Hydrangea Care and Cultivation

Hydrangea Care and Cultivation

Hydrangeas are small, beautiful flowers that are very easy to grow. However, like all delicate works of nature, they require some important considerations. Here, we will review some of the aspects required for the care and cultivation of hydrangeas.

Hydrangeas adorn any decor.

Before going into detail, it is important to note that hydrangea cultivation originated in the East. For ancient Chinese people, hydrangeas were cultivated as an exclusive element in garden decoration.

For his part, the Russian Carl Johann Maximowicz visited several areas of Japan and then placed them in the Tsar's gardens. He later managed to publish the magazine Hydrangearum Asiae Orientalis, which showcased a wide variety.

Likewise, in the early 20th century, the Frenchman Lemoine managed to cultivate a wide variety of hydrangeas that are now recognized thanks to his contributions.

Currently, hydrangeas are cultivated in countries all over the world in their modern varieties, with the most well-known nowadays being Pink Diamond, White Diamond, Diamond Rouge, among others.

What is the procedure for cultivating hydrangeas?

A general recommendation for acquiring plants: When buying bare-root plants, avoid those whose buds are about to open or have withered stems.

These plant varieties can also be found in some supermarkets and shopping centers, but the main disadvantage is that there may be few staff members who can offer advice. Therefore, it is advisable to visit experts on the subject.

Once the plants are ready, to plant them, simply dig a hole and, once the plant is in place, cover a few centimeters of the stem, leaving the leaves exposed. You can do this in the garden, in a pot, or in a planter.

Planting requires an appropriate location. This plant should be oriented towards the north or east. South-facing is not the most suitable, unless it's winter, because the sun is very intense and would burn the petals.  In this regard, you need to place the plant in a spot where it receives only morning sun and gets shade at midday.

How to water and nourish hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas are scientifically called "Hydrangea," which means water drinker, because they need to be hydrated to survive. Therefore, it is ideal to water them abundantly for short periods of time.  You should not let the soil dry out or saturate it with too much water. 

Regarding nutrition. To nourish them, use fertilizer rich in nitrogen and phosphorus and an acidic substrate for those planted in pots, and if planted in the garden, use fertilizer for acid-loving plants, either liquid or granular. This way, the plant will have the necessary nutrients for its flowering. Additionally, iron sulfate in crystal form can be added to keep the leaves green, and adding magnesium sulfate allows the branches to appear more robust.

How to prune these small plants?

After two months of planting, you can prune it without any risk. It is recommended to do it in autumn, before the leaves wilt.

It is preferable to cut the main stems, that is, those that have already grown first, so that they generate other smaller stems and the leaves can reproduce more abundantly. Cutting the stems where the first leaves have bloomed, the new stems would not need to be cut because that is where they will emerge next year.

Also remove diseased, twisted, thin stems. Finally, cut the stems at the beginning of spring and leave them about 25cm from the base.

It is essential to cut the bottom of the stem that is touching the ground so that it grows back in the same way.

Finally, do not forget to set traps for the insect enemies of these plants. Some of these insects can be caught by placing a white-painted board with pesticide.

If you can't wait for them to bloom

To find hydrangeas, you can go to the best-stocked florists in your city. They offer a good assortment that you can choose with the help of the experts who work there, and you can ask them for advice on care and cultivation.

As a general rule, it is preferable to choose them with an intense color and avoiding signs of wilting. Therefore, it is important to highlight that there are two types of yellow that the leaves usually show; one is a natural tone and the other indicates neglect of the plant, it has fungi and it is clear that it is very malnourished.

Finally, always avoid dotted, discolored spots or those that show insect attacks; this is very common to see in gardens. You have to be very observant with these plants for the reasons mentioned above.

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