Panicled Hydrangea is loved by gardeners for long lush flowering with large inflorescences. This species tolerates frosts and is well grown in the middle zone of the Russian Federation. Now many of its varieties of various colors are bred. In this article, we will talk about a variety of panicle hydrangea, Strawberry Blossom, with white and pink inflorescences.
Grade description
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom due to the fact that its buds are somewhat reminiscent of strawberries, is called "strawberry flowering."
Appearance
Strawberry Blossom belongs to panicled species of hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata). She looks like the more famous bush Vanille Fraise, but in a more reduced form. The bush grows to a height of 1–1.5 m and has fairly strong shoots. The inflorescences have a cone-shaped shape resembling strawberry fruits, about 28–31 cm in diameter.
Did you know? Panicled hydrangea in its natural form grows in South Sakhalin, Japan and China. She came to European countries from Japan in 1820.
The flowers are tight to each other. This perennial shrub has rather large, dark green leaves, oval shapes. This plant crop tolerates cold and can withstand frosts to -30 ° C. It is perfect for cutting and composing flower arrangements.
Features of growth and flowering
A bush can bloom even in the first year of planting. Flowering lasts quite a long time - from July to October. Depending on the flowering stage, the buds have a different shade.
The flowers are initially painted in a light green tone, over time they become white, and after that they become pink. At the very end of flowering, they become raspberry with a few cream curls on top. This hydrangea will smell fragrant until the first frost.
Landing
Hydrangea can be planted in a permanent place in spring or autumn (in September). In the spring, landings are carried out when the earth begins to warm up. In autumn, landing is done only in the southern regions.
Choosing a place to land
The place for planting hydrangea seedlings is chosen depending on the climatic zone. In the middle lane choose a well-lit area. In the south, several shaded areas are chosen. It should be noted that the place should be well protected from gusts of wind.This plant crop loves moist, drained soil with enough nutrients. It is quite demanding on the level of acidity. It should be in the range of pH 5–5.5.
Soil preparation and seedling
Seedlings for planting should be purchased in specialized nurseries. Before planting, their roots need to be shortened a little. In order for hydrangea to please its lush buds, you need to prepare a nutritious soil mixture for the planting pit. To do this, mix the earth with peat, humus and sand (river) in a ratio of 2: 2: 1: 1.
Important! It should be borne in mind that the hygrophilous hydrangea bush does not tolerate the proximity of other plants that absorb water well, therefore this property should be taken into account when planting a plant at a constant place of growth.
Pre-dig a hole depending on the size of the roots of the planting material. Usually it has a size of 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3 m. An interval of at least 1 m is maintained between the plants. The day well before planting, the pit is well moistened - 2-3 buckets of water are poured into it.
Step-by-step landing instructions
Further planting of hydrangea occurs in the following sequence:
- Part of the soil mixture from peat and humus is poured into the pit. Mineral fertilizers suitable for hydrangea can also be used. 25 g of urea, 65 superphosphate, 25 g of potassium sulfate are added to each pit. It’s good to add needles.
- Then they make a hole and put a bush in it.
- The seedling is gently covered with nutritious soil mixture, while tamping the soil well. The root neck should be at ground level.
- Then they irrigate, and when the water is absorbed into the ground, they mulch the soil around the bush. Peat, needles and humus are good as mulch.
Care
In order for Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom to please with its unusually beautiful buds, it is necessary to arrange proper care for the bushes. It includes watering, fertilizing and fertilizing, pruning and shaping, as well as preparing for winter.
Watering
This plant crop needs a sufficient supply of moisture. It is necessary to water once a week. In dry, hot weather, the amount of watering can be increased. POne plant usually leaves 20–25 L of liquid. If possible, it is advisable to use soft and chlorine-free water. So that the soil does not dry out, and weeds are not actively growing around the bushes, it is necessary to mulch the plantings.
Did you know? The botanical name of the genus hydrangea — Hydrangea — translated from the Latin language as "a vessel with water."
Fertilizing and fertilizers
Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom responds to feeding more magnificent flowering. For fertilizer, you can use organics - a solution of manure or chicken droppings, humus.
Top dressing is carried out at least 4 times per season:
- In the spring, nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers are introduced. Organic is also a good fit during this period.
- In early summer, when buds are formed, mixtures containing urea, superphosphate and potassium are used.
- In early July, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are used.
- In mid-August, fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are also used.
You can use special mineral fertilizers for hydrangea. Gardeners recommend the following composition for more flowering flowering: 25 g of urea, 35 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate per 1 m² plot. To shoots were strong, periodically need to be irrigated with a solution of manganese in a small concentration.
Important! Before wintering, you can not use nitrogen-containing fertilizers, otherwise the bushes can grow and poorly tolerate the cold period.
Trimming and Shaping
Be sure to do a sanitary pruning of hydrangea and cut off faded buds. To form a bush begin only from the 4th-5th year of life. Remove excess shoots and growing inward. On the 5-10 remaining strongest branches, 3-5 buds are left.With this pruning, the bush will bloom more magnificent. Old bushes undergo anti-aging pruning. They can leave up to 10 of the youngest branches, and cut the rest, but you can cut all the branches into hemp. The plant will bloom luxuriantly again, but only after 2 years.
How to prepare for winter
The adult bush of hydrangea Strawberry Blossom is winter-hardy and does not need shelter for the winter. But if you shelter it from severe frosts, then it will bloom earlier and more magnificent. Most often, its root system is simply covered with a thick layer of mulch (about 20-30 cm).
Young plants should be covered before frost without fail. The branches do not bend to the ground, since they can break. For shelter use a frame of twigs and spunbod or other covering material that allows air to pass through.
Video: preparing panicle hydrangea for winter
Breeding methods
Hydrangea of the Strawberry Blossom variety is easily propagated by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. Consider each of the methods in more detail.
Cuttings
This is the most productive and popular method of propagation of panicled hydrangea. With it, you can get a lot of planting material. It is best to cut this plant in spring or summer, so that the cuttings are rooted properly by the cold season. In spring, woody branches remaining after trimming are used.
They are put in water for 3 days, and then cut into pieces of such a size that each has at least 3 kidneys. Then they are planted in a nutrient substrate, consisting of peat and sand, mixed in a ratio of 1: 1. Planting is watered and covered for the first time with a film, creating a greenhouse effect. Rooted plants are transplanted into open ground next spring. In summer, green non-woody cuttings are used. Each should have at least 4-6 sheets.The lower leaves are removed from them, and the upper ones are cut in half. Then the cuttings are put in water for several days, and then the ends are treated with a root stimulant and planted in a nutrient moist substrate from peat and sand. Top cuttings are covered with a jar to create a greenhouse effect. Rooted plants winter in a greenhouse with low positive temperatures and are transplanted to a permanent place for the next season.
Layering
In the early spring, before the buds open, a groove up to 5 cm deep is made next to the selected branch. The selected lower branch is bent and placed in this recess. So that it does not straighten, they pin it in several places to the ground and cover it with soil. In this case, the end of the branch should be on the surface.
It should be tied to a peg. Towards the end of summer, roots and young shoots up to 15–20 cm high appear on the layering. They should be wound weekly. Next year, at the end of September, young and mature plants are separated from the mother bush and from each other, and then transplanted to a permanent place.
Dividing the bush
This method is better to use in the spring, since dividers by the fall are already well taking root in a new place. The mother bush is dug up and divided into 3 parts. Each of them should contain several kidney renewal. Landing pits with a nutrient mixture are prepared in advance.
Did you know? The Japanese call hydrangea “adzisai”, which translates as “purple sunny flower" or «a flower like a purple sun. "
If there are root offspring around the bush, then you can not dig out the bush, but carefully separate them, being careful not to damage the root system of the plant. At the same time, it is recommended to first remove the top layer of soil around the shoot.Hydrangea Strawberry Blossom in the first year of planting can bloom lush, changing color from green to crimson, inflorescences. It is frost-resistant, but care is needed for it, and young plants should be covered for the winter. The plant is easily propagated by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush and will delight you with its long lush flowering.