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Hydrangeas

Loupine1972Loupine1972 Posts: 10
in Problem solving
1st post, sorry.  am a new gardener and love it, started end of last summer. My plants all in pots. Love hydrangeas. A month ago I feed plants and I believe I over feed them as leaves on different plants started falling off, so have flushed them, but my large hydrangers leave sstarted to go purple. I have removed all the bad ones and flushed it thro again as on Google tgats what it says to do.. but i bought 3 new ones yesterday and noticed they too have some purpke edges  see pics . Please help me, do I need to buy something to help? Also tiny little silvee flys that leave sap? Sorry long winded 
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  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    Large cultivars really don't grow well in pots...that's a sign of stress. And maybe it's brought about by the cold nights we had last week. Is there a possibility you could plant them in the ground? Smaller varieties should do fine in pots. I'm experimenting with a little lime since last year and has been happy so far. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Cold weather damage, especially if they've been recently fed. New growth-more susceptible. 
    They really aren't pot specimens, unless you have the skills to do it. They need large containers, and the right soil conditions, if they're going to be in there long term. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Loupine1972Loupine1972 Posts: 10
    Yeah is in large pot, and my garden is all concrete im afraid
  • IrisloverIrislover Posts: 7
    Mine do well in pots. I have sandy acidic soil which suits rhododendron etc. When i put hydrangeas in the ground they didn't flower. Put 4 in pots about 5 years ago and they flower really well. They need feeding once a week and don't like full sun. Leaves are usually lush when not in flower although this year the frost has damaged them.  

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's the point though @joyhinton19. The pots need to be right, and so does the care  :)
    In the right conditions, rhodos and hydrangeas are huge shrubs, so are definitely better in the ground - providing it's suitable    :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Loupine1972Loupine1972 Posts: 10
    I thought maybe I'd over fed mine and thats why leaves went purple, I have flushed them out, that was about a month ago, and now scared to feed them again.. i do beleive I caused more damage spraying dish soap on them in them in the day.. im an idiot.. i will keep watering and hope it turns out okay. Im in the uk.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's ok - we all make mistakes @Loupine1972 .  :)
    The good thing is that they're tough plants, so no great harm done  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Loupine1972Loupine1972 Posts: 10
    God I hope not, am I best leaving it alone and just watering it, or shall I feed a little again

  • Loupine1972Loupine1972 Posts: 10
    it was done great until I fed it
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I wouldn't feed  just now. The soapy water on the foliage hasn't helped. I take it you were just trying to get rid of the whitefly? It's best to do that when it isn't sunny, so try and do that in the evening or early morning if they get a bit of sun.
    It would be better if you can get them into a bit more shade if you can, and then it's easier for them. They're less likely to dry out too quickly too  :)
    Humidity tends to encourage those little flies, and they can be in the compost too. Not too big a problem though. 
    As you're keeping them in pots, it's important to use the right soil medium, not just compost, and then refresh some of that each year to keep them happy. Compost alone isn't enough for them, so you need a soil based compost  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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