Hydrangea · potted and garden
A potted hydrangea brings big, full blooms indoors in spring and summer, and afterward it can be planted in the garden, where hydrangeas grow beautifully in our part of North Carolina.
The single most important thing to know: hydrangeas drink a lot. The name even comes from the Greek word for water. A potted one in full bloom can need water every single day.
Never let it dry out
Feel the soil every day and water as soon as the top feels dry. Water slowly until it runs out the bottom. If it has dried out completely, set the whole pot in a sink of water for 20 minutes, then let it drain.
Take it out of the foil, or poke holes in it, so the extra water can escape. Wet is good; standing in water is not.
Finding the right spot
Bright light and a cool room keep the blooms fresh for weeks.
- Indoors, bright, indirect light near an east window.
- A cool room, around 60–68°F, makes the flowers last much longer.
- Keep it out of direct afternoon sun and away from heat vents.
- Outdoors in NC: morning sun and afternoon shade. Our afternoon summer sun wilts them every day.
Everyday care
Potted Hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
- Light
- Bright, indirect light indoors. Morning sun and afternoon shade outdoors.
- Water
- Daily check. Keep the soil evenly moist; it can wilt in hours if it dries out.
- Temperature
- Cool indoors: 60–68°F. Hardy outdoors through Johnston County winters.
- Feeding
- None while blooming indoors. In the garden, a light feeding in spring.
- Spent blooms
- Cut faded flower heads off just above a pair of leaves.
- Color
- Acidic soil turns blue varieties bluer; less acidic soil keeps them pink. White ones stay white.
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten in large amounts. It can cause vomiting and stomach upset. If any part is eaten, call your veterinarian.
Planting it in your garden
Bigleaf hydrangeas grow well in eastern North Carolina, and a gift plant can become a garden shrub for years.
- Plant it after frost danger passes (mid-April here) in a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, and rich, well-drained soil.
- Dig the hole twice as wide as the pot, plant it at the same depth, and water deeply. Keep it well watered its first summer.
- Prune only right after it flowers, in summer. Bigleaf hydrangeas form next year’s buds on this year’s stems, so cutting them back in fall or spring removes the flowers.
- Gift hydrangeas were grown in a greenhouse and may skip a year of blooms while they settle in. That is normal.
The eastern North Carolina year
What to do through our Johnston County seasons.
| Season | What to do |
|---|---|
| SpringMarch–May | Bloom time for potted gifts. Plant outside after mid-April, water deeply. |
| SummerJune–August | Garden hydrangeas bloom. Water often in heat, prune right after flowering only. |
| FallSeptember–November | Leave the stems alone; next year’s buds are on them. Mulch the roots. |
| WinterDecember–February | Dormant. Don’t prune. Cover with a sheet if a hard freeze follows a warm spell. |
Repotting
A potted hydrangea is best planted in the garden after it blooms rather than repotted. If you want to keep it in a container on the porch, move it to a pot at least 16 inches wide with drainage holes.
Quick fixes
Wilting
Almost always thirsty. Soak the pot in a sink of water for 20 minutes.
Wilting in afternoon even though soil is wet
Too much sun or heat. Move it to afternoon shade; it often recovers in the evening.
Brown, crispy flower edges
Dry soil or hot sun. Water more and move it cooler.
Yellow leaves with green veins
The soil isn’t acidic enough for it to take up iron. A fertilizer made for acid-loving plants helps.
No flowers in the garden
Pruned at the wrong time, or a late freeze hit the buds. Prune only right after flowering.
Color changed after planting
Normal: your soil sets the color. Acidic soil turns blue varieties bluer.
Common questions
How often should I water a potted hydrangea?
Check it every day. In bloom, it often needs water daily.
Can I plant my potted hydrangea outside?
Yes. Plant it in morning sun and afternoon shade after mid-April.
When should I prune my hydrangea?
Bigleaf hydrangeas: only right after they flower, in summer.
Why did my hydrangea change color?
Your soil chemistry sets the color. Acidic soil turns blue varieties bluer; less acidic soil keeps them pink.
More plant care guides
Mums
Chrysanthemum
Never let it dry out. Cool temperatures make the blooms last.
Read the guide →Easter Lily
Lilium longiflorum
Cool, bright and lightly watered indoors, then planted in the garden. Dangerous to cats.
Read the guide →Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum
Medium light, a drink when it droops, and filtered water for clean leaf tips.
Read the guide →About pets and plants: The pet notes in this guide are general plant knowledge from our florists, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet chews or swallows any part of a plant, contact a licensed veterinarian right away, or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. If a person swallows any part of a plant, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”1 Corinthians 3:7
Questions about your plant?
Call or text us. We are always glad to help, whether you bought it from us or not.
Call or text (984) 250-7771 Clayton Florist · 11440 Clayton Blvd, Clayton, NC 27520claytonncflorist.com