Hydrangea is an ornamental plant loved by many gardeners, which belongs to the shrub category. Hydrangea can decorate any flowerbed or garden. But not all types of hydrangea tolerate cold. Some of them are resistant to lower temperatures, while other types require additional manipulation. Questions about how to preserve shrub hydrangea in a pot in winter before planting often worry amateur gardeners.
Wintering hydrangea in a pot: tips and tricks
Hydrangeas are usually planted in open ground in the fall.But, if this was not possible, then the seedlings are stored until spring, provided that a comfortable existence is ensured.
Cuttings of paniculata hydrangea are stored in pots that are placed in a room with fairly low humidity and cool conditions. Large-leaved varieties are stored in basements.
Before planting, it is necessary to store not only potted plants, but also seedlings. Most often, cuttings are saved only when storage cannot be avoided. For example, an order was placed by mail, but it was delayed and arrived when frosts had already begun, and disembarkation was impossible. Or the cutting was received from a relative, friend or neighbor quite late, and it was not possible to plant it.
Preserving hydrangeas before planting in the ground
Hydrangeas require a temperature range of 5 to 7°C. If we are talking about storage if you have a city apartment, then a potted plant can be placed on the windowsill where it is cooler. The main thing is to protect the plants from direct sunlight so that they do not get burned.
If it is possible to place the pot on an insulated balcony or loggia, then you can store the seedlings here until the weather warms up. The main condition: ensuring and maintaining temperature conditions, as well as humidity conditions. In addition, it is important to protect the pot from draft winds.
Main factors to be observed during storage:
- Temperature. Storage is possible at temperatures from 2 to 10°. If the temperature drops significantly or becomes warm, the hydrangea will dry out or freeze. A bad sign is when the plant begins to produce buds.
- Lighting.Storage is carried out in the dark until mid-February, then stored with special lamps. Every day the length of daylight increases.
- Ventilation. The absence of drafts is important, but the air in the room should not stagnate. If this happens, the plant may become moldy.
Storage conditions must be stable throughout the period before planting in the ground.
Preserving large-leaved hydrangea at home
To preserve large-leaved species for the winter, basements are most often chosen. There the air temperature does not rise above 7. But if there is no special basement, then the coldest window sill will do. Hydrangeas go into a dormant period in winter, which is a mandatory maintenance condition. This is how plants gain strength to delight their owners in the new season.
Preserving hydrangea in the basement in winter
Basement storage is subject to the following requirements:
- it is necessary to provide minimal lighting;
- air humidity should not exceed 70%;
- the air temperature in the basement should not rise more than 5°.
The basement is the only place where it is almost impossible to observe temperature fluctuations in winter. Hydrangeas are put into the basement after the first frost, until this period the flowers are kept outside.
For storage, the pots are placed in such a way that they are not disturbed in winter, that is, not removed when transporting other flowers, vegetables or fruits. Hydrangeas are stored in several ways:
- The container is placed on the floor. This option is suitable for low-height basements. So, containers take up a lot of space, the owner can calmly inspect all the copies at one time and determine their integrity.
- Shelving places containers on shelves in such a way as to free up floor space for other fixtures.
Watering hydrangeas in a pot: frequency and rules
As for watering, during hibernation full watering is not required - it is enough to moisten the soil with a small amount of water or snow. This is necessary so that the roots do not dry out. But it should be borne in mind that excess moisture damages the root system. If the stems rot, it will be quite difficult to save them. As for the cleanliness of watering, in winter they are carried out no more than once every week or once every 2 weeks.
