Hydrangea has been pleasing people with its beauty for several centuries. Back in the eighteenth century, this flower attracted the attention of lovers and connoisseurs of the exotic. Hydrangea is native to America and Southeast Asia. The flower got its name in honor of the name of the princess, the sister of Karl Heinrich, who ruled the Roman Empire in 1768. The plant was brought to Europe from Japan in the early 19th century.
Hydrangea has 35 species and is a deciduous or evergreen shrub, tree or liana, depending on the species. This is a flower of amazing beauty, for which gardeners appreciate it and grow it on their plots. To create compositions, large-leaved hydrangea is more often used. Its terry inflorescences differ in size and variety of shades and colors.
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Hydrangea large-leaved shrub presentsa deciduous plant up to two meters high. Its shoots are erect, and the ovoid leaves are bright green in color. From mid-summer to late autumn, large-leaved hydrangea blooms. Winter care is the same as for other plants of this species.
The plant forms spherical inflorescences, which crown the ends of the stems. Flowers attract attention with bright colors of different tones: pink, lilac, white, red and blue. Interest is the ability to change the color of the flower. To do this, it is enough to change the composition of the soil. On acidic, flowers will grow blue, on alkaline - pink, and on neutral - beige.
Growing
Large-leaved hydrangea is a heat-loving plant. It is susceptible to low temperatures. Shelter for the winter of large-leaved hydrangea is a prerequisite for growing. You can plant a plant in the ground in spring and autumn. The soil must be fertilized before planting. And what - it depends on its composition. If the soil is alkaline, acidic peat must be added. Hydrangea prefers clay, red earth soils. Before planting a hydrangea in the ground, whether it be autumn or spring, you need to shorten the roots, and in the spring time of planting, also young shoots. Only a few pairs of kidneys are left.
Hydrangea is planted at a distance of one meter, one bush from another. The holes are not deep, thirty centimeters are enough, since the root system of the plant is branched, but notdeep. One third of a bucket of humus is poured into each seat. After planting, the hydrangea should be watered abundantly, and the soil should be mulched with rotted manure.
Water and fertilize
A large-leaved hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant. Preparation for winter involves the cessation of all watering, starting in late autumn. But during the growing season it needs to be watered, and it is better with rainwater, it is softer. Enough one and a half to two buckets of water per plant. If there is no rain for a long time, once a week is enough for watering; in case of precipitation - once a month. The strength of the shoots increases if a weak solution of potassium permanganate is added to the water for irrigation. So that the soil does not take on a crust, after watering it is loosened for better air access to the roots.
You need to feed the flower at the time of the beginning of growth and the formation of buds, during the period of rapid flowering. In late spring - early summer, the first fertilizing after winter is done with slurry and mineral fertilizer. After two weeks, re-feeding is done. To increase acidity, sawdust and rotted needles are added to the soil. In autumn, hydrangea bushes spud up to 20-30 cm in height.
Preparing for winter
The large-leaved hydrangea does not tolerate wintering in the open ground. Preparation for winter begins in the fall, when the lower leaves are cut off and the plant is stopped watering. This makes it possible for young shoots to stiffen faster. Before the onset of the first frost, all leaves except for the top ones are removed. They will protectflower buds.
The large-leaved hydrangea needs to be fed. Wintering will be more favorable if, before the onset of frost, fertilizers with a high content of potassium and phosphorus are introduced into the soil. Nitrogen mixtures should not be used, they can contribute to the growth of this year's shoots.
Shelter for the winter of large-leaved hydrangea is necessary, otherwise the plant will freeze and will not bloom in spring. Young shoots may die or freeze slightly if severe frosts come or the plant is not well covered. In the spring, you need to cut off the frostbitten part of the stem. This will not harm the plant, as the buds from which new shoots will grow are deep in the center of the bush.
Ways to shelter for the winter
Shelter for the winter of large-leaved hydrangea is carried out in several ways.
- The branches of the plant should be tied with a rope and bent to the ground, on which boards with nails driven in a short distance are placed in advance. A plant is tied to them and covered with fallen leaves, and then covered with lutrasil with holes for air access. Young hydrangeas are placed on spruce branches, pressed down with stones, covered with leaves and covered.
- Hydrangea large-leaved needs shelter. Preparation for winter is as follows. On spruce branches laid around the bush, dry leaves are poured in a thick layer. Then the shoots of the plant are laid out in a circle. All this is covered with available materials in layers: spruce branches, lutrasil, sawdust and again spruce branches. Abovea film or roofing material is stretched.
- Shelter of large-leaved hydrangea can be done like this. A mesh frame is made around a hydrangea bush wrapped in burlap. The distance between it and the plant is covered with dry leaves, and from above the structure is covered with a material that does not allow water to pass through. It could be roofing material.
The large-leaved hydrangea is considered to be a demanding plant. Preparations for winter begin long before it arrives. In summer, all the leaves at the bottom of the plant are cut off. With the onset of autumn, the shoots bend down to the ground and are pressed down with plywood from above. Before the first frost, the branches are tied, pinned and sprinkled with earth and fallen leaves. Plywood is placed on top. To prevent the wind from destroying the entire structure, plywood is covered with stones
Thus, the question of when to cover a large-leaved hydrangea will be decided by itself if you follow these recommendations.
Formation of large-leaved hydrangea bush
Hydrangeas are liked by many gardeners. But in order to grow bushes of an attractive shape, they need to be shaped. This is done in the spring, until the movement of the juice has begun and the damaged buds and shoots are clearly visible. But, if you want to root the cuttings, it is better to prune during the sap flow, so they will take root better.
A large-leaved hydrangea blooms on last year's shoots. Pruning is carried out taking into account this feature of the plant. When forming a bush, he althy shoots are not cut off. Only frozen ones can be shortened a little.
Needspruning faded shoots in autumn large-leaved hydrangea. Leaving for the winter will make it possible for young shoots to grow, which will bloom next year. The hydrangea that has overwintered under cover is not cut off, only old inflorescences are removed.
Spring held:
- Sanitary pruning, in which the tips of frost-damaged shoots are slightly cut, and dry and broken branches of the plant are removed.
- Rejuvenating pruning involves removing old branches at the base of the plant.
Hydrangea large-leaved, wintering which will pass safely, after preventive pruning looks new. The bush takes on a different shape and pleases with rapid flowering.
Diseases
For the leaves and stems of hydrangeas, the greatest danger is the defeat of downy mildew. Signs of this disease are oily yellow spots. Over time, they increase in size and darken. Young stems and the lower part of the leaves are covered with a yellowish bloom. The disease develops at high humidity in the hot season. To combat this disease, the leaves and stems are washed with a soap solution containing copper, which is absolutely harmless to the plant.
Large-leaved hydrangea is affected by a disease such as chlorosis. Its sign is a change in the color of the leaves to a lighter one. The development of this disease contributes to an excess of humus in the soil. To combat this disease, you need to water the plant with iron sulfate and potassium nitrate.
Pests
Oftenthe lower part of the leaves is affected by the spider mite. This can be seen right away. The leaves turn yellow and become marbled. Then they dry up and fall off. The mite is a dangerous pest for hydrangea. During the year, he repeatedly gives offspring. A favorable environment for its reproduction is high temperature and low humidity. To control the pest, the plant is sprayed with thiophos.
