Hydrangea is a plant beloved by many for its beautiful and charming appearance. With its vibrant green leaves and clusters of colorful blooms, it’s an excellent choice for brightening and decorating the home with a fresh, lively touch.
However, there are many things to know about hydrangeas — including how to grow them properly and how to address common issues like the plant not blooming. If you’re looking to grow a decorative plant at home to add color and charm, Hydrangea is a fantastic option. Today, let’s explore more about this popular garden ornamental.
Hydrangeas are cool-climate plants that thrive in colder regions. Nevertheless, they can also be successfully cultivated in tropical climates like Thailand. This adaptability, combined with their stunning blooms, makes them a favorite for creating European- or English-style gardens.
In addition to its beauty, hydrangea carries symbolic meaning — often associated with gratitude, understanding, and being there for someone. It also symbolizes calmness and patience, as it thrives well in cold climates. Because of its stunning flowers, hydrangea fields are often created as tourist attractions, where people visit and take photos.
Although it is a cold-climate plant and not native to Thailand, hydrangeas are still widely used in floral shops, especially for special occasions. It is seen as a flower of love, expressing deep and heartfelt emotions. Hydrangea is a perennial plant, meaning it can live and bloom for many years.
Because shops often sell them as small potted plants, many people mistakenly think they stay that size. In reality, hydrangeas can grow up to 2 meters tall. And when asked how many types exist — the answer is that there are over 80 hydrangea species worldwide.
Each variety of hydrangea has its own unique characteristics, from petal shape to flower color. Hydrangea blooms can be white, red, purple, blue, or pink. Some varieties are known as color-changing flowers, where the flower color can be manipulated by adjusting the soil’s pH level.
To grow pink flowers, use a fertilizer rich in phosphorus. To get blue flowers, you can add aluminum sulfate to the soil. Most hydrangeas have lush green, pointed leaves and bloom in clusters. A single plant can produce multiple clusters in various colors, making them a popular choice for planting along fences or in gardens to add vibrant color.
Hydrangea prices typically range from 350 to 500 baht per plant, depending on the variety and appearance. The blue varieties, which can change color, are often more expensive, but generally, all colors are similarly priced. When buying, select healthy plants of moderate size, with no leaf burn or damage.
To care for hydrangeas, provide plenty of sunlight and ensure good air circulation, as high sunlight also brings increased temperature. Greenhouse growing can help hydrangeas thrive, especially when maintaining a temperature of around 18–20°C. Most importantly, hydrangeas love water — but they do not tolerate waterlogged soil.
In the first week, it’s best to minimize or avoid watering entirely, morning and evening. After that, begin feeding the plant with 1 to 1.5 grams of nutrients per liter of water every 4–5 days. The water’s pH should be around 5.5. Since hydrangea is a cut-flower plant, timing the harvest correctly helps extend the beauty of the blooms. The best time to cut is early morning between 6:00–9:00 AM, when sunlight is soft. If cut later in the day, strong sun can cause the flowers to wilt quickly.
When cutting, trim the stem at a 45-degree angle using a clean cutter or pruning scissors, which helps prevent damage to the stem. If the cut flowers begin to wilt, you can revive them by placing them in ice water for about 15 minutes — they will look fresh again.
Hydrangeas are highly popular both in Thailand and internationally. In countries like Japan, there are even hydrangea festivals, such as the one in Katakara Onsen held in June. This plant is beloved for its bright, pastel blooms and symbolic meaning of love.
Although it prefers cool climates and may require extra care in tropical countries like Thailand, with proper maintenance, hydrangeas can grow well. They are especially valuable for plant sellers and growers.
This plant is admired not only by home gardeners but also by those in floral design and flower shops. While it may not offer medicinal benefits, it’s still a beautiful and rewarding plant to grow.