Nikko blue hydrangea is a shrub that can grow up to six feet tall and produces blue, cone-shaped flowers. The shrub is native to Japan and Korea and was introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. Nikko blue hydrangea is a popular plant for gardens and landscaping because of its beauty and easy care. The plant does best in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil.
Related plant:
Deutzia Crenata Nikko
Related plant:
Deutzia Nikko
About soil condition, Nikko blue hydrangea will grow in almost any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. They prefer slightly acidic soils with a pH of around 5.5 to 6.5. You can improve your soil's drainage by adding organic matter such as compost before planting.
So, like the other hydrangeas, the Nikko Blue hydrangea requires a lot of sun to bloom. It should be planted in an area that gets at least six hours of sun per day. However, it can tolerate some shade, especially in hot climates. The flowers of the Nikko Blue hydrangea are a beautiful blue color.
The temperature condition of the Nikko Blue Hydrangea is important to know because they are very sensitive to the cold. If the temperature gets too cold, the plant will die. Nikko Blue Hydrangeas need to be in a location where they will not be exposed to the cold, so they should be placed in a greenhouse or indoors.
Ideal humidity condition for this plant is 50% - 60%. If the humidity drops below 40%, the leaves will start to wilt and the flowers will droop. If the humidity gets above 70%, the leaves will start to turn brown and the flowers will drop.
The fertilizer, this kind of plant needs, is important for the blooming process and the general health of the plant. A 10-10-10 fertilizer, applied a few times throughout the growing season, is all that's needed to keep your Nikko Blue Hydrangea happy and blooming. It's also important to make sure the roots of your plant are never allowed to dry out. If you live in an area with sandy soil, you may need to water your Nikko Blue Hydrangea more often than plants growing in other types of soil.
Pruning is an important part of keeping your nikko blue hydrangea healthy and vibrant. Hydrangeas are generally low-maintenance plants, but regular pruning will help them to produce more flowers and prevent them from getting leggy or overgrown. To prune your nikko blue hydrangea, start by removing any dead or diseased stems. Then, cut back any long or straggly stems to promote new growth. Finally, shape the plant by trimming back any overgrown or unruly branches. Hydrangeas can be pruned in the spring or fall, but avoid pruning them in the summer, as this can cause them to produce fewer flowers.
Propagation is best done from semi-ripe cuttings taken in late summer or early autumn. Cuttings should be taken from new growth, and should be around 10-15cm in length. The bottom 2-3cm of the cutting should be stripped of leaves, and the cutting then placed into a pot of moistened cutting compost. The pot should be placed in a propagator or covered with a plastic bag to maintain humidity, and placed in a bright, but not direct, light. After around 6-8 weeks the cuttings should have rooted, and can then be potted on and grown on.
Usually, the plant growth rate is in the range of 1-2 feet per year. Some plants may grow more slowly or more quickly, depending on the growing conditions. The nikko blue hydrangea is a fast-growing plant and can reach its full potential size in just a few years.
Common problems for this kind of plant are powdery mildew, leaf spot, and root rot. These problems are often caused by too much moisture or poor drainage. To prevent these problems, make sure to plant nikko blue hydrangea in well-drained soil and keep the plant watered during dry periods.
Source:
Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue' - cels.uri.edu
Growing Hydrangeas - Center for Agriculture, Food, and the
Pruning Hydrangeas | Horticulture and Home Pest News
