The hydrangea is a perennial flowering plant that also thrives in a pot. With its large flower umbels, it gives the outdoor space a romantic touch throughout the summer. The attractive new varieties with their colorful flowers are particularly suitable for balcony greening.
How do I care for hydrangeas on the balcony?
Hydrangeas are ideal for the balcony if they are given shady locations, watered regularly in moist soil and provided with hydrangea fertilizer. Blue hydrangeas also require hydrangea blue and vinegar water for optimal coloring.
The right location
Hydrangeas are not sun worshipers and prefer shady locations. An east, west or even north balcony is ideal. On a south-facing balcony you should give the hydrangea a sunny location or shade the plant during the hot midday hours.
The hydrangea is very thirsty
The plant name “Hydrangea”, which comes from the Greek, means “water-drawing” and stands for the great thirst of the hydrangea. It feels extremely comfortable in permanently moist soil, but at the same time is sensitive to over-wetting. You can prevent this when planting:
- Place hydrangeas only in containers with drainage holes.
- Cover these with potsherds.
- Fill a drainage layer of expanded clay into the planter.
- Place the hydrangea in special hydrangea or alternatively rhododendron soil.
Water moderately but regularly
The hydrangea is also very sensitive to drought. On hot summer days, it is advisable to water the flowering plant in the morning and evening, as the substrate in the pot can only store a limited amount of water. Pour away excess liquid in the saucer after a quarter of an hour so that the roots do not remain permanently in water.
Don’t forget to fertilize
So that the hydrangea in the pot produces new flower umbels throughout the summer, it needs regular fertilizer. Preferably use hydrangea fertilizer whose nutrient composition is optimally tailored to the plant's needs or alternatively a rhododendron or azalea fertilizer.
Blue hydrangeas have special requirements
If you care for a blue hydrangea, it is also necessary to add commercially available hydrangea blue to the watering water twice a year. You should also water these hydrangeas from time to time with vinegar water, which should have a pH value of around 4.0 to 4.5. This naturally acidifies the soil so that the plant can absorb the potassium alum contained in this product. You can measure the pH value of the water and the substrate yourself using test sticks that you can get from gardening stores.
Tips & Tricks
Although hydrangeas are relatively robust against diseases and pests, spider mites or aphids occasionally nest in the potted plants. Therefore, check the hydrangea regularly for infestation. If detected early, the pests can be successfully combated using natural means.