Hydrangeas can't tolerate much sun in hot climates like yours. No direct sun after 11am I would say to avoid the burning/scorching of the leaves. I'm not sure what you mean by filtered, do you mean filtered through glass or a screen? Like a screened in porch? The browning around the edges could be from lack of water and the heat or sun. Water only when your soil feels dry when you stick your finger down in it. For the most part potted plants do require watering more often, but only water when they need it or you could be doing more harm than good. You want to keep the soil moist. Also make sure they are in large enough pots. They need roomy pots and will quickly get cramped and unhappy in smaller pots.

Which kind are those anyway, Queen of Pearls?

It is Brushing Bride, springwood. The bigger green blooms are old blooms. The smaller white bloom just got stunt probably because of the heat.

New and recently planted hydrangeas will wilt in our hot sun. Consider it a defense mechanism as wilted leaves reduce the amount of leaf surface that the sun strikes so in a way, it helps limit moisture loss. Minor winds in this hot environment help the leaves loose moisture faster than the roots can absorb water so you end with this problem. But while they may look bad, they may not be history. As long as they recover by mornings, they will be fine and should get stronger in future summers. Luis

PS - since you have good draining potting soil, if the soil was not staying moist, you could afford to water more often -like your friend- than with a hydrangea planted in the ground in our clayish soil. However, extra waterings will require that you counteract the effect of the minerals leeching down the drain; fertilize and amend the soil (to acidify) as needed.

I started growing 3 Hydrangeas (in pots) last spring. In the summer, I had to go to MN for a couple months so I left them in the office where it's 70 degrees all day. In October, I got them back and I notice that they wilted if they needed water. This year, I have around 10 or so hydrangeas. I did put shade cloth over the patio to help with the summer heat so I left them outside the whole time. So far I have water them every day and they don't wilt but once in a while a few new canes just completely died or a few leaves wilted and fell off. Other than that it's just brown edges on the leaves which I am not worried too much about. I just don't understand why a few canes just die instantly. :( I do adjust the tap water ph by using sulfuric acid and leave them over night before using it. Also give them slow release fertilizer every other months. I have just started to give them Medina Hastagro once a week.