The hydrangea is a shrub that grows between one and three meters in height. However, there are taller varieties that can grow like a tree or even like vines up to thirty meters in height. It is native to Asia, particularly China and Japan, where the variety is greater. Introduced to Europe by naturalists in 1727, it takes its name from the flower Horturum, which means “garden flower”. Currently, its cultivation has spread to many countries with temperate climates. Hydrangeas are also used as ornamental plants for their beauty. many people wonder how to plant hydrangeas.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you how to plant hydrangeas, what their characteristics are and what aspects you must take into account to do it correctly.
When to plant hydrangeas?
Try to sow after winter because They are sensitive to temperatures below 12°C. It is best sown in the spring when the weather is mild. If the cuttings come from a multiflorous plant (many flowers), it is best to sow between April and June or January and March. If it’s loose flowers, do it in the spring.
When it comes to light needs, hydrangeas like moderate light levels. Try shading it when the sun is strongest or let the light reach only part of it. Usually, itHigh temperatures and short days accelerate the formation of flower buds. An interesting aspect is that flowering can be induced by fertilization. A nitrogen deficiency, for example, accelerates the formation of buds.
Temperature also affects bud formation. The average temperature is 18°C for a month and a half, and the flower buds are growing well. Hydrangeas are low temperature plants that grow best between 18-20°C during the day and 11-15°C at night. Under these conditions, it produces long stems, vibrant leaves and large flowers. It grows poorly at temperatures below 4°C. Finally, they are associated with wetlands.
Land preparation
It is best to provide the soil with enough organic matter to increase flower production. In general, they grow best in loamy clay soils. Avoid dry soil or mix with compost which will help retain moisture, such as worm droppings or any other natural fertilizer. You can provide soil to increase drainage, as stagnation attracts disease.
As for the pH, you can adjust it to your taste when it comes to color, but other factors such as the type and type of fertilizer you use also come into play.
- Blue: Acidic pH between 4.5 and 5.
- Pink: pH between 6 and 6.5.
It is a plant that needs a lot of water and a lot of humidity. However, it is important not to overwhelm the plant, as this will overwhelm the root system. Just keep the soil moist on contact. We recommend drip irrigation. For a little more specialized planting, or if you have instruments to measure water, about 2,600 to 2,800 mm/year of water is needed.
How to plant hydrangeas step by step
Hydrangeas can be sown from cuttings:
- Cut a length of about 10 cm. Notice that these are young shoots and attached to the ground.
- Then bury them in pots or directly in the ground to a depth of 4 cm.
- You can put the substrate on the surface and water abundantly. 30-40 days after sowing, shoots can be seen and transplanted into open ground.
- Once the crops are stable, you can prune them into the desired shape. Try to do this at least once a year.
- Likewise, remove any leaves that have dried out or are the wrong color for the plant.
- Selective pruning can also be practiced
- You remove a certain part of the plant to increase the vigor of the rest. Try not to cut more than a third.
- You can provide compost or fertilizer once a month for the first year of life so that it produces flowers of good color and size.
- From the second year, you can continue to speed up the flowering process of the plant.
You can plant different varieties of hydrangeas together to add more vibrant colors to your garden or wherever you grow them. Hydrangeas are often attacked by whiteflies, thrips, aphids and spider mites. There are several types of fungi that cause leaf and twig rot (B. cynerea).
In addition, they are infested with a nematode which causes the stems to splay and stunt the growth of the leaves. To prevent such diseases, be sure to provide sterilized cultures and substrates. Finally, if you notice the leaves turning yellow and the leaves curling, It’s not a fungus but a lack of waterso that only with more watering can the problem be solved in a short time.
How to plant hydrangeas from seed
Follow these steps to grow hydrangeas:
- Find a spot in your garden where hydrangeas get a few hours of mild morning sun but shelter the rest of the day, and check that the soil has good drainage.
- If you plan to grow in pots, prepare a fertile substrate with good properties by mixing equal parts peat, coconut fiber and worm humus, to which you can further improve the substrate by adding a few handfuls of vermiculite and perlite.
- Remember that with a pH between 4.5 and 5 you will have blue flowers and between 6 and 6.5 the flowers will be more pink..
- Prepare the hydrangea seeds. They are best picked fresh among other hydrangeas or stored until the following spring at the latest. It is always recommended to sow the seeds in small containers or beds for better seed germination control, place them in an area with indirect light, and keep the substrate moist but not submerged.
- During sowing, it is not necessary to bury the seeds more than 1-2 cm, then water thoroughly, but spray frequently to avoid washing away the seeds.
- Once the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have grown a few inches, you can transplant them to their final location or into large pots.
I hope with this information you can learn more about how to plant hydrangeas and what aspects to consider.