sheep and their proper home! :rotfl:

wellused

Davesnave wrote: »

They are supposed to prefer semi shaded conditions and soil which doesn't dry out too much, but mine in a temporary home have survived sun and drying-out many times, so it's clearly not crucial. They are toughies.

Your plants have had time to get over nursery withdrawal, so get them in and do any mild pruning in spring.

Mine has been in full sun, dug up and put in a container in shade, and then planted into the ground in full sun again, it copes very well in the sun and has dried out and wilted but after dosing it with a couple of buckets of water revives instantly.

dogstarheaven

can anyone recommend a variety that are the nice dusky pinks and blues that i've seen in the florists lately? as it'll go in the lotti, i'd rather have a compactish one that won't get too large, but if there aren't, then a normal shrub variety will do.

and i believe that my blueberry plant is surviving ok in the ground (1st year) so that means I might have enough acidity in there to allow me to grow blue hydrangeas (possibly!)

wellused

I know someone who used to put iron filings around his to get them to turn blue.