- origin
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- Size
- use
- Is garden hydrangea poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Propagating garden hydrangea
- pricking
- sowing
- Garden hydrangea in a pot
- In the greenhouse
- Cut garden hydrangea correctly
- Fertilize garden hydrangea properly
- Water the garden hydrangea
- hibernate
- fungus
- Diseases
- sorts
Garden hydrangeas are real flowering wonders. Their bright colors enchant every viewer. But the blaze of color does not come by itself. You have to consider a few factors when caring for and choosing the location so that the subshrub grows vigorously.
The garden hydrangea is a beautiful addition to any garden
Table of Contents
Show all- origin
- leaves
- blossom
- growth
- Size
- use
- Is garden hydrangea poisonous?
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- Propagating garden hydrangea
- pricking
- sowing
- Garden hydrangea in a pot
- In the greenhouse
- Cut garden hydrangea correctly
- Fertilize garden hydrangea properly
- Water the garden hydrangea
- hibernate
- fungus
- Diseases
- sorts
- anxiety
- circulatory problems and dizziness
- shortness of breath
- cramps
- Fill the planter with potting soil
- scatter seeds
- cover lightly with soil
- moisten with a spray bottle
- Cover the plant pot with foil
- Cut off and destroy affected areas
- Means with neem extract or silicic acid help against powdery mildew
- Garlic or onion broth combats downy mildew
- Endless Summer: For sunny locations. Very easy to cut. Reliably flowers after pruning in spring. Particularly hardy.
- Forever & Ever: For sunny locations. Good cutting tolerance. Reliable flowers after early pruning. Flowering occurs twice a year. Easy-care.
- Alpenglow: For locations exposed to wind. Fast growing. Blooms in crimson between July and September. foliage dark green. Growth height 120 to 150 centimeters.
- Hovaria Hobella: Flowers in pastel shades of pink, flowers up to 25 centimeters in size. Flowers turn green and red. Grows between 100 and 150 centimeters high.
- Hovaria Love you kiss: Flowers between June and October, white with a red serrated border, flowering period lasts four to six weeks, then flowers turn green and red. Reaches heights of growth between 100 and 150 centimetres.
origin
The garden hydrangea is known as the farmer's hydrangea. Its Latin name is Hydrangea macrophylla. It is considered to be the most well-known representative of the hydrangea genus, as its triumphal march through the gardens of Europe began in the early 20th century. During this period, numerous breeds and hybrids were created. Before that, the plant was cultivated in its original distribution area in Japan.
leaves
Garden hydrangeas develop oppositely arranged leaves, which are composed of a petiole and a leaf blade. The stems are short and appear fleshy. They end in a simply constructed blade. It has a sharply serrated leaf edge and is traversed by a raised median vein, from which numerous side veins branch off.
The oval to ovoid leaves are slightly wider or narrower depending on the variety. They can grow up to 15 centimeters long. The base of the leaf blade is obtuse wedge-shaped. The end of the leaf is drawn out to a point. The deciduous leaves are colored in a dark green. The top of the leaf is shiny.
blossom
The shrubs develop numerous individual flowers that cluster together to form umbrella-shaped inflorescences. They sit on thick branches. The outer edge of an inflorescence is covered with sterile flowers that take on a display function. The outer flowers consist of four sepals that are strikingly large and variegated.
The color of the sepals varies depending on the pH of the soil. If garden hydrangeas grow in acidic soil, they will develop a blue tint. Alkaline soils result in a red flower color. The intensity of the coloring varies depending on the variety. Some specimens have pure white flowers. When the flowering period comes to an end, there is a fascinating play of colours. The colors change to green and finally to rusty red. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the new Hovaria varieties.
Inside are fertile flowers that are responsible for reproduction. Their calyx is small and bell-shaped. The individual sepals are short and triangular in shape. In Japan, garden hydrangeas bloom between June and August. The flowering period of the plants cultivated in Central Europe extends throughout the summer and lasts until October. The flower buds are formed in the previous year.
growth
The wild form of the garden hydrangea grows as a subshrub. The old shoots become woody in the second year, while the fresh shoots are herbaceous. It is deciduous and grows upright with dense branching. After flowering, the inflorescences remain on the plants.
The bark of young branches is greenish in color. It turns brownish with age. Strong branches appear light brown. They are covered by a felty bark that can be easily detached.
Size
Garden hydrangeas grow to a height of up to two meters in their original distribution area. Depending on the variety and site conditions, the heights vary. The summer bloomers have a large space requirement, which depends on the growth height. Garden hydrangeas grow at least as wide as they are tall.
use
The summery shrubs have a rustic character. They are suitable for planting in perennial beds that provide partially shaded conditions. The summer bloomers cut a particularly good figure under higher-growing trees and shrubs. They beautify small front gardens and add color accents to dark corners of the garden.
Other hydrangea species have proven to be ideal planting partners. They can be planted in small clusters and rows, creating a dense hedge over time. Garden hydrangeas do well next to rhododendrons and other plants in shady to partially shaded locations. Between hostas, star umbels, forest goat's beard or astilbe, the blooms come into their own.
Is garden hydrangea poisonous?
Like all hydrangea plants, garden hydrangeas contain various toxins. They are weakly concentrated in all parts of the plant. In addition to hydrocyanic acid, hydrangenol, saponins and hydrangin occur. Ingestion of small amounts does not usually result in poisoning. Only large amounts cause symptoms of poisoning. Sensitive people may have an allergic reaction to skin contact.
Possible symptoms:
Garden hydrangeas are mildly toxic to horses, dogs and cats, birds, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs. The toxins can lead to circulatory problems or problems in the gastrointestinal tract. Serious symptoms of poisoning only occur after consuming large quantities. The bitter taste of the plant often deters the animals.
Which location is suitable?
Farmer's hydrangeas have special requirements for the location. They originally grow on watercourses and damp forest edges. The subshrubs prefer a sheltered spot with partially shaded conditions. A north- or west-facing place where there is no draft is ideal. The plants also grow under strong sunlight. Under these conditions, the demand for water increases sharply. If there is a lack of water, the garden hydrangea will droop its leaves and get sunburnt.
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What soil does the plant need?
The substrate should be low in lime, rich in humus and moist. A pH value between 4.5 and 6 is ideal. With a low pH value, the subshrub flowers blue. Higher values produce purple, pink, or red tones. White-flowering varieties do not change flower color.
Propagating garden hydrangea
The simplest method is propagation by cuttings. Cut off fresh shoots in July. Make sure that the shoots do not have flower buds. Divide the shoots into small sections, each with two pairs of leaves. The lower pair of leaves is removed and the upper leaves are shortened by half. This gives the cuttings more space in the planter to spread out and put more energy into root development.
Put the cut shoots in potting soil and water the substrate. To maintain humidity, you should put a plastic bag or screw-top jar over the planter. Ventilate daily to prevent mold from forming. Place the planter in a warm, shady spot in the garden or on the patio. The cuttings require little time for root development.
pricking
When the cuttings have developed roots, they are pricked out and transplanted individually into small pots. The planter should have a diameter of ten centimeters. Put the pot in a shady place. You no longer need to cover the young plants with foil for further cultivation. In the first winter, the young plants are sensitive to frosty temperatures. Place the planter in a cool and frost-free place in the house. By next spring, the plants will have matured enough to be planted out in the garden.
sowing
Propagation from seeds is difficult. Many double varieties do not develop seeds. Original varieties and the wild species carry seeds inside the withered inflorescences. They are difficult to collect because they are very hidden and, with a length of three millimetres, are hardly noticeable. You can buy seeds in specialized shops.
How to sow the seeds:
Garden hydrangea in a pot
Garden hydrangeas are ideal for pot cultivation. They beautify balconies, house entrances and terraces. Potted hydrangeas are often offered commercially. This term is misleading as it is not a distinct species. Potted hydrangeas are also varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla.
In the greenhouse
A greenhouse provides optimal conditions for growing garden hydrangeas. Potted hydrangeas that are already in full bloom between February and April were brought forward in the greenhouse. These specimens are sensitive to late frosts and need winter protection. Hydrangeas grown in the greenhouse should not be planted in the garden for the first year. They are initially very sensitive to cold.
Cut garden hydrangea correctly
Peasant hydrangeas do not need pruning. In spring you should remove the withered inflorescences so that the fresh buds can develop unhindered. Cut back dead and frozen branches. You can recognize this by the grey-brown discoloration. If you are unsure, you can easily scratch the bark. If the tissue underneath is yellow-green in color and appears dry, then the shoot has died.
Proceed with caution when clearing. Most varieties develop their flower buds in the fall. Pruning measures in the spring reduce the flowering splendor. There are special breeds that develop new flowers even after severe pruning.
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Fertilize garden hydrangea properly
Garden hydrangeas enjoy a special fertilizer for hydrangeas or rhododendrons. In order to promote the bluing, the fertilizer should contain alum. This aluminum salt contains water-soluble crystals that have an acidic effect.
Free-growing hydrangeas are fertilized for the first time in spring. A second fertilization takes place in early summer. Use a slow-release fertilizer that the plant will feed on throughout the growing season. Container plants are supplied with a liquid fertilizer at regular intervals between March and August. Stop fertilizing as soon as summer draws to a close. Then the fresh shoots have enough time to lignify. The shoot tips remain unwoody, which is typical for subshrubs.
Water the garden hydrangea
The subshrubs have a high water requirement. In direct sunlight at the growth site, the plants require larger amounts of water. Water the plants deeply so that the soil is well moistened. The root ball should never dry out completely. Check the substrate more frequently during the hot summer months to avoid drying out. Plants grown in pots should be watered twice a day in summer.
Do not use calcareous water for watering, as this changes the pH value in the substrate. Use soft rainwater. Tap water can be treated with a dash of vinegar. Avoid waterlogging as this damages the roots of the hydrangea.
hibernate
Potted hydrangeas should overwinter indoors in cold winter regions. An unheated greenhouse is the ideal place if it is protected from the direct winter sun. As a result, the temperature fluctuations are lower. Dark hibernation is possible. Pay attention to low temperatures that do not rise above five degrees. Under these conditions, garden hydrangeas stop their metabolism. Bright and warm winters are suboptimal, as the shrubs are quickly attacked by pests. The lack of dormancy inhibits the development of new flower buds.
Specimens growing outdoors need additional winter protection when young. A layer of fir branches or brushwood is ideal. Older plants do not need winter protection in regions with mild winters. Protect the plant in severe frosts.
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fungus
Hydrangea species can be attacked by both powdery mildew and downy mildew. Powdery mildew is a fungus that spreads in dry and warm weather conditions. You can recognize an infestation by the white coating, which is reminiscent of a layer of flour. Downy mildew requires moisture. It leaves a silvery-grey lawn of fungus on the underside of the leaf.
How to combat powdery mildew:
Brown spots on the leaves indicate leaf spot disease. It occurs when there is a poor supply of nutrients. Just like this fungus, gray mold also spreads in humid weather conditions. An infestation can be recognized by the gray lawn that stretches over flowers, leaves and shoots. The plant parts will wither away if the plant is not treated. Optimal care with a good supply of nutrients and water has a preventive effect against these fungal diseases. The plants should be well ventilated.
Diseases
Chlorosis is a relatively common disease that causes leaf veins to turn green. The leaves turn yellow over time. Chlorosis is due to an iron deficiency. Alkaline soil can also lead to this condition. Work rhododendron soil or peat into the soil to lower the pH. A fertilizer containing iron provides a quick remedy.
Certain mycoplasma or viruses cause virosis in garden hydrangeas. Diseased plants have small and stunted inflorescences. The plant parts take on reddish hues. Since this disease can quickly spread to other plants and cannot be controlled, you must remove the affected plant quickly and burn it if possible.
tips
Support the inflorescences of large-flowered varieties with a bent perennial support, as their stems can snap easily, especially after heavy rainfall and wind. Remove broken shoots. The plant usually regenerates quickly.