The Hydrangea is one of the robust and very easy-care garden plants, but it places high demands on the soil right from the start. In order to thrive optimally, the beautiful flowering plant needs a special substrate with lots of coarse fibers.
Which soil is best for hydrangeas?
Hydrangea soil or rhododendron soil is ideal for hydrangeas as they provide the required soil structure, sufficient moisture without waterlogging and the right pH value for the respective hydrangea color. Avoid peat soil and repot potted hydrangeas every two years.
Soil texture similar to a forest floor
The hydrangea's natural home is sparse forests, where it grows into magnificent bushes in the shade of large trees. The soil here is loose, deep and, due to the rotting of leaves, needles and twigs, rather acidic.
Store water but avoid waterlogging
The Greek name Hydrangea means “water slurper” and stands for the hydrangea's characteristic of being extremely thirsty, not only in hot weather. At the same time, the plant reacts very sensitively to waterlogging in the root area, which must be avoided at all costs. A special feature of the soils in which the hydrangea feels comfortable is its ability to absorb large amounts of water like a sponge without forming waterlogging.
Acidic soil affects the color
Hydrangeas are available commercially in many beautiful tones. The color palette ranges from greenish-white to pink, pink, red, violet and blue. A pink colored hydrangea will only retain its color if the soil pH is around 5.5. Blue hydrangeas need a pH value of less than 4.5. Pink and red-toned specimens, on the other hand, love alkaline soils with a pH value of over 6.
Which soil is suitable for potted and garden hydrangeas?
In order to meet these soil requirements, the topsoil was often improved with peat until a few years ago. For ecological reasons, you should avoid peat soil today and instead use hydrangea soil from specialist garden shops. Alternatively, you can also plant the hydrangea in rhodendron soil, which has roughly the same soil structure.
Tips & Tricks
Repot potted hydrangeas about every two years. This means that the hydrangea always has fresh and, above all, loose substrate available.