the hydrangeas are one of the showiest flowering plants there is. The fact that they are all grouped together as if they were balls makes them stand out, especially with their bright colors. But when it comes to having them at home, how do you plant hydrangeas? Can they be grown at any time?
If you want to have this plant in your garden, but you don’t know where to put it and when to do it, we will answer your concerns so that you can enjoy it to the fullest.
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How are the hydrangeas?
The first thing you need to know is that hydrangeas are not actually a single plant, but a set of several bushes. belong to the family Hydrangeas and you can find many varieties, from some reaching several meters in height to climbing plants.
The most striking thing about hydrangeas is undoubtedly their flowers. These create clusters that come together to form a small ball full of flowers. They can be pink, but also white, purple, red, blue… And you can even have two colors mixed together on the same plant.
When to Plant Hydrangeas
If you have decided to have hydrangeas in your garden and you want to know the best time to do it, without a doubt this is when winter ends and spring arrives. You can even wait a bit and do it until early summer, although the best time is in spring.
The reason is simple, and it is that hydrangeas do not tolerate extreme cold or intense heat. For this reason, planting it when the temperature is average and pleasant is the best way for the plant to settle in the ground and develop in a healthy way.
Depending on the climate you have, you can expect more or less. You also have to take into account the drastic changes in temperature that can occur in the spring. Being small and young, hydrangeas are much more delicate and any drastic variation in temperature can kill them.
You may find yourself in the situation where your plant is not doing well. For example, that it has grown too much in the pot; or that you planted it in the garden and it is dying. These would be emergency transplants, and you can’t wait for spring to do it. But when would it be done? Ideally this would be late fall, as that is when the plant goes into hibernation and would be less stressed.
If you can’t wait (because the soil is waterlogged, or the roots come out of the pot or it dies), you need to do it immediately, regardless of the season. The plant will be very stressed, and may even die, so it is important to give the plant all the care it needs to recover.
Where to plant hydrangeas
Now that you know when to plant hydrangeas, it’s time to figure out where to do it. In a jar? In the garden? Full sun? In the shade ?
The the location of hydrangeas is very important, especially because of what we have told you before, that it does not tolerate excessive cold or heat. So when planting, it is better to choose a place where there is plenty of light but no direct sun. And one would even add that there should also be shade if the temperatures are very high.
You can plant it in the garden or in a pot. You can even pot it up and enjoy it indoors so that after a few years, when it has grown enough, you can finally place it in the garden. This way you will adapt it to the climate you have in the area where you live and you will have a better chance of surviving later.
In addition to location, you have to take into account the type of soil that will have. Hydrangeas need the soil to be acidic and moist at all times (not waterlogged as this could damage their roots). The best would be clay soil, so if there is no such soil in your garden, you will have to make a bigger hole to fill it with this soil so that it is well maintained.
How to Plant Hydrangeas
Planting hydrangeas is no mystery, but it is true that you can do it in two different ways: with cuttings or with seeds.
We tell you both ways so you have a chance to move forward.
Planting hydrangeas with cuttings
This is the usual way of planting because the parts of a plant are a bit more formed. In fact, it’s more likely to come out on top than from seed.
And when to do it? After flowering, when the plant will enter a lethargic mode, before the flowers fadetake a few branches that have at least 3 nodes and new buds.
It will come with leaves but you need to remove half of it from the top two nodes. This is done so that it does not have as much wear.
Root to increase the chances of it taking well, and plant it in somewhat acidic soil. You have to put it in the shade and water so that the substrate stays moist.
In 20 days you should know if the cutting has managed to get ahead. If so, we recommend that you wait until spring to put it in its final location.
Plant hydrangea seeds
In the case of seeds, the the process you need to follow is as follows:
- Prepare the area where you will plant the pots. This can be the garden (an area where the sun is mild in the morning and where there is light but not direct the rest of the time and with suitable soil) or a pot, with a mixture of clay soil and drainage .
- The seeds must be collected at the time of planting, although it is also useful to collect them and wait until spring to do so (always in a dark, dry and well-protected place).
- These seeds should not be buried more than 1-2 cm in the ground.
- Water well to moisten all the soil and keep it that way until you see them sprout.
- It is only when you have seedlings of several centimeters that you can transplant them into a permanent pot or into the garden.
Hydrangea Care
After planting the hydrangeas, don’t think it’s all over. It is necessary that you perform a series of care so that they can grow and develop properly. And what are these worries? We summarize them:
- Location: always choose a place with a temperate climate where the temperature does not drop much.
- Lighting: It needs indirect light for 3-4 hours. It is best placed in partial shade or full shade (this will depend on the temperature).
- Earth: it must be rich in organic matter, acidic and well drained.
- Irrigation: it is important that the soil stay moist, so it may be necessary to control the humidity in this area. When watering, water should always be directed to the ground, never watering from above.
- Subscriber: in summer, an organic or specialized hydrangea fertilizer is recommended to increase the flowering of the plant.
Do you dare to plant hydrangeas at home?