Lisa Lrayburn!! Gardening question! :)

[janie1234]

Hi Lisa. Hope you are having a nice summer. I haven't seen you here in a while but I thought I'd ask anyway esp since you are my gardening guru expert.

I went to the the garden store today and saw the most beautiful hydrenga tree. A tree, . . with white mini sized flowers. The problem is that I rent and I don't want to leave something like this tree behind. Is this something that can grow well in a very large pot on a patio? The people at the store did not seem to know much.

 

[lrayburn]

Hi Janie,
It can be done. Did you see the variety name of the hydrangea? It is probably a Pee Gee type hydrangea and they are one of the most adaptable types of hydrangeas. It will be more stressed growing in a pot than it would be in the soil but it is doable. You want to choose a large pot (like a 1/2 of a whiskey keg or other similarly large container) and a bark-based soilless potting mix. It would be best to choose a variety that does not get terribly big as it will reduce the stress on the plant. You can fertilize and prune just as you would a plant in the ground. The tree forms are the same plant as the bushier forms, it has just been trained to a single stem and the tree shape.

Once you get it planted in a pot, it will be very heavy and extremely difficult to move safely. How long do you plan on being in your current house? If it's going to be a while (several years or more), you may want to plant your tree hydrangea on the ground and then take cuttings and raise your own babies to take to your new location.

Let me know what you decide to do. I'd love to see pictures! Are you on facebook?
Lisa

 

[janie1234]

Thanks Lisa sent you a PM.

 

[lrayburn]

I found it and sent you a reply