Indoor Hydrangea Care

Botanical Name: Hydrangea macrophylla

Good hydrangea care includes cool air, bright light and moist soil.

Dozens of species exist. The best for growing indoors is Hydrangea macrophylla -- the mophead hydrangea, which offers hundreds of varieties.

This is a plant that really knows how to show off. Big, round clusters of small flowers cover the plant all summer in blue, violet-blue, white, pink or red.

Hydrangea shrubs are perennials. Woody stems are densely covered with big, oval leaves that are deep green.

Hydrangea Care and Maintenance

Keep the soil moist. Dry soil can be the death of this plant. Leaves that turn yellow and fall off are a sign of dry soil. Flowering plants are thirsty, so it's a good idea to check the soil every day while in bloom.

How to keep blue flowers blue. Blue hydrangeas need acidic soil (pH 5.5 and lower) or they will change flower color from blue to pink. Alkaline soils (higher than pH 7) are fine for pink varieties. To keep the blue color, add sulphur while the plant is blooming. Neutral pH (between pH 5.5 and pH 7) can make the flowers purple or a mix of pink and blue. It's important to know that not all cultivars can change to blue, so buy the color you want and try to maintain it.

Hydrangea pruning tips. Mophead hydrangeas don't need to be pruned back unless you want to control their size. Cutting off about 1/3 of the oldest stems will give you a fuller plant. When to prune hydrangeas: After blossoms fade.

Pruning hydrangea care tip: When pruning hydrangea, care should be taken not to tear the stems, which can damage the plant. Use clean, sharp pruners to cut the stem at a 45° angle, 1/4-inch above a leaf axle.

Overwintering your plant. If you intend to keep your plant indoors, repot after flowering and cut the stems back by half. Keep the plant cool during the winter, then move it to warmer conditions in late winter to help bring it into bloom.

If you meet the needs for hydrangea care, you can count on it to bloom year after year.

Origin: Japan

Height: 2 ft (60 cm) indoors

Light: Provide at least 4 hours of bright, indirect light every day.

Water: Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy while plant is growing and flowering. Use lime-free water because lime will make the soil alkaline. Keep soil barely moist in winter.

Humidity: Average room humidity.

Temperature: Cool to average 45-65°F/7-18°C

Soil: Peat-based lime-free soil for blue varieties.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2 weeks in spring and summer with a balanced liquid fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) diluted by half. Or, use a slow-release fertilizer once in spring and again in summer. Go easy -- too much fertilizer may scorch its leaves.

Propagation: Take 4 inch (10 cm) stem tip cuttings in spring or early summer and root them in moist potting mix.