Garden hydrangeais a shrub valued for its large, beautiful inflorescences, which we can admire all summer until autumn. It can be planted as a solitaire or in combination with other plants in a bed. See whatgrowing a hydrangea in the garden looks likeand how it should behydrangea careso that it blooms as long as possible. We explain why, despite our best efforts, sometimeshydrangea does not bloomandhow to change the color of hydrangea flowers
Garden hydrangea - Hydrangea macrophylla
Garden hydrangea(Hydrangea macrophylla) is a shrub reaching up to 1.5 m in height. The typical form is native to East and South Asia, but our gardens are usually decorated with cultivars and hybrids with hairy hydrangea (Hydrangea aspera). The leaves of this plant are oval, densely arranged on the stem, usually dark green, although some may have light discoloration. It blooms from the beginning of summer until the first frost.The flowers of garden hydrangeasare gathered in very ornamental, spherical, convex and dense corymbs. They can be in shades of white, pink and blue. These plants are eagerly grown in ornamental gardens, but also as pot plants and cut flowers.
Garden hydrangea - cultivation, care
The soil requirements of hydrangeas are quite high.Cultivation of hydrangeasgoes best on fertile and humus soils, but poorly on clay and heavy soils. The soil for the hydrangea should be acidic (pH between 4.5 and 5.5).When the leaves turn light green or yellow, this indicates that the soil is too alkaline. Then add acid peat to the soil.
The name hydrangea means "water bush". This suggests that it needs a lot of water to develop properly. Therefore,garden hydrangeafeels better in partial shade, where it is easier to keep the soil moist, although it blooms more abundantly in the sun. A very important treatment inhydrangea careis irrigation, especially in periods of drought, and mulching the soil, which additionally helps to maintain moisture.
Why doesn't the hydrangea bloom?
Hydrangeas are divided into two groups - flowering on last year's shoots and flowering on this year's shoots. The first group includesgarden hydrangea(Hydragena macrophylla). Garden hydrangeas develop flower buds in the second half of summer and bloom in summer.next year. However, they often do not bloom.
One of the reasons why the hydrangea does not bloom may befrosting of the tops or whole shoots with flower buds already set The shoots of these plants are slightly woody and the buds do not have hard scales to protect them from frost. Although in spring, non-frozen carp will grow lush shoots, they do not have flower buds and the plants do not bloom. If we want the plants to bloom, we need to protect them against winter frost by sprinkling them with bark, peat or leaves to a height of 20-30 cm and covering the plants with sprigs. If we expect greater frosts, we wrap the bushes with paper.
Another reason why the garden hydrangea does not bloom may also be incorrect cutting - remember thatgarden hydrangea blooms on last year's shootsSo if we remove woody shoots with flower buds - plant in a given season already will not bloom. For this reason, the shoots of the garden hydrangea are not cut at all. The only cut that can be made is the removal of shoots that were frozen after winter, which will be gone anyway, and cutting off the faded inflorescences.
Theflowering abundance of hydrangeasis also influenced by proper fertilization.A deficiency of nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium and iron causes poor growth and failure to set flower buds. To prevent this, we can use mineral fertilizers for hydrangeas. In garden stores there is an increasing selection of fertilizers designed specifically for this group of plants.
How to change the color of hydrangea flowers?
Thecolor of hydrangea flowerscan be influenced by regulating the acidity of the soil in which we grow plants. In more alkaline soils, the flowers will be pink or red. To obtain the blue color of flowers, the soil must be acidified by fertilizing it with ammonium sulfate or potassium sulfate. A similar effect can be obtained by watering the bush with a solution of potassium alum or aluminum alum in the amount of about 10 - 15 g per plant. It is also a good idea to mulch the soil around the bush, using peat or cortical compost.
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If, on the other hand, we want to obtain a more alkaline soil reaction in order to color the flowers red, we can use alkaline fertilizers containing calcium or magnesium.However, be careful not to raise the soil pH above 6.2. A higher reaction causes chlorosis of the leaves - the leaves become light, yellowish, with time drying up and falling off. Therefore, it is a good idea to measure the pH of the soil with a pH meter (also known as an acid meter).
This way you canchange the color of the hydrangea flowersfrom pink to blue and vice versa. However, you cannot change the color of white flowers - these hydrangeas will always be white.
Hydrangea reproduction
Garden hydrangeais best propagated through herbaceous cuttings, which we cut in the period from June to August, and then planted in frame boxes, in which the cuttings will root. The seedlings must spend the whole year in the frames - they can only be planted in the beds in the second spring. This method of reproduction of hydrangeas is also recommended for all large-flowered varieties.
Other species of hydrangeas
Another species suitable for cultivation in Poland is Hydrangea paniculata. Reaches a height of up to 2 m ( although there are also specimens that reach over 4 m in height). Compared to the garden hydrangea, it is more resistant to frost (does not require winter cover) and calcareous soil. It blooms white, and as it fades, its flowers turn pink. The bush hydrangea (Hydragena aborescens) is also worth recommending, especially its large-flowered variety Grandiflora. It is a shrub reaching up to 1 m in height, with rather thin twigs bending under the weight of magnificent flowers. These species develop flower buds on this year&39;s shoots and are much less troublesome than the garden hydrangea. You can."trim them shortly in early spring - even to the ground - without fear that they will not bloom.
If you want the hydrangea to climb on the supports, arbor wall or fence, it is worth choosing a climbing hydrangea.The climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) is a frost-resistant climber that grips supports with adherent roots. It can climb to a height of over 10 m and looks great when wrapping tall tree trunks.
