Hydrangea cultivation tips and precautions

Hydrangea is a very popular ornamental flower with large, beautiful flowers in rich and varied colors. The flower language is "hope", "reunion", "happiness" and "romantic love". It is often used in weddings, holiday decorations or as gifts. The following are some tips and precautions for growing hydrangeas.

1. Soil selection

Hydrangea grows best in loose, fertile, well-drained, slightly acidic soil (pH about 4.5-6.0). You can mix leaf mold, garden soil and river sand in a ratio of 4:3:3. When potted , it is recommended to change the pot and soil every 1-2 years.

2. Lighting management

Hydrangeas prefer a semi-shady environment and can be placed in a sunny place in spring and autumn, but avoid direct sunlight. It needs to be shaded in summer and placed in a place with scattered light, such as under the shade of a tree or under a shade net. The lighting time can be appropriately increased in winter.

3. Watering tips

Hydrangeas like moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogging. The soil needs to be kept moist during the growing season, and the frequency of watering needs to be increased during the high temperatures in summer. Water the plant once in the morning and evening every day, and spray water on the leaves to keep them moist. Reduce watering in winter and keep the soil slightly moist.

4. Fertilization method

Hydrangeas like fertilizer, so apply a thin layer of organic fertilizer every 15 days during the growth period. During the flower bud differentiation period, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers can be added to promote flower bud differentiation. When applying fertilizer, be sure to apply thin fertilizers frequently to avoid burning the roots with thick fertilizers.

5. Pruning and shaping

Cut off the remaining flowers in time after flowering to reduce nutrient consumption. Prune dead branches, weak branches and overcrowded branches to keep the plant well ventilated and well-lit. Proper pruning can be done in early spring to cut off withered or frostbitten branches.

6. Reproduction method

Cuttings are commonly used for propagation. In spring or autumn, select semi-lignified branches, cut them into 10-15 cm long cuttings, insert them into loose substrate, keep moist, and they will take root in about 1-2 months. Propagation by division can be carried out in early spring in combination with repotting.

7. Notes

The suitable temperature for hydrangea growth is 18-28℃, and the temperature in winter needs to be kept above 5℃. In cold areas, it needs to be moved indoors for the winter. Common pests and diseases include powdery mildew, leaf spot and aphids. The environment needs to be kept clean, ventilated regularly, and pests and diseases must be detected and dealt with in a timely manner.

In addition, the color of hydrangea flowers can be changed by adjusting the pH of the soil: the flowers are blue in acidic soil and pink in alkaline soil. Aluminum sulfate can be added to the soil to increase acidity, or lime can be added to increase alkalinity.