What does a Hydrangia require to grow those beautiful flowers?

What type of soil, fertilizer, sun or shade, do they require a lot of water? Do you have to dig them up in fall (we live in the midwest)? Thanks for your help I love these and would enjoy having one in my flower garden.

What does a Hydrangia require to grow those beautiful flowers?
There are different types of hydrangeas and knowing which one you have is important so that the correct method of pruning is done.


Pruning Hydrangeas


Dick Bir


NC State University


Read the last 2 sentences of 2nd paragraph.


each of these pruning rules can be correct for some hydrangea species and cultivars but not all. It is a big genus.





http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/fletcher/staff/r...


FIRST, it's important to know that mophead hydrangeas do not have to be pruned back - ever - unless they are very old.


http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/prun...


Edited: Almost forgot to answer the question


Peat moss is naturally acidic for the


blue flowers


Aluminum sulfate is commonly sold at garden centers to add aluminum and increase the natural acidity of the soil for hydrangeas.


http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs...


For Pink flowers


Add lime.
Reply:There are lots of Hydrangeas. The typical flower is of two types, mop-head and lace-cap, the florists sell a big tender mop-head variety which can change colors from pink to blue to pink again in response to pH. I think red is low or acidic pH and blue is high or basic pH. There are colorful varieties out there of both types, personally I find the lace-caps a bit more elegant, and if you have a shady fence or large mature tree it is hard to beat a climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) for year round appeal. Patience is required though, they take their time to getting happy and begin climbing
Reply:I live in the south. The hydrangea is really great. They thrive in rich soil and shady areas. You don't have to dig them up in fact you can root a new plant by placing a rock or a brick on a limb to hold it down and it will grow a root like that . Also you can change the color of the flower by adding epson salt to the water. And I am no expert gardner but when mine needed water the leaves wilted,,,I would just water them and they would perk right up!
Reply:Hydrangeas like moist, rich soil in partial to full sun. If they are in alkaline soil, the flowers will be pink. If they are in acidic soil, the flowers will be blue. In fall or winter, when the foliage has died off, cut the canes down to about 6 inches to a foot tall. They'll be back in spring.
Reply:The most popular hydrangea, mop-head type with a big round flower love acidic soil, moisture and preferably sun in the morning, shade in the afternoon location. If you get a blue flower kind, be sure to plant in the acidic soil or give some fertilizer for acidic loving plants, so you can have blue flower always. My Nikko Blue hydrangea should have pretty blue flowers, but it gets pink because of the soil. White kind won't change its color no matter what, because they don't have color pigment. Have fun!
Reply:add good old cow manure if you want blue flowers.





add lime if you want pink flowers.





if you add nothing to your soil and it has no natural color changing nutrients the flowers will turn white. That's what mine did.





They do not like full sun, they need a lot of water if you do this, but they WILL tolerate it. They give fair warning by drooping their leaves when they want a drink.





You do not have to dig them up in the winter. They will flourish and grow rather quickly so feel free to buy a small $6 one instead of the $17 ones! I planted 2 this past summer and they doubled their size before fall.





These are my favorite flower!!