Hydrangea (Hydrangea) or hortensia is known for its large and colorful flowers, and can be found in many places on earth. There are many species and varieties of hydrangeas, which produce flowers in a wide variety of colors and shapes. Hydrangeas are relatively easy to grow, as long as you grow them under the right conditions as described below.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Growing Hydrangeas
Step 1. Check the hardiness zone of your hydrangea species
Hardiness zone is a vertical zoning (according to USDA/United States Department of Agriculture) that is defined geographically with certain categories in which plants can live. One of the most popular types of hydrangea is Hydrangea macrophylla, which grows best in hardiness zones 6–9, with winter temperatures of at least -23 to -4°C. Among the species that are resistant to zone 4 conditions (-34°C), are H. arborescens and H. paniculata.
Step 2. Know the safest time to plant
Hydrangeas may be damaged if grown in hot temperatures or in frosty weather. Hydrangeas in grower pots are best planted in the garden during the spring or fall. Hydrangea with open roots without soil should be planted in early to mid-spring, so that the plant has time to adapt to its new location.
Step 3. Choose a location on the lawn that gets both full sun and shade
Ideally, the hydrangea should get a few hours of sun per day, but be protected from the hottest afternoon sun with a wall or other barrier. If this is not possible in your yard, choose a location that is shaded throughout the day.
Step 4. Give the hydrangea enough space to grow properly
Hydrangeas can grow into a 1.2 m x 1.2 m shrub. If you want an accurate picture of how big your hydrangea will grow, look up information about the species and varieties online.
Step 5. Prepare fertile and well-absorbed soil
If the soil you are preparing contains only a small amount of nutrients, mix compost into it. If the soil is dense and mostly loam, mix in pine bark or other mulch to prevent water from pooling around the plants.
Step 6. Carefully insert the hydrangea into a fairly roomy hole
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball or the size of the container, two or three times the width. Lift the hydrangea slowly, and insert it into the hole. Be careful when moving them so as not to scratch or break the plant roots.
Step 7. Fill the rest of the hole with soil, a little at a time
Press the soil gently as you fill the hole to remove any air pockets while providing cushioning to hold the plant upright. Stop when the hole is about half filled.
Step 8. Water the hole, let it soak in, then fill the rest of the hole with soil
Water the half-filled hole thoroughly, then allow the water to soak in, for about 15 minutes or until no more water is visible. Next, fill the rest of the hole with soil in the same way as before, adding the soil little by little while pressing gently. Stop when all the roots of the plant are covered. Do not bury the stems or stems of the plant more than 2.5 cm.
Step 9. Water the plant frequently for the first few days
Newly transplanted plants do not yet have fully functioning roots, so you will need to water them well. Water once more when you have finished filling the hole with soil, then water daily for the first few days after planting.
Step 10. Reduce watering, but keep the soil moist
As soon as the hydrangea is planted in a new location, water it whenever the soil dries out. The soil should be kept slightly moist, but not soggy. Hydrangeas usually do not require additional care, and often grow or flower without difficulty.
- If your hydrangeas wilt or dry out, create a shade to block out the afternoon sun.
- If the winter forecast is expected to be unusually cold or the frost is protracted, or if you want to plant in an area that falls below the recommended hardiness zone (see description above), you may need to provide shelter for the hydrangeas during the winter..
Part 2 of 2: Adjusting the Hydrangea Flower Color
Step 1. Check to see if your hydrangea species or variety produces a different color
Some varieties of hydrangea can be pink or blue depending on the aluminum content and the acidity of the soil. Most hydrangea cultivars belong to the Hydrangea macrophylla species, but some of these species produce only white flowers, or some pink or blue sides, too difficult to adjust easily. Ask the previous owner to identify your hydrangea variety, if you don't know the name.
The varieties named Enziandom, Kasteln, Merritt's Supreme, Red Star, and Rose Supreme, have the ability to produce both pink and blue flowers, though in varying intensities
Step 2. Perform a soil pH test
Most gardening shops provide pH test kits to measure the pH or acidity of the soil. Since acidity affects the hydrangea's ability to take up aluminum, which in turn affects flower color, you can make a rough estimate of flower color by measuring the pH of the soil. As a rule of thumb (though not always accurate), a soil pH below 5.5 will most likely produce blue flowers, and a soil pH of 7 or higher will most likely produce pink or red flowers. Meanwhile, the effect of soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7 is difficult to predict. It may produce flowers in blue, pink, and purple, or in a pattern of blue and pink blotches.
Step 3. Make the flower blue
To trigger a blue color during growth, mix 1 tbsp (15 ml) of alum or aluminum sulfate (aluminum sulfate) in a gallon of water. This will increase the aluminum content in the soil and increase the acidity level (lowering the pH), which makes it easier for plants to utilize aluminum. Check it cursory every 10-14 days, use as much water in a regular watering. Continue measuring soil pH, and discontinue use as soon as the soil pH drops below 5.5.
Step 4. Encourage the appearance of pink flowers. If the hydrangea is blue, it is quite difficult to make it pink due to the presence of the element aluminum which causes the blue color. However, beforehand you can take precautions to encourage the appearance of pink flowers. Avoid planting hydrangeas near driveways-concrete paved, etc.-or building walls, as concrete or mortar mixes can leach aluminum into the soil. Use a fertilizer that doesn't contain aluminum, but has a high phosphorus content, which can hinder the removal of aluminum. Consider increasing the soil pH by adding wood ash or crushed limestone to the soil, as both make it difficult to remove aluminum. Avoid increasing the pH of the soil more than 6.4, as it has the potential to cause health problems in plants.
