Question
HELP!!!!THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR FOR MY HYDRANGEAS,,,,,,,I HAVE THEM IN A LARGE POT ON THE PATIO,,WHICH FACES NORTH, BUT HAS ALOT OF SUN....,,THE LEAVES NEVER SEEM TO GROW BUT A FEW INCHES, THEN THE EDGES TURN BROWN AND SCHRIVELED ,,,,WHAT CAN I DO?.I LOVE HYDRANGES, BUT FEEL DEFEATED,EVERYTHING I READ SAYS THEY ARE EASY TO GROW, SO WAHT COULD BE THE PROBLEM? THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE,CAMILLE

Answer
Camille,
 Hydrangeas don't really like full sun. They thrive better in partial sun.  Is the pot large enough? They have quite an extensive root system.  They also need to be fertilized with an acid fertilizer about every other week.  Don't over water them.
Here is a recipe for good soil mixture--if you are using JUST potting soil, the nutrients drain out within a year.

Super Soil Mixture:

  In the established garden areas, I  use a shovel or pitchfork to turn the  areas around the plants  each year and work in some of the mix.  Work it into the soil around all your established plants.
 
For new garden beds:
 For every 10?x 10?of NEW area add: (you can cut the partions as needed)

4 bags of good topsoil
4 bags of horse/cow/chicken manure-elephant is the VERY BEST!!
Any amount of your own compost
2 bags sand-play sand is OK(depending on your soil type)
1 bag Millorganite -organic fertilizer, nurseries-not avail. in all states
2 bags cedar mulch
2 bags pellet gypsum (for aeration)-if your soil has lots of clay
1 bag powdered/granulated sulphur

Rototill this mixture into the ground to about 1 foot in depth or more if you can.

This mixture is the best I have formulated and I have GREAT success with it.  I always have a bunch of it premixed so when I transplant I can have that area primed!  This stuff is like butter if you till it enough and put in the right stuff!

MILLORGANITE can be purchased at all the nurseries in town, about $10 a bag.  It is organic and will not harm pets or you!  You can put it on the lawn in the spring and again in the fall with a spreader ( I put it on quite heavily) and all your flowers and vegetables.  It is not available in all states.

揚REEN?is also a GREAT product to put on your garden areas to prevent weed growth.  You first have to get all the weeds out first.  Then put on the PREEN-with or without fertilizer-right at the first of spring and again in the middle of summer.  I抳e NEVER had weeds in my flower areas since starting this product.  If you want to go organic and natural, use corn gluten at the same times.

Now go get your hands all dirty!!
Sijka