Do hydrangeas prefer shade or sun?

Hydrangea is a flower that many people like. Its flowers are densely packed, colorful, and have very high ornamental value. If you want to plant hydrangeas , do hydrangeas prefer shade or sun? Let’s learn more about it below.

Do hydrangeas prefer shade or sun?

There are many varieties of hydrangeas. Some varieties are shade-tolerant and afraid of the sun, but some varieties prefer plenty of sunlight. When growing hydrangeas, you need to give them as much diffuse light as possible. In the hot summer, you need to provide shade at noon and in the afternoon. In other seasons, you can give them more light, especially during the flowering period. Sufficient light can produce flower buds and allow flower buds to differentiate smoothly.

How to care for and manage hydrangea?

1. Spring management

Hydrangeas begin to sprout new buds in March. Generally, before sprouting in early spring, hydrangeas should be simply pruned to cut off withered branches and frostbitten buds. During the rapid germination and growth period of hydrangea in spring, sufficient fertilizer and water should be maintained. Before the flower buds appear, water-soluble fertilizers should be used as the main fertilizer. Fertilizer can be applied once every 7 days. If you want to adjust the color to blue, you should do it simultaneously. When hydrangeas begin to form buds, you should switch to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, applying them once every 5-7 days to promote the growth of buds.

2. Summer management

Hydrangeas usually bloom at the end of May, when the light is relatively strong. In order to prolong the flowering period of hydrangeas and reduce the pressure of watering, hydrangeas should be placed in semi-shade during the flowering period. If the light is too strong, hydrangeas will easily lose water and wilt, and are also easily sunburned. Throughout the summer, care should be taken to maintain sufficient water. Once hydrangea flowers lack water, they will become soft and wilt. Hydrangea likes light but cannot tolerate the sun. Provide shade in summer to avoid direct sunlight.

3. Autumn Management

Management in autumn is very simple, the key is to prevent and control anthracnose. If the hydrangea blooms on new branches, it is likely to bloom in autumn if it grows well, so it is necessary to apply appropriate phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote flowering. If it is a large-flowered hydrangea that blooms on old branches, you can let it go in the autumn and just water it to prevent anthracnose.

4. Winter management

In the southern regions, hydrangeas do not shed their leaves in winter, so you can manually remove the leaves to force them into dormancy. In areas where the seasonal temperature is above -10 degrees, hydrangeas can overwinter outdoors, which is more conducive to the hydrangeas to complete vernalization after dormancy. If the winter is too warm, vernalization may not be completed, which will affect flowering next year. In relatively cold areas, outdoor hydrangeas should be protected in winter to prevent frostbite on the branches. In areas that are too cold, it is recommended to plant hydrangea varieties that bloom on new branches.

That’s it