In over my head...Hydrangea mess?

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I always have these lovely ideas about gardening when spring comes, sadly they always come and go as I've been tied up in this and that over the years. So here I am at 30 years old with two Azalea bushes that came with the house and managed to survive despite my ignorance of them, one cactus that I'm sure would tell me "If Texas didn't kill me you can't" and a pretty puny looking Aloe plant, though that's because I didn't remember to bring it in during the winter.

Now today as I walked through Costco I saw some BEAUTIFUL pink Hydrangeas (I didn't even know they came in pink!) and couldn't resist buying them, they just were that beautiful. Upon getting home and looking at the back of the card I want to cry.

Hydrangea Hortensia

Exposure - Sun to Part Shade

Bloom Time - Summer to Fall

Height - Varies

Spacing - Varies

Water - Moist Well-drained Soil

Hardiness - 0 F

Special Feature - Large Bloom

Maybe that tells other people what they need to know but I have no clue what I've got myself into, darn my childhood dreams of a yard full of beautiful flowers like my grandmother once had.

I'm not even sure if it's one plant or four. At first I thought it was one but then I got to looking and think it might be four as there seems to be four very sturdy steams coming out of the pot into soil that seems like it might be divided slightly into four sections.

Now I'm sitting here trying to figure out what I'm suppose to do with this plant...these plants?

According to this map here - http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/# I'm in zone 7b or 8a.

So things I know I need to know are the following -

Where to plant it - It said Sun to Part Shade...the place I had thought to put the Hydangea is in my front yard near the house and Azalea Bushes. It'd get a good about of morning sun but by noon it would be in the shade protected from the afternoon glare. Is that the right idea?

How much space do I need to give each plant? As it says varies I've no idea how big I should expect it to get.

What kind of soil should I be planting it in, I do remember that someone once told me the type of soil that's used determines color or something. I really like the color it is and would like to keep it but I wouldn't mind if it changed color. I just want to make sure it gets the best chance to survive...well me.

Should I use a miracle grow type product when I water it and if so which one would be best?

In the Winter should I cover it or something?

I'm so sorry I'm asking so many questions, but I really want this thing to have a chance of living.

Any suggestions and help would be so very appreciated.

Thanks

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Comments (3)

morz8 - Washington Coast
11 years ago
We have a couple of Texas gardeners here and I'm sure one will fine tune best directions for your zone, but first -

This plant has been forced into early bloom (maybe Easter of Mother's Day in mind) so greenhouse grown. Put it in the shade for now and out of wind, protected, it won't be used to real life outdoors - actual sunshine, wind, even varying temps. Don't plant it today, give it some adjustment time - several days.

It's not going to be happy in Texas afternoon sun so some sun in morning, or dappled shade/sun would be best for it when planting. It does look like you have 4 separate plants there and containerized to make a full display. I could divide and plant individually this time of year in my zone, but I'm wondering if Fall wouldn't be a better time for you to do that with your summer approaching (which will be a good deal warmer and brighter than my own).

This type of hydrangea would likely bloom blue or with blue overtones in acidic soil, pink in more alkaline soil. I'm going to guess yours is more on the alkaline side. I don't tweak the PH of my own (which is acid so I have blues), I just try to grow healthy plants and the color is up to them, easier that way ;)

I don't like Miracle Grow fertilizer, I think there are better. But if you have soil of average fertility with some organic matter in it, they made need no fertilizer and they don't need it at planting time. Your greenhouse hydrangea has likely been fed plenty up to now, you may want to give it a rest...

Spacing is difficult to guess, the grocery/florist/box store hydrangeas often are not identified varieties so mature size a question mark....

I'm sure you'll get some more information specific to your climate, but for right now...don't do anything but water, and place it someplace out of sun - it probably has not been outdoors until you bought it and brought it home and you don't want to burn it before it has time to toughen up a little.
Natoshia Mesarch thanked morz8 - Washington Coast
Natoshia Mesarch
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the info morz8, that actually helps a lot. I'd intended to let it kind of sit about for probably 4 or 5 days before I get brave enough to plant it. Though to clarify I'm actually in the very south of Tn not Texas, I'm originally from Texas and my cactus came with me, maybe I should have been more specific, sorry about that.
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October_Gardens
11 years ago
It's common for growers to start multiple cuttings in one pot, to give the illusion of a larger plant. The exact consequences of such actions aren't exactly clear. If you put the plant in-ground you can always try to see if they separate easily, but they're likely intertwined and won't.

Well, one immediate consequence is selling a bad item. I've seen some (especially the ones at Lowe's with the green pots - you know which ones I mean) for sale with two different colored flowers at once. Grower error.
Natoshia Mesarch thanked October_Gardens