When and how to plant hydrangeas

Hydrangea growth habits

Hydrangea prefers warm, humid and semi-shady environment. The suitable growth temperature is 18-28 degrees. The winter temperature needs to be above 5 degrees. Flower bud differentiation requires 6-8 weeks at 5-7 degrees. A temperature of 20 degrees can promote flowering. After the flowers appear, provide a maintenance temperature of 16 degrees to extend the flowering period.

Hydrangea likes a humid environment and needs to keep the soil moist, but do not water it excessively. Especially in the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage to avoid water accumulation. In winter, watering should be controlled to keep the soil slightly dry. Hydrangea is a short-day plant and is not resistant to strong light. It needs to avoid direct sunlight in summer.

When to plant hydrangeas

Many flowers are best planted in March at the beginning of spring, and hydrangea is one of them. However, in addition to being suitable for planting in March and April, it can also be planted in August to October. The environment in early spring and late summer and early autumn are all suitable for the growth conditions of hydrangea.

Hydrangea planting methods and key points

1. Fertilizer management

  Hydrangea has a large demand for fertilizer. During the growth period, apply decomposed thin cake fertilizer water once every half a month. You can also add ferrous sulfate to the fertilizer solution to increase the acidity of the soil. Regular watering with alum fertilizer water can improve its ornamental value. Applying phosphate fertilizer during the bud formation period can make the flowers larger and more colorful.

2. Moisture management

  Hydrangea has lush branches and leaves and has a great demand for water. It needs to be kept moist during the growing season of spring, summer and autumn. The temperature is higher in summer, so in addition to sufficient watering, it is also necessary to spray water in time to keep it moist. However, water accumulation should not occur, otherwise the roots will rot. Control watering after autumn.

3. Sunlight

  Hydrangeas prefer a semi-shaded environment and cannot tolerate direct sunlight. It is best to keep them under bright diffuse light during the growing period. If the light intensity is high in summer, shade is needed to prevent the leaves and flowers from being sunburned and affecting the viewing experience.

4. Change soil and prune

  For potted hydrangeas, you can repot and change the soil in March every year. When repotting, you need to cut off rotten roots, rotten roots and dense roots. After the plant is moved to the new pot, it needs to be compacted, then watered thoroughly, placed in a shaded place for about 10 days, and then moved outdoors for maintenance.

5. Maintenance and management

  If you want hydrangeas to bloom more, you need to prune the plants. When the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall, you can top and pinch the tips. When the new branches grow to 8-10 cm, you can pinch them again. After flowering, the old branches should be cut short, leaving only 3 strong buds. In autumn, cut off the tops of the new shoots to reduce nutrient consumption and facilitate wintering.