It is a shrub that reaches between one and three meters in height. However, there are much larger varieties that develop as a tree or even as lianas that reach thirty meters in height.
It is native to Asia, especially China and Japan, which is where the largest number of varieties are. It was introduced to Europe in 1727 by a naturalist and is named after Horturum flower which means “garden flowers”.
Currently its cultivation has spread to a large number of countries that have temperate climate zones.
Hydrangeas have also been used as an ornamental plant for their beauty.
When to sow hydrangea?
Try to sow them after the winter as they are sensitive to temperatures below 12 ° C. It is better to plant them in primaver towhen the climate is more temperate.
If the cutting comes from a pluriflorous plant (piles of flowers) it is better to sow between April and June or in January to March. If they are unifloras, do it in the spring period.
Where to plant hydrangea? Light and temperature
As for light requirements, hydrangeas prefer Moderate light intensity.In the hours when the sun is stronger, provide shade or that the rays reach you only partially.
Usually short days with high temperatures accelerate the formation of flower buds. An interesting aspect is that flowering can be induced through fertilization. For example, the nitrogen deficiency Accelerates button formation.
The temperature also influences the formation of the buttons. An average of 18°C For a month and a half hace that the buttons grow very well.
The hydrangea is a plant of cool temperatures, which grows optimally at daytime temperatures between 18 and 20 ° C and with night temperatures between 11 and 15 ° C.
Under these conditions it produces long stems, vigorous foliage and large flowers. It hardly grows in temperatures below 4°C. Finally, they are related to wetlands.
How to prepare the land?
It is preferable that you provide soils with enough organic matter to increase the production of flowers. In general, they grow optimally in clay loam soils.
Avoid dry soils or mix them with compost that helps retain moisture such as worm humus or any other natural fertilizer.
You can provide substrates to increase water drainage since waterlogging can attract diseases.
As for pH levels, you can regulate them depending on the color you like, although other factors such as the variety and type of fertilizer you use also influence.
- Blue colorations: acidic pH, values between 4.5 and 5.
- Pink colorations: pH with values between 6 and 6.5.
How do we irrigate?
It is a plant of important water requirements, as well as high levels of humidity.
However, it is very important that Do not flood the plant since you can drown the root system. You simply have to keep the soil moist on contact.