How Many Times a Year Does a Hydrangea Bloom? A Detailed Guide to the Correct Planting Method
When people are bored in their spare time, they choose to keep pets or grow flowers, plants, and trees, and most of them choose to grow green, eco-friendly plants. Because the hydrangea has excellent ornamental value, many people also like to grow this plant at home.
I. How many times a year does a hydrangea bloom?
Generally speaking, the hydrangea blooms in June every year, and unlike other flowers, this plant blooms only once a year. However, because of the hydrangea's blooming characteristic, both new branches and old branches bloom, so the flowers on the old branches often fade before the new branches begin to bloom, which creates the illusion that it blooms twice a year.
II. How to grow a hydrangea
1. Growing environment
Although the hydrangea is a relatively shade-tolerant plant, this does not mean it dislikes sunlight. When planting a hydrangea in a sunny environment, its branches will become thicker and sturdier and less likely to fall over, and the flowers will be more vivid. However, the hydrangea's cold tolerance is rather weak, so remember to protect the old branches in an environment of minus 10 degrees. If the old branches are frostbitten, the plant will be unable to bloom normally the following year.
2. Growing medium and flower pot
The hydrangea does not have very high soil requirements, as long as the soil holds moisture well. Because this plant has lush branches and leaves, starting in April you must ensure the plant absorbs water, and never let it become dehydrated. When the temperature is relatively high, it is recommended to water twice a day, and when watering, try not to pour water directly on the flowers. If the flowers and leaves get wet, they can easily be sunburned.
3. Pruning
Because the old branches of the hydrangea undergo flower bud differentiation in autumn and winter, the pruning work must be completed before autumn. Cut off the plant's spent flowers and aged branches, then cut the branches shorter according to the needs of controlling the plant's shape. If the place where the plant is grown is relatively large, it is recommended to keep more branches.
4. Fertilizing
Because the hydrangea has a great demand for fertilizer and is also very particular about fertilizing. In autumn and winter, flower buds undergo differentiation, so fertilizer can be applied for the first time in autumn. This first fertilizing is mainly based on compound fertilizer, and the second fertilizing is in winter, mainly based on organic fertilizer. When the plant sprouts in March, apply liquid fertilizer once every one or two weeks, so it is recommended to apply flower fertilizer directly.
5. Cutting propagation
The hydrangea's main method of propagation is cutting; generally, after flowering, just cut off a branch and use it for cutting. This plant is also very easy to propagate by cutting, and the cutting method is very simple: just cut off a section of branch and then insert it for cutting. Although hydrangea cutting is very easy, if you use branches that have already undergone vernalization in winter or early spring for cutting, although they can survive, they can easily affect the flowering effect of the large plant.
Through the detailed introduction above, have you already mastered the method of growing hydrangeas? If you want to succeed in growing them, you must master the correct propagation method, so that you can grow beautiful flowers.
Hydrangea blooms twice a year
Hydrangea (scientific name: Hydrangea macrophylla), also known as hydrangea or ziyang flower, is a plant of the genus Hydrangea in the family Saxifragaceae. The hydrangea's flowers are pure white and full, large and beautiful, and their color can be red or blue, pleasing to the eye and refreshing to the spirit; it is a common potted ornamental flowering shrub. China cultivated hydrangeas relatively early, and hydrangeas were planted in the Jiangnan gardens built during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The parks built in the early 20th century were also inseparable from the arrangement of hydrangeas. Modern parks and scenic areas all plant them in large patches to form landscapes. The hydrangea requires well-drained, humus-rich, relatively fertile, mildly acidic soil; soil compaction easily causes waterlogging, so the soil must be loosened in time, and the pot should be changed before sprouting in early spring.The hydrangea likes a half-shade, half-sun environment and fears direct strong sunlight most; in midsummer it should be placed in a cool, well-ventilated place, otherwise it is prone to sunscald, with leaves turning yellow and scorched.
The hydrangea's leaves are relatively large and fat, and its water demand is great; in midsummer it can be watered twice a day, but not excessively, and after rain the accumulated water in the pot should be poured out, because too much water will cause the fleshy roots to rot. After August, growth slows down, so it is enough to keep the pot soil moist; improper watering will cause dead branches, fallen leaves, and root rot.
To control overly dense plant growth, in early spring between February and March, cut off weak branches and branches that have already flowered from the base to promote the healthy growth of new branches; when new shoots grow to more than 10 cm, they can be pinched; in March of the following year, remove weak buds again to promote the robust growth of the main and side branches.
The hydrangea is susceptible to freeze damage; during the low-temperature leaf-shedding period, it is enough to keep the pot soil moist, and the overwintering temperature should be kept at around 0°C, but to promote good dormancy and vigorous sprouting the following spring, you can remove some leaves when bringing it indoors at the end of November, keep the room temperature at 2°C to 3°C, keep the pot soil slightly moist, keep the air flowing, and keep it away from coal smoke and oil grime.
To make the hydrangea bloom twice a year, in addition to strengthening the above measures, you can still carry out heavy pruning after the first flowering to promote the sprouting of new branches, select and keep 4 to 6 branch tips, cut off the rest, and strengthen water and fertilizer management; apply quick-acting phosphate fertilizer in July to August, and it can bloom a second time in September to October.
How to cultivate hydrangeas? A detailed guide to hydrangea cutting cultivation techniques
How to grow hydrangeas? The hydrangea is shaped like a hydrangea ball, likes fertile, moist soil, and is a very delicate flower; most hydrangea cultivars can only be reliably propagated through rooted cuttings. Let's learn about hydrangea cutting cultivation techniques below.
Preparation work
Cleanliness is essential for successfully rooting hydrangeas. Wipe the pruning blades with a cloth soaked in alcohol. This will kill disease organisms and prevent the spread of pathogens. Clean the flower pot; after rinsing it in clean water, soak the pot in a solution of 1 part household bleach to 9 parts water for at least 5 minutes. Rinse it clean with clean water. Use rooting soil (for example, equal parts peat and perlite) to fill the pot to within 2-3 cm of the rim. The time is mid-to-late summer propagation, when the flowers have already formed and the stems are still green.
Finding branches
Find hydrangea stems that have not yet flowered, because flowering reduces the concentration of plant hormones in the stems. This hormone promotes rooting. You can test correct stem development by bending a green stem.
Cutting
Using clean pruning shears, remove the top part of the stem containing several leaves. Cut the stem below the node, which is the area where leaves emerge. Cut the stem into shorter pieces, each about 10CM, containing three to four nodes. Clean the alcohol-pruning shears between each stem cut from the shrub.
Preparing for planting
Prepare a small, clean container with some rooting hormone in it. Never dip the cuttings into the entire container, which may contaminate the rooting hormone. If leaves are present, remove the lower two leaves from the cutting. Immediately dip the base of the stem into the rooting hormone, applying it to the freshly cut end as well as any wounds created by removing leaves. Cut off the outer half of the remaining leaves to reduce water use by the cutting.
Maintaining humidity
You need to keep the cutting until it roots, so it needs a humid environment. Place a large, transparent plastic bag over the cutting, and if needed, take it off the branch, with the stump inserted into the potting mix. Place the cutting in a cool place. It will probably root after about a week.