| A Mother’s Day favorite, the flowering hydrangea requires diligent care to grow bold and beautiful. University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein shares best practices for taking care of hydrangeas. Hydrangeas are unlike other flowers, as they can change color from year to year through variations in their care.
Controlling and changing factors such as with soil and watering, the color and size of hydrangeas can be affected. A soil pH near neutral leads to flowers blooming pink, and blue by acidifying the soil with some aluminum sulfate. Location and climate are also a major factor in color and size. Peegee hydrangea produces large, white flowers in a pyramid shape, and in mild climates it can grow to be 15 feet. Oakleaf hydrangea have large leaves that turn red in fall, and white flowers in early summer. Environmental factors such as frost play a major role in the longevity of the plant’s bloom, and they should be brought inside or covered to be protected during cold weather. Other tips Trinklein advises involve watering well, fertilize about every two weeks, and mulching should be loose since dense mulch retains moisture which increase the chance of disease. If kept moist, potted hydrangeas remain attractive indoors for several weeks. To learn more best practices on caring for hydrangeas and for more information on the University of Missouri Extension, read more here. |
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