Hydrangea plants are distributed mainly in East Asia, a few species in South East Asia and the Americas. They are found mainly in temperate Asia, with a few species in the Americas and their preferred habitat is moist woodland areas.
Hydrangea also called as Hortensia, is a genus of the Hydrangeaceae family. This genus was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753.
IDENTIFY HYDRANGEA PLANT
Hydrangea plants are distributed mainly in East Asia, a few species in South East Asia and the Americas. They are found mainly in temperate Asia, with a few species in the Americas and their preferred habitat is moist woodland areas.
They are subshrubs, shrubs, or small trees of variable size (from 0.5 meters to several meters), erect or climbing (clinging to their supports by adventitious roots), deciduous or evergreen that have opposite, rarely verticillate, exstipulate leaves with simple, margin entire, serrate, or rarely pinnately lobed leaf blade.
These plants blooms in early spring to late autumn from the terminal, occasionally axillary, a corymbose cyme, umbellate cyme, or thyrse inflorescence. There are two types of flowers: large, sterile decorative flowers and small, fertile flowers. The sterile flowers are few (more numerous in cultivated varieties), sometimes absent, borne at margin of inflorescence, with sepals 2 or 5, petaloid, and enlarged. The fertile flowers are usually very numerous, bisexual, small with five small greenish sepals and five small colored petals or not; the stamens are 10 (but also 8 or 25).
In most species the flowers are white, but in some species, can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the color is affected by the presence of aluminium ions which are available or tied up depending upon the soil pH. Some of the flowers, especially the white varieties, change color as they age, ending as dusky rose or tan papery flowerheads which may remain on the plant, providing winter interest. These can also be cut and brought inside for use in decorations.
Hydrangeas are moderately toxic if eaten, with all parts of the plant containing cyanogenic glycosides. Dried hydrangea leaves become very sweet and are used to make the 'tea of heaven' for Buddhist ceremonies. Hydrangea paniculata is reportedly sometimes smoked as an intoxicant, despite the danger of illness and/or death due to the cyanide.
HYDRANGEA PLANT CARE AND CULTURE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Hydrangea plants love the warm morning sun, but they dislike the heat of the afternoon (some require full sun with adequate soil moisture). The best place to plant hydrangeas is in a sheltered location with sunny mornings and shady afternoons. Avoid planting directly underneath trees, which can lead to competition for water and nutrients. High winds can rip and damage leaves and destroy the flowers. Although they can be successfully grown in full shade, they will not bloom well. Some hydrangeas can live for up to 50 years in the right location with proper care, so use care when choosing a planting site, and also consider how conditions might change in the future.
Temperature:
Keep the plants in a cool location, from 18° to 24°C. Most varieties grow well and are reliably winter hardy. However, some species such as Hydrangea macrophylla suffer from considerable branch dieback during the cold months and will benefit from winter protection. Winter protection can be provided by constructing a wire framework around the plant and filling the space with shredded leaves to a depth of approximately 10-12” for insulation. Cold winters and late spring frosts can often kill flower buds, preventing plants from blooming in the spring. When unexpected cold weather is predicted in late spring or early summer after winter protection has been removed, it may be necessary to cover tender hydrangea species with cloth, burlap, or heavy paper to protect flower buds. Plastic should never be used as winter protection because it may damage tender plant tissue.
Substrate, growing media:
Hydrangea plants are best planted in soil that has been amended with adequate amounts of organic matter, such as compost, leaf mold, or well-composted manure.
While most hydrangeas grow better in soil that is lower in pH (acidic), they will tolerate higher pH soils (alkaline) quite well. The most common reason for reducing a hydrangea’s soil pH level is if blue rather than pink flowers are desired. Hydrangea flowers will be pink in alkaline soil and blue in acidic soil. Pink hydrangea flowers can be changed to blue by acidifying soil and maintaining the pH in the 5.0 to 5.5 range. Adjusting a soil’s pH will need to be done annually in order to achieve and maintain proper results. The results from a soil pH test kit will determine existing pH levels and the need to add lime or sulfur in order to adjust the soil accordingly. Tap water may alter test results; therefore, it is important to use deionized water with a soil testing kit. Sulfur should be added in order to lower a soil’s pH. Lime should be added in order to raise a soil’s pH. Elemental sulfur, also called flowers of sulfur, or iron sulfate are better alternatives to using aluminum sulfate because aluminum can reach toxic levels in the soil. While aluminum is a key element to lower a soil’s acidity and change the color of hydrangea flowers, it can also become toxic at high levels.
Adjusting your soil’s pH to change bloom color is only applicable for colored hydrangeas. White hydrangeas will never turn pink or blue; therefore, it is usually not necessary to add supplemental sulfur to soil where white hydrangeas grow, unless unusually high alkalinity causes growing problems.
Humidity and Watering:
Most hydrangea plants prefer consistent moisture but dislike wet feet. Mulch to help conserve moisture and cool the root system. It is not unusual to see some hydrangea varieties droop and wilt in the hottest months of the summer. A two- to three-inch layer of mulch will help to conserve moisture.
Fertilizer:
Fertilizing is generally not recommended unless a nutrient deficiency is observed. Hydrangea plants may need little fertilizer in rich soil with organic matter applied yearly. Avoid using too much nitrogen - this can encourage foliage growth at the expense of blooms. Also avoid excess phosphorus if you are trying to encourage blue blooms on bigleaf types. If you do fertilize, do a little research to find out exactly what your particular variety might need, and always apply as directed and read and follow all label directions.
Pruning:
Hydrangea plants fall into one of two pruning categories. The pruning category is determined by whether or not the hydrangea blooms on old wood or new wood. Old wood is growth produced in a previous growing season. Hydrangeas that bloom on old wood should only be pruned immediately after they bloom and pruning should be kept to a minimum. If this type of hydrangea is pruned in the fall or winter, it will not bloom in the spring or summer, and will flower in the following growing season. New wood is growth produced in the current growing season. Hydrangeas that belong in this category can be left unpruned and only blackened winter-injured tips removed in the spring.
Certain hydrangea species can be pruned almost to the ground in late winter/early spring and will produce flowers on new branches that grow in the spring. Dead or diseased branches can be pruned out at any time of the year.
BUY HYDRANGEA PLANT AND RELATED PRODUCTS
SOME SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF HYDRANGEA GENUS WITH CARE TIPS AND CULTURE SHEET:
- Hydrangea anomala - The Japanese climbing-hydrangea
- Hydrangea arborescens Haas' Halo - Haas' Halo Hydrangea
- Hydrangea integrifolia - Entire leaf hydrangea
- Hydrangea kawakamii - Rough-Leaved Hydrangea - Hydrangea aspera Kawakamii
- Hydrangea longifolia - Long leaves hydrangea
- Hydrangea longipes - Long-footed Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla - Hortensia - Penny mac
- Hydrangea macrophylla Bailmer - Bailmer Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Big Daddy - Big Daddy Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Blushing Bride - Blushing Bride Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Hokomarevo - Everlasting Revolution Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Lemon Daddy - Lemon Daddy Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Red Sensation - Red Sensation Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Shamrock - Shamrock hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla Zebra - Zebra Hydrangea
- Hydrangea macrophylla ZORRO - ZORRO Hydrangea
- Hydrangea paniculata Bombshell - Bombshell Hydrangea
- Hydrangea paniculata Bulk - Bulk hydrangea
- Hydrangea paniculata Limelight - Limelight Hydrangea
- Hydrangea paniculata Little Lamb - Little Lamb Hydrangea
- Hydrangea petiolaris - Climbing Hydrangea - Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris
- Hydrangea petiolaris Firefly - Firefly hydrangea
- Hydrangea quercifolia Little Honey - Little Honey hydrangea
- Hydrangea quercifolia Snowcicle - Snowcicle Hydrangea
- Hydrangea robusta - Himalayan Tree Hydrangea - Hydrangea aspera subsp. robusta
- Hydrangea sargentiana - Velvet-leaved hydrangea - Sargent Hydrangea
- Hydrangea strigosa - Hydrangea aspera subsp. strigosa
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