Blooming Hydrangeas:
The #1 Mother’s Day Gift!
Blooming hydrangeas (also known as florist hydrangeas) are a popular choice for gift occasions like Easter and Mother’s Day, or to just add some color to your home in the Spring! These hydrangeas are specially cultivated to bloom indoors, making them a fantastic addition to any living room, kitchen, or entryway. However, after the blooms fade, many people are unsure how to care for them to extend their beauty and even encourage them to thrive for future seasons. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to keep your florist-forced hydrangeas looking beautiful and healthy.
Understanding Blooming Hydrangeas
Blooming hydrangeas are typically varieties like Hydrangea macrophylla, which are grown outdoors and then subjected to a process that forces them to bloom out of season—for us, around mid-March through Mother’s Day. This method involves manipulating the plant’s growth cycle to produce spectacular flowers indoors when they’re most desired.
Once the blooms have finished, the plant will need proper care if you want to keep it around for next year’s flowering season. With the right steps, your hydrangea can be a long-lasting and recurring source of beauty.
Step 1: Caring for your Blooming Hydrangea
Once you purchase your hydrangea, decide on its home – whether that be inside or in a shady spot outside.
Watering: Hydrangeas are relatively thirsty plants, so it’s important to keep the soil moist, but not soggy. Overwatering can lead to root rot, while underwatering can cause the leaves to wilt and drop. Make sure the pot has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. If you purchased a Blooming Hydrangea with a pot sleeve and bow on it, be sure to remove the pot sleeve when you water so that water does not accumulate.
Light: Hydrangeas prefer bright, indirect light. A sunny windowsill is ideal if you are keeping the plant indoors. If you’re planting your hydrangea outside, be choose a nice shady area. Avoid placing the plant in direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
Soil: If you are keeping your hydrangea indoors, there is no need to repot. However, if planting outside, hydrangeas thrive in moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH.*
Post-Bloom: Once your blooming hydrangea has finished flowering, it’s important to remove any spent blooms. You can simply cut them back to a pair of healthy buds, being careful not to damage the stems. This process will help the plant direct energy into growing strong stems and leaves rather than trying to sustain old flowers. If you enjoyed your blooming hydrangea indoors, now would be the time to transplant it to a shady spot outdoors for an encore next year!
Step 2: Pruning and Maintenance
Be cautious when pruning hydrangeas, as improper cuts can affect the next blooming cycle. Hydrangeas bloom on old wood, so avoid cutting back too much of the plant, especially if it has not yet finished blooming for the season.
Step 3: Fertilizing for Better Blooms
During the growing season, you can feed your florist-forced hydrangea with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. This will help encourage lush foliage and vibrant flowers.
*Tip: If you want to adjust the color of the hydrangea flowers, you can manipulate the soil pH. To make blooms more blue, add aluminum sulfate to the soil (acidic pH). For pink blooms, use lime to make the soil more alkaline. We sell both acidic and alkaline amendments at Perino’s!
Step 4: Preventing Pests and Diseases
Hydrangeas can sometimes attract pests like aphids, spider mites, and scale insects. Keep an eye out for any signs of pest infestation, such as curled or discolored leaves. Common remedies are insecticidal soaps or neem oil, which are safe and effective for most indoor and outdoor plants.
Additionally, be aware of common diseases like powdery mildew and leaf spot. If you notice white or grayish powder on the leaves or dark spots on the foliage, it’s essential to remove the affected leaves and improve air circulation around the plant. Avoid overhead watering, as wet foliage can promote fungal growth.
If you are ever struggling with a plant, we are here to help! If you suspect something is wrong, please bring a sample of the plant along with a photo as soon as you start to see decline. If you are unable to come to the store, please email us photos and any relevant information to info@perinos.com!
Conclusion
Caring for blooming hydrangeas requires a little effort, but the rewards are well worth it. With proper post-bloom care, strategic pruning, and thoughtful maintenance, your hydrangea can thrive for years to come, offering beautiful blooms season after season. Whether you choose to plant it in your garden or keep it in a pot, your hydrangea will bring vibrancy and elegance to any space.
