Hydrangea season is a great time to plant these beautiful flowering shrubs! They come in a variety of colors and bloom times, so you can find the perfect one for your garden. Be sure to give them plenty of room to grow, as they can get quite large.
Alternative name
- Seven-son flower
- Mountain hydrangea
- Tea of heaven
- Snowball hydrangea
- Oakleaf hydrangea
Basic info
- Hydrangea season generally lasts from late spring to early fall.
- Peak bloom typically occurs in mid- to late summer.
- There are many different types of hydrangeas, with a wide range of colors and flower shapes.
- Hydrangeas make excellent cut flowers and are often used in arrangements.
- They are relatively easy to care for, but do require some basic maintenance.
- Hydrangeas prefer sunny locations with well-drained soil.
- Regular watering is essential, especially during hot, dry weather.
- Fertilizing every few weeks will help promote healthy growth.
- Pruning is typically not necessary, but can be done to shape the plant.
- Hydrangeas are susceptible to a few pests and diseases, but these are usually not serious.
Related plant:
Hydrangea Paniculata Diamant Rouge
How to Grow
- For hydrangea season, first step is to buy a plant or look for one in your garden that already blooms.
- Check the plant to make sure it has healthy leaves and stems. If not, cut off any dead or diseased parts.
- Next, water the plant well and then add a layer of mulch around the base. This will help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
- In late spring or early summer, when the danger of frost has passed, you can begin to fertilize your hydrangea. Use a balanced fertilizer and follow the package directions.
- To encourage more blooms, you can also give your plant a light pruning in early summer, cutting back any dead or overgrown branches.
- Once the blooms appear, deadheading (removing spent flowers) will help keep the plant looking tidy and encourage more flowers.
- Enjoy your hydrangea all season long and be sure to protect it from excessive heat or cold as well as any pests or diseases.
- In the fall, after the blooms have faded, you can cut the plant back by a third or so to tidy it up.
- Come winter, you will need to provide some extra protection for your hydrangea, especially if it is a varieties that is not winter-hardy. Mulch heavily around the base and consider covering the plant with a burlap cloth or frost blanket.
- With proper care, your hydrangea will bloom year after year, giving you endless enjoyment.
Related plant:
Limelight Prime Hydrangea
Considering the Soil
About soil condition, it's very important to choose good potting mix for hydrangeas because they are heavy feeders and need space to grow. Also, the soil should be amended with compost or peat moss to make it more acidic. If the soil is too alkaline, the hydrangeas will produce fewer blooms.
Light requirement
Like the other flowers, hydrangeas need sunlight to grow. However, too much sun can actually scorch the leaves and cause the flowers to fade. That's why it's important to choose a spot for your hydrangeas that gets plenty of sun in the morning but is shaded from the hot afternoon sun.
Good Temperature
The temperature condition during hydrangea season is important for the blooms. If it is too hot, the blooms will wilt and if it is too cold, the blooms will not open. The ideal temperature for hydrangeas is between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Ideal Humidity
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50% and above. However, the plant can also tolerate slightly lower humidity levels. If the humidity levels are too low, the plant will start to wilt and the leaves will begin to turn brown.
The Fertilizer
About fertilizer, this kind of plant prefers a low-nitrogen fertilizer. For the best show of flowers, don't let the plant go into the fall and winter with dry roots. Water regularly during the summer, and mulch around the base of the plant to help keep roots cool and moist.
Light requirement
Pruning your hydrangeas is important to encourage new growth and to ensure that the plant flourishes. The best time to prune your hydrangeas is in late winter or early spring, before new growth begins. To prune your hydrangeas, start by removing any dead or dying branches. Next, trim back any branches that are crossing or rubbing against each other. Finally, cut back any branches that are longer than the others, to create a more uniform shape.
About Propagating
Propagation is the process of creating new plants from a parent plant. The most common method of propagation for hydrangeas is by taking stem cuttings from the parent plant. This can be done in late summer or early fall. Cuttings should be taken from young, healthy stems that are about 6 inches long. Cut the stem at a 45-degree angle just below a leaf node. Place the cutting in a container of moistened potting mix. Be sure to keep the mix moist but not wet. After a few weeks, the cutting should develop new roots and can be transplanted into a pot or garden bed.
Growth Rate
Usually, the plant growth rate is between 12 and 24 inches (30 and 61 cm) per year. Slow-growing shrubs may only grow 6 inches (15 cm) annually while some fast-growing varieties may add 3 feet (91 cm) or more in a single season.
Basic Problems
Common problems for this kind of plant are over-watering, under-watering, and soil type. Over-watering can lead to root rot, while under-watering will cause the leaves to turn brown and wilt. The best way to water your hydrangeas is to soak the roots once a week and then let the soil dry out completely between waterings. The type of soil you use can also affect how well your hydrangeas grow. Hydrangeas prefer a loamy, well-drained soil. If you have clay or sandy soil, you may need to amend it with organic matter to help retain moisture and improve drainage.
Growing Tips
- Remember to water your plants regularly, especially during hot weather.
- Apply a slow-release fertilizer before the blooming season to encourage growth.
- Deadhead spent flowers to promote renewed blooming.
- Prune annually to encourage new growth and shape the plant.
- Place plants in an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight per day.
- Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter to help improve drainage.
- Avoid over-watering, which can lead to root rot.
- Place a layer of mulch around the base of the plant to help retain moisture and keep weeds at bay.
- Protect plants from strong winds, which can damage fragile blooms.
- Bring plants indoors before the first frost to extend the blooming season.
Substitution
- Oak/oak family: acorn, alcorn, alker, amatishak, american white oak, apple oak, beech oak, blue oak, black oak, bur oak, burr oak, california white oak, chinquapin oak, cherry oak, chestnut oak, cork oak, crepe oak, cross oak, common gotland oak, corkleaf oak, live oak, black jack oak, overcup oak, rusty oak, schott oak, scrub oak, swamp white oak, turkey oak, valley oak, water oak, white oak, winged oak.
- Magnolia/magnolia family: autumn magnolia, bigleaf magnolia, bull bay, butterfly magnolia, cucumber magnolia, elba magnolia, fraser magnolia, henderson magnolia, japanese magnolia, kaffir magnolia, kobus magnolia, star magnolia, stellata magn
Source:
Hydrangea - University of Connecticut
HYDRANGEA - HYDRANGEA SPP. | The UFOR Nursery & Lab
Selecting Hydrangeas for the Home Landscape | Ohioline
Reviewed & Published by Richelle
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