How to propagate hydrangeas? Master these propagation key points
The difficulty of cultivating hydrangeas artificially is not high, but many flower enthusiasts often want to propagate them themselves after planting their own hydrangeas. The propagation methods for hydrangeas are quite conventional, and cuttings are the most popular and commonly used propagation method among flower enthusiasts
The difficulty of cultivating hydrangeas artificially is not high, but many flower enthusiasts often want to propagate them themselves after planting their own hydrangeas. The propagation methods for hydrangeas are quite conventional, and cuttings are the most popular and commonly used propagation method among flower enthusiasts.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas propagate easily and survive well. Propagation can be done by division, layering, cuttings and tissue culture.
Division propagation is carried out in spring before the plants sprout. Separate the rooted branches from the mother plant into several plants according to the root growth, cut off old roots and overly long roots, pot them directly, water thoroughly, and maintain them in semi-shade. After new buds sprout, carry out routine management. To increase the survival rate, rooting powder can be used to dip the roots of the divided seedlings.
Layering propagation is suitable in spring before the plants sprout. Select robust 1-2 year old branches, lightly notch below a node to cause local wounding, cut off the leaves on the part to be buried underground, bury it in soil, secure the branch well, and keep it moist. Roots begin to form in about 30 days. In the second spring, cut it off from the mother plant and transplant with soil.
Cutting propagation is best done in spring and summer, and can be done year-round under greenhouse conditions. Select tender, lignified or semi-lignified robust branches, cut them into cuttings 10-15 cm long, remove the lower leaves of the cuttings, and cut off 1/3-1/2 of the upper leaves. After cutting, maintain substrate moisture and provide appropriate shading. At 15-25°C, roots will form in about 30 days. Before cutting, the base of the cuttings can be soaked in a 1.1% naphthaleneacetic acid aqueous solution for 10 seconds, or dipped in rooting powder to increase the survival rate.
In modern flower production, hydrangea tissue culture propagation technology is widely used. Using induction medium: MS + 6-BA 1.0 mg/L + NAA 0.1 mg/L, and rooting induction medium: 1/2MS + NAA 0.5 mg, large quantities of high-quality seedlings can be rapidly produced.
Six key points of hydrangea cultivation methods
[Hydrangea growth environment]Hydrangea is native to China and Japan. It prefers warm, humid and semi-shady environments. The suitable growth temperature for hydrangea 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 flowering can extend the viewing period. However, high temperatures cause the flowers to fade quickly. The pot soil for hydrangeas should be kept moist, but watering should not be excessive. Especially during the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent root rot caused by waterlogging. In winter, indoor potted hydrangeas are better kept slightly dry. If too humid, the leaves are prone to rotting. Hydrangea is a short-day plant, requiring more than 10 hours of darkness per day, and flower buds form in about 45-50 days. During normal cultivation, avoid direct sunlight, with 60%-70% shading being ideal.
[Hydrangea cultivation methods]
1. Soil
Loose, fertile and well-drained sandy loam is best. However, changes in soil pH cause significant changes in hydrangea flower color. To deepen the blue color, aluminum sulfate can be applied during the flower bud formation stage. To maintain pink color, lime can be applied to the soil.
2. Planting
For potted hydrangeas, generally repot and change the soil once a year, preferably in early March. The new soil can be made from 4 parts leaf mold, 4 parts garden soil and 2 parts sand, with an appropriate amount of decomposed cake fertilizer added as base fertilizer. When repotting, prune the plant's root system, cutting off rotten roots, dead roots and overly long root fibers. After moving the plant into the new pot, compact the soil, water thoroughly, place in a shaded area for about 10 days, then move outdoors for normal management.
3. FertilizingHydrangeas like fertilizer. During the growing season, generally apply decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water once every 15 days. To maintain soil acidity, 1%-3% ferrous sulfate can be added to the fertilizer solution. Regular application of alum fertilizer water can make the plant branch abundantly and leaves green; adding 1-2 applications of potassium dihydrogen phosphate during the bud stage can make flowers larger and more colorful; applying cake fertilizer should avoid the dog days to prevent pests and diseases and damage to the root system.
4. Sunlight
Hydrangea is a short-day plant, requiring more than 10 hours of darkness per day, and flower buds form in about 45-50 days. During normal cultivation, avoid direct sunlight, with 60%-70% shading being ideal.
5. Watering
Hydrangea has large leaves and lush branches and leaves, requiring more water. During the growing seasons of spring, summer and autumn, water sufficiently to keep the pot soil consistently moist. In summer, when the weather is hot and evaporation is high, in addition to sufficient watering, spray water on the leaves daily. The roots of hydrangea are fleshy roots, so watering should not be excessive, and water accumulation in the pot should be avoided, otherwise root rot will occur. After September, as the weather gradually turns cooler, gradually reduce the amount of watering.
6. Pests and diseases
The main diseases include wilt, powdery mildew and leaf spot, which can be controlled by spraying 600 times dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. Pests include aphids and mirid bugs, which can be killed by spraying 1500 times dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
The above is the introduction by the Fowo Decoration Network editor on hydrangea growth environment and hydrangea cultivation methods, hoping to help you. To learn more about decoration knowledge, decoration quotes, decoration design, decoration companies and decoration prices, please follow Fowo Decoration Network. Fowo Decoration Network makes decoration worry-free and money-saving.Hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla Hydrangea illustrated guide: how to grow hydrangeas / how to propagate hydrangeas
Hydrangea profileHydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla
Hydrangea cultivation methods and precautions, introduction to hydrangeas
Hydrangea (scientific name: Hydrangea macrophylla), also known as hydrangea or ziyang flower, is a plant of the genus Hydrangea in the family Saxifragaceae. Hydrangea flowers are white and full, large and beautiful, and their color can be red or blue, pleasing to the eye and refreshing to the mind. It is a common potted ornamental flowering shrub. China cultivated hydrangeas relatively early, and hydrangeas were planted in Jiangnan gardens built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Parks built in the early 20th century also could not do without hydrangea plantings. Modern parks and scenic areas plant them in large patches to form landscapes.
Morphological characteristics of hydrangea
Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub with thick branchlets and obvious lenticels. The leaves are large and slightly thick, opposite, obovate, with coarse serrations on the margins, bright green on the upper surface, yellow-green on the underside, and thick petioles. The flowers are large, composed of many sterile flowers forming a terminal corymb. Flower color is variable, initially white, gradually turning blue or pink. Height 1-4 m; the stem often sends out many radiating branches from the base to form a rounded clump; branches cylindrical, thick, hairless, with a few elongated lenticels. Leaves papery or nearly leathery, nearly round or broadly ovate, 1.4-2.4 cm long, 1-2.4 cm wide, pink, light blue or white; fertile flowers very few, with pedicels 2-4 mm long; calyx tube obconical, 1.5-2 mm long, sparsely covered with curly short pubescence together with the pedicel, calyx teeth ovate-triangular, about 1 mm long; petals oblong, 3-3.5 mm long; stamens 10, nearly equal in length, not exserted or slightly exserted, anthers oblong, about 1 mm long; ovary mostly inferior, styles 3, about 1.5 mm long in fruit, stigma slightly enlarged, semi-annular. Capsule immature, long turbinate, about 4.5 mm long including styles, the protruding part at the apex about 1 mm long, about equal to 1/3 of the capsule length; seeds immature. Flowering period June-August. [1] 4-11.5 cm wide, apex abruptly acute with a short mucro, base obtuse-rounded or broadly cuneate, margin coarsely toothed above the base, both surfaces hairless or only sparsely covered with curly short pubescence along both sides of the midvein beneath, often with a few barbate hairs in the vein axils; lateral veins 6-8 pairs, straight, ascending obliquely upward or slightly arched near the margin in the upper part, flat above, slightly convex beneath, veinlets reticulate, conspicuous on both surfaces; petiole thick, 1-3.5 cm long, hairless. Corymbose cyme nearly spherical, 8-20 cm in diameter, with a short peduncle, branches thick, nearly equal in length, densely covered with appressed short pubescence, flowers dense, mostly sterile; sterile flower calyx segments 4, broadly ovate.
Ecological habits of hydrangea
Hydrangea is native to China and Japan. It prefers warm, humid and semi-shady environments. The suitable growth temperature for hydrangea 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 flowering can extend the viewing period. However, high temperatures cause the flowers to fade quickly.
The pot soil for hydrangeas should be kept moist, but watering should not be excessive. Especially during the rainy season, attention should be paid to drainage to prevent root rot caused by waterlogging. In winter, indoor potted hydrangeas are better kept slightly dry. If too humid, the leaves are prone to rotting.
Hydrangea is a short-day plant, requiring more than 10 hours of darkness per day, and flower buds form in about 45-50 days. During normal cultivation, avoid direct sunlight, with 60%-70% shading being ideal.
Loose, fertile and well-drained sandy loam is best. However, changes in soil pH cause significant changes in hydrangea flower color. To deepen the blue color, aluminum sulfate can be applied during the flower bud formation stage. To maintain pink color, lime can be applied to the soil.
Distribution range of hydrangea
Hydrangea is native to Japan and the Sichuan area of China. It was introduced to the UK in 1736. In Europe, cultivation is relatively common in the Netherlands, Germany and France, and red, blue, purple and other colored hydrangea varieties can be seen in flower shops. There are also many hydrangeas planted in the ground in small courtyards and in front of buildings. The German company Rampp Jungpflanzen is a world-famous enterprise producing hydrangeas and is also the main breeding and production unit for new hydrangea varieties. Next, the Dutch company Moerheim and the Israeli Yag nursery are also major hydrangea production enterprises. In Asia, Japan is mainly rich in hydrangeas. In gardening shops, hydrangea varieties are numerous, and many new varieties with unusual flower colors can be seen, all expensive and used as home potted ornamentals.
Propagation methods of hydrangea
Commonly used methods are division, layering, cuttings and tissue culture.
Division propagation: best done in early spring before budding. Separate the rooted branches from the mother plant, pot them directly, do not water excessively, maintain in semi-shade, and after new buds sprout, switch to normal care.
Layering propagation: carried out when buds begin to swell, growth can occur after 30 days, cut from the mother plant in the following spring, transplant with soil, and it can bloom in the same year.
Cutting propagation: carried out during the plum rain season. Cut the top tender branches, about 20 cm long, remove the lower leaves. The suitable cutting temperature is 13-18°C, and roots form 15 days after cutting.
Tissue culture propagation: use dormant buds as explants, disinfect routinely, then inoculate on MS medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine 0.8 mg/L and indoleacetic acid 2 mg/L to cultivate adventitious buds. When the shoots reach 2-3 cm high, transfer to 1/2MS medium supplemented with indoleacetic acid 2.0 mg/L to grow into complete small plantlets.
Potted hydrangeas commonly use 15-20 cm pots. After potted plants sprout in spring, pay attention to sufficient watering to ensure the leaves do not wilt. During the flowering period from June to July, fertilizer and water should be sufficient, fertilizing once every half month or using "Huiyou" 21-7-7 acid fertilizer. When sunlight is too strong in midsummer, provide appropriate shading to extend the viewing period. After flowering, remove the flower stems to encourage new branches. Flower color is affected by soil pH: acidic soil produces blue flowers, alkaline soil produces red flowers. Repot once every spring. Prune appropriately to maintain a beautiful plant shape.
Hydrangea cultivation techniques, cultivation management
Hydrangea prefers warm and humid conditions, is not drought-tolerant, and also avoids waterlogging; it prefers semi-shady environments, is not cold-tolerant, and is suitable for growing in fertile, well-drained acidic soil. Soil pH has a very obvious effect on hydrangea flower color: when the soil is acidic, flowers are blue; when the soil is alkaline, flowers are red. Hydrangea is best cultivated in acidic soil (pH 4-4.5 is suitable).
Hydrangeas like fertilizer. During the growing season, generally apply decomposed dilute cake fertilizer water once every 15 days. To maintain soil acidity, 1%-3% ferrous sulfate can be added to the fertilizer solution. Regular application of alum fertilizer water can make the plant branch abundantly and leaves green; adding 1-2 applications of potassium dihydrogen phosphate during the bud stage can make flowers larger and more colorful; applying cake fertilizer should avoid the dog days to prevent pests and diseases and damage to the root system.
Hydrangea has large leaves and lush branches and leaves, requiring more water. During the growing seasons of spring, summer and autumn, water sufficiently to keep the pot soil consistently moist. In summer, when the weather is hot and evaporation is high, in addition to sufficient watering, spray water on the leaves daily. The roots of hydrangea are fleshy roots, so watering should not be excessive, and water accumulation in the pot should be avoided, otherwise root rot will occur. After September, as the weather gradually turns cooler, gradually reduce the amount of watering. Move indoors before Frost's Descent, and the room temperature should be maintained at around 4°C. Before bringing indoors, remove the leaves to prevent leaf rot. In winter, place the plant in a sunny indoor spot, and it is best to move it outdoors after Grain Rain the following year. Hydrangea management is relatively extensive, with few pests and diseases, making it a relatively easy-to-manage and cultivate ideal potted flower. [3]
Four-season care
Hydrangea, also known as grass hydrangea, blooms from June to July. The flowers are initially white, gradually turning pink or blue, large and spherical, composed of sterile flowers. When the flowers bloom in profusion, they are 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 family courtyards or in a corner of a small patio, and is also suitable for potting to add color to balconies and windows.
Hydrangea prefers semi-shady and humid environments and is not very cold-tolerant. In summer heat, avoid direct sunlight, otherwise the leaves are prone to scorching, withering and yellowing. It is not suitable for excessive dryness and grows best in light loam rich in humus, moist and well-drained. Branches and leaves are prone to wilting and withering after frost. When cultivated in the open ground, the aboveground parts die in winter, and new shoots sprout from the rhizome the next year and bloom again. If potted in a greenhouse for winter, it can remain evergreen.
The key points of four-season care management are as follows.
Spring: For potted plants, prune dead branches and repot and change soil. After the plant adjusts, apply one or two dilute liquid fertilizers mainly based on nitrogen fertilizer to promote branch and leaf sprouting.
Summer and autumn: Place in semi-shade or under a curtain frame to prevent direct sunlight and avoid leaves turning yellow and scorched. Apply topdressing once or twice before and after flowering to promote green leaves and abundant flowers. After the flowers fade, promptly remove the flower stems to maintain a beautiful appearance. Keep the pot soil consistently moist, but prevent water accumulation after rain to prevent the fleshy roots of hydrangea from rotting due to excessive water.
Winter: After the beginning of winter, open-ground cultivated plants should be earthed up for warmth to help them overwinter safely; potted ones can be placed in a warm place facing south and sheltered from cold winds. Although dead leaves fall in winter, the roots and branches remain alive, and new leaves sprout again the next spring. [5]
Soil replacement and pruning
For potted hydrangeas, generally repot and change the soil once a year. Repotting and changing soil is best done in early March. The new soil is prepared with 4 parts leaf mold, 4 parts garden soil and 2 parts sand,
then an appropriate amount of decomposed cake fertilizer is added as base fertilizer. When repotting, prune the plant's root system, cutting off rotten roots, dead roots and overly long root fibers. After moving the plant into the new pot, compact the soil, water thoroughly, place in a shaded area for about 10 days, then move outdoors for normal management.
To make potted hydrangeas have a beautiful crown and bloom more, the plant must be pruned. Hydrangeas grow vigorously and tolerate pruning. Generally, after the seedlings survive and grow to 10-15 cm high, pinch them to allow the lower axillary buds to sprout. Then select 4 well-sprouted new branches in the middle and upper parts, and remove all lower axillary buds. When the new branches grow to 8-10 cm, pinch them a second time. Hydrangeas generally bloom on two-year-old robust branches. After flowering, the old branches should be cut short, retaining 2-3 buds, to limit the plant from growing too tall and encourage new shoots. After autumn, cut off the tips of new shoots to stop branch growth and facilitate overwintering. After such pruning, the plant's shape is more graceful and its ornamental value is greatly enhanced.
Disease control of hydrangea
The main diseases include wilt, powdery mildew and leaf spot, which can be controlled by spraying 600 times dilution of 65% zineb wettable powder. Pests include aphids and mirid bugs, which can be killed by spraying 1500 times dilution of 40% omethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
Variety classification of hydrangea
1. Alpengluehn, flowers dark red or rose red.
2. Chaperon Rouge, leaves small, dark green, flowers light rose red to magenta.
3. Enziandom, leaves dark green, flowers bright red, and if soil pH is below 5, flowers turn dark blue.
4. Flamboyant, leaves small, flowers large, magenta, flower diameter 5 cm.
5. Kuhnert, leaves small, serrated, normal flowers rose red, can turn blue. Treatment with aluminum sulfate can produce sky-blue flowers with beige centers.
6. Merveille, flowers magenta or rose red, can change to blue or light purple.
7. Otaksa, an old variety with a history of more than 100 years, a dwarf variety bred in Japan, flowers pink or blue.
8. Regula, leaves small and dense, flowers light greenish white, a variety selected and bred in Germany.
9. Rosabelle, inflorescence large, magenta or rose red, flower diameter 20-25 cm. Stratford, leaves small, dark green, flowers rose red.
10. Todi, flowers pink, can turn purple when treated with aluminum sulfate.
11. var. hortensis, flowers completely sterile.
12. var. mandshurica, stems dark purple, leaves elliptical, flowers rose-colored.
13. var. macrosepala, flowers white, petal margins toothed. var. coerulea, flowers dark blue, marginal flowers blue or white.
14. var. maculata, leaf margins white.
Uses and purposes of hydrangea
Hydrangea has large flowers and beautiful colors and is a famous ornamental plant in the Yangtze River basin. In gardens, it can be placed under sparse tree shade and beside shaded paths, or planted in patches on shady slopes. Because it does not require much sunlight, it is most suitable for planting in small courtyards with poor sunlight. Planting two plants opposite each other at a building entrance, planting a row along a building, or planting a clump in a corner of a courtyard are all ideal. It is even more suitable for planting as a flower hedge or flower border. If the entire flower ball is cut off and placed in a vase indoors, it is also a superior decorative item. Hanging the flower ball within a bed canopy feels even more elegant and interesting.
Cultural background of hydrangea
Legend has it that once the Eight Immortals went to the Jade Pool to attend the Queen Mother of the West's peach banquet. On the way back, they passed by the East China Sea and alarmed the Dragon King of the East China Sea. The Dragon King's nine sons were ordered to investigate on the sea surface. Among them, the Dragon King's seventh prince saw that He Xiangu among the Eight Immortals was beautiful, so he stirred up wind and waves on the sea and took the opportunity to seize He Xiangu and bring her to the dragon palace. The other seven immortals were furious, each raising their magic treasures, which transformed into seven red-scaled fire dragons, spraying fierce flames at the sea surface. In an instant, the seawater boiled violently. The Dragon King of the East China Sea felt unbearably hot in the dragon palace, and hearing the deafening roar outside, the dragon palace shook even more violently. After learning the reason, he angrily rebuked the seventh prince, bound him with his own hands, and invited He Xiangu to sit in the dragon palanquin, carried by the other eight dragon sons, rising to the sea surface to apologize to the immortals. When the seven immortals saw He Xiangu return safely and the Dragon King personally escorting the seventh prince to apologize, their anger subsided, and they expressed willingness to turn hostility into friendship. The Dragon King offered flowers to the Eight Immortals to express his apology. The Eight Immortals brought the fresh flowers to China. The flowers were clustered in abundance, just like a large hydrangea, truly with beautiful flowers and leaves, colorful and extraordinary, adding a beautiful scene to the garden. When people learned that this flower was brought by the Eight Immortals, they affectionately called it "Eight Immortals flower."
Flower language of hydrangea
Hydrangea is named after the Eight Immortals, so it symbolizes "the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their own talents." In the UK, this flower is metaphorically associated with "heartlessness" and "cruelty." In China, this flower is compared to: hope, health, enduring love, pride, cold love, happiness and reunion.
Medicinal or dietary therapeutic value of hydrangea
The medical information and health dietary information on Huhua Network are for reference only and cannot be used as a basis for diagnosis or medical treatment. Any health problems should be consulted with professional medical personnel, and treatment of any disease should follow medical advice.
Ultimate flower-protecting mission: To love yourself, start from reality and strictly follow medical advice. For illness, do not be careless, do not delay, do not give up hope, face it bravely, warm the silent world with love, and care for the flower field in your heart with your heart.
Medicinal effects
Selected formula one
Hydrangea ("Illustrated Examination of Plant Names")
[Aliases] Fentuan flower, ziyang flower ("Modern Practical Chinese Materia Medica"). [Source] The roots, leaves and flowers of the saxifrage family plant hydrangea.
[Collection] Harvested in spring and summer.
[Nature and flavor] "Common Chinese Herbal Medicines of Sichuan": "Bitter and slightly pungent, cold, slightly toxic."
[Functions and indications] 1. "Modern Practical Chinese Materia Medica": "Antimalarial drug, effects similar to Dichroa febrifuga. Also used for heart disease." 2. "Common Chinese Herbal Medicines of Sichuan": "Treats malaria, heart heat, palpitations, restlessness."
[Usage and dosage] Internal use: decoct in water, 15-20 g. External use: wash with decoction or apply ground juice.
Selected formula two
1. Treat malaria: hydrangea leaves 15 g, Dichroa febrifuga 10 g, decoct in water and take. 2. Treat scrotal wind: seven fentuan flowers, decoct in water and wash the affected area. 3. Treat rotten throat: fentuan root, grind with vinegar into juice; apply to the affected area with a chicken feather, and recovery occurs when saliva is produced. (Selected formulas from "Modern Practical Chinese Materia Medica")
Usage and dosage: Internal use: decoct in water, 15-20 g. External use: wash with decoction or apply ground juice.
Selected formula three
1. Treat malaria: hydrangea leaves 15 g, Dichroa febrifuga 10 g, decoct in water and take. 2. Treat scrotal wind: seven fentuan flowers, decoct in water and wash the affected area. 3. Treat rotten throat: fentuan root, grind with vinegar into juice; apply to the affected area with a chicken feather, and recovery occurs when saliva is produced. (Selected formulas from "Modern Practical Chinese Materia Medica")
Toxicity: In people's imagination, it seems as naturally edible as cotton candy and large round bread, but in fact, once hydrangea is eaten, abdominal pain appears within a few hours. Other typical poisoning symptoms include skin pain, vomiting, weakness and sweating, and reports say patients may even experience coma, convulsions and collapse of blood circulation in the body. Fortunately, an antidote for hydrangea poisoning has now been developed.
Hydrangea pictures