Hortensia (flower bokor / popcorn / hydrangea) is a beautiful flowering plant that has a variety of colors and sizes. If you want your outdoor hydrangea to look beautiful, water and prune the plant regularly. If you want to cut a hydrangea and place it in a vase, dip the tip of the stem in the alum spice powder, change the water in the vase regularly, and dip the hydrangea in lukewarm water.
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Method 1 of 2: Keeping Hortensia Fresh Longer
Step 1. Cut the hydrangea stalks at an angle
Cut the hydrangea stalks with sharp diagonal cuts at the bottom. A diagonal cut will help reduce damage to the ends of the stalks.
Cutting the stems under running warm water will help prevent air bubbles from forming inside the stems that could potentially damage them
Step 2. After the flowers are cut, dip the hortensia stalks in the alum spice powder
Pour a little alum spice powder onto the plate to a depth of about 1.5 cm. After the hydrangeas are cut, dip each sprig in the alum spice powder. Then, place the flowers in a vase filled with water and arrange the flowers. Alum spice powder will keep flowers fresh longer.
You can find alum spice powder in the spices section of your convenience store
Step 3. Put the cut stalks in lukewarm water immediately after cutting
After the hydrangea stalks are cut, put them in the water immediately. Fill a clean vase with lukewarm or room temperature water as high as 8 to 13 cm.
Don't crush the ends of the stalks, as crumbling the stalks will keep the hydrangea from hydrating
Step 4. Spray the flowers daily with water
Hortensia actually absorbs more water from its flowers than from its roots and stems. If you want your hydrangea to stay fresh, gently spray water on the flowers every day to keep them hydrated.
Use a spray bottle with a gentle stream of water to avoid damaging the delicate flowers
Step 5. Change the water in the vase every day
Fresh water will help keep the hydrangea well hydrated and prevent it from wilting too quickly. Remove the hydrangea from the vase and discard the old water. Fill the vase with fresh, room temperature water.
Rinse the vase to remove any remaining dirt before adding new water
Step 6. Add ice to the vase if the hydrangea wilts when exposed to high temperatures
For wilted hydrangeas, fill a vase with 2 parts ice and 1 part water. Ice will help cool the plant if it gets too hot.
You will start to see progress after a day. Continue the ice/water treatment for a few days to revive wilted hydrangeas
Step 7. Dip the flower heads in lukewarm water if the hydrangeas start to wilt
If the hydrangea starts to wilt, you can give it a little help by dipping it in a bowl of lukewarm water for 30 minutes.
Be careful when lifting the hydrangeas as the water can make the flower heads quite heavy
Method 2 of 2: Caring For Hortensia Plants
Step 1. Plant the hydrangea in a place that gets enough sun and is protected from the wind
Hortensias need direct sunlight to thrive, so plant them in full or partial sun. Hortensia should also be protected from the wind.
The wind can actively make the hydrangea dry. So, protect the plant from the wind and water it regularly
Step 2. Grow hydrangeas in temperate climates
Hortensia can be grown in tropical areas such as in Indonesia. The ideal temperature is around 21°C during the day and slightly below 16°C at night. If the temperature is hotter than that, the flowers may wither. And in temperatures that are too cold, hydrangea leaves can freeze.
In subtropical climates, the hydrangea flowers will begin to grow in the fall and the flowers will bloom the following year. During the flowering period, which is about 6 weeks, hydrangeas need temperatures below 18°C for the flowers to be ready to bloom
Step 3. Use a standard soil mix or compost for growing hydrangeas
If you are growing your hydrangeas in the ground (and not in a pot), add a rich soil mix or bagged compost into the planting hole to help the plant through the transition. However, remember, the color of the hydrangea flower is determined by the pH level of the soil.
- A high amount of aluminum ions in the soil will produce blue flowers.
- A pH level of 6.0 and above will produce pink hydrangeas.
- White hydrangeas are not affected by the pH level of the soil.
Step 4. Water the hydrangea daily to keep the soil moist
Hortensias must stay hydrated in order to survive, especially during the first two years. If the soil is too dry, the leaves and flowers of the hydrangea will begin to wither. Water the hydrangea daily with an adequate amount of water to keep the soil moist, and see how it develops. At a minimum, water the hydrangea at least 3 times a week.
- Water less during the rainy season and more during the dry season which is very dry.
- If the hydrangea leaves begin to wilt, water more. If the plant starts to look sticky or wet, reduce the frequency of watering.
Step 5. Prune hydrangeas regularly
Pruning may seem counterproductive, when in fact it is a very common practice to improve plant health and growth rates. Cut off old stems or wilted or dry shoots.
- Always cut above the stem book.
- Removing old plant parts will make room for new growth.
Step 6. In the fall, cover the plant with foliage or mulch (such as straw, sawdust, husk, or leaves) to protect it from frost
If you want your hydrangea to survive the winter, cover the plant from fall to spring when the weather begins to warm up again. Mulch will protect the plant from cold weather and prevent it from damage caused by frost. Cover the plant with 50 cm of mulch of bark, pine leaves, foliage, or straw.
- You can cover the entire plant by making loose wire cages and placing them over the plants. Fill the inside of the cage with leaves and mulch to keep the plants insulated from cold weather.
- Don't use maple leaves for this project as maple leaves rot too quickly.
Step 7. Prevent gray mold by trimming the infected area and spraying it with a fungicide
Botrytis blight, also known as gray mold, is a fungal disease that commonly affects hydrangeas. If you see a hazy gray spot on your hydrangea, prune it immediately. Cut the infected part and throw it away. Then, spray the hydrangea with an organic fungicide that will help protect it from further infection.
- Disinfect the shears of the cuttings with a homemade disinfectant before and after cutting the infected plant parts to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
- You can use sulfur (as a liquid spray or a liquefiable powder) as a fungicide. Stop using sulfur when the temperature rises above 27°C, as it can damage crops in hot weather.
- Sprinkle water at the base of the plant to prevent the leaves from getting wet. Dry leaves will help prevent the appearance of gray mold.
