What soil does a hydrangea need: soil or soil for a garden hydrangea

Garden hydrangea is a plant of amazing beauty and size, which can be confidently attributed to one of the most spectacular in the CIS and Eastern Europe. Given this fact, it is not surprising that a huge number of gardeners throughout the country, including in the Urals, want to get a similar plant for their site.

If there are no problems with planting and growing hydrangea in an Eastern European climate, growing it in the Urals will require meeting some of the requirements, which we will discuss below.

Hydrangea: description, photo

The flower got its name for its moisture-loving nature. From the Latin language, the designation "hydrangea" is translated as a combination of "water" and "jug". Officially, hydrangea is called hydrangea. In Europe, the name was consonant with the common female name, so there were many myths about whom the loving botanist Fliber Commerson honored to be the founder of the name of the flower.

There is a popular legend about the emperor of Japan, who liked white elongated panicles, he used them to apologize to his lady. Since then, the hydrangea variety began to be personified with cordiality, sincerity of feelings, a manifestation of complacency.

These garden flowers are used as the main element of floral arrangements, borders, planted in plots to divide the space, while simultaneously marking the territory with abundant inflorescences of different shades. They coexist with thuja, juniper trees, but do not like to grow in the shade of tall conifers.

Hydrangeas are represented by several species: some of them belong to the shrub type, some grow like trees, the rest develop like vines. Description of the classic type of hydrangea:

Stems grow from 1 to 3 m.In some species, the height can reach 10 m.
Semi-oval leaves with pointed tips. The surface of the leaves is glossy, rich green.
Flowers are collected in inflorescences, scutes or panicles. The diameter of the inflorescences can reach 20 cm. The shade of the petals depends on the species. White and pink are considered the classic colors.
After ripening, the fruits are collected in a simple box, which is formed at the place of flowering of the inflorescence.

The genus includes several species that differ from each other.

Characteristic

A shrub that stretches up to 3 m. White small flowers reach 2 cm in diameter, form shields up to 20 cm in size. It begins to bloom by mid-summer, feels comfortable in the temperate climatic zone.

Shrubs or trees stretch up to 10 m. The difference from other subspecies is that small flowers are collected in inflorescences - panicles.

Bushes grow up to 4 m. Flowers on thyroid inflorescences can be blue, pink or white. This is the only species that can change the hue of the petal after changing the composition of the earth. Large-leaved hydrangia are often chosen for growing as a houseplant. There are over 80 varieties of indoor hydrangeas.

Hydrangea is grown in clubs as a garden type or on a windowsill as a houseplant. Flowering begins with the onset of summer and continues until the autumn cold. Inflorescence scutes or panicles make the hydrangea visible from afar.The shades of the petals attract gardeners. Hydrangeas can decorate flower beds, make any windowsill elegant.

Preparing for winter

Absolutely any sort of hydrangea that is distinguished by its frost resistance has its own temperature limit, at which it can withstand the cold without insulation. In the Urals, this is a common thing when in winter the air temperature drops to a point much lower than the temperature limit of winter-hardy varieties, as a result of which the shoots of the shrub freeze. Based on this, even the most cold-resistant variety requires serious shelter for the winter.

By the winter period, the shrubs begin to be prepared before the arrival of the first cold autumn. To do this, foliage is removed on all stems, leaving only the topmost ones. The plant is tied with a rope and covered with a special covering non-woven material. After that, it is carefully bent over to the ground and fixed with heavy objects, such as bricks and stones. On top of the shelter, it is covered with sawdust and lined with needles. And to protect the plant from excessive moisture, it is covered with roofing material or garden film.

As an option for warming for the winter, you can use the frame method of shelter. With this method, the shrubbery does not bend over to the soil. Next to it, in a circle, a frame is made of a metal mesh, filled with dried foliage and sawdust. This design is covered on top with roofing material, or a film. With the arrival of the spring thaw, the plant is carefully, and most importantly, gradually, the shelter is removed. The whole plant is freed from the shelter already with the end of the spring frosts.

Hydrangea care

Care rules are linked to specific cultural preferences. Garden hydrangea needs regular watering and a special substrate. In addition, she loves light and warmth, and is also picky about the choice of neighbors.

For hydrangea, places are chosen near the hedge, fence, on the south side of the house. The open area should not be shaded by the crowns of tall trees. There should be enough space for young bushes to grow. Neighboring crops are chosen so that the roots do not grow in breadth and do not compete for food and moisture. Exclude landings in areas where through winds are walking. Bushes can grow up to 4 m, so a strong wind can break branches and damage inflorescences.

An important point when choosing a place. The shrub is picky about light: in the morning it needs full sunlight, in the afternoon, incomplete shading is preferable. The scorching sun leads to shrinking and wilting of flowers.

Hydrangea needs regular watering. In summer, when the air temperature exceeds + 27-28 °, watering is carried out daily. The soil is moistened in the morning by basal watering. In the evening, the bushes are watered by spraying or sprinkling. The bushes are not resistant to droughts, and also do not tolerate stagnation of water, therefore, they exclude planting in lowlands where moisture accumulates.

To establish lush flowering, follow the feeding scheme. In the spring, the soil is fertilized with organic matter. Then mineral mixtures are added to build up the green mass and form the buds. At the peak of flowering, organic matter is added again. The type of mixture, the frequency of fertilizing completely depend on the composition of the soil. Some elements of the mixtures affect the alkalization of the medium, which is detrimental to all species, therefore, the addition of dolomite, limestone, chalk is avoided.

One of the important conditions for caring for a crop. In the spring, shaping pruning is mandatory. In young bushes, buds are cut off, this stimulates budding, old bushes are made with rejuvenating pruning. The bushes often form as balls (large-leaved, treelike) or elongated candles (paniculate).

Agrotechnical technique, carried out to retain moisture inside, helps to simultaneously maintain the level of acidity of the soil.For a layer of mulch, coniferous needles, pine bark or high moor peat are used.

Regular loosening of the top layer increases the conductivity of air and moisture, which is especially important for the crop. The soil under the bushes is loosened after abundant watering, after rains, combined with changing the layer of mulch.

The bushes are divided, bred by cuttings or layering. Planting rooted cuttings begins with soil preparation.

What soil is needed for hydrangea

The cultivation of a unique ornamental shrub is associated with the selection of the correct substrate. The requirements for the soil of this shrub are called high. In the large-leaved hydrangea, a close relationship is observed between the composition of the soil and the shade of the petals. If the soil is not sufficiently fertilized or changes the acidity index, then the plant can react by curling the leaves and dropping flowers. The soil for a garden variety must meet several basic requirements.

This indicator depends on the course of natural processes, it can change during the life of the flower. For hydrangea, soil of medium or low acidity is suitable. The best option is to create soil with a level of 5 or 5.5 ph. To measure the acidity level, gardeners use special litmus testers. Experienced growers determine the level by the type and shade of the inflorescences.

Lightness is determined by the presence of sand particles as a percentage of the total mass, as well as by the indicator of plasticity, that is, the ability to maintain shape after external exposure. The root system of shrubs requires light sandy loams with a plasticity number not exceeding 7 points.

This is one of the important criteria for horticultural crops. The substrate with the required nutritional value is prepared 2-3 months before the main planting. For enrichment, an equal amount of black soil, leaf and sod land is used, coarse sand, humus are added, as well as the necessary fertilizing. It can be 2 parts organic and 2 parts superphosphate. The mixture is left in holes prepared for seedlings for 2-3 months so that the components are mixed. Growers begin preparing the substrate in the fall.

The root system needs regular watering. Hydrangeas need constant moisture and are not drought tolerant. To do this, create a type of soil that contributes to the rapid transmission of moisture.

Planting process

Planting hydrangeas outdoors is a fairly simple process that even a beginner can handle. To carry out planting work, it is enough to adhere to the following points:

Prepare the very hole for planting planting material, in our case a cuttings (we recommend propagating hydrangea by cuttings in the conditions of the Urals). Preparation must be done 2 weeks before planting. So, two weeks before planting, you should dig a hole 60 cm deep and 30-40 cm in diameter (not essential). Fertile soil is poured into the pit, the required composition of which we described above, after which it is diluted with peat, in an amount of about 2-3 kg. If desired, sawdust can be added to the mixture, in an amount of 500 grams, which will also contribute to an increase in acidity. Having done all these steps, the pit is left for 2 weeks (no need to water);
Let's start choosing a cutting. Everything is also simple here, in addition to the fact that the stalk should be whole and have full foliage, without admixture of yellowness, you should pay attention to its root system. The main part of the roots of the cutting should be in a soil coma, and only in this form should the planting material be purchased. By purchasing a cutting without an earth coma on the roots, you will not only increase the period of its survival in the open field, but you will also not be able to store it for more than a few days;
During the planting of the cutting itself, dig a pre-prepared hole to a depth of 60 cm, put the cutting there, straighten the roots so that they look around the circle, do not bend and lift up, then fill them with the dug earth, if necessary, fill with new ... Thoroughly tamp the ground so that it does not sink in the future. Remember, the root collar should be at a depth of no more than 2 cm, otherwise the hydrangea will lag behind in growth;
Water the stalk with water so that the soil becomes moist at a depth of 50 cm, even more. One such watering will take about 30 liters of water;
Tie the stem to the peg so that the wind does not damage it. The planting process can be considered complete!

Soil composition for garden hydrangea

Garden and indoor culture may prefer different soils. The composition also differs depending on the species characteristics, individual preferences.

This species is especially liked by gardeners for the splendor of flowering and the formation of recognizable panicle inflorescences. For the panicle type, loams with a sufficient acidity are selected. Bright volumetric panicles appear on shrubs when the soil consists of equal parts of brown soil, peat, spruce or pine compost.

This species is the least picky about the composition of the soil. The shrub prefers loamy soils with an obligatory drainage layer. The treelike hydrangea is not as terrible as lime deposits as other species. In order for the bush to grow correctly, it is necessary to increase the acidity, that is, to acidify the soil in an artificial way. For a tree-like variety, loose, breathable compounds with an acidity level of up to 6.5 ph and the mandatory addition of coniferous earth are chosen.

Large-leaved varieties are compact bushes that are used for planting in the first row of curbs, as well as for decorating any personal plot. In addition, there are options for placing large-leaved potted hydrangeas on verandas or terraces to decorate the landscape.

soil for hydrangea planting

For planting large-leaved hydrangeas, places are selected next to heather crops, such as: rhododendron, as well as conifers, such as: thuja and juniper. The substrate for the large-leaved variety is prepared according to a formula with an equal amount of sand, turf, leafy soil, humus, peat. The root system of this species quickly reacts to changes in acidity: it changes the color of flowers.

Reproduction

Hydrangea propagation can be done in two main ways:

from cuttings;
from seeds.

Cuttings

The best time for grafting is in the middle of summer, when buds begin to appear on the plant. Cuttings should be cut from young plants, cutting off the leafy part of the stem with a pair of buds. Cuttings should be placed in a root growth stimulant solution so that leaves do not fall into it. Cuttings can be planted when the root system is sufficiently developed.

Seeds

Hydrangea seeds do not require any pre-planting preparation, so they can be sown in boxes directly from the package. After sowing, the box must be covered with polyethylene or glass. Despite the fact that the seedlings will appear in 20 days, within two years they will need to be grown at home and planted in the garden only in the third year.

Hydrangea seeds

In view of the complexity and duration, this method is rarely used. Most gardeners prefer cuttings.

The color of flowers depending on the acidity of the soil

In large-leaved hydrangea, the shade of the petals changes after a change in the acidity of the soil. Experienced gardeners experiment with indicators: they carry out acidification, they can artificially deoxidize the substrate. It is known that a large-leaved shrub grows on soil with acidity values from 4 to 7.4 ph.If the acidic environment exceeds the last mark, then the root system of the plant can be crippled.

For an ornamental large-leaved shrub, the following dependence of the shade of small flowers on inflorescences on the level of acidity is characteristic:

at 4 ph, purple petals;
4.5 ph - blue;
from 5.1 ph - blue;
at the level from 4.9 to 5.5 ph - from blue to pink;
from 6.5 ph - dark pink shade;
6, 9 ph - pink;
7, 4 ph - light pink.

Ground requirements

The plant can be grown throughout the season - from early spring to autumn. Keep in mind, however, that when planting the plant, you should choose a sunny or semi-shaded location. The soil requirements for hydrangeas are quite high. Plants are best cultivated on a well-permeable, nutrient-rich and moist substrate. This type of soil heats up very quickly in early spring, which results in the rapid emergence of the first vegetation after winter. Hydrangeas prefer slightly acidic soils (pH 5.5-6.0). Interestingly, the acidity level affects the color of the flowers. Reddish shades of hydrangeas are obtained by planting them on soil with a more alkaline reaction, while acidic soil results in hydrangea flowers turning blue or purple.

If the soil does not meet the required parameters, the plant may even die. The first signal of an unsuitable soil for a bush is curling flowers and falling leaves. Therefore, the gardener needs to closely monitor all changes in his plant.

How to acidify the soil for hydrangeas

Florists who cultivate crops know their garden well and work with different types of soil. A beginner will not immediately figure out the types of soil, but over time, you can achieve real color in the flowerbed by selecting components. To grow large-leaved hydrangea, they use techniques that help to create an unusual look: on the one hand, the bushes are grown on acidic soil, on the other hand, they use an alkaline medium. This allows you to get bushes with flowers of different shades.

blue hydrangea

There are many ways to make acidic soil for hydrangeas. To regulate acidity, special testers are purchased that help track indicators and adjust the composition. The use of an electrolyte can acidify any soil. A solution of sulfuric acid is well suited, which, in addition to the main purpose of oxidation, activates metabolic processes inside the plant, promotes growth and development. For 1 liter, 1 ml of electrolyte is taken; for an adult bush, about 5-6 liters of solution are prepared. Watering is carried out every 2 weeks.

To prepare an effective solution with citric acid, take 1 tsp. acid per 10 liters of water. The earth is watered with a solution of water with table vinegar. For 100 g, take 10 liters of water. The calculations are usually based on the use of 10 liters per 1 m². To make an acidic environment for flowers, they are guided by the basic rules:

Preparation for oxidation begins with a compositional analysis. A light and loose substrate can be easily refined with the addition of organic matter. Clay and heavy bases do not lend themselves well to deoxidation with organic matter - irrigation with specially prepared solutions is suitable for them.
Ferrous sulfate is added to clay and heavy bases. This is a substance that can provoke the necessary chemical reactions. The calculation is made taking into account the fact that 5 kg of ferrous sulfate reduces the acidity of 90 m3 per unit.
Organic matter is applied to soils with a good drainage layer. The air permeability of the layers contributes to the active decomposition of the components and the concomitant deoxidation of the soil. Sphagnum makes a drainage layer; compost prepared according to a special scheme is suitable as organic matter.
To increase the indicator, potassium-aluminum sulfate is used. About 20-50 g of alum is added to the surface every 2-3 weeks.This method is suitable for creating an unusual shade of petals.

When carrying out these procedures, it is taken into account that alkaline irrigation, precipitation, foliar processing contribute to soil deoxidation.

Mineral fertilizer

One of the most important procedures is to fertilize the hydrangea soil. You should fertilize two or three times during the season, at the latest at the end of August.

Its main function is to provide the nutrients necessary for the proper growth and development of hydrangeas. A suitable fertilizer must contain the macro- and microelements necessary to obtain the correct amount of flower and leaf buds and to maintain a long and intense flowering of the plant. In early spring, you should start fertilizing the shrub with a balanced granular hydrangea fertilizer. The composition of the universal plant nutrition includes nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and other trace elements.

The second method of fertilization is additional soil acidification. The aim of the procedure is to change the color of the flowers to a more intense color (the flowers become intensely blue). For this purpose, it is recommended to use fertilizers for acidophilic plants from early May to mid-August.

To prepare hydrangeas for the winter, fertilization with potassium and phosphorus at the end of summer is recommended. Delivery of these ingredients before winter will allow the hydrangea to properly prepare for the first frost, and then for a more or less cold winter. In addition, potassium and phosphorus influence the formation of flower buds and stems.

What soil does room hydrangea need

A pot with a room variety can decorate the windowsills of a private house or apartment in a high-rise building. Caring for a home crop is significantly different from keeping a garden shrub. Mostly large-leaved hydrangea is grown in the pot, this explains the variety of color shades of the petals.

soil for hydrangea in a pot

For the indoor variety, the presence of a drainage system is considered an important condition for keeping. This is a kind of pillow on which soil with a sufficient level of acidity is placed.

Indoor hydrangea is a compact plant that does not exceed a height of 1 m. Beautiful clay pots are chosen for planting, since flowers will become a decoration of the house, will stand in plain sight. The clay container absorbs excess water well, eliminating the disadvantages of care. A drainage layer of perlite or coarse sand is placed at the bottom. Then a soil consisting of leafy earth, peat and sand is placed.

What ready-made soil to buy

To plant indoor hydrogynea, they purchase a ready-made substrate that is equally suitable for rhododendrons and azaleas. As a rule, it is sold in 10 liters, it has a classic composition:

horse peat;
perlite, river sand (as a component to improve permeability);
complex mineral fertilizer (to increase the nutritional value).

The acidity level is between 4.5 and 5 ph.

Getting hydrangea with pink inflorescences

Consider what kind of soil a hydrangea needs to have to get pink flowers.

If you are tired of blue buds, you can raise the pH of the soil, of course, within a reasonable range. To do this, calcium should be added to the substrate for the plant or the bushes should be watered with calcium-containing water for several weeks. The blue should fade out gradually. When the pH reaches a value between 6.0 and 6.2, you can see the pink splendor of the flowers.

In the question of how to make the soil acidic for hydrangeas or, on the contrary, alkaline, care should be taken. So, at pH values below 4 or above 6.4, there may be a lack of nutrients. Cultivating a plant in alkaline soil with a pH> 7 can be detrimental to it. It so happens that, by chance, on one bush, flowers appear in dark pink and blue shades.It gives a fantastic visual effect.

Now you know what kind of soil hydrangea loves and about the unique possibility of changing the color of the flowers of this plant.

How to cook yourself

You can prepare a suitable soil for planting yourself, make it what the hydrangea needs. Coniferous needles and peat are used for mulch - these components successfully cope with the creation of the required acidity indicator. They take coarse sand, leafy soil, peat chips, pine needles.

For the room variety, humus is not used. The substrate is prepared according to the classic formula: 2 parts of turf and peat, 1 part of sand are added to 4 parts of leafy soil. The sand is calcined, small river stones for drainage are washed and dried. Pebbles are laid out at the bottom of the pot, then the substrate is added. After planting, the top layer must be loosened, which makes it possible to increase the level of air permeability. Then the soil is mulched with fresh needles.

Luxuriously blooming hydrangea: dream or reality?

All gardeners who have a hydrangea on their site know how unpretentious this beautiful, ornamental shrub is. It seems that there is no need to take care of him, they planted, he grows and blooms for himself. But how does it bloom? In order for the flowers to cover the entire bush with huge beautiful caps, he needs a little help. What should be done to grow a beautiful and strong plant?

What do hydrangeas love and dislike?

Planting hydrangeas, especially in the northern regions, is best done in early spring. When planting, we slightly shorten the roots, cut off all annual shoots, leaving 3-4 buds on each. Can be planted by cutting off the shoots "on a stump". So the plant takes root more easily, it will bloom in the summer. This applies to treelike hydrangeas that bloom on young shoots this year.
We do not cut large-leaved hydrangeas when planting, because their flower buds are located, as a rule, on the tops of last year's shoots, so we do not touch them. In areas with mild winters, plants can be planted in the fall.
It is better to plant hydrangeas in partial shade, only some of their species bloom well in the sun, and even then on condition of regular, abundant watering. Such is, for example, the panicle hydrangea (variety Vanille Fraise), the flowers of which turn purple-red in autumn. In the shade, it will never have such a beautiful color; in the shade, this variety loses its decorative effect.
Hydrangea paniculata does not like sandy soils and places unprotected from the wind.
Stalked hydrangea also does not like northern winds and will bloom more abundantly in an open, sunny place.
All hydrangeas can grow in one place for a long time, and we plant them for many years, so it is worth taking care of a large, well-fertilized planting pit.

By the way, such a planting hole is needed for all ornamental trees, bushes and perennial flowers. Usually they bought a plant, brought it home, I want to plant it in the ground as soon as possible. Do not rush to plant the plant until you decide on the place to plant it! After all, there is nothing more permanent than a temporary landing. In addition, a plant planted in a hurry is unlikely to please with its powerful growth and large flowers over time, it simply does not have enough strength. You can, of course, feed him later, as he grows, but doing this is more difficult, more troublesome, and the effect will not be the same.

So how do you prepare and fill your hydrangea planting hole?

We dig a landing hole 60x60cm in size, 40-50cm deep. We fill in several buckets of water there, it is possible at night so that the water is completely absorbed. The next day we fill the pit with fertile, compost soil, rotted leaves and red high-moor peat.
We bring organic and mineral fertilizers into the pit, mix everything and plant a bush.
After planting, water again abundantly and mulch the soil around the bush with sour peat, needles or rotted leaves. Mulch will help keep the soil moist.
Hydrangeas love acidic soils, the soil should not be calcareous.Better than other species, the presence of lime is tolerated by tree hydrangea, but it does not feel too comfortable and blooms worse.

How can you acidify the soil for planting hydrangeas?

Mountain peat, it is red in color, has a high acidity. Low-lying peat is black in color, it has a neutral or slightly acidic reaction of the soil environment, it is usually included in ready-made soil mixtures. Therefore, we add horse, red peat.
Leaf humus, it also acidifies the soil, improves its structure and is a good mulch. For plants loving acidic soil, such as hydrangeas, rhododendrons, heathers, erica, it is great.
In addition, the soil can be acidified with sulfur by sprinkling the soil a little, one teaspoon is enough.
It is good to add spruce or pine needles to the pit, which also perfectly acidifies the soil. How many trees are thrown away after the New Year, there is no need to go to the forest to collect spruce litter.

Hydrangeas are moisture-loving, so we water them abundantly both during planting and as they grow, especially in dry, hot weather.
So that young hydrangea plants have a beautiful, neat crown shape, we form them by pinching the apical shoots.
Hydrangeas, like all plants, respond well to feeding.

Which variety to choose for a frosty area?

The Ural climate is not suitable for all types of plants. If you want to grow petiole, oakleaf or large-flowered varieties, you should provide a reliable shelter for the bushes.

After all, they can die from severe cold. For novice gardeners, an excellent solution would be to choose a tree or paniculate culture.

To grow such hydrangeas in a harsh climate, it is necessary to use shoots from the local area, since purchased seedlings from other regions may not take root in the Urals.

The most popular is the Anabel tree variety, which was obtained in the United States.

This is an ornamental shrub with a loose and spreading crown. The plant is about 1.5 m high and 3 m in diameter.

The leaves of the culture are large oval in shape, with jagged edges. They are light green in summer and yellowish in autumn.

The plant blooms every year, from the second half of July to September. The shrub is able to withstand up to -39 ° C.

Hydrangea Anabel prefers light shade and tolerates minor droughts well. It is imperative to protect the culture from the winds.

Throughout the flowering season, you need to loosen the soil around the bush and fertilize with a solution of potassium permanganate.

If dwarf varieties of hydrangeas were chosen for the Urals, then they are allowed to be completely covered with snow for the winter.

This will allow the plant to better tolerate the cold. You can choose other varieties of hydrangea that do well in the harsh region:

Darts Little Dots. This is a dwarf variety of culture, the height of which is 0.8 m. The buds have a milky white hue. The flowering period is from mid-July to the end of August. Winter hardiness is possible up to -29 ° C.
Vanille Fraise. The shrubs reach a height of 1.5 m. They have large creamy-white buds, and then turn slightly pink and turn dark red by the end of summer. The variety has excellent frost resistance.
Unique. Plants reach a height of 2.5 m. The buds are white with a pinkish tinge. The flowering period begins from the 2nd half of July to the 1st decade of September.

It is possible to grow a hydrangea in the Urals both from seeds and seedlings.