How to plant hydrangeas
If you want to know how to plant hydrangeas and the related introduction of hydrangea cultivation techniques and management for green plants and flowers, let's learn about them together.
Hydrangeas are deciduous shrubs or small trees belonging to the Saxifragaceae family and the Hydrangea macrophylla genus. They are also known as oakleaf hydrangea, bigleaf hydrangea, Japanese hydrangea, smooth hydrangea, and pompon flower. They bloom in summer, with flowers forming corymbs at the top of the branches, and the edges having white neutral flowers. The flowers initially open with a greenish color, then turn white, emitting a fragrant scent. Resembling a绣球 (hydrangea), hydrangeas are a common garden flower, with their umbel-like inflorescences resembling snowballs, clustering amidst elliptical green leaves, making for a beautiful sight. They are widely planted in the southwest region, with almost every household's courtyard having hydrangeas. Some here call it the fairy flower, because the color of the hydrangea changes from the initial bloom to full bloom. The flowering period of hydrangeas is relatively long, from summer to autumn. Hydrangeas are important summer flowering trees, with each flowerhead made up of a hundred flowers, clustering like a ball. When lush, the snow-covered flowers press on the tree, filling the courtyard with a fragrant scent.
Hydrangeas are native to China's central and southwestern regions. They prefer warm, humid, and semi-shaded environments. They are afraid of drought and waterlogging and are not cold-resistant. They thrive in fertile, moist, well-drained light loamy soil but are adaptable.
I. Propagation methods of hydrangeas: The common propagation methods for hydrangeas include cutting, dividing, layering, and grafting, mainly focusing on cutting and dividing propagation.
1. Cutting propagation: Cutting can be done in spring, summer, and autumn except for winter. Select strong young branches from young mother trees as cuttings, with the base of the cutting needing to have a node and be coated with mud, about 20 cm long, removing the lower leaves. The suitable temperature for cutting is between 13-18°C. After cutting, they need to be shaded and kept moist, and it usually takes 15-30 days to root. In regions south of the Yangtze River, they can be transplanted into the courtyard or pots after surviving, while in regions north of the Yangtze River, they can be transplanted the following year after surviving. When transplanting, it is necessary to transplant with soil.
2. Dividing propagation: Dividing propagation is best done in early spring before germination. After digging up the mother plant, divide it, with each division needing to have roots. After dividing, cut off the top part of the plant, retaining 15 cm above the roots, and then directly pot it. The commonly used pot for hydrangeas is a clay pot with a diameter of 15-20 cm. First, place broken tiles at the bottom of the pot, then fill in the cultivating soil, place the plant in the center of the pot, ensure the roots are spread out, fill the soil to half the pot, lightly lift and shake the hydrangea plant to compact the soil, and do not plant too deep. Keeping the rootstock level with the pot opening is fine. Planting too shallowly affects survival, and too deeply affects the growth of the hydrangea after transplanting. After planting, water thoroughly. After planting, keep the plant in a shaded environment for about a week, then move it to a sunny place after new buds have emerged.
3. Layering propagation: Layering is done before the hydrangeas germinate in spring. Select long branches that touch the ground, cut the bark on the part that contacts the ground, cover it with soil, and keep the soil moist. After about a month, it can root and survive. After rooting, cut it and transplant it.
II. Management: The soil should be loose, fertile, and well-drained sandy loam. However, the color of the flowers is affected by the soil pH, with acidic soil producing blue flowers and alkaline soil producing red flowers. To deepen the blue color, you can apply aluminum sulfate during the bud formation period. To maintain pink color, you can apply lime to the soil. Pot soil should be kept moist but not overwatered, especially during the rainy season, to prevent waterlogging and root rot. In winter, indoor potted plants should be kept slightly dry. Excessive moisture can cause leaf rot. Change the pot every spring. Trim appropriately to maintain an attractive shape. After transplanting hydrangeas, they should be shaded appropriately. Hydrangeas tend to grow long, thin branches, so pinching is necessary to suppress growth. After flowering each year, pruning is required to remove dense, crossed, diseased, and dead branches. Hydrangeas like fertilizer and need to be fertilized 2-3 times during the growing season. For potted plants, ensure sufficient watering after spring germination to prevent leaf wilting. During the flowering period, fertilizer and water should be sufficient, generally applying a dilute cake fertilizer every 10-15 days.
The above introduction on how to plant hydrangeas and the full content of hydrangea cultivation techniques and management can help you. We also hope that everyone will come to see more green plant and flower experience and knowledge!