Hydrangea cultivation methods
Today, the editor will share some experience in home gardening with hydrangeas, including the cultivation methods of hydrangeas. Next, our site editor will introduce to everyone.
Some flower enthusiasts have a special fondness for hydrangeas but are hesitant to start because they are unfamiliar with the cultivation methods and precautions. This article introduces the maintenance of hydrangeas from various aspects such as planting environment, medium and pot, pruning, fertilizing, and color adjustment. This is not theoretical knowledge but the experience of flower enthusiasts, which is very worthy of study for those who love hydrangeas.
1. Planting Environment
Hydrangeas are shade-tolerant plants but do not mean they dislike the sun. The same variety can have sturdy branches and vibrant flowers in a well-lit environment. However, the shade tolerance of hydrangeas is also one of its characteristics; they can bloom even with less than one hour of sunlight, but the branches may be thin and prone to falling over. The hardness of the branches also relates to the variety, with some naturally drooping varieties that can be planted in elevated flower beds to create a different viewing angle. Sometimes, a disadvantage can be an advantage.
The cold tolerance of hydrangeas is slightly lower than that of roses. Northern flower enthusiasts need to protect the old branches when temperatures drop below minus ten degrees, otherwise, the flowering branches may freeze and fail to bloom the following year. (The photo below shows the blooming blue 'Mama').
2. Planting Medium and Pots
Hydrangeas do not have high requirements for the soil medium, only needing slightly higher moisture retention. Because hydrangeas have lush foliage, it is necessary to ensure that the plant does not dehydrate before the next watering from April onwards when water evaporation is rapid. The medium should be slightly moist, or the pot can be larger. Generally, a 1-gallon pot can be used for half a year from the cutting stage; afterward, at least a 5-gallon pot (or a pot with a diameter of over 40 centimeters) is needed. If the pot is small, it is recommended to control the plant shape during pruning. When temperatures are high, it is recommended to water twice a day, avoiding watering on the flowers, as wet flowers and leaves exposed to direct sunlight can easily cause sunburn. Do not manage hydrangeas as you would with succulents. (The photo below shows 'Mama' at the end of April).
3. Pruning
Most hydrangeas (except for 'Endless Summer' and paniculata hydrangeas) bloom on old branches, so please pay close attention to this point. The flower buds differentiate in autumn and winter, so pruning must be completed before autumn (by the end of August). Remove the spent flowers, cut off the old branches, and trim the branches as needed to control the plant shape. If the planting space is large, leave more branches. (The photo below shows 'Mama' and 'Elf' in early March).
The 'Endless Summer' series and paniculata hydrangeas are varieties that bloom on new branches, so pruning can be more aggressive.
4. Fertilizing
Hydrangeas have a high demand for fertilizer, but fertilization requires careful consideration. Since flower buds differentiate in autumn and winter, I usually apply fertilizer for the first time in autumn (October), using a compound fertilizer (long-acting fertilizer like Ogreen, Meleko, or magic fertilizer). The second application is in winter (around January), using organic fertilizer (like processed chicken manure, not raw fertilizer). From March, after germination, liquid fertilizer is applied every 1-2 weeks, with a high phosphorus-potassium content fertilizer recommended. For ground planting, do not skimp on fertilizer. For potted plants, you can try using magic fertilizer, which, although expensive, has good cost-effectiveness, is clean, and saves effort, with good results.
5. Color Adjustment
Most flower enthusiasts look forward to seeing blue hydrangeas bloom. Considering the principle that acidic pH values produce blue flowers, alkaline pH values produce red flowers, and neutral pH values produce mixed colors, it is recommended to adjust the color according to your preference. Color adjustment needs to be done early, at least starting in winter, as it is most effective when the flower buds are differentiating. There are many color adjustment agents available.
Based on my personal experience, color adjustment is not always the only effective method. It is common to see both blue and pink flowers blooming in the same flower bed. Moreover, the color of hydrangeas changes at each stage from the beginning to the middle and end of the blooming period, even without color adjustment. (The photo on the left shows the color of 'Elf' flowers until mid-July, and the right side shows the initial color of 'Elf').
6. Cutting Propagation
The main propagation method for hydrangeas is cutting. It is usually done after flowering (when the flowers are finished or you no longer want to see them) by cutting branches for propagation. Hydrangeas are extremely easy to propagate. You can propagate them like roses, cutting a section of the branch (leaving half of a single-sided leaf, half of the leaf in the photo below should be cut off). Insert the cut branches immediately, or you can place the whole branch in water first and cut them into sections when you have time.
After 20 days in vermiculite, dig them out and plant them in a planting medium like peat. You can also directly plant the branches in the planting medium, which still has a high survival rate. It is recommended not to use fertilizer in the medium when planting directly. For those using vermiculite, scatter some slow-release fertilizer like Ogreen after the plants show signs of growth. For those using planting medium, scatter slow-release fertilizer after the leaves appear (about 45 days). As shown in the photo below, cuttings made in early June of the 14th had grown so much by the end of August that they needed to be transplanted into a pot larger than 2 gallons. All these seedlings bloomed the following year.
The above is a specific introduction to the cultivation methods (environment, pruning, fertilizing) of hydrangeas. I hope you will like it!