Hydrangea attracts many gardeners, both experienced and beginners. The plant is valued for its decorative appearance, unusual shape of leaves and lush flowering. It owes its name to the French Princess Hortense. Later, scientists called it hydrangea, which translates as a "vessel with water." This underlines the fact that the plant requires a lot of moisture. However, the scientific name did not take root among gardeners. Until now, preference is given to the original version.
Varieties
Hydrangea is most often grown in gardens, but it is possible to contain a flower at home. In total, there are about 80 varieties of this plant. There is also a division by type:
- panicled;
- anabel;
- large-leaved;
- petiole;
- tree-like;
- pink.
At room conditions, it is recommended to contain large-leaf hydrangea. This is due to the fact that it is less resistant to frost and does not tolerate temperature extremes. Various flower species are common in East Asia, South and North America, Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Japan. China is considered the birthplace of large-leaved hydrangea. In a warm subtropical climate, the plant can reach 4 meters in height. In colder climates, it can only grow up to a meter. In nature, hydrangea flowers are pink. Today, breeders have bred new varieties with white inflorescences. But the most unusual is large-leaved hydrangea blue.
Temperature and location
Often from beginner growers you can hear that the plant is difficult to maintain. Such an opinion arises in those people who do not know how to care for blue hydrangea. You must always remember that the flower is thermophilic. In summer, he needs a temperature of 18-20 degrees. If the room is warmer, the plant will begin to drop leaves. The flower loves fresh air, so in the summer it is advisable to take it out onto the balcony. However, drafts and cold air flows must be avoided. In winter, the optimum temperature is 4-8 degrees.
Lighting
In summer, during flowering and active growth, hydrangea should be placed in partial shade or in the place where the light is scattered. Best for a flower when the top is lit, and the stem and leaves are in a weak shadow. Blue hydrangea does not tolerate directed sunlight, but darkened areas are also not suitable for it. The flowering period begins later, and there are few inflorescences on the plant. In addition, the lack of lighting leads to the fact that blue hydrangea will become weak. Do not allow the flower to come into contact with glass. This will result in burns on the leaves.
Humidity. Watering
In the period from spring to late autumn hydrangea blue requires abundant watering. However, it is important not to overdo it. Watering is done as the topsoil dries. Water should be soft. Periodically, the plant needs to be sprayed. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to 1 time in 1.5 months. Blue hydrangea is able to tolerate a slight dryness, but one should not allow complete drying of an earthen coma.
The soil
For planting, you can take a ready-made substrate. If the necessary soil was not found in the store, then it can be prepared independently. To do this, take 3 parts of turf, 3 parts of sheet land and 1 part of sand. Hydrangea loves acidic soil. The pH should be 4-5.5. The more acidic the soil, the darker the color of the flower becomes.
Top dressing
During flowering and active growth, indoor hydrangea blue requires additional nutrition. To do this, apply complex mineral fertilizer for plants that prefer acidic soils. Spend feeding once a week. 2 g of fertilizer is enough per liter of water. It is worth noting that a large number of it does not tolerate any plant, including blue hydrangea.
Landing and care. Reproduction. Transfer
There are several types of propagation of hydrangea. The simplest and most effective for an indoor flower is cuttings. To do this, you need to take the lower young shoots 7-8 cm long. They should have 3-4 pairs of leaves. You need to cut the cuttings evenly, not at an angle, at a distance of 3-4 cm from the first node. Lower leaves are removed. Planting is done in deep containers filled with a mixture of peat and sand, to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. You can cover the cuttings with a glass cap, but it is better not to do this, as they can rot.
3-6 weeks are enough for blue hydrangea to take root. Care for a young plant needs careful. In the first seven days, it is sprayed up to 4 times a day, then reduced to 1-2 times. After rooting, the plants are transplanted into pots with prepared soil. To make the bush more magnificent, you need to pinch it in May. Hydrangea will bloom next year.
If the hydrangea bush has grown large, then it is better to plant it. To do this, the plant is divided in half so that on both parts there is both a top and a root. Hydrangea bushes are planted in a flower pot and fed with fertilizers. Additionally, the root section is treated with phytohormones.
Pruning
It is carried out in the spring before the start of the vegetative period. The essence of the procedure is to remove weak and very elongated shoots and old inflorescences. As a result, the plant will bloom better. In addition, new strong shoots will appear. But do not be zealous. A heavily trimmed hydrangea blooms poorly. On the shoots, it is necessary to leave from 2 to 6 pairs of healthy kidneys. After trimming, hydrangea does not need to be fed. If hydrangea grows too densely, then part of the shoots can be removed by cutting to the root.
Rest period
Beginning gardeners may be worried, noticing that hydrangea leaves fall. If this happened in the winter, then there is no reason to worry. The flower began a period of rest, which lasts about 3 months. Of course, it is difficult to recognize a blossoming beauty in bare branches, but if you wait for the summer, you can make sure that it is the same beautiful blue hydrangea. How to care for a wintering flower? This process is very simple. Watering is significantly reduced, however, an earthen coma should not be allowed to dry. Fertilizing fertilizers is not needed. Until March, hydrangea is removed in a cool dark place. Young plants, in which the shoots are not lignified, do not drop leaves and hibernate without entering a dormant state.
Diseases and pests. Ways to fight
Among the pests are:
- Aphid. To get rid of the pest, you need to treat the plant with a soapy solution. In case of severe damage, it will be necessary to take advantage of organophosphate insecticidal and acaricidal preparations with a wide spectrum of action.
- Spider mite. In the fight against it, spraying will help. Water needs to be used warm. If you can’t achieve a positive effect, then you can use the drugs used to eliminate aphids.
Hydrangea is susceptible to the following diseases:
- Stem nematode. The disease affects the leaves, stem and inflorescences, as a result of which the plant loses its attractiveness. It is impossible to save the affected flower. It will have to be destroyed in order to avoid the spread of the disease to other plants.
- Downy mildew. It appears on leaves and stems in the form of oily spots. Over time, they turn yellow and increase. A yellowish coating appears on the back of the affected leaf. Due to the high humidity and temperature of 18-20 degrees, blue hydrangea is affected by powdery mildew. Care and treatment of the plant consists in treating the affected areas of the plant with copper-soapy water. In 10 liters of water, dilute copper sulfate (15 g) and green soap (150 g).
- Chlorosis. Hydrangea affected by this disease has light leaves with dark veins. A large amount of lime or humus in the soil leads to chlorosis. To restore the plant to its former appearance, you need to dilute potassium nitrate (40 g) in 10 liters of water and water the flower 2-3 times. After 3 days, a solution of iron sulfate in the same proportions is used.
- Hydrangea is very sensitive to light and watering. If the flower lacks moisture, then its leaves will begin to turn yellow and curl. Excessive watering leads to rotting of the roots. Most often this happens during dormancy, when the temperature is significantly reduced. Excessive refreshment leads to the formation of bright spots on the leaves. With a lack of plants, the plant grows slowly and does not bloom.
- Quite often, beginning flower growers are faced with the fact that hydrangeas wither leaves. There are several reasons for this problem. First you need to find out if the flower receives enough moisture. Perhaps the plant is in direct sunlight. Leaves can fade from a lack of nutrition, namely a lack of nitrogen fertilizers. If the location is chosen correctly, watering is sufficient and there is regular feeding, then hydrangea is ill with chlorosis.
The flower can be grown not only on the windowsill, but also on the street, of course, if the climate allows. Hydrangea will not leave anyone indifferent, thanks to its unusual appearance. She is not the most difficult plant to care for. If desired, even a novice will cope with it, and beautiful flowers will be the reward for care.
Blue hydrangea can also be used in design. Its decorative appearance will easily decorate any room. The flower is perfect for decorating a theme party or wedding. If you need to create an atmosphere of tenderness and romance, hydrangea will perfectly cope with this task.