Hydrangeas have been conjuring up romantic charm in living spaces since the 18th century. The beautifully colored flower umbels of the indoor hydrangea last much longer than the flowers of other potted plants. At the same time, the hydrangea is very easy to care for and thrives even without the proverbial green thumb. In this article you will find out what you need to pay attention to when caring for your room.
How do I care for hydrangeas in the room?
For indoor hydrangea care, the plant needs a partially shaded, bright location, regular watering with soft water, weekly fertilizing during the growing season, careful removal of spent flowers, a cool overwintering place and, if necessary, repotting in March.
Location
Indoor hydrangeas are not sun worshipers and prefer a partially shaded but bright place on the windowsill. An east, north or west window is ideal.
Pouring
The plant name Hydrangea means “water slurper” and stands for the enormous thirst that the indoor hydrangea can develop. Water the hydrangea regularly with soft water. The soil must not dry out completely, but at the same time waterlogging must be avoided. Therefore, pour away any excess water that collects in the saucer.
Fertilize
Since the indoor hydrangea only has a small amount of substrate available to store the nutrients important to the plant, it is important to fertilize the hydrangea regularly. Provide the plant with a special liquid hydrangea fertilizer weekly during the growing season from March to August. Alternatively, a fertilizer for indoor azaleas is also suitable.
Breaking out withered flowers
You should not cut off dead flowers, but carefully break them out. This means the plant regenerates more quickly and quickly produces new flower umbels.
Care during the winter
Indoor hydrangeas are not frost hardy and always have to overwinter indoors. After the growth phase, place the hydrangea in a frost-free but very cool place. A bedroom or an unheated stairwell is ideal.
Repotting
In March, after winter rest, is the ideal time to repot the hydrangea. The substrate should:
- sour
- nutrient-rich
- well drained
be. These requirements are met by special hydrangea, azalea or rhododendron soil, which you can also get in smaller units from specialist retailers.
Tips & Tricks
So that you can enjoy the beautiful flowers of the indoor hydrangea for as long as possible, you should not keep the hydrangea too warm. Temperatures between 16 and 20 degrees are ideal.
