A Detailed Guide to the Four-Season Care of Hydrangea
Hydrangea, also known as herb hydrangea, blooms from June to July. The flowers open white and gradually turn pink or blue, forming large spheres composed of sterile flowers. When the flowers bloom in profusion, they look like snow pressing down on the tree, charming and moving. Its branches and leaves spread densely, and its roots are fleshy. It has strong adaptability and can be planted in the ground in home courtyards or a corner of a patio, and is also suitable for pot cultivation to add color to balconies and windows.
Hydrangea prefers semi-shade and humid environments, and is not very cold-tolerant. In the intense heat of summer, it should avoid direct sun exposure, otherwise the leaves easily scorch, wither, and turn yellow. It is not suitable for overly dry conditions and grows best in light loam soil rich in humus, moist, and well-drained. Branches and leaves tend to wilt and wither after frost. When cultivated in the open ground, the aboveground part dies in winter, and in the following year new shoots sprout from the rhizome and bloom again. If potted and overwintered in a greenhouse, it can remain evergreen.
The key points of four-season care and management are as follows.
Spring: For potted plants, prune dead branches and repot with fresh soil. After the plant has adjusted, apply one or two dilute liquid fertilizers mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer to promote the sprouting of branches and leaves.
Summer and autumn: Place in a semi-shaded spot or under a curtained shed to prevent direct sun exposure and avoid leaves turning yellow and scorching. Apply one or two topdressings before and after flowering to promote green leaves and abundant flowers. After the flowers fade, promptly remove the flower stalks to maintain a neat appearance. Keep the potting soil moist at all times, but prevent water accumulation after rain to avoid the fleshy roots of the hydrangea rotting due to excessive moisture.
Winter: After winter begins, open-ground plants should be earthed up for warmth so they can overwinter safely; potted plants can be placed in a warm, south-facing spot free from cold winds. In winter, although the dead leaves fall, the roots and branches remain alive, and new leaves sprout again the following spring.