Hydrangea blue: planting and care. How to care for a blue hydrangea

Hortensia attracts many florists, both experienced and beginners. The plant is appreciated for the decorative appearance, unusual shape of the leaves and lush flowering. Its name is due to the French princess Hortense. Later, scientists called it hydrangea, which translates as "a vessel with water." This emphasizes the fact that the plant requires a lot of moisture. However, the scientific name has not caught on with the florists. Until now, preference is given to the original version.

Varieties

Hortensia is most often grown in gardens, but it is possible to keep the flower at home. In total there are about 80 varieties of this plant. There is also a division according to the form:

• Paniculate;
• Anabel;
• Large leaf;
• Petiolate;
• Tree-like;
• Pink.

In room conditions it is recommended to keep a large-leaf hydrangea. This is due to the fact that it is less resistant to frost and does not tolerate temperature changes. Different types of flowers are common in the territories of East Asia, South and North America, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, Japan. Homeland large-leaf hydrangea is considered China. In a warm subtropical climate, the plant can reach 4 meters in height. In a colder climate, it can grow only up to a meter. In nature, the flowers of hydrangea are colored pink. Today, breeders brought out new varieties with white inflorescences. But the most unusual is hydrangea large-leaved blue.

Temperature and location

Often it is possible to hear from beginning flower growers that the plant is difficult to maintain. This opinion arises in those people who do not know how to care for a blue hydrangea. Always remember that the flower belongs to the heat-loving. In the summer, he needs a temperature of 18-20 degrees. If the room is warmer, the plant will begin to discard the leaves. The flower loves fresh air, so it is desirable to take it out on the balcony in the summer. However, it is necessary to avoid drafts and cold air currents. In winter, the optimal temperature is 4-8 degrees.

Lighting

In summer, during flowering and active growth, hydrangeas should be placed in the penumbra or in the place where the light is scattered. It is best for a flower when the tip is lit, and the stem and leaves are in a weak shadow. Hydrangea blue does not tolerate direct sunlight, however, too dark places are not suitable for it either. The flowering period comes later, and the inflorescence on the plant appears little. In addition, the lack of lighting leads to the fact that the blue hydrangea becomes weak. Do not let the flower come into contact with the glass. This will result in burns on the leaves.

Humidity. Watering

In the period from spring to deep autumn, hydrangea blue requires abundant watering. However, it is important not to overdo it. Watering is carried out as the top layer of the soil dries up. The water must be soft. Periodically, the plant needs to be sprayed. In winter, the frequency of watering is reduced to 1 time in 1.5 months. Hortensia blue is able to tolerate a slight dryness, but the earth coma should not dry completely.

The soil

To plant a plant, you can take a ready-made substrate. If the necessary soil in the store was not found, then it can be prepared independently. To do this, take 3 parts of the turf, 3 parts of the leaf earth and 1 part of the sand. Hortense likes acid soil. The pH should be 4-5.5. The more acid the soil is, the darker becomes the color of the flower.

Top dressing

During flowering and active growth, room hydrangea blue requires additional nutrition. To do this, apply a complex mineral fertilizer for plants that prefer acidic soils. Carry out fertilizing once a week. 2 g of fertilizer is sufficient per liter of water. It is worth noting that a large number of it tolerates any plant, including blue hydrangea.

Planting and care. Reproduction. Transfer

There are several types of hydrangea reproduction. Cuttings are the simplest and most effective for indoor flowers. To do this, take the lower young shoots 7-8 cm long. They should have 3-4 pairs of leaves. Cut the cuttings exactly, not at an angle, at a distance of 3-4 cm from the first node. Lower leaves are removed. Planting is carried out in deep tanks filled with a mixture of peat and sand, to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. You can cover the cuttings with a glass cap, but it is better not to do this, as they can rot.

It is enough 3-6 weeks for the blue hydrangea to take root. Care for a young plant needs careful. In the first seven days it is sprayed up to 4 times a day, then reduced to 1-2 times. After rooting, the plants are transplanted into pots with prepared soil. That the bush was more magnificent, it needs to be pinched in May. Blossom hydrangea next year.

If the hydrangea bush grows large, then it is better to plant it. For this, the plant is divided in half so that both sides have both a tip and a root. The hydrangea bushes are planted in a flower pot and fed with fertilizers. In addition, the root cut is treated with phytohormones.

Trimming

It is carried out in the spring before the beginning of the vegetative period. The essence of the procedure is to remove weak and strongly stretched shoots and old inflorescences. As a result, the plant will bloom better. In addition, there will be new strong shoots. But do not be zealous. Strongly trimmed hydrangea badly blooms. On shoots it is necessary to leave from 2 to 6 pairs of healthy kidneys. After pruning, hydrangeas do not need to be fed. If the hydrangea grows too much, then some of the shoots can be removed by cutting off to the root.

The rest period

Beginners of the floriculture can be concerned, noticing that the hydrangeas fall leaves. If this happened in the winter, then for excitement there is no reason. The flower began a period of rest, which lasts about 3 months. Of course, it is difficult to recognize a blossoming beauty in bare branches, but if you wait until summer, you can be sure that this is the same beautiful hydrangea blue. How to care for a wintering flower? This process is very simple. Watering is significantly reduced, but the earth's coma should not be allowed to dry out. Fertilizing is not necessary. Until March the hydrangea is taken to a cool dark place. Young plants, in which shoots are not lignified, do not discard the leaves and winter, without entering into a state of rest.

Diseases and pests. Methods of struggle

Among the pests are:

1. Aphid. To get rid of the pest, you need to treat the plant with a soap solution. In case of severe damage, it is necessary to use organophosphate insecticidal and acaricidal preparations of a wide spectrum of action.
2. Spider mite. Spraying will help in the fight against it. Water should be used warm. If you can not get a positive effect, you can use the drugs used to remove aphids.

Hortense is susceptible to the following diseases:

1. The stem nematode. The disease is exposed to leaves, stem and inflorescence, as a result of which the plant loses its attractiveness. It is impossible to save an affected flower. It will have to be destroyed in order to avoid spreading the disease to other plants.
2. Downy powdery mildew. It appears on leaves and stems in the form of oily stains. Over time, they turn yellow and increase. On the reverse side of the affected leaf there is a yellowish coating. Due to high humidity and temperature of 18-20 degrees, powdery blue hydrangea is affected by powdery mildew. Care and treatment of plants consist in processing the affected areas of the plant with copper and soap water. In 10 liters of water, you need to dilute copper sulfate (15 g) and green soap (150 g).
3. Chlorosis. Hortensia, affected by this disease, has light leaves with dark veins. To chlorosis leads a large amount of lime or humus in the soil. To restore the plant to its original form, it is necessary to dilute the potassium nitrate (40 g) in 10 liters of water and water the flower 2-3 times. After 3 days use a solution of ferrous sulfate in the same proportions.
4. Hortensia is very sensitive to light and watering. If the flower lacks moisture, its leaves will begin to turn yellow and twist. Excessive watering leads to decay of the roots. Most often this happens in the rest period, when the temperature is significantly reduced. Excess refreshment leads to the formation of light spots on the leaves. With a shortage, the plant grows slowly and does not bloom.
5. Quite often novice growers are faced with the fact that hydrangeas wilt leaves. There are several reasons for this problem. First you need to find out whether enough flower gets moisture. The plant may be in direct sunlight. Leaves can fade from lack of nutrition, namely from a lack of nitrogen fertilizers. If the location is chosen correctly, watering is sufficient and regular feeding is present, then hydrangea is ill with chlorosis.

The flower can be grown not only on the windowsill, but also on the street, of course, if the climate allows. Hortense will not leave anyone indifferent, due to its unusual appearance. It is not the most complex plant in nursing. If desired, even a novice will cope with it, and the reward for care will be beautiful flowers.

The blue hydrangea can also be used in design. Its decorative appearance can easily decorate any room. The flower is perfect for decorating a themed party or wedding. If you want to create an atmosphere of tenderness and romance, the hydrangea will do it perfectly.