Pot Plant Tips For Beginner

Hi all.

Had some plants given to me last summer, and looking for advice on how to look after them (i know nothing at all about this subject!)

Here are 2 pictures of the plants:















Can somebody give me general tips on these plants?

• What are they?
• How long do they live for?
• What should I do with them in winter (they did ok outside last winter....!)
• Should I prune them, and how?
• Do they need feeding / watering?

Many thanks

 

Thanks JWK

Heres a closer picture:-

 

Slight update!
Here are a couple of pictures as they are now:-



As you can see, the first one isn't doing very well. There is one bit of green, so it isn't totally dead, how can I revive this plant?
The second looks better, what and where would you prune (when it comes to pruning I have no idea what or where to chop off, any tips?)
Do I need to replace the soil, or can I add feed?

 

Deadhead the hydrangea regularly by removing its spent blooms and leaves. Deadheading means removing wilted blooms by cutting the flowering portion off right below the bloom. Every three years root prune the hydrangea in the early spring before the plant starts budding. Remove the plant from its pot and carefully remove clumps of old or rotting roots. Then replant it into its existing container or move to a larger one.

 

My tip for pots is when adding your gravel, broken posts, or my favourite, broken up polystyrene, add a layer of weed fabric over the top so your drainage doesnt get clogged up with compost.

 

They lose their leaves over winter in any case, so the first one should grow some leaves now it's got space to do so

I'd give them a feed with Growmore now (available from most gardening places and also places like Asda) In terms of pruning I'd just deadhead them, ie cut the dead flowers off just underneath. They flower on old wood so if you prune right back they may not do so until next year.

Have a look at this link for some tips.