Hydrangea Care in Pots Around My Pool

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Sharing our hydrangea care in pots today and how to keep your hydrangea plants alive during the winter. Did you know that growing potted hydrangea plants in pots is easy and an affordable way to add plants that bloom year round to your patio, deck or pool? Check out how we care for our potted hydrangeas and how to replant them in the ground for the winter months.

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Can Hydrangeas grow in pots? 

Growing Hydrangea plants in Pots can be a great way to add color and texture to your patio, deck or around a pool. Here’s the deal when it comes to annuals vs. perennials. While annuals are beautiful and a fabulous addition to your outdoor living space, they die after a couple months.

If  you purchase the annuals small and make your own pots in early Spring, you can save money but you still are left with dead plants at the end of the season. Hydrangea plants are considered a perennial which will grow back year after year if care for properly.

Endless Summer Hydrangea in Pots

If you invest in perennial hydrangea bushes or shrubs and plant them in pots during the Spring, they will live through the Summer “in a pot” adding gorgeous color and texture to your outdoor living space. We have several hydrangea in pots and Endless Summer are one of my favorites. 

These hydrangea plants that I purchased in the images below are Cityline Vienna (Compact Bigleaf) and Hydrangea Macrophylia plant bushes.

The best part, you can buy small hydrangea bushes  for around $29-$35 which is the same cost of a hanging annual plant.

The difference, th annual plant is dead in a couple months and your investment is gone.

I always plant 4 – 6 perennial bushes or shrubs, usually hydrangeas and roses in pots each year and then in the Fall I transfer them to a flower bed so that my investment comes back every year.

Potted Hydrangea Winter Care

Now if you are really ambitious, you can actually remove the potted hydrangea bushes from the pretty pots in the fall, transfer to a cheap plastic pot and actually “plant” the plastic potted hydrangea in the ground. 

The following Spring, you can dig up the plastic potted hydrangea bush and place back in a pretty pot and you will be amazed at how the hydrangea bush will come back and be fuller and more vibrant than the previous year. Yes, potted hydrangea plants will rebloom each year if you properly care for them. 

How long do potted hydrangeas last? 

My potted hydrangeas last from early spring – early fall ( we live in Massachusetts) and then I replant them in the ground. Our pool area gets full sun which is what these type of hydrangea plants require. Be sure to purchase hydrangea plants that will do well in your type of sun exposure. There are many hydrangea plants that do well in morning sun or afternoon shade.

I have done this at our previous house for two seasons and after the second season, I potted it for good in a flower bed. 

Be sure to plant the hydrangea plant in a large enough pot. I try to plant my hydrangea plants in a pot that is at least 3x the size of the base of the plant.  This allows the roots to spread in the pot and not get pot bound by the end of the summer. 

Growing hydrangeas in pots is a great way to save money and add lushness to  your patio each year.

I purchased 4 Cityline Vienna (Compact Bigleaf) Hydrangea Macrophylia bushes for $29.99 each and planted 2 small containers of German Ivy and White Bacopa along the sides of each  hydrangea bush.

Problems with Hydrangeas in Pots

Common problems with potted hydrangea plants are root bound plants, not enough water or excess water that does not drain. 

I used a sweet potting soil with fertilizer to ensure the pink flowers. The acidic level of the soil indicates whether you have pink or blue flower. Also, be sure to use a quality potting soil that drains well. You can also put a 2-3 handfuls of small rocks on the bottom on your pot (cover will potting soil) to help with drainage as well. You want your soil to be moist especially if in full sun. 

Southern Living has a great article on different ways to grow hydrangeas in pots if you are looking for more ideas.

These pots are from Homegoods. I have also added a few links below of some favorites that I found online.

Shop My Pool and Patio Furniture + Planters (click images below to shop)

I added the cedar ridge planters below if you wanted more of a farmhouse casual look vs. the villa style planters like I have.

Eclectic Villa Planters • Pottery Barn
Cedar Ridge Planters – Set of 2 • Pottery Barn

I feel like when I buy perennial shrubs vs annuals, I kill two birds with one stone. My investment isn’t thrown out the window at the end of the Summer and I fill my flower beds around the house.

Be sure to check out our latest indoor outdoor living space surrounded by nature that I just shared a couple days ago as well as the our front door Summer decorating tips.

Here is our patio before | makeover I shared last week. Click here to see the after full reveal with new sectional dining table combo. It’s my favorite set ever!

Hydrangea care in pots takes a little bit of extra effort but the results are well worth it! I have been growing potted hydrangea plants in pots for years and they have never failed me! Hydrangeas are my absolute favorite flower and remind me of my great grandmother. I love the variety of blooms and varying seasons that hydrangeas offer. 

I was really lucky to have her in my life until I was 14 years old, similar to how my son had both his great grandparents in his life until just recently.