Caring for 'Sweet Dreams' Hydrangea on Vancouver Island

A gardener on Vancouver Island (Zone 8b) asked about care for a 'Sweet Dreams' hydrangea.

Identify Your Plant

'Sweet Dreams' is a lacecap hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla), often sold as a florist/gift plant. These are not reliably hardy in zones colder than 8–9, and even in Zone 8, flower buds often freeze.

If Keeping as a Houseplant

• Bright, indirect light (east window).
• Cool temps (60–65°F) to prolong bloom.
• Keep moist, not soggy. Use rain/distilled water.
• After bloom: cut back, repot in acidic mix, fertilize with acid fertilizer.
• Summer outdoors in shade; bring in before frost.

If Planting Outdoors (Vancouver Island)

• Site: Morning sun, afternoon shade. Protected from winter wind.
• Soil: Acidic, rich, well-drained. Amend with peat, compost, sulfur.
• Winter protection: Mulch 6–8" after ground freezes. Wrap with burlap if Arctic outbreak forecast.
• Pruning: Only deadhead. Flower buds form on old wood. Heavy pruning = no blooms.
• Color: Blue in acid soil (pH <5.5); pink in alkaline. Add aluminum sulfate for blue.

Realistic Expectations

Florist hydrangeas often disappoint outdoors in marginal zones. They may survive but bloom sparsely or not at all. For reliable landscape performance, choose hardy cultivars like 'Endless Summer', 'BloomStruck', or H. serrata varieties.

Resource

Hydrangea care guide: hydrangeashydrangeas.com (see lacecap section).