You should plant your hydrangea in spring once all threat of frost has passed. Dig a hole twice the size of the rootball and add some soil improver or compost. Plant level with the surrounding soil and water in well. It is commonly believed that adding fertilizer will keep your hydrangea blooming but in reality, it will bloom regardless. If it stops blooming for some reason, it is not because it is not being fed with fertilizer it is more likely to do with something else such as incorrect pruning.

Buy mophead and lacecap hydrangeas from Sarah Raven, Crocus, Thompson & Morgan and Gardening Express Add a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and suppress weeds. Do not let the mulch touch the base of the plant to reduce the risk of rotting.

How to use: For best results, use the hydrangea fertilizer once a week or every two weeks. You can either use a watering can or a sprayer. For outdoor hydrangeas: mix 1 tablespoon of the fertilizer with one gallon of water. For indoor plants: mix half a teaspoon (yes teaspoon!) per one gallon of water. Hydrangeas will do well in widely varying soil pH; however, a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH is considered ideal. 2 Williams, T. (2012, September 20). Hydrangea blooms turn colors based on soil pH levels. CAES Newswire. Retrieved March 20, 2023, from https://newswire.caes.uga.edu/story/4542/blue-pink-or-lavender.html By adding fertiliser to your hydrangea’s growing environment, especially a fertiliser that’s marked as “acidic”, you change the soil’s pH and that affects the colour of the flowers. Hydrangeas are grown for their long-lasting flowers, but these northern hemisphere plants vary in their needs, so careful choices need to be made.

Frost can affect any hydrangea plant, but those that flower on new wood are less susceptible as any frost-damaged stems can be pruned off, and the hydrangea will still flower on new growth. To generalise, the Asian species tend to thrive on moisture and they prefer rainy summers and an ambient climate for nine months of the year, although they are hardy enough to survive cold winters. This weather pattern mimics the rainy season found all across Asia. The main Asian species is Hydrangea macrophylla, but others include Hydrangea serrata and Hydrangea paniculata. There are also climbing and evergreen species. If organic fertilizer is made of manure then it may smell or the local wildlife may take an interest in it. Chemical Fertilizers This is an insect pest which livesoff the sap of hydrangeas. Because the insects are so small they are almostinvisible to the naked eye.Where the blue colouring proves unreliable (you are getting purple and pink shades), you can use 'hydrangea blueing compounds', which contain aluminium sulphate. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. If the soil is very alkaline, or if there are obvious pieces of chalk in the soil, this treatment will not work and planting in containers with ericaceous compost is the best option. What’s important is to know what fertilizer you are using. Too much fertilizer can scorch your plant. If the leaves look like they were burned that is the first sign that you have applied too much fertilizer. If you are using a fast release fertilizer do it in March, May, or July but make sure you spread it around at the drip line points of your branches not at the base and afterward water the plant well. Based on my ten years of growing hydrangea macrophyllas, I feel that the ideal spot for any hydrangea is:

Where feeding Hydrangeas is concerned, the saying ‘less is more’ ought to be kept in mind. FAQ’s Do Hydrangeas Like Sun Or Shade?

Softwood cuttings are taken in spring and early summer. Cuttings are taken from the soft flexible tips. In the United States, Oakleaf Hydrangeas, which derive from H. quercifolia are among the most popular. Panicle Hydrangeas Trim the base of the stem to just below a leaf joint. Remove the leaves from the lower third of the stem and pinch out the tip. Dip the base of the cutting in hormone rooting powder and push the stem into the hole up to the first leaves. Mist the pot well and cover with a plastic bag or in a propagator and position somewhere bright but out of direct sunlight. How to use: Use in spring and fall by applying 1 or 2 pounds depending upon the size of the shrub. Rake well into soil and water in.

The truth is that hydrangeas can cope with plenty of direct, midday sunlight, provided the soil isn’t allowed to dry out fully. I know because I’ve grown them in full sun before, and they thrived.

Feeding hydrangeas

While effective, I found that I had to apply this feed far more frequently than Vitax’s product and even the fish, blood and bone granules, hence why I stopped using it.