Hydrangeas: Abundant flowering balcony plants that enchant

Hydrangeas: Abundant flowering balcony plants that enchant

The right location

Hydrangeas are not sun worshipers and prefer shady locations. An east, west or even north balcony is ideal. On a south-facing balcony you should give the hydrangea a shady spot or shade the plant during the hot midday hours.

also read

  • Do hydrangeas thrive in a sunny spot?
  • Hydrangea growth: how big and wide is the hydrangea?
  • Caring for hydrangeas in the tub

The hydrangea is very thirsty

The plant name “hydrangea”, which comes from the Greek, means “pulling water” and stands for the great thirst of the hydrangea. It feels extremely comfortable in permanently moist soil, but at the same time reacts sensitively to excessive water. You can prevent this when you are planting:

  • Only place hydrangeas in vessels with drainage holes.
  • Cover these with potsherds.
  • Fill a drainage layer made of expanded clay (€ 17.50 at Amazon *) into the planter.
  • Put the hydrangea in special hydrangea or alternatively rhododendron soil.

Water moderately but regularly

The hydrangea is also very sensitive to drought. On hot summer days, it is advisable to water the flowering plant in the morning and in the evening, as the substrate can only store a limited amount of water in the tub. Pour away excess liquid in the saucer after a quarter of an hour so that the roots are not permanently in the water.

Don't forget to fertilize

In order for the hydrangea to sprout new flower umbels in the pot throughout the summer, you need regular fertilizers. Use preferably hydrangea fertilizers, the nutrient composition of which is optimally matched to the requirements of the plant, or alternatively a rhododendrons or azaleas fertilizers.

Blue hydrangeas have special needs

If you care for a blue hydrangea, it is also necessary to add commercially available hydrangea blue to the irrigation water twice a year. You should also water these hydrangeas from time to time with vinegar water, which should have a pH value of around 4.0 to 4.5. This naturally acidifies the soil so that the plant can absorb the potassium alum contained in this agent. You can measure the pH value of the water and the substrate yourself with test strips that you can get from gardening shops.

Tips & Tricks

Even though hydrangeas are relatively robust against diseases and pests, spider mites or aphids occasionally nestle in the potted plants. You should therefore regularly check the hydrangea for infestation. Detected early, the pests can be successfully combated with natural means.