Hydrangea is liked by many gardeners. It's tall and lush flowering plant, most species of which are capable of wintering in open ground. The inflorescences are pleasing to the eye from mid-summer to early October. Hydrangea belongs to the hydrangea family, which contains not only shrubs, but even many species of vines and low-growing trees.
Interesting: Hydrangea got its name in honor of an ancient Roman princess. She also has the Latin name Hydrangea, which scientists have already awarded her for her excessive love for high humidity(literal translation – “container with water”). The Japanese have their own name - “ajisai”, which translates as “flower - purple sun”.
Only a few varieties of hydrangea are suitable for growing at home, while the rest are not compact and can only live in open ground. In nature, shrubs can reach 3 m in height, some species are evergreen, others are deciduous. IN middle lane Mostly deciduous hydrangeas are found. Its leaves are mostly large, oval-shaped with a pointed tip, pronounced venation and jagged edges. Flowering begins in mid-spring and continues until early autumn. The inflorescences have a spherical, corymbose or paniculate shape and consist of two types of flowers: small fertile ones, which are located closer to the center of the inflorescence, and large sterile (decorative) ones, dispersed along the edges. But there are species in which all the flowers are small and fertile (little decorative). Interestingly, most hydrangea species bloom white, but some, such as bigleaf hydrangea, produce cream, red, lilac and pink colors. In this case, the color depends not on the characteristics of the variety, but on chemical composition soil. We will talk about planting large-leaved hydrangea and controlling its color a little later. Hydrangea bears fruit in 2-5 chambered seed pods.
Before you start planting hydrangea in the garden, it would be a good idea to choose the appropriate variety of shrub. Each species requires its own agrotechnical conditions, so when choosing, proceed from own experience and opportunities to provide them.
Types of hydrangea:
In addition to the above species, radiant, rough, petiolate, ash hydrangea and the Sargent variety are bred in gardens. The shoots of the latter do not bend, so you should not even try to bend them to the ground - you will break them. To protect your Sargent hydrangea from the cold, wrap the crown with paper or other covering material. In early spring, after the end of severe cold weather, remove the cover and mulch. It is best to choose a cloudy, humid evening for this, so as not to injure the weakened plant from bright sunlight.
Now that you have decided on the type of hydrangea that you can grow, you can talk about the features of planting, care and propagation. In most cases, hydrangea does not cause problems, so both beginners and experienced gardeners can cope with it equally well.
Planting garden hydrangea can be done by seeds and seedlings. In the first case, it is best to propagate species varieties of plants for breeding experiments. Seeds should be sown in autumn time, loosening them into a substrate of leaf and peat soil with fine river sand in a ratio of 4:2:1. Spray the soil thoroughly with a spray bottle and cover the container with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse effect. Periodically it will need to be removed for ventilation and additional moisture - the soil should not be allowed to dry out. To germinate crops, it is necessary to maintain a temperature from +14C to +20C. 30-45 days after the appearance of the first shoots, you can remove the film. When the cotyledon leaves develop, the seedlings can be picked. Repeated picking is carried out in May, planting each plant in a container with a diameter of 7-8 cm. After this, the young hydrangea needs to be hardened, exposing it during the day to Fresh air in a shaded place without drafts. At night, seedlings need to be brought into the house.
Hydrangea seedlings can be planted in open ground 2 years after growing at home and regular hardening. When choosing a place for a plant on your site, take into account the fact that most species need good lighting, but there are also those that can feel great in the shade, such as Sargent or rough hydrangea. It is best to choose a slightly acidic or neutral soil; it should be fertilized with organic matter and have a loose structure so that oxygen can penetrate to the roots. To acidify the soil, use peat or a special acidifier “Esid+”. It is necessary to ensure that crops with a shallow root system, like the hydrangea itself, do not grow near the place for the hydrangea. Otherwise they will constantly fight for nutrients and moisture.
To plant hydrangea in the garden, you need to dig a hole, the dimensions of which should be twice the size of the earthen ball on the seedling. Add peat, minerals and organic fertilizers, mix everything with the soil. Lower the seedling and cover it with soil mixed with compost so that the root ball rises slightly above the surface of the earth. Lightly compact the soil, water and mulch with pine needles to protect the roots from overheating during the adaptation period, and also to reduce the development of weeds. Scatter around the plant organic mulch layer up to 10 cm. Subsequently, it will decompose and oxidize the soil, which will be very useful for hydrangea. Experts recommend adding mulch at the end of spring, since the soil is still quite wet, but has had time to warm up properly. In the fall, mulch is applied after consistently cold weather has settled.
In order for hydrangea to quickly develop and bloom luxuriantly, it is necessary to fertilize from time to time. On sale you can find special formulations enriched with iron and magnesium. They are added immediately before planting and during intensive development. The first feeding occurs at the end of May or beginning of June and is liquid fermented chicken droppings, diluted with water 1:10. It can also be a mineral fertilizer made from superphosphate, urea and potassium nitrate in a ratio of 2:1:1. Further feeding should be done every 2-3 weeks. Fertilizers are stopped applied at the end of July so that the plant “calms down” and prepares for wintering. If this is not done, the shoots will not have time to become woody.
Caring for garden hydrangea is not difficult, but there are mandatory points that require strict implementation. Most an important condition To care for the plant is careful and proper watering - the water should be warm and settled. Each adult hydrangea requires about 40 liters of water twice a week during hot periods and once a week during more moderate periods. If there is peat mulch in the soil, you can water a little less often, since this material retains moisture well.
To improve root aeration, it is recommended to periodically loosen the soil around the plant to a depth of no more than 5 cm. Faded shoots should be trimmed. As for diseases and pests, hydrangea rarely falls victim to them. Spider mites can sometimes be seen on the leaves, which can be easily removed with a soap solution. When grown in trays or pots, leaf aphids may infest. If the year turns out to be wet, it may appear on young shoots and foliage. powdery mildew. If you notice that the leaves have become lighter, this may indicate chlorosis, which is caused by excess lime or humus.
Key points in caring for hydrangea:
In order for the hydrangea to have the most magnificent color possible, it is necessary to carry out complex feeding at least twice a year. The first is carried out before flowering, the second - after. In April, it is necessary to water the hydrangea with a solution of 20 g of urea diluted in a bucket of water. One adult plant will need 3 buckets of this fertilizer. When the hydrangea fades, it needs to be fed with mineral fertilizers. During the season, you can occasionally apply slurry, but not too much (you already know what happens with an excess of organic fertilizers).
When planting tree, large-leaved or ground cover hydrangea, you can change the color of the inflorescences by varying the acidity of the soil. If desired, white and cream flowers can turn blue, blue and even purple. Pinkish and crimson flowers are obtained from weak alkaline reaction, Blue colour they grow on acidic soil. Cream and pink flowers change shade faster, which cannot be said about pure white, whose color is very difficult to change.
If you create an alkaline environment, the hydrangea will be unable to accept iron from the soil, and it is this element that affects the color of flowers. Iron can only be absorbed in an acidic environment. If in the garden alkaline soil, and you want to get a blue color, water the plant with a solution of iron salts. To enhance the blue, bury it under each bush. metal shavings or unnecessary small metal objects, such as nails or crowbar. It may happen that multi-colored inflorescences bloom on one bush. Blue may also appear in bushes planted in peat soil, but there is a high probability that the color will be “dirty”.
You can trim only those bushes that have reached 3-4 years old. Species that bloom on the current year's shoots should be pruned in early spring before the sap begins to flow and the buds open. Otherwise, the plant may well die from juice leaking through the cuts. However, you should not prune too early - you will end up with cuttings that are unsuitable for rooting. The ideal time for pruning is when the buds swell a little and begin to “come to life.” The tree hydrangea should be pruned first, because it “wakes up” earlier than others. Trim its shoots at a height of 3-4 buds, and divide the segments into cuttings. You should be a little more careful with paniculate hydrangea, cutting off last year's shoots only by a third. The large-leaved species is almost not pruned, only slightly rejuvenated by removing every 4 shoots, especially if it is directed inside the bush.
As you might have guessed, hydrangea is propagated by cuttings, dividing the bush, seeds or grafting. We have already talked about the seed method above. Optimal time For petiole planting of hydrangeas, the date is mid-July, when the peak of flowering occurs. You can take cuttings from not too large annual side shoots, which are quite sufficient on any bush. The shoots must be young and not break when bent. Those that are older and have already become woody take root much worse. Cuttings can be carried out before flowering begins, but then when cutting cuttings at the base, it is necessary to preserve a small part of last year’s shoot by cutting off the cutting “with the heel”.
To root cuttings, prepare a light, damp substrate from a mixture of peat and coarse sand in a 2:1 ratio. Peat gives a weak acidic reaction, which accelerates the growth of the root system. To increase moisture capacity, it is recommended to add sphagnum moss, cut into small pieces, to the soil. Treat the cuttings with Kornevin and deepen them into the soil 2-3 cm, maintaining a distance of 5 cm from each other. Complete rooting should occur in 20-27 days, and during this time the temperature should be maintained between +16C and +20C. Plants should be in light shade. Propagating hydrangea by dividing the bush is very simple. To do this you need to dig up a bush in early spring before sap flow or in the fall after flowering, divide it into 2-3 parts so that each of them has at least 3 buds.
The video about planting hydrangea shows in detail all the subtleties of the process:
After the end of the flowering period, you can begin to prepare the hydrangea for wintering. Young seedlings that grow in boxes and pots need to be moved to a house or barn, and garden plants remove dried inflorescences. If this is not done and the inflorescences are left for the winter, snow may stick to them and ice may form, which will lead to the shoots breaking off. In addition to pruning, it is necessary to hill the bushes high at the base and mulch the ground around them so that the root system does not freeze. The most frost-resistant are ground cover and paniculata species. Their young shoots quickly become covered with bark, so they can tolerate relatively warm winters even without shelter. Tree hydrangea can even survive a harsh winter without insulation, but it is still better not to take risks and take care of the plants, since no one can predict to what point the thermometer will drop.
It is better to cover hydrangea for the winter with the onset of the first night frosts, which usually appear already in October. Young bushes can simply be covered headlong with dry soil. Older plants must be carefully bent to the ground and pinned, then covered with roofing felt or lutrasil and pressed down on the material with bricks. With mature bushes you will have to tinker a little longer: the shoots must be carefully tied and wrapped with covering material (lutrasil, spunbond). After this, a round frame made of steel mesh should be built around each bush so that its inner walls are at a distance of at least 20 cm from the bush. Top edge the mesh should be 10-15 cm higher than the bush. The remaining inner space fill with fallen leaves or pine needles. With the onset of spring, the mesh can be dismantled, and when the frosts finally stop, the covering material can be removed.
Planting hydrangea in the spring will give you a lush decoration for your garden, and finally, we suggest you look at a small photo selection of the most original varieties and colors:
Hydrangea is a tall shrub with gorgeous flowers that delight the eye for many weeks and even months. This plant will decorate your garden almost all summer, and with the onset of autumn, its flowers can be cut, dried and made into beautiful bouquet. In addition, hydrangea can grow and bloom where other flowers will not even take root.
When choosing a site for planting hydrangea, pay attention to the preferences of this plant; unlike most flowers and shrubs, hydrangea does not like straight sun rays, on the contrary, they can slow down the growth and development of the bush, so it grows well in partial shade. In addition, hydrangea prefers acidic soil, which is known to be abundant in many summer cottages. So this makes hydrangea an ideal candidate for growing and decorating your garden. The plant is propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering. But to speed up the flowering time, it is better to use the second and third methods. In addition, hydrangea is sold in abundance as seedlings, often even already flowering, but you should buy them in trusted places - stores or garden farms. Also, do not forget to check whether this variety is frost-resistant. Since among the large-leaved hydrangea with very beautiful spherical inflorescences, non-frost-resistant forms are not uncommon. Such flowers are grown in large pots or tubs and brought into the house or greenhouse for the winter.
Hydrangea blooms from July to September - all this time the bush is decorated with caps of flowers in white, pink, blue or lilac color. White hydrangea often turns pinkish-red in autumn. flowering bush with hundreds of paniculate or spherical inflorescences it looks absolutely luxurious and will be a real work of art on your site.
Do you want to decorate your garden with unusual shrubs? Try to plant a hydrangea flower, planting and caring for it in open ground is simple; even novice gardeners can reproduce and grow hydrangeas. Can be chosen fantastically beautiful flower, having read the description of the variety and taking into account its combination with other plants in landscape design. In the photo, hydrangea looks like the queen of the garden.
Hydrangea is an undoubted favorite among flowers in summer cottages. The long flowering period, the variety of shapes and tones attract Special attention to it from gardeners and designers, increasingly various varieties This perennial is used in landscape design.
Blue hydrangea
Hydrangeas can be spherical, racemose, and in color - white, lilac, red, two-color. The most common tree hydrangea in our latitudes. An unpretentious plant, quite easy to care for and grow, recommended for beginning gardeners. Breeders have developed several varieties of shrubs:
Variety "Bella Anna"
"Annabelle"
"Grandiflora"
"Invisible Spirit"
"Sterilis"
Also quite a common variety of perennial is Paniculata hydrangea, planting and caring for which is quite simple. This flower is attractive with its unusual paniculate inflorescences, is frost-resistant, and is characterized by rapid recovery even in unfavorable conditions. climatic conditions. Interesting feature This variety of hydrangea has a particularly long flowering period, during which the inflorescence changes color. Does not need mulching for the winter. The most common varieties of paniculate hydrangea:
"Vanilla Fries"
"Limelight"
"Pinky Winky"
Even novice gardeners can grow hydrangeas in open ground. If you choose hydrangea for your flower garden, planting and caring for it will never be a burden and will become your favorite pastime. To plant a shrub, you should choose the right location. Hydrangea does not tolerate long shading, the best place for planting it - sunny side. Hydrangea is propagated by individual bushes or cuttings. It is recommended to plant a flower in spring (in May) or autumn (in warm September).
Even a novice gardener can plant hydrangeas.
To plant hydrangea as a bush in open ground, you need to dig landing hole about 60 cm deep, about half a meter wide and long. The distance between bushes is at least 1.5 meters. Flower growing with proper care, will take a lot large area than when landing. The pits should be filled with a special mixture, including peat, sand, soil, humus (1:1:2:2) and fertilizers (specialists landscape design It is recommended to combine 20 g of urea, potassium sulfide, add about 60 g of superphosphate in granules and 10 kg of humus).
Attention: do not bring in soil mixture for hydrangea, lime is destructive for this plant.
When planting, it should be taken into account that the root collar of the plant should be at ground level. After planting hydrangea in open ground, it needs to be watered abundantly.
Caring for hydrangea consists of weeding and loosening the soil around it, organizing timely and correct mode glaze. In addition, to prevent rapid evaporation of moisture, it is recommended to mulch the bush at the beginning of summer with peat or sawdust.
Fading flowers must be cut off so that they do not draw strength from the plant.
Perennial needs correct pruning. The plant should be pruned in the spring before the growing season begins, removing old shoots and leaving young and strong shoots, shortening them by 3-5 buds. Faded and dried inflorescences of the bush must be removed. Old perennial bushes must be cut almost to the root, leaving only low stumps from which young shoots will develop.
Hydrangea planted in prepared and fertilized soil need not be fertilized or fed for the first two years.
Then the procedure for feeding hydrangea is as follows:
Hydrangea responds very well to feeding
Attention: excessive amounts of nitrogen applied as fertilizer can lead to greening of hydrangea petals and problems with wintering the plant.
It should also be taken into account that hydrangea responds well to lactic acid, so when growing it, it is important to periodically water the bush with soaked sour bread, whey, sour milk, and kefir.
Like other perennial shrubs, hydrangea can be propagated vegetative way(cuttings, dividing the bush, layering) and seeds.
To grow shrubs from cuttings, it is necessary in mid-July to cut the tops of young non-woody shoots and root them in specially prepared soil consisting of coarse sand and peat. Experts recommend taking measures to increase the soil moisture under the cuttings. To do this, sphagnum moss is added to it. Cuttings are planted in such soil at a slightly angle, at a small (up to 5 cm) distance and provide them temperature regime within 16-20°C. 4-5 weeks are enough for rooting. After this, the hydrangea is planted on permanent place cultivation and provide proper care.
Propagation of hydrangea by cuttings
When propagating hydrangea by dividing the bush, part of it is separated, it is important that there are 2-3 buds on the young shoots, they are dug up and transplanted to a new place.
To propagate hydrangea by layering, you need to bend one of the young shoots of the growing bush to the ground and bury it in a previously dug hole (up to 15-20 cm deep). To prevent the shoot from straightening, it can be secured with staples. Experienced gardeners To speed up the rooting process of the shoot, it is recommended to make an incision on the part of the shoot that will be in the ground. It is necessary to water the branch regularly, and it can also be mulched. After the branch has formed its own root system, it is separated from the mother bush and planted in a new place.
Propagation of hydrangea by layering
As a rule, hydrangea is quite resistant to various types of pests and diseases. However, it can also become infected with chlorosis, downy mildew, spider mite, green leaf aphids may appear on it.
Chlorosis is expressed in a sharp lightening of the leaves of the plant, loss of their natural color. The reason for its development is the excess content of lime or humus in the soil. To eliminate chlorosis, it is enough to water the plant with solutions of potassium nitrate and copper sulfate one at a time at intervals of three days.
Hydrangea disease - chlorosis
The cause of hydrangea disease downy mildew is excess humidity air. For treatment, it is recommended to treat the leaf surface with a solution of copper sulfate with the addition of soap.
An infusion of garlic will help drive aphids away from the plant. It is necessary to prepare a garlic infusion (200 g of chopped garlic per bucket of water, let it brew for 2 days), add laundry soap (40 g) and irrigate the perennial with this infusion every 5-7 days until the aphids are destroyed.
In a flower bed or garden, hydrangea is quite impressive both on its own and in combination with other flowers. For example, paniculata hydrangea looks great next to clumps of purple-leaved barberries and viburnum-leaved bladderwort. The beauty of tree hydrangea is emphasized by daylilies, clipped barberry, and low-growing juniper.
Hydrangea in flowerbed design
Hydrangea is a fantastically beautiful flower that inspires the creation of beautiful compositions in landscape design. Taking into account climatic conditions, in our latitudes it is recommended to plant tree, paniculate and petiolate hydrangea. Hydrangea looks magical in photos in large compositions when it grows in squares, surprising everyone with the size and beauty of its inflorescences. To emphasize the beauty of hydrangea, you can surround it with borders of spirea, cotoneaster, and other shrubs. Hydrangea should be planted in the flower garden in the background so that it does not obscure other plants.
Hydrangea in landscape design
It is not recommended to combine hydrangea with yellow, red, orange flowers. Plants with bluish flowers, needles or leaves can successfully shade a shrub - for example, clematis, cereals, hostas, low-growing junipers.
A classic of landscape design is the combination of hydrangea with pink phlox and round shape inflorescences, thujas, microbiota. Hydrangea is also used in mixborders to create compositions along garden paths, can be grown as a hedge.
Hydrangea - the basis beautiful garden. With proper care, it will delight you for many years. Experiment with different varieties this shrub, try decorating your gazebo with climbing hydrangea, planting a tree-like one along the paths, or creating a living fence using paniculata.
GROWING HYDRENSA
Even those who do not know the name of this magnificent flowering bush, I've probably encountered hydrangea in botanical gardens, dendoparks, dachas, garden plots or indoors in pots.
But flower lovers may not realize that there are more than 70 types of hydrangea that grow in different climatic conditions. They all make up the genus Hydrangea. Each of them requires an individual approach when cultivated. Based on the Hydrangea macrophylla species alone, breeders have created hundreds of varieties, and the number of varieties of all types is difficult to imagine. All of them may also require compliance with some nuances in care that are specific to them.
From the lips of gardeners who have successfully grown hydrangea, diametrically opposed opinions are often heard. Some argue that hydrangea prefers to grow in partial shade and shade, others say that only in direct sunlight does hydrangea bloom most profusely and does not suffer from this at all. Where is the truth? Under what conditions is hydrangea growing most successful?
Photo: Hydrangea paniculata, frost-resistant species.
A BEAUTIFUL LEGEND ABOUT HYDRANGEA
According to Japanese legend, hydrangea is a gift given for loyalty and love.
One day in the garden, a brave warrior who had known battles, victories and glory met a beautiful girl and immediately fell in love with her. But the girl disappeared as suddenly as she appeared. The next day the guy again came to the garden, located not far from the temple, hoping to meet a beautiful stranger and waited for her! The girl suddenly appeared again, but this time she did not disappear, but spoke to the warrior. They met and fell in love with each other, and the warrior could no longer imagine life without his beloved. Each time she said goodbye to him without leaving the garden, and disappeared as soon as the sun began to set.
A persistent guy, who did not know how to lose and was accustomed to achieving goals, wanted to marry the girl at all costs, but first decided to find out her secret. Having said goodbye and pretending to leave, he hid in the dense thickets and began to observe. He noticed how the girl walked towards the temple and rushed after her. When the beloved had already crossed the threshold, the warrior caught up with her and grabbed her hand. At that moment, the last ray of the sun disappeared over the horizon, and the girl disappeared into the air along with it, becoming just a drawing on the wall. Finally, her lips said: “Farewell, beloved, we will not meet again!” As a memory of myself and our love, I will leave you a flower.” The grief-stricken warrior left the temple and saw that a magnificent bush with soft pink inflorescences, reminiscent of the skin of his beloved, had blossomed on the empty green lawn. It was a hydrangea.
CONDITIONS FOR GROWING HYDRANGEA
Temperature
Photo: Large-leaved hydrangea, requires shelter for the winter
Hydrangea, including evergreen species, is a seasonal plant. She needs a period of rest. At this time, its growth partially or completely slows down, it does not form flowering shoots and does not bloom. This fact is also important when growing hydrangeas in apartments or houses. One of the reasons why the plant does not bloom indoors may be precisely the lack of a dormant period with a low temperature of +10-13°.
Hydrangea definitely cannot be classified as heat-loving or frost-resistant plants, since some species begin to freeze already at – 3-5°, while others, for example, paniculate hydrangea, can withstand temperatures down to – 40°.
Most popular among decorative species Large-leaved hydrangea is the most demanding of temperatures. Even specially bred cold-resistant varieties need to be covered in winter. They can only tolerate temperatures of -8-10°C without harm to their health and can withstand a short-term drop to -20°C in snowless winters. Growing heat-loving hydrangeas is impossible without covering them for the winter. Like roses, long shoots are bent to the ground and covered with spruce branches or covering material.
However, hydrangea also does not like extreme heat, which can cause the plant’s leaves to droop and buds to fall off. The temperature considered comfortable for her is +20-23°.
Lighting
Without exception, all types of hydrangeas love good lighting, although they can grow in partial shade. Despite their love of light, most cannot tolerate direct sunlight. Summer midday sun can be dangerous for the plant; it causes burns on the leaves.
A good option for placing hydrangeas is under the protection of neighboring plants in light shade. Growing hydrangea near buildings is also justified. In this case, the hydrangea should be planted in such a way that it receives maximum morning or evening sunlight, but not midday.
When growing hydrangea on a south-facing window summer time it should be shaded; a transparent curtain is suitable for this. When growing hydrangeas in greenhouses in the summer, a special net is stretched over them or the glass is whitened with lime.
Substrate
Successful cultivation of hydrangea is possible in certain soil. For normal growth, good development And abundant flowering hydrangeas need a rich nutrient substrate, loose enough to avoid stagnation of water, but not sandy. Otherwise, the water will immediately go deeper, bypassing the roots of the plant.
Hydrangeas are pronounced mycotrophic plants. They grow well only in the presence of soil microscopic fungi, which in turn require an acidic reaction of the substrate. Therefore, the acidity of the soil for growing hydrangea must be below 7, optimally pH 5.0 - 5.5.
If you make the substrate yourself, you will need peat, humus (or compost), leaf soil (or forest soil), and sand in a ratio of 2:2:2:1. Ash
never added to the soil, it reduces acidity.
HYDRANGEA CARE
Humidity and watering
Photo: frost-resistant tree and paniculate hydrangeas
Hydrangea loves moist soil, but, as befits a princess, it is very capricious:
The water should not be too cold;
The water should not be hard, since when watered with such water, the soil may gradually change its acidity (become neutral or alkaline);
Water should not stagnate so as not to cause rotting of the roots;
You need to water only when the sun is not too active (in the evening or in the morning);
When watering, water should not fall on flowers and buds;
Water should not be from the tap; even standing water causes chlorosis of leaves in hydrangea due to great content chlorine
Mulching makes caring for hydrangea easier and reduces the frequency of watering. To avoid moisture loss, the soil under the bush is mulched with hay, chopped straw, sawdust or pine needles. Mulching is usually carried out in early spring, after the first fertilizing with fertilizers. Plants planted nearby by covering the soil with leaves to prevent moisture evaporation also help conserve moisture.
Caring for hydrangeas in the fall may include re-mulching. This will retain moisture in the spring when the snow melts.
If hydrangea is grown indoors, watering should be reduced if the air temperature drops.
Fertilizers
Growing hydrangea requires the application of fertilizers; they improve the decorative qualities of the plant and contribute to the formation of beautiful inflorescences. Adult hydrangeas must be fertilized with mineral and organic components. They begin to feed in early spring, but not before the plant begins to vegetate. Complex fertilizers add in liquid form, watering the hydrangea with dissolved potassium sulfate and superphosphate. Organic fertilizers are applied a week or a week and a half later.
During the active growth of buds, it is advisable to apply mineral fertilizers again.
You need to be very careful with the introduction of nitrogen and nitrogenous compounds; they can cause the growth of green mass to the detriment of flowering. They are applied mainly in early spring.
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Pruning hydrangea
When growing hydrangeas, the bush must be pruned. U different types Hydrangea flowers can form on different shoots: last year’s and this season’s. Depending on this, pruning hydrangeas is possible in spring or autumn.
In large-leaved, Sargent and serrate hydrangeas, inflorescences grow on the shoots of the second year. Therefore, when pruned in spring, the bush will not bloom. Pruning of these types of hydrangeas is carried out in the fall, and in the spring they only remove dead or damaged branches and last year’s dry inflorescences.
Drooping (paniculate) and tree hydrangeas form inflorescences at the ends of new shoots. These hydrangeas require spring pruning, it will stimulate the growth of shoots and increase the number of inflorescences.
HYDRANGEA REPRODUCTION
Photo: Large-leaved hydrangea, varieties with pink and blue inflorescences
A beautiful plant that has taken root in your garden will definitely want to be propagated. Like all flowering plants, hydrangeas have two main types of reproduction: vegetative (using vegetative organs) and generative (using seeds).
Growing hydrangea from seeds is a very long and labor-intensive method. In addition, many hydrangea seeds do not have time to ripen due to the cool climate. And most importantly, most varietal hydrangeas do not have fertile flowers from which seeds are formed. This happened because, as a result of selection, scientists created more decorative inflorescences with a predominance of sterile flowers. They are brighter, larger, and attract insects and human attention. Generative propagation of hydrangea is mainly carried out by scientists who create new hybrids and varieties.
Vegetative propagation of hydrangea - easy and quick way receive seedling. It could be:
Dividing the bush;
Cuttings of annual green shoots ();
Cuttings of lignified shoots (2-3 years old);
Cloning (carried out only in the laboratory).
It is better to divide the bush in the fall, and then plant it in a new place. But you can first plant the hydrangea in a container, and in the spring plant it in open ground.
If, when planting hydrangeas, mineral fertilizers were added to the substrate (and it is advisable to do this), then for the next year or two the hydrangea is not fed, only mulched and organic matter is added to the soil.
Video: Growing hydrangea
PROBLEMS WHEN GROWING HYDRENSA
With proper care, garden hydrangeas rarely get sick. With increased humidity and decreased temperature, they can become infected with fungal infections that mainly affect flowers and leaves. Among fungal diseases, the most common are powdery mildew, downy mildew, and rust fungi.
For preventive purposes, hydrangea can be treated Bordeaux mixture. But to treat an already diseased plant, a more effective specialized fungicidal drug
.
When growing hydrangea in open ground, the plant can be affected by aphids. In this case you can use traditional methods: treatment with infusion of tobacco or garlic (100 g per 5 liters of water, leave for two days). It is better to add a little soap to such tinctures so that the solution sticks to the leaves. If you don’t want to bother with tinctures, you can use a modern insecticidal preparation.
Slugs and snails can be a real nuisance. The best way to deal with them is mechanical collection and destruction.
When grown indoors, hydrangea is often affected by red spider mite
. This pest is very dangerous and is difficult to destroy even by special means. In this case it is important preventive measures: take the hydrangea out into the fresh air, spray it with water, ventilate the room.
Knowing types and varieties of hydrangea
, and following the rules of caring for them, growing hydrangea will be a rewarding experience for you - a garden princess under the name Hydrangea will demonstrate its beauty every year and bring aesthetic pleasure to you and guests at home.
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Decoration own plot- a rather painstaking process. One of the main conditions for creating an attractive landscape is the choice suitable species plants. Hydrangea is always popular among many gardeners. appearance lush inflorescences of which bring a feeling of lightness, airiness and extraordinary beauty. Before you make your own choice, consider what the hydrangea looks like in the photo to make sure you make the right decision, and familiarize yourself with the basic rules of growing.
Hydrangea inflorescences are spherical in shape and quite large. They consist of many small flowers. According to the principle of growth, hydrangea is:
Important! Thanks to this feature, with the correct combination of varieties, it is possible to use it to decorate various landscape forms.
In the current selection, there are 35 types of hydrangea, the care of which is not particularly difficult. 
The most suitable options for middle latitude are presented in the following groups:
Important! Watch a detailed video review of the varieties and varieties of hydrangea to correctly decide on suitable type for your site.
Wide color palette- one of the most significant advantages of choosing this plant for planting on your own site. 
It is presented in multiple variations of the following tones:
Before planting hydrangea, pay attention to those varieties that are in constant demand among amateur gardeners and professional landscape designers:
To ensure that hydrangea is planted correctly, first determine in advance the right time. Optimal options to carry out the following work:
Important! Please note that autumn planting is only suitable for growing hydrangeas in warm climates. If the site is located in the northern latitude, give preference to the spring season to ensure good survival of the seedlings. 
The full development of shrubs of this species largely depends on how well the conditions for growth are met. 
Therefore, if you set out to increase the attractiveness of your local area with the help of hydrangea, be sure to consider the following requirements when choosing a planting site:
Important! Regarding the amount of exposure to sunlight, follow the recommendations attached to the specific variety, as some species prefer open areas due to their excessive heat-loving nature, others feel more comfortable in complete shade.
The basic requirements for planting hydrangeas are not much different from the standard procedure for planting shrubs.
Carry out the work as follows:
Watch a video with an example of planting hydrangea in an open area to clearly imagine the whole procedure in advance and properly organize your time.
Caring for hydrangea includes all the usual stages of procedures when growing any other plant:
Important! Watch the video, which clearly outlines all the nuances of the hydrangea pruning procedure and clearly shows an example of how to perform this work.
Important! This approach will help preserve the formed buds and ensure earlier flowering of the hydrangea next year.
Important! Watch the video, which details all the necessary information on propagating hydrangeas by the most popular method - cuttings.
Regardless of which variety and type you choose, you will not have to regret your decision to grow hydrangea. You will certainly appreciate the extraordinary landscape beauty of your site and, over time, will most likely diversify your species range by decorating other areas of the entire landscape with hydrangea in combination with other, no less bright and originally flowering plants.
