A Detailed Guide to the Latest Home Cultivation Methods for Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are native to Japan and the Sichuan area of China, and were introduced to the UK in 1736. In Europe, they are fairly commonly cultivated in the Netherlands, Germany and France. In flower shops you can find hydrangea varieties in colors such as red, blue and purple, and hydrangeas are also often planted in the ground in small courtyards and in front of buildings. Now let us take a look together at the home cultivation methods for hydrangeas!

The Home Cultivation Environment for Hydrangeas

1. Temperature: The suitable growing temperature for hydrangeas is 18-28°C, and the winter temperature should not be lower than 5°C. Flower bud differentiation requires 6-8 weeks at 5-7°C. A temperature of 20°C can promote flowering, and maintaining 16°C after the flowers appear can extend the flowering period. However, high temperatures cause the flowers to fade quickly.

2. Humidity: The potting soil should be kept moist, but watering should not be excessive. Especially in the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent waterlogging from causing root rot. In winter, indoor potted plants are better kept slightly dry. If too dry or too wet, the leaves rot easily.

3. Light: Hydrangeas are short-day plants. With more than 10 hours of darkness treatment per day, flower buds form in about 45-50 days. During normal cultivation, avoid direct sunlight, and 60%-70% shade is ideal.

4. Soil: A loose, fertile and well-drained sandy loam is best. However, changes in soil pH cause considerable variation in hydrangea flower color. To deepen the blue color, aluminum sulfate can be applied during the flower bud formation stage. To maintain pink, lime can be applied to the soil.

Common Propagation Methods for Hydrangeas

1. Division propagation: This is best done in early spring before sprouting. Separate rooted branches from the mother plant and pot them directly. Do not water too much, and keep them in semi-shade for care. After new shoots sprout, switch to normal care.

2. Layering propagation: Carry this out when the buds begin to swell. Growth can occur after 30 days. Cut from the mother plant in the following spring, transplant with soil, and they can bloom that same year.

3. Cuttage propagation: Carry this out during the plum rain season. Cut the tender top shoots to a length of about 20 cm, remove the lower leaves, and use a suitable cutting temperature of 13-18°C. Roots form 15 days after cutting.

Four-Season Care Methods for Hydrangeas

1. Spring: For potted plants, prune dead branches and repot with fresh soil. After the plant has settled in, apply one or two dilute liquid fertilizers mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer to promote the sprouting of branches and leaves.

2. Summer: Place in semi-shade or under a shade frame to prevent direct scorching sunlight and avoid leaves turning yellow and scorched. 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 keep the plant looking neat. Keep the potting soil consistently moist, but prevent water accumulation after rain, so that the fleshy roots of the hydrangea do not rot from too much water.

3. Autumn: The care method is the same as in summer.

4. Winter: After winter begins, plants grown in the open ground should be hilled with soil to keep them warm so they can overwinter safely; potted plants can be placed in a warm spot facing south and sunny, free from cold wind. Although the dead leaves fall in winter, the roots and branches remain alive, and new leaves sprout again the following spring.