Description of blue hydrangea, its planting and care, the best varieties and how to propagate

Hydrangea is an ornamental crop that can be grown in a summer cottage and at home. This is a perennial subshrub, which is characterized by rich green leaves and large spherical inflorescences up to 35 centimeters in size. The description of blue hydrangea, its planting and plant care are of interest to many novice gardeners.

Description of the plant

Hydrangea is translated from Latin as “water” or “vessel”. This culture belongs to the Tsvetkov genus and the Hydrangeaceae family. Depending on the variety, the plant can reach a height of 1-3 meters. The culture is characterized by lush inflorescences, which are spherical in shape and include small flowers. The plant is characterized by high resistance to frost and loves moisture. At the same time, the crop does not withstand exposure to strong winds and does not tolerate direct sunlight.

Hydrangea came to Russia from East and South Asia and America. The plant got its name because of the shape of the seed pods and the need for a significant amount of moisture. Today there are several main varieties of hydrangeas known:

• paniculata;
• tree-like;
• large leaf.

The flowers of the culture differ in different shades. They come in red, beige, white, lilac, blue or blue. The specific color is determined by the pH parameters in the soil composition. If the soil is low in acidity, the inflorescences are characterized by white and beige shades. In an alkaline substrate they become pink, and in an acidic substrate they become blue. Gardeners who know how to regulate soil pH parameters can obtain the desired flower color.

Popular varieties

Today there are many varieties and types of blue hydrangeas known, each of which is characterized by its own characteristics.

Mini Penny

This compact plant has lush blue inflorescences and can change shade to soft pink.It is important to adhere to certain care rules. The main advantages of the culture are resistance to frost and low maintenance requirements.

Serrated Bluebird

This is a tall plant that reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Its color can vary from blue to pink. The specific shade is determined by the soil acidity parameters.

Freedom

This is a very interesting variety. Initially, it is distinguished by white and pink inflorescences, but later they become blue. Flowers of different shades can be present on a bush at the same time. They reach 15 centimeters in size. Plants of this variety grow well in shady places. However, they need a lot of moisture.

Romars

The height of this plant is 80 centimeters. Its characteristic feature is considered to be buds of different shades. They come in blue, purple, white and blue. The plant loves moist soil and shady places.

Compeito

This culture looks very impressive. It is characterized by lilac-blue inflorescences with a white center. However, the crop does not tolerate sun and dry weather very well.

Landing requirements

Blue hydrangea is recommended to be planted in spring. This must be done after the snow has melted and positive temperatures have established.

What soil is suitable

When planting blue hydrangea, great importance should be paid to the composition of the soil. It directly affects the color of flowers. In general, the culture requires a nutrient substrate, which includes forest soil, humus, sand and peat. In this case, soil acidity parameters are of great importance. They should be 5.5-6.

To determine acidity, you need to use litmus paper. It must be lowered into soil mixed with water for 10 seconds.After which it is recommended to compare the shade with the scale on the packaging.

If the soil is not acidic enough, aluminum sulfate is added to it. If, on the contrary, the acidity of the soil is too high, it should be mixed with dolomite flour. This component helps to achieve the required pH parameters.

Where is the best place to plant

The shrub develops well in well-lit areas that are slightly shaded. In sunny places or in strong shade the plant does not feel well. It is best to plant hydrangea near a wall or high fence. Such structures provide shading and protection from the wind.

Landing diagram

To plant a crop, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Dig a hole in a few days. Its depth should be 60 centimeters and width – 50.
2. Fill the hole halfway with a substrate that consists of forest soil, compost and peat. Sand is also added to the composition. This component provides good drainage and makes the soil loose.
3. Apply complex fertilizers into the hole, which ensure rapid development of the bush. If necessary, it is permissible to add aluminum sulfate or dolomite flour to the composition. The first component ensures acidification of the soil, and the second – alkalization.
4. Lower the seedling into the hole and straighten the root system. After which it is recommended to completely fill the hole with earth. It is important to avoid deepening the root collar of the plant. Otherwise, the culture will develop poorly. The earth needs to be compacted a little to avoid subsidence.
5. Pour 2-3 buckets of water over the bush.
6. Cover the tree trunk circle with a mulch layer. To do this, it is permissible to use peat or wood chips. These materials help retain moisture.

Aftercare

In order for blue hydrangea to develop well and maintain its decorative appearance, it must be properly cared for.

Illumination and temperature conditions

In warm summer weather, the plant requires protection from direct sunlight. Therefore, it is recommended to place it on the eastern or western side of the site. During the formation of buds, it is permissible to move the flower in the pot to a more illuminated place. However, in any case, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

Outdoor plants require shade or partial shade. In strong light, hydrangea appears unhealthy. At the same time, its inflorescences are formed incorrectly.

As for temperature, the most optimal indicator is +20 degrees. It is important to protect the flower from drafts and temperature fluctuations. After flowering has finished, the bush in the pot should be moved to a room with a temperature of +10 degrees and kept there until the buds awaken.

Watering and maintaining moisture

Blue hydrangea is characterized by rapid development and needs sufficient moisture. Therefore, in dry weather, the bush should be watered 2-3 times a week. In rainy summers, watering once a week will be sufficient. In this case, you need to pour 3 buckets of water under the bush. It is important that the liquid is warm, as cold water is bad for the health of hydrangeas.

Top dressing

Hydrangea needs to be fertilized 3 times during the growing season:

1. It is recommended to apply nutrients for the first time in May. To do this, it is worth preparing a solution of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfide.
2. At the budding stage, hydrangea should be fed with potassium sulfur and superphosphate.
3. At the end of summer, it is recommended to add organic matter - in particular, rotted manure or compost.

Trimming

If hydrangeas are not pruned, there is a risk that the bushes will grow too much. As a result, they will lose their decorative properties. In addition, an excessive amount of greenery will lead to poor flowering. As a result, the plant will not be able to form blue inflorescences.

It is recommended to prune the plant in the spring. During the procedure you need to do the following:

• remove old shoots;
• cut off young branches that disrupt the harmony of the bush;
• shorten annual shoots;
• trim the top of the bush and get rid of the remains of dried flowers.

Pest Control

Blue hydrangea suffers from attacks from the following pests:

1. Leaf aphid - affects the upper parts of shoots and petioles of young foliage. As the insects reproduce, they absorb the juices of the plant. This entails deformation and drying of the upper fragments of the branches. Insecticides will help control pests.
2. Spider mites are small in size, so identifying the parasite can be very difficult. Pests can be detected by the web on young leaves. Acaricides help to cope with spider mites.

Other nuances of care

Blue hydrangea usually tolerates winter cold well, but has difficulty withstanding autumn frosts. Therefore, it is necessary to insulate the bush at a temperature of +6-8 degrees. To do this, you should remove all the leaves, leaving only the top ones. After which it is recommended to cover the tree trunk circle with a layer of compost, peat or pine needles. The bush itself needs to be insulated with agrofibre and spruce branches.

Another good option would be to build a special frame around the plant. In this case, the plant must be covered with insulating material and a high structure installed around it. For this, it is permissible to use a metal mesh or a wooden box. Then it is recommended to fill the frame with dry fallen leaves. This will help reliably protect the blue hydrangea from the cold.

Reproduction

Most often, blue hydrangea is propagated in the following ways:

1. Cuttings - for harvesting planting material it is better to use fairly large bushes. The resulting cuttings need to be soaked in a growth stimulator, and then proceed to rooting.
2. The seed method is considered a very labor-intensive and time-consuming process, which has many difficulties. However, with the right approach, this method allows you to get a lot of seedlings. Frost-resistant varieties can be planted directly in open ground. This should be done between the end of April and the beginning of May. The remaining varieties are recommended to be planted in a container.
3. Reproduction by layering - in this case, it is recommended to choose bushes with a large number of layering at the bottom. After which you should make a depression with a diameter of 20 centimeters and dig in the middle of the shoot. It is recommended to perform the procedure in the spring - before flowering begins.
4. Reproduction by offspring - in this case, the side shoots need to be separated from the main bush. It is recommended to do this in the autumn - before the arrival of frost. It is not worth moving the children directly into the ground. It is better to leave them in pots until spring.
5. Dividing a bush is an accessible method that is used when replanting a crop. Usually the plant is divided into 2-3 parts. Moreover, each independent fragment must contain formed roots and several growth points.

Blue hydrangea is a very common crop that has excellent decorative properties and fits well into landscape compositions. In order for the plant to develop normally, it needs to be properly cared for.