Blue hydrangea: description, planting and care, the best varieties and how to propagate

Hydrangea is an ornamental crop that can be grown in the summer cottage and at home. This is a perennial shrub, which is characterized by rich green leaves and large spherical inflorescences up to 35 centimeters in size. The description of the blue hydrangea, its planting and caring for the plant are of interest to many beginner gardeners.

Description of the plant

Hydrangea is translated from Latin as "water" or "vessel". This culture belongs to the genus Tsvetkovs and the Hortensia family. Depending on the variety, the plant can reach a height of 1-3 meters.The culture is characterized by lush inflorescences, which are distinguished by a spherical shape and include small flowers. The plant is characterized by high resistance to frost and loves moisture. At the same time, the culture does not withstand strong winds and does not tolerate direct sunlight.

Hydrangea came to Russia from East and South Asia and America. The plant got its name because of the shape of the seed pods and the need for a significant amount of moisture. Today, several main varieties of hydrangeas are known:

• paniculate;
• tree-like;
• large-leaved.

Culture's flowers come in different shades. They are red, beige, white, lilac, blue or blue. The specific color is determined by the pH parameters in the composition of the soil. If the soil is low acid, the inflorescences are characterized by white and beige hues.In an alkaline substrate, they become pink in color, and in an acidic substrate, they become blue. Growers who know how to adjust soil pH can achieve the desired flower color.

Paniculata and tree varieties of hydrangeas are not blue. However, they can look very impressive in other shades. In addition, these plants are resistant to frost and unpretentious care. At the same time, large-leaved varieties may have bright blue tones.

Popular varieties

Today there are many varieties and types of blue hydrangeas, each of which is characterized by its own characteristics.

Mini Penny

This compact plant has lush blue blooms and can change color to soft pink. It is important to adhere to certain rules for care. The main advantages of the culture are resistance to frost and undemanding care.

Sawtooth Bluebird

This is a tall plant that reaches a height of 1.5 meters. Its color can vary from blue to pink. The specific shade is determined by the soil acidity parameters.

Freedom

This is a very interesting variety. Initially, it is distinguished by white-pink inflorescences, but later they turn blue. On the shrub, flowers of different shades can be present at the same time. In size, they reach 15 centimeters. Plants of this variety grow well in shady places. However, they need a lot of moisture.

Romars

The height of this plant is 80 centimeters. Its characteristic feature is considered to be buds of different shades. They are blue, purple, white and blue. The plant loves moist soil and shady places.

Compeito

This culture looks very impressive. It is characterized by lilac-blue inflorescences with a white center. At the same time, the culture does not tolerate the sun and dry weather too well.

Boarding Requirements

Blue hydrangea is recommended to be planted in spring. This must be done after the snow has melted and the temperature is positive.

Which soil is suitable

When planting a blue hydrangea, great importance should be given to the composition of the soil. It directly affects the color of flowers. In general, the culture requires a nutrient substrate, which includes forest soil, humus, sand and peat. In this case, soil acidity parameters are of great importance. They should be 5.5-6.

To determine acidity, you need to use litmus paper. It must be lowered into the soil mixed with water for 10 seconds. After that, it is recommended to compare the shade with the scale on the package.

If the soil is not acidic enough, aluminum sulfate is added to it. If, on the contrary, the acidity of the soil is too high, it should be mixed with dolomite flour. This component helps to achieve the required pH parameters.

Where is the best place to plant

The shrub develops well in well-lit areas that have little shading. In sunny places or in strong shade, the plant feels bad. It is best to plant hydrangea near a wall or high fence. Such structures provide shading and wind protection.

Scheme for planting

To plant a crop, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Dig a hole in a few days. It should be 60 centimeters deep and 50 centimeters wide.
2. Half fill the hole with the substrate, which consists of forest soil, compost and peat. Sand is also added to the composition. This component provides good drainage and makes the soil loose.
3. Introduce complex fertilizers into the deepening, which ensure the rapid development of the bush. If necessary, it is permissible to add aluminum sulfate or dolomite flour to the composition. The first component provides acidification of the soil, and the second - alkalization.
4. Lower the seedling into the hole and straighten the root system. After that, it is recommended to completely fill the hole with earth. It is important to avoid deepening the root neck of the plant. Otherwise, culture will develop poorly. The ground needs some tamping to avoid subsidence.
5. Pour 2-3 buckets of water over the bush.
6. Cover the trunk circle with a mulch layer. For this, it is permissible to use peat or wood chips. These materials help retain moisture.

Aftercare

In order for the blue hydrangea to develop well and retain its decorative effect, it needs to be properly looked after.

Illumination and temperature conditions

In warm summer weather, the plant needs protection from direct sunlight. Therefore, it is recommended to place it on the east or west side of the site. During the formation of buds, a flower in a pot can be moved to a more lit place. However, in any case, it should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

For outdoor plants, shade or partial shade is required. In strong light, the hydrangea seems unhe althy. At the same time, its inflorescences are formed incorrectly.

As for the temperature, the most optimal indicator is +20 degrees. It is important to protect the flower from drafts and temperature fluctuations. After the end of flowering, the bush in a pot should be moved to a room with a temperature of +10 degrees and kept there until the buds awaken.

Water and keep moist

The blue hydrangea is fast growing and needs sufficient moisture.Therefore, in dry weather, the shrub should be watered 2-3 times a week. In rainy summers, watering once a week will suffice. At the same time, 3 buckets of water are required to be poured under the bush. It is important that the liquid is warm, as cold water is bad for the he alth of the hydrangea.

Feeding

Fertilize hydrangea 3 times during the growing season:

1. It is recommended to apply nutrients for the first time in May. To do this, prepare a solution of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfide.
2. At the stage of budding, hydrangea should be fed with potassium sulfur and superphosphate.
3. At the end of summer, it is recommended to apply organic matter - in particular, rotted manure or compost.

It is important to consider that wood ash is contraindicated for blue hydrangeas. This component includes alkali, and a sufficiently high soil acidity is required to obtain the blue color of the petals. Adding ash is allowed only in very acidic soil.

Cutting

If the hydrangea is not cut, there is a risk of overgrowth of the bushes. As a result, they will lose their decorative properties. In addition, an excess amount of greenery will lead to a deterioration in flowering. As a result, the plant will not be able to form blue inflorescences.

Pruning of the plant is recommended in the spring. In this case, during the procedure, you need to do the following:

• remove old shoots;
• cut young branches that break the harmony of the bush;
• shorten annual shoots;
• cut the top of the bush and get rid of the remnants of dry flowers.

Pest control

The blue hydrangea suffers from the attacks of these pests:

1. Leaf aphid - affects the upper parts of the shoots and petioles of young foliage. As they reproduce, the insects absorb plant sap. This entails deformation and drying of the upper fragments of the branches. Insecticides will help to cope with pests.
2. Spider mite - has a small size, so it can be very difficult to identify the parasite. It is possible to detect pests on the web on young leaves. Acaricides help to cope with spider mites.

Other nuances of care

Blue hydrangea usually tolerates winter cold well, but hardly withstands autumn frosts. Therefore, it is required to warm the shrub at a temperature of + 6-8 degrees. To do this, remove all the leaves, leaving only the top ones. After that, it is recommended to cover the trunk circle with a layer of compost, peat or needles. The bush itself needs to be insulated with agrofiber and spruce branches.

Another good option would be to build a special frame around the plant. In this case, the plant must be covered with insulating material and a high structure should be installed around it. For this, it is permissible to use a metal mesh or a wooden box.Then it is recommended to fill the frame with dry fallen leaves. This will help protect the blue hydrangea from the cold.

Reproduction

Most often blue hydrangea is propagated in the following ways:

1. Cuttings - it is better to use fairly large bushes for harvesting planting material. The resulting cuttings must be soaked in a growth stimulator, and then proceed to rooting.
2. Seed method - is considered a very laborious and lengthy process, which has many difficulties. However, with the right approach, this method allows you to get a lot of seedlings. Frost-resistant varieties can be planted directly in open ground. This should be done between the end of April and the beginning of May. The remaining varieties are recommended to be planted in a container.
3. Propagation by layering - in this case, it is recommended to choose bushes with a large number of layers at the bottom. After that, it is worth making a recess with a diameter of 20 centimeters and dig in the middle of the shoot. The procedure is recommended to be performed in the spring - before flowering begins.
4. Reproduction by offspring - in this case, the side shoots must be separated from the main bush. It is recommended to do this in the autumn - before the arrival of frost. It is not worth moving the children directly into the ground. They are best left in pots until spring.
5. Dividing a bush is an affordable method that is used when transplanting a crop. Usually the plant is divided into 2-3 parts. Moreover, each independent fragment must contain formed roots and several growth points.

The blue hydrangea is a very common crop that has excellent decorative properties and fits well into landscape compositions. In order for the plant to develop normally, it needs to be properly looked after.

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