Tips for Growing and Propagating Beautiful Hydrangeas

Hydrangea are deciduous plants that produce beautiful, large blooms in mid summer.

They are perennials, which means they will bloom year after year if given a little tender loving care. They are native to central and eastern Asia, the Himalayas and North and South America. They come in a variety of colors that includes blue/lilac, pink, purple, white and variegated.

Flower Heads
Each flower head has both male and female florets. The male, or sterile florets can be found on the outside of the bloom. They form colorful sepals. Female or fertile florets grow in the center of the flower head and bear both female and male parts.

Hydrangea start to bloom in mid summer. All flower heads should be removed as they die back to ensure continual blooming. If you wish to have large blooms, thin the stems. This sends all nutrients to the remaining stems, which produces larger and more colorful blooms.

Growth
The majority of Hydrangea grow to be between three and ten feet high. Rare varieties can grow as tall as 25 feet.

Varieties
There are more than 1200 varieties of Hydrangea.

Growing Hydrangea
Hydrangea prefer an area gets full sun or partial shade. If you live in a warm climate, they should be planted in partial shade to prevent wilting when the sun is very hot. Hydrangea prefer rich, loam soil that’s kept moist, but not wet.

Add lots of compost to the hole when planting Hydrangea. They should be mulched annually in order to replenish nutrients. Mulch also helps them to retain moisture. This will decrease watering frequency. Soil should be kept moist throughout the growing season. This will promote healthy, lush blooms. Hydrangea should be fertilized once a month.

Pruning
Prune Hydrangea bushes back in winter or early spring. If they become damaged in winter, prune close to the ground to allow the plant to rejuvenate.

Color
The color of Hydrangea depends on the acidity of the soil in your yard or garden. Micro nutrient aluminum that is taken in through the plant’s root system can change the color of the flowers. If soil is high in acidic aluminum, blooms will be blue. The higher the level of acidity and aluminum, the bluer the blooms will be. Soil that is high in alkaline will produce pink blooms, while neutral soil will produce white.

A New Color?
If you wish to change the color of your Hydrangea, increase acidity by adding aluminum nitrate. Lime will reduce soil acidity.

No Blooms?
If your Hydrangea doesn’t bloom, it could mean it was damaged during the winter. A late frost will kill buds, so be sure to cover the bush to protect it. Poor soil, or not enough sun can also prevent plants from blooming.

Disease
If your Hydrangea is covered in a powdery mildew or leaf spots, treat the bush with an environmentally friendly fungicide. This will keep your plants disease free.

Pests
Aphids and red spiders, as well as a few other insects may cause problems when growing Hydrangea. Treat with a small amount of dish detergent diluted in water. Other options are to treat with environmentally friendly insecticide soap.

Propagating Hydrangea
If you wish to start your own Hydrangea instead of buying from a garden center or nursery, begin new cuttings between April and August. Propagating Hydrangea is easy:

1. Choose new growth.
2. Cut between six and eight inches from the end of a stem that has no blooms.
3. Be sure the cut has at least two pair of leaves.
4. Remove the pair of leaves closest to the bottom of the stem.
5. Plant the stem in a shady area. Be sure the soil is sandy.
6. Cover the cutting with a clear object, such as a glass jar.
7. Leave the glass cover over the new shoot until the root system forms.
8. Keep moist - not wet.
9. When roots form, move the plant to a permanent location. Hydrangea will grow in containers or your garden.
10. You may also propagate Hydrangea by harvesting seeds in the fall. If you do so, put them in the freezer for 24 hours before planting in February or early March. Keep inside until the root system flourishes, then move them to a permanent spot in your yard or garden.