How to manage hydrangeas in winter?

Hydrangea , also known as wood hydrangea , hydrangea, hydrangea, etc., the flowers are green when they first bloom and then turn white. It has a fresh fragrance and many friends grow it. When growing hydrangeas , you must pay attention to winter management to ensure their growth and development. So how do you manage hydrangeas in winter? Let’s take a look with the editor below.

1. Pruning

In late autumn, before winter, prune hydrangeas moderately, avoiding over-pruning. Specific pruning includes removing dead flowers, dead branches, diseased branches and messy branches, shortening overly long branches, and thinning out overly dense branches to reduce nutrient consumption, which is beneficial for the plant to overwinter and lay the foundation for flowering next spring. Be careful to keep branches with buds, as these are the key to flowering next year.

2. Temperature control

Hydrangea is not resistant to severe cold, and the most suitable growth temperature is 18~28 degrees Celsius. The temperature in winter should not be lower than 5 degrees Celsius to prevent the plants from being frozen and affecting their growth and flowering in the following year. Therefore, hydrangeas should be moved indoors in time, and insulation measures should be taken, such as wrapping them in transparent plastic bags or films, to maintain the temperature.

3. Lighting management

The sunlight is relatively mild in winter and the temperature is low, so hydrangeas should be placed in a place with sufficient light to get more sun. This will help the plants maintain good condition, survive the winter safely, and create conditions for flowering next year.

4. Watering

In winter, the amount and frequency of watering hydrangeas should be reduced and adjusted according to the ambient temperature. If the temperature is suitable and the plant is still growing, you can add water appropriately to prevent the soil from drying out. Under low temperature conditions, watering should be reduced to prevent frostbite. During the winter, the potting soil only needs to be kept 30% moist. Generally, it only needs to be watered 2 to 3 times throughout the winter. If you plant hydrangeas in the ground, you basically don't need to water them except for one freeze-thaw watering.

5. Fertilization

In winter, hydrangea should stop fertilizing or reduce fertilization to keep the plant in a dormant state. If you need to enhance the plant's cold resistance by fertilizing, you can use a 1000-fold diluted potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution for watering before winter, once every 20 days or so.

The above is an introduction to how to manage hydrangeas in winter. Hydrangeas are not particularly cold-resistant. When the temperature is below -5 degrees in winter, they may be frozen. Therefore, for large-flowered hydrangeas planted outdoors, when the temperature continues to be below -5 degrees, it is recommended to cover them at night to keep warm and protect the buds from frostbite.