Endless Summer Hydrangea Losing Color in Pot: Plant It Now!

My potted 'Endless Summer' hydrangea (4 ft, 2-gal pot) had blue flowers that turned dusty white/yellow with blue centers. Zone 4 (WI). Morning sun, daily water. How to restore color?

The Real Problem: It's Pot-Bound & Starving

At 4 feet in a 2-gallon pot, the roots have exhausted the soil. Color shift = nutrient deficiency + pH drift. Zone 4 winters will kill it in a pot—roots freeze solid.

Immediate Action

1. Plant in ground NOW (early fall best).
2. Amend soil with compost + peat for acidity.
3. Water deeply weekly until freeze.
4. Mulch 3–4 inches after ground freezes.
5. Spring: Soil test → adjust pH to 5.0–5.5 for blue, 6.0–6.5 for pink.

In-ground, with regular feeding (acid fertilizer) and consistent moisture, color will stabilize next season.