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michele_1

Just how much sun/shade does hydrangea need??!

19 years ago

I'm just flabergasted trying to figure out just how much sun / shade my hydrangeas need. I have a bunch planted under trees, lots of shade, dappled sun, and they have just started blooming a little. Planted them last fall, and they have grown a little. I thought they would grow faster and bloom more to say the least.

I have more hydrangeas in the foundation beds at the back of the house. I guess they're not getting enough sun because they aren't blooming. Ladys-in-red.

Should I move them out this fall closer to the edge of the bed where they will get more sun. Or will I find them wilting because then they will get too much sun.

Driving me crazy!

Help!

Comments (6)

  • 19 years ago

    In the southern states, you need to shield them from the sun by planting them where they will be protected from the hot summer afternoon sun. As you move further northward in the map, you will be able to plant in sunnier spots, to the point of being in full sun (> 6 hours) in the northern states! In Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida and Texas, we have to keep them in "part shade". The definition of that term means 4 hours of sun or less. For example: my plants are in part shade during the summer because the sun shines directly over them from around 6:30am through 10am-ish.

    Growth is a function of many factors. The amount of sun is just one. The ones that you planted in the fall produced those flower buds starting in August/September, more or less. Conditions at the time in the nursery may not have been conducive to produce many flowers. Only the flower buds to be developed in Fall 2007 for Spring 2008 will actually reflect conditions in your yard. If they bloom poorly then, take appropriate action. Until then, do not transplant them.

    Instead... Fertilize twice a year with manure or cottonseed meal. Mulch adequately (3-4") and maintain the soil moist, specially during the flower bud developing months.

    As for the Ladies In Red, I need more information since I am unclear as to whether they were planted at the same time in the fall? Are you not getting any bloomage? How was your weather since Fall? How much fertilizer do they get? How much water do they get in fall? winter? What hours do they get sun?

    Luis

  • 19 years ago

    Thanks for the info. Some of my ladies in red were planted this spring, so it looks like I'll have to wait and see.

    The ladies in red that get more sun are blooming some. The two in more shade are not, though they look like healthy plants.

    The ones in dappled shade in a different bed are blooming a little, growing a little. They are beautiful, but small with few blooms. They are beautiful plants though with lovely violet to blue blooms.

    I'm afraid they're not getting enough sun, especially the ladies in red.

    How much sun is hard to gauge. The ones not blooming at all are planted around the foundation, so they get "house" shade. However they still do get some sun off and on during the day.

    If I pulled them "out" further away from the house they would still get plenty of shade but more sun. If I do that, should I wait till this fall to transplant. It's awfully hot now. Would it hurt them terribly to transplant them now.

    I want some flowers!!!
    Thanks Michele_1

  • 10 years ago

    Georgia, mine look as if bugs are eating them...in full sun yet some read, inside hydrangea.


  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    If they can get/take more morning sun, that would be fine. I would expect the shaded LIRs to grow and bloom less than other LIRs located in more sun.Expect that they will need more water in the sunnier location. You can give them shade with chairs, etc for a while so they get used to the new place,

    But since I do not know where are you located, I need to add... more sun is best if it is morning sun. If they will get any afternoon sun, especially in the Summer, that is going to be fine if your summer sun is not as strong as it is here in the South. Just a fyi: a couple of hours of afternoon sun did not work for me here; the leaves started getting sun scorch.

    Note that wilting is a moisture problem made worse by wind and sun; it only means that the leaves are loosing moisture faster than the plants absorb moisture thru the roots. If the plants get "too much" sun, the leaves in direct contact with the sun will turn all yellow, including the leaf veins- while the inside leaves remain dark green. Gives the shrub a really weird look.

  • 10 years ago

    Thanks, I have four in bucket planters and four in ground. In Bethlehem GA. Planters seem to be getting eaten , black curved up and cuts...in ground are covered with mulch..all watered in morning about 8am, due to toddler playing with hose,filling up his pool for the day...