Hydrangea macrophylla Renate Steiniger - Hydrangea, Plant in 12 cm Pot

Hydrangea macrophylla sub group Hortenisa (mopheads). Perhaps one of the best known garden plants. Originally from Japan these robust and reliable plants produce a truly stunning display in summer and autumn. Hydrangea macrophylla Renate Steiniger is a compact, deciduous, mophead hydrangea with dense dark green leaves and fabulous large flower heads of one of the richest blues. In alkaline soil the flowers are a pretty baby pink. The colour of the flowers depends on whether your soil is acid (blue) or alkaline (pink). To maintain a blue colour ensure an acid soil and considered using Hydrangea blueing agent. Very easy to grow, it can be grown in the garden or in a pot or container. In containers use a good quality (ericaceous for blue flowers) John Innes compost as this plant will be there a long time and peaty types of compost eventually degrade, become too packed and choke the roots. Ensure you feed regularly as a hungry plant is a poor performer. We recommend Osmoscote pro 8-9 month applied in the early spring. One application gives all the nutrients the plant requires for the whole year. John Innes is a soils based compost. After flowering prune back to close to the old wood. If the plant becomes too large a more drastic pruning can be undertaken!