Soaker hoses can be the best method to keep the moisture from the leaves and flowers. These methods are great when you want more efficient water delivery at the very base of the plant without needing to get the entire foliage wet. Lay the hose around the plant, leave it on for about 30 to 45 minutes and wait until the soil is moist but not too wet. Hook your regular hose to this, and cover with mulch. Others may use drip feeders to retain moisture throughout the day. When planted in pots, you need to water the Smooth hydrangea using a watering can. Wait until you see that the water is dripping down the pots at the bottom part. The portable cans can help you reach the soil and let the water penetrate the roots deeply so they can grow better.

If you overwatered Smooth hydrangea, you might want to take a few steps back and prevent further damage. Smooth hydrangea is hardy, so they have a higher chance of surviving. Give the plant a chance to dry everything out and stop watering it. The plants don’t tolerate their roots sitting in water for longer, so aerating can help. Some of the symptoms of an overwatered plant will be premature falling of yellow leaves. You might also see fewer flowers and misshapen buds. In more serious cases, this can result in wilted and brown leaves. Long-term overwatering can result in root rot. The symptoms of underwatering can be similar. Wilting Smooth hydrangea can be a sign of underwatering. Feel the earth by sticking your finger into the soil, and if it’s too dry, then this is a sign of dehydration. Too little watering can also happen, so you might want to add some in the evening. Always check the soil for dryness and follow the regular schedule of watering in the morning.

It’s best to water the Smooth hydrangea deeply two to three times a week. And you should water it more often if you live in a hot climate. Its water needs are average, and it needs moist but well-drained soil. A good rule of thumb is to get a feel of the soil. It might be the right time to water your plant if you notice that it’s about 2-4 inches dry. Water it 1-2x a week if it’s planted outdoors. Know that it’s getting more moisture outside, watering less with the help of rainwater is ideal.

The amount of water needed can vary. There are a lot of factors to consider, such as the weather in the area, the amount of shade, and the species. The Smooth hydrangea you’ve just recently planted will need more water than the established ones. A can of water each week can be ample for Smooth hydrangea, especially if they are in the growing season and when they are grown in pots. When outdoors, you need to measure the amount of rain they are receiving with the help of moisture meters. When the soil is dry, water them thoroughly with a sprinkler. It’s best to water less often but thoroughly with the Smooth hydrangea to ensure they are getting the adequate moisture they need.

Regardless of the types of the plant that you’re growing, it’s important to know its watering needs so that they will grow well. Smooth hydrangea needs a lot of water and can quickly wilt without the right moisture. They require moist soil but make sure that the ground is well-drained. Smooth hydrangea doesn’t want wet feet since they tend to get root rot. Overwatering can also lead to slow production of flowers and stunted growth, which can also be a problem seen with underwatering.

It's best to water the Smooth hydrangea in the early morning to prevent it from wilting. It may be unable to handle the heat and can show signs of wilting in the afternoon. Make sure to apply a thick layer of mulch to keep the soil cool and retain moisture. Once it feels the coolness of the evening, it will go back to its usual glow. Always water deeply and be consistent with the moisture. However, remember that it’s better to experience a slight wilting in the afternoon than to over-water them.

When watering during the summer, it’s important to take the environment into consideration. These plants enjoy the early morning sun but not much of the midday glare since they can dry out too quickly. It’s best to start planting these species in spring or autumn. Provide ample water, especially when you notice that the soil is dry during the summer. Don’t water the plants during the winter as they will enter a period of dormancy. Fill the pot up to the rim, let the water soak, and run out of the drainage hole. Always water when the soil feels dry and if you have windy and hot weather. The plant supports a lot of big blooms, and they need ample water to maintain them.

During the growing season, it’s best to water this at a rate of 1 inch when it’s just growing. This should be done 3x per week. When growing in pots, you need to have one with a diameter of at least 18 inches. A non-porous one can help hold consistent levels of moisture. An established plant does not need watering as much as one in the early phase of growth. They can be watered twice a week but always check the soil to be sure. Just make sure that there will be no waterlogging that occurs. The plants might experience transplant shock when they are just newly planted. Just water until the depth of the moisture reaches out to 10 inches beneath the surface. Help the roots become more established during the dry, hot weather by checking the soil frequently.

Overall, the Smooth hydrangea loves water and should be provided with enough to keep it hydrated. Be careful not to overwater and never use cold water with them during the winter. They enter a dormancy period and they barely need water to survive. In the spring, planting should be done where they will be given enough time to grow. Water more when they are young and make sure to give them enough mulch to keep the soil moist. During the summer, just make sure that the soil is moist. Overwatering can result in a lack of blooms, but a heavy soaking can be done once a day whenever the soil needs this. For 3x a week, ensure water in the early mornings or afternoons. The ones on the balcony or gardens should be watered generously during the summer months. This is because the water can evaporate quickly.

The Smooth hydrangea that is grown outdoors doesn’t generally need a lot of water compared to the one grown indoors. This species absorbs the water quickly, so watering can be done twice a week. When you grow Smooth hydrangea in partial shades, you generally encourage moisture retention and prevent the drying winds from wilting them. It’s best to keep the water away from the flowers as this can lead to gray mold. The Smooth hydrangeaed indoors can be watered at least 2x a week or more when they are just in the growing phase to help the roots become more established.

Pruning is as important for the Smooth hydrangea as it is for any other ornamental plant species that you may choose to grow in your garden. If you prune this plant properly, you can enhance its overall health while preserving its most showy ornamental features. With that said, you cannot expect to reap those benefits if you don’t know when and how to prune this species. In fact, pruning too early in the spring or too late in the summer can cause you to remove the blooms for the current growing season or the next growing season, detracting significantly from the beauty of Smooth hydrangea.

The most important fact to understand when it comes to Smooth hydrangea pruning is that these plants set their flower buds on old wood. Since the buds are on old wood, that means that pruning too early in the spring can cause you to remove the buds before they have a chance to bloom. What you should do instead is wait until the late spring or early summer to prune. The ideal time for pruning takes place at the end or just after this plant’s bloom period. Also, you should avoid pruning late in summer and into fall, as this is the time of year when the plant will set its buds for the next year.

To prune the Smooth hydrangea, you should start by cutting out any part of the plant that is dead or shows signs of damage or disease. Generally, the main goal of pruning this plant is to promote its health and maintain its overall shape, rather than pruning to promote more vigorous new growth. You may also perform the style of pruning known as deadheading during the bloom time, which involves removing any spent flower clusters. However, many gardeners choose not to deadhead this plant as the flowers can persist for a while, even into winter. With that said, the main structural pruning that you perform should occur just after the bloom period. The Smooth hydrangea is a plant that blooms from old wood, which means that pruning in early spring will cause you to remove the current season's flower buds. However, the Smooth hydrangea also sets its buds for the next season in late summer, which means that taking too long to prune can remove the next, year's buds. Any shaping and or significant removal of branches and stems should happen in late spring or early summer. During that time, removing crossing branches and thinning the canopy are also worthy pruning tasks if they are needed. Regardless of your pruning objectives, you should always choose a clean, sterile pair of pruning shears and use them to make clean cuts.

The seasonal period during which you should prune the Smooth hydrangea is relatively short. This timeframe occurs between late spring and early summer. Prior to late spring and summer, you can perform moderate pruning to remove any stems, leaves or branches that show discoloration or other signs of disease. In that case, removing a few flower buds is worth it to rid the plant of a diseased limb. When the bloom time arrives in spring, you should watch for spent flower clusters, and consider deadheading them to promote more blooms. After the bloom period ends is when most of your trimming and shaping should occur. Pruning in late summer is a risky choice, as this can remove the next year’s blooms. The same threat is present when pruning during the fall, winter, and early spring. As such, the only advisable time to prune this plant significantly is during and after its bloom time.

The way you prune the Smooth hydrangea does not change much depending on the plant’s growth stages. In fact, nearly all pruning for this plant should take place in and around the bloom time. During the bloom stage, you perform light thinning and deadheading. Just after the bloom period, you should perform most of your major pruning. However, although pruning this shrub, as we have described, is beneficial to its well being, the Smooth hydrangea is a plant species that can survive well without any pruning at all, regardless of its age and growth stage. Also, it is alright to prune your Smooth hydrangea at any time during the growing season, if your pruning is minimal and focuses on removing individual leaves or branches that are yellowing or otherwise show signs of disease.

The Smooth hydrangea is a plant that does not need too much pruning and also should not receive too much pruning. Heavy pruning can be difficult for this plant to recover from. To avoid this issue, you should never remove more than one-third of this plant’s overall mass during a single pruning. Often, you should not even come close to removing that much wood. Also, any time you perform pruning to this degree, or any other type of major trimming or shaping, it should take place just after the bloom period. Some years, you may have the chance to go without pruning this species at all if it has maintained a favorable shape and size, and that is alright. A season or a few without pruning won’t be detrimental to the health of Smooth hydrangea.

Smooth hydrangea requires about 3-6 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive. However, it also needs some shade during the hottest parts of the day to prevent sun damage. Morning sunlight is ideal for Smooth hydrangea, but it can also tolerate some afternoon sun if the temperature is not too hot. To provide the perfect balance of sunlight, try planting Smooth hydrangea in an area that gets partial sun, such as under a tree or on the east side of a building.

If Smooth hydrangea is exposed to too much direct sunlight, its leaves may turn yellow, dry out, or even burn. You may also notice that the plant wilts or becomes stunted. To prevent sun damage, make sure to give Smooth hydrangea some shade during the hottest parts of the day. You can use a shade cloth or plant Smooth hydrangea near taller plants that can provide some natural shade.

If Smooth hydrangea doesn't get enough sunlight, it may grow tall and lanky, with sparse foliage. The leaves may also turn yellow or pale green, indicating that the plant is not producing enough chlorophyll due to lack of sunlight. To remedy this, try moving Smooth hydrangea to a sunnier spot, or prune nearby foliage to allow more light to reach the plant.

The best temperature for Smooth hydrangea to thrive is 65~80℉(18~27℃). During the primary growing phase, the highest temperature tolerable would be 95℉(35℃), while the lowest tolerable temperature would be 15℉(-10℃). This species is tolerant of low temperatures and will survive freezing winters. The perfect, highest, and lowest temperature range: Perfect：65~80℉(18~27℃) Highest：85~95℉(30~35℃) Lowest：-5~15℉(-20~-10℃) or below

Research shows that Smooth hydrangea will begin to exhibit signs of stunted growth during prolonged periods of higher temperatures, especially during the development of axillary buds and the growth of main shoots. Keeping the temperatures consistent and cooler, around 65℉(18℃), will encourage vigorous growth after germination or transplanting.

Smooth hydrangea can withstand freezing temperatures when planted in the ground in areas that don’t get below of 15℉(-10℃) as an extreme temperature during the winter months. But if planted in pots or containers, then their roots must be protected from the winter cold. Do this by wrapping the container in a blanket or bringing it inside where it will be fully protected from the elements.

Greater harm will come to Smooth hydrangea if the temperature is consistently too high versus too low. If Smooth hydrangea gets too hot, seed germination and photosynthesis efficiency is lessened due to hormone triggers caused by heat stress. The plant will show signs through wilting, leaf browning, and potentially death. If Smooth hydrangea gets too cold, plant functions such as nutrient uptake and photosynthesis will cease, resulting in the possible death of the plant. If a single freezing event occurs during the growing season, then a membrane phase transition might occur, which can cause a cease in plant functions and death of the plant.

Keeping the soil temperature consistent is one of the most important strategies to keeping Smooth hydrangea healthy, which leads to successful budding, flowering, and new growth. Do this by consistently watering, adding mulch to bare soil, and planting in the shade.

Due to the cold tolerance of Smooth hydrangea, heating pads will not be necessary if planted outside in the ground. If the plant is in an outdoor pot, then bring it inside a heated house and place it in a sunny window during the winter months.

To ensure adequate temperature conditions are present, plant Smooth hydrangea in an area with partial shade. If possible, use afternoon shade to provide the best protection during the hottest part of the day. This will also result in lower temperatures in the soil due to increased moisture retention. If Smooth hydrangea is planted indoors, then keep the container away from windows and out of direct sunlight during the summer months to prevent the soil temperature from spiking daily.

During the summer or times of high heat, give Smooth hydrangea extra shade and water to help cool its leaves, roots, and soil. During cold snaps or growing season freezes, cover sensitive budding vegetation with frost cloth or water using sprinkler systems. If it’s only nearing freezing temperatures for a short period, then water during the day several hours before the freeze. If the temperature is predicted to remain below freezing for an extended period, then keep the sprinkler running until the temperature rises above freezing the following day.

Smooth hydrangea is a mid-temperature plant that can easily tolerate the typical fluctuations of the seasons and remain a hardy species when planted in maintained landscapes areas, containers, or indoors. Therefore, adjusting the temperature during the different seasons is unnecessary for primary growth. If flowering is stunted or impeded, then allowing the plant to experience a season of winter freeze could help to revive flowering.

If it becomes too difficult to lower the temperature for an indoor plant during the summer, then plant it outside in the ground or in a container. Make sure to plant Smooth hydrangea in a shaded location and water often to keep the soil moist.

You need to fertilize a Smooth hydrangea for a few important reasons. The most obvious of these reasons is that fertilizer will help your Smooth hydrangea produce lovely blooms. Fertilizing in early spring is one of the best ways to ensure that your Smooth hydrangea has excellent flowers during that season. Fertilizer also gives your Smooth hydrangea plenty of energy that it can store in the ground during its dormant growth phases. Giving your Smooth hydrangea some extra nutrients during the fall planting process or during the late spring will help your Smooth hydrangea hold more energy to use once active growth resumes.

Timing is crucial when it comes to fertilizing Smooth hydrangea. If you use fertilizer too early while the Smooth hydrangea is still dormant at this time. This fertilizer cannot be used effectively and will be washed away by rainwater, causing waste and pollution. The first application of fertilizer should be applied in the early spring. Continue fertilizing once a month until early summer.

Avoid giving Smooth hydrangea a fertilizer with too much nitrogen, since this can lead to development of plenty of leaves but not many blooms. Look for fertilizer with a lower level of nitrogen compared to other nutrients. Do not fertilize after the early autumn, which can cause too much growth just before winter. Also, Smooth hydrangea should not be fertilized during hot and dry times of year, since dry soil does not deliver fertilizer as effectively as moist soil. Fertilizing at this time can also stimulate growth which in turn needs more water that may not be available. It is best to keep fertilizer for earlier in the season when temperatures are cooler. Finally, remember that Smooth hydrangea can absorb fertilizer that has been applied to nearby plants or lawns, so be cautious about inadvertently giving tree/shurb a double-dose of fertilizer.

The ideal fertilizer for a Smooth hydrangea is one that has a relatively balanced mix of the three main plant nutrients, with slightly higher amounts of phosphorus. Alternatively, some gardeners choose to improve their Smooth hydrangea 's soil by adding organic materials such as compost, worm castings, and manure. Some experienced gardeners will supplement 1-2 times with water-soluble fertilizers containing phosphorus when the flower buds start to appear. This will help the flowers develop better and allow them to grow larger and bloom longer. Fertilizers can come in many forms, and most of these forms will work well for your Smooth hydrangea. However, some of the best fertilizers for Smooth hydrangea come in either a liquid or a powdered form. Regardless of which you use, you should ensure that you dilute your fertilizer and apply it while watering your Smooth hydrangea.

Always follow directions for the specific type of fertilizer and do research on how to use it for the Smooth hydrangea you are growing. It is important not to over-fertilize your Smooth hydrangea, so determining the correct amount to use is crucial. The usual rule of thumb is to use the age of the tree (if known) or the diameter of the trunk to understand how much fertilizer should be used. Estimate a one-tenth of a pound of fertilizer per year or per inch of trunk, with a maximum of one pound. Granular fertilizers and organic fertilizers such as blood meal are applied by sprinkling the substance around the base of the tree all the way to the drip line (the space below the farthest-reaching branches) but do not let fertilizer come in contact with the trunk. Over time, the granules break down and filter into the soil to be absorbed into the roots. After fertilizing, spread an inch-deep layer of compost around the base of the tree and water thoroughly.

It is far better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize, since you can always add more but you cannot easily take away excess fertilizer. Over-fertilizing your Smooth hydrangea may cause brown leaf tips and edges, yellowing, wilting leaves, and possibly a visible crust of fertilizer salts on the surface of the soil around the tree. This condition is called fertilizer burn and results from too many accumulated salts in the plant’s cells. If excess nitrogen is the issue, the Smooth hydrangea will produce a lot of leaves but won’t grow much flowers since nitrogen supports foliage growth. If you have overfertilized, you could try removing the top layer of soil under the Smooth hydrangea to remove the most concentrated area of fertilizer. Then flush the area by watering heavily to try to get rid of fertilizer around the roots.