Hydrangeas
Question from Yvonne:
Is it possible to grow hydrangeas in southern ca, I live in Pico Rivera..not sure my zone #, 3 have died in containers. Not sure what I ma doing wrong.
Answer from Pat:
Hydrangeas grow wonderfully well here. They love facing east, but they do need plenty of water and good drainage. They often die if facing south or west. They do not like full sun and cannot abide full shade. Against a wall that faces east is the perfect location. In this position, they will get morning sun and cool shade all afternoon.
I have a brand new, small hydrangea in a large pot in a corner of my patio. The patio itself is on the south side of the house, but I placed the pot on the north-facing side of the outer patio wall in a corner where it meets the east-facing wall of the neighbor’s house. Do you think this will be a suitable spot?
The location you describe might be satisfactory, but hydrangeas need some sun in order to bloom. I recommend you fertilize with an
acid fertilizer known as “Hydrangea food”. In frost-free areas one can begin feeding in October. This fertilizer will keep blue hydrangeas, but it will also keep red hydrangeas a wonderful shade of red. If there is frost in your area, cover your plant with an old bed sheet
or a sheet of plastic on nights when frost is expected and remove the protection in the morning before sun strikes the plant.