Related Articles

Known for their show-stopping, colorful flower clusters, oak-leaf hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia) grow up to 6 feet tall and 8 feet wide. They make excellent garden plants where they are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 9. As they mature, oak-leaf hydrangeas produce sprouts near the base of the plant. If you dig up a sprout -- which is ready for transplanting when it's 2 or 3 inches tall -- a 1-gallon pot will work nicely. In just a couple months, though, your shrub will need a spot in the garden or in a larger pot to give it the room it needs to flourish.

1

Fill a 1-gallon pot with a high quality, well-draining potting soil, such as one that contains pine bark, until it reaches 1 or 2 inches below the rim. Use a pot that contains bottom holes to help maintain good water drainage.

2

Make a hole in the center of the pot that is deep and wide enough to accommodate the oak-leaf hydrangea's existing root ball. The plant should be planted at the same depth as it was growing before.

3

Set the hydrangea in the hole and gently pack the potting soil around it to fill in any large pockets of air. Do not compact the soil, since this will reduce air and water flow.

4

Water the newly planted oak-leaf hydrangea slowly until you see the water seep out the bottom drainage holes. This practice ensures that you moisten the soil in its entirety. Pour out the water that accumulates in the drainage dish so that soil does not stay too wet. Hydrangeas prefer regular moisture, but soggy soil conditions can cause root rot.

5

Set the pot in an area that has filtered sunlight or is in partial shade. Oak-leaf hydrangeas thrive when provided with 30 to 50 percent shade during daylight hours. Continue to keep the soil moist, watering it every one or two days or as necessary.

About the Author

Melissa Lewis is a former elementary classroom teacher and media specialist. She has also written for various online publications. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.