Hydrangeas are prized for their large, colorful flowers, and can be grown in many areas of the world. There are several species and varieties, which produce flowers characterized by very different colors and shapes. If you plant them correctly following the instructions in this article, they will be quite easy to grow.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Planting the Hydrangeas
Step 1. Check the characteristics of your climate zone
One of the most common species, Hydrangea macrophylla, grows best in winter temperatures between -23 and -7 ° C (hardiness zone 6-9). Some species can tolerate temperatures below -34 ° C (hardiness zone 4), including Hydrangea arborescens and Hydrangea paniculata.
Step 2. Know when it's safest to plant
Hydrangeas can suffer if planted when temperatures are too hot or too cold. Those grown in containers should be planted in the garden during the spring or fall. Bare-rooted and sodless hydrangeas should be planted in the first half of spring, so that they have time to adjust to the new location.
Step 3. Choose a spot in the garden that is exposed to the sun, but with some shade
The ideal would be to expose them to sunlight for several hours a day, but also to protect them from the heat of the afternoon sun through a wall or barrier. If it is not possible inside the garden, choose a partially shaded place during the day.
Step 4. Leave enough room for them to grow generously
Hydrangeas can grow into bushes measuring 1.2 x 1.2 m. Do an online research on species and varieties if you want to get a better idea of the size they will reach.
Step 5. Prepare rich, porous soil
If the soil is low in nutrients, mix in some compost. If it is dense or mostly clay, add pine bark or other mulch material so that no water builds up around the plant.
Step 6. Loosen the roots
The roots may become tangled and clumped, which prevents them from developing once planted. This can limit the amount of nutrients the plant absorbs. To untangle or loosen the roots, cut some of the outermost ones, then gently shake the plant. Once the innermost roots are released, they will be able to grow into the soil.
Step 7. Carefully plant the hydrangeas in a rather large hole
Dig a hole about as deep as the root mass or its container and 2-3 times wider. Lift it carefully and insert it inside. Be careful not to skin it and not to break the roots while moving.
Step 8. Fill half the hole with soil, adding a little at a time
While filling the hole, gently press the soil to remove any air formations and give the plant the right support. Stop when you get halfway.
Step 9. Water the hole, let it absorb the water, then fill the empty part with more soil
Water the half-filled hole, then wait for the water to drain for at least 15 minutes or until it is no longer stagnant. Fill the rest of the hole in the same way as before, pressing small portions of soil a little at a time. Stop when you have covered the roots. Do not bury the stem or stem beyond 2.5 cm.
Step 10. Water the plant frequently for the first few days
Recently transplanted hydrangeas do not yet have roots that function at full capacity, so it is important to give them water well. Water your hydrangea one more time as soon as you're done filling the hole, then do it daily for the first few days after transplanting.
Step 11. Reduce your water supply, but keep the soil moist
Once the hydrangea has taken root in its new location, water it whenever the soil tends to dry out. The soil must remain quite moist, but it must not be completely impregnated. Hydrangeas usually don't need extra care, and they often grow or bloom without any difficulty.
- If your hydrangea is wilting or drying out, build a shelter that brings some shade to dampen the heat of the afternoon sun.
- If the winter forecast predicts an unusual cold or prolonged frost, or if you have planted the hydrangea in an area of less than recommended hardiness (see above), it may be necessary to shelter it from the harsh winters.
Part 2 of 2: Changing the Colors of the Hydrangea
Step 1. Check if the species and variety you have chosen produces different colors
Some varieties of hydrangea can produce pink or blue flowers, depending on how much aluminum the soil contains and its acidity. Most of the hydrangeas of this type belong to the Hydrangea macrophylla species, but the specimens of this species, which produce only white or pink or blue flowers, are not easily modifiable from the point of view of color. If you don't know the name of the strain, try contacting the former owner of the hydrangeas you are caring for to identify it - if, for example, they are part of the garden house you purchased.
Strains such as Enziandom, Kasteln, Merritt's Supreme, Red Star and Rose Supreme can all be grown with pink or blue flowers, although they vary in intensity
Step 2. Test the soil pH
In most gardening stores you can find a kit for testing the pH of the soil, that is, for measuring its acidity. Since the latter affects the hydrangea's ability to absorb aluminum, which in turn affects the hue of the flower, it is possible to obtain a rough estimate of the color by measuring the pH of the soil. Generally speaking, if the pH is below 5, 5 blue flowers are more likely to grow, while if it is 7 and up the flowers will presumably be pink or red. However, it is more difficult to predict what effect a soil pH between 5, 5 and 7 causes. Blue, pink, purple, or speckled blue and pink flowers may appear.
Step 3. Color your flowers blue
To promote blue coloration during the growing season, mix 15ml of aluminum sulfate with one liter of water. In this way, you will add aluminum to the soil, increasing its acidity (i.e. lowering the pH), and thus it will be easier for the plant to absorb this metal. Once every 10-14 days, apply this solution as you normally would when watering. Continue to measure the pH of the soil and stop applying once it drops below 5.5.
Alternatively, you can create blue flowers using a potassium-rich, low-phosphorus fertilizer. Look for a 5/25/30 fertilizer mixture. Also avoid hyperphosphates and bone meal
Step 4. Make your flowers pink
If the hydrangea is already blue, it will be difficult to color it pink due to the presence of aluminum which favors blue tones. However, you can take precautions to stimulate the flowers to turn pink. Don't plant hydrangea near driveways or walls, as some concrete or mortar mixes can release aluminum into the soil.
