Hydrangeas indoors and out
Those potted hydrangeas from the flower shop or supermarket are appealing this time of year with their big, floppy blooms in springtime hues of pink or blue (occasionally white). Understandably, many became thank-you gifts to moms on Sunday.
Potted hydrangeas 鈥� often called florist hydrangeas 鈥� are easy to indoors, providing you keep the soil moist. Don鈥檛 let them dry out! You鈥檒l find that those large leaves and big blooms make them thirsty plants.
But don鈥檛 allow water to accumulate at the bottom of the pot. If the pot is wrapped in foil, poke a few holes in the bottom and put a saucer beneath. There鈥檚 no quicker way to kill any indoor plant than letting its roots stand in water.
You鈥檒l be tempted to put the plant on a table in the middle of the room. And that鈥檚 fine at night, if you like. But during the day, a hydrangea is going to need more light.
Place the plant in good bright light 鈥� light that casts a shadow 鈥� with at least some direct sun. It鈥檚 fine to cut off the flowers after they fade, if you want. It isn鈥檛 necessary, though.
But don鈥檛 think that鈥檚 it. A potted hydrangea is a gift that keeps on giving. It can be planted outdoors after all chance of frost is past if you live in Zone 6 and south. (It鈥檚 worth trying in Zone 5, too. Just plant the in a protected place.)
Outdoors, these old-fashioned charmers like to grow in . A spot with morning sun and afternoon shade is ideal. So is an area with moist soil or one that can be easily reached by a hose. Outdoors, as well as in, hydrangeas want plenty of water.
The main problem with these attractive shrubs is that they鈥檙e very sensitive to frost damage in spring. I鈥檝e been known to keep an old quilt or discarded mattress pad by the back door so I could rush outside in the evening after the TV weather forecaster predicted frost and toss it over my hydrangeas so the flower buds wouldn鈥檛 freeze!
When a hydrangea doesn鈥檛 bloom in the spring, frost is often the culprit. So if it鈥檚 still chilly where you live, wait a little longer before moving your potted plant into the great outdoors.
But that鈥檚 no problem. Hydrangeas are just as pleasant indoors as they are outside.
