Hydrangea Pruning

Ma Larkin

I have 2 Blue steel Macrophylia Hydrangeas bought by Our children a couple of years ago, now in large pots. They grew some lovely large blooms on long stems that looked very striking and I’m keen to achieve this look again. However, I’m unsure of how to go about the pruning to achieve this? I’ve not pruned them at all as yet and these are my first Hydrangeas.  Any advice is welcome please.  

AnniD

Welcome to the forum @Ma Larkin !
Personally, l leave the flower heads on my potted hydrangeas until the Spring. They look pretty tatty by the end of the winter, but it protects the buds lower down. I then prune back to a strong bud and give them some feed. Yours look nice and healthy !

AnniD

For some reason l don't seem a to be able to edit my post above  using the cog symbol *, so l will just add that they may need repotting in the Spring, it could be that they are filling the pot very well, and will need a bit more room. Also trying the tag again @Ma Larkin, but your name isn't appearing - weekend gremlins perhaps   
* Now l can !

Obelixx

First of all I agree about re-potting to give it more root room or, better still, get it in the ground so it can find its own resources of food and water.

As for pruning, the RHS offers this advice which is clear and easy to follow - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=516 

ZeroZero1

I put one of these in my garden soil and it grew healthy (with watering) It's not about a metre or more across and high. It had many blooms. They will all be pink unless you have acid soil, even if they were blue in hte pot (usually they use acidifiers). You can keep the flower heads (as above), but if you cut them off, this will encourange more root growth

punkdoc

Cutting the flower heads off now will do nothing for root growth, but will protect buds from frosts. Cut back in Spring.