bigleaf hydrangea

Bigleaf Hydrangeas should be watered deeply once a week, allowing 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water for mature plants. Watering should occur in the morning, and you should avoid wetting the plant's leaves to help reduce the risk of fungal disease. During hot weather, you may need to increase watering slightly, watering twice per week. Make sure to water around the base of the plant, near the stems and leaves and not just around the perimeter of the pot or garden bed.

Bigleaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla 'Merritt's Supreme') prefer bright but indirect sunlight locations. They typically need about 2-4 hours of sunlight a day, ideally in the morning and late afternoon when the sun's intensity is less strong. If the plant receives too much direct sunlight it can lead to sunburn, so make sure to provide ample shade for this species.

Bigleaf hydrangeas should be pruned during the winter season, when the plant is in its dormant stage. If you need to remove broken, dead, or diseased branches, or to shape the plant, you can prune it lightly then. However, the amount of pruning should be minimal and only 1-2 shoots should be removed from the ends. Cutting away too much of the foliage will reduce the size and number of blooms the next season. Furthermore, if you are planning a major pruning session to shape the plant then you should do this just after the blooms have faded in the summer.