PetalPal
The whole plant is mildly toxic to cats and dogs. Eating it causes vomiting and diarrhea.
Light
Bright, indirect light. Keep it out of afternoon sun in summer.
Water
Keep it moist. Every day in summer.
Temperature
15-28°C
Feed
Every 1-2 weeks while it's growing
Do this when you get home
- Put it somewhere bright, out of afternoon sun
- Hydrangea leaves are big and lose water fast. As soon as the soil dries, the leaves flop. Keep the pot moist.
Day to day
- In summer, check morning and evening. If the leaves droop, water it through right away.
- To push the flowers blue, water with something acid (aluminum sulfate). Alkaline soil shifts them toward pink.
- After the flowers fade, cut back to just above the second pair of leaves under the bloom
What the colors mean
- Blue hydrangeaHope, making room for someone
- Pink hydrangeaRomance, a full life
- White hydrangeaPurity, sincerity
- Purple hydrangeaStrength, something lasting
* Color meanings are popular sayings. The thought matters more.
Common questions
At noon the leaves all flop?
Usually thirsty, or too much sun. Water it through and move it somewhere shady. By evening it usually stands back up.
It didn't bloom the second year?
Older kinds bloom on last year's wood. Don't prune them hard in fall or winter. Endless Summer types can bloom on new wood too.
