Just like their representatives in the bed, hydrangeas in pots should also be cut regularly. Pruning is necessary so that the perennials can grow vigorously and produce numerous flowers. You can find out what to pay attention to in this article.
How should you cut hydrangeas in a pot?
For hydrangeas in pots, it should be noted that there are two cutting groups: The first cutting group forms its buds the previous year and should therefore only be carefully cut back in spring. The second group of cuttings does not develop the buds until spring. They can be pruned more vigorously in the fall. If the pot is covered over the winter, the flowers should be removed beforehand.
When should I cut back my potted hydrangeas?
For plate hydrangeas and farmer's hydrangeas, earlypruningis the first step to getting your hydrangeas ready for spring again. You should cut back your hydrangeas early in the year so that they can produce strong flowers. However, if you wait longer to prune, your hydrangeas will not bloom until later. After pruning, the potted hydrangeas remain protected until they can be put outside again after the last night's frost. Other types of hydrangea, on the other hand, should be cut back in autumn before you cover them or put them in their winter quarters.
Should I cut off the flowers of my potted hydrangeas?
You should always leave hydrangeas standing until they arecompletely brown and dry. After that you can cut them off. While it is recommended that you only cut off outdoor hydrangeas after winter, as the dry umbels act as cold protection for new buds, you should remove the flowers from potted hydrangeas before using the winter protection (€16.00 on Amazon), for example Fleece, attach. Otherwise, due to the lack of ventilation, there is an increased risk of mold. If you overwinter the pots indoors instead, you can leave the cones until spring.
How far should I cut hydrangeas back?
When you cut the hydrangeas in spring, you should be careful not to damage the new budsTherefore, cut old shoots carefully and preferably too little rather than too much. You should give branches that appear to be dry a little more time, as they usually sprout again.
For the hydrangeas that you can cut back in the fall, you can cut back a little more boldly if necessary. The new buds only develop in fresh wood in spring. If your hydrangeas get too big, you can cut them back more radically.
Tip
Cutting hydrangeas for bouquets
Pruning hydrangeas can of course not only be done as a care measure, but also to enjoy the decorative flowers in the house. If you want to arrange the flowers in a vase, you should keep it until late summer, then the flowers will last particularly long.
