Plant hydrangea correctly
Before starting the soil preparation, place the root ball in a container with lime-free water. In the meantime, loosen the soil deeply with the rake to remove stones and roots. The finer the clod, the quicker the shallow root can gain a foothold on the site. So it goes on:
- The planting pit has twice the volume of the root ball
- Half of the excavation is enriched with rhododendron soil and compost
- Pot the hydrangea and plant it as deep as in the container
- Water and spread a 3 to 5 cm high layer of mulch
also read
- Plate hydrangea: care, propagation, cutting
- Cut the hydrangea as little as possible
- Hydrangea prefers a shady location
Plate hydrangeas love to be mulched with fern leaves, leaves, clippings or coniferous compost. In this way, the soil stays moist longer and receives an additional portion of valuable nutrients.
Care tips
With the following care program you will spur a plate hydrangea to an abundance of flowers and vital growth.
- If the substrate dries up, pour lime-free water
- Water in the morning and evening hours on hot summer days
- From March fertilize with acidic compost, natural fertilizer or special hydrangea fertilizer
- Do not fertilize from the end of August / beginning of September
- In winter, pile up with leaves and brushwood, protect the buds with jute or a felt cap
In early spring, thin out the shrub thoroughly and remove all 5-year-old branches for rejuvenation. Cut off the withered flower heads.
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Which location is suitable?
Choose a location with partially shaded lighting conditions, in a location that is as sheltered from the wind as possible. The plate hydrangea finds ideal conditions under the canopy of tall deciduous plants. Make sure there is an adequate water supply in sunny locations.
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The correct planting distance
If the planting distance corresponds to half the growth width, you can't go wrong. This is true of group cultivation. If the hydrangea acts as a decorative fence in a hedge, keep the necessary distance to the neighbor. If you stick to this rule of thumb, there will be no trouble: Height in centimeters minus 130 results in the limit distance.
What soil does the plant need?
The perfect soil for plate hydrangeas is nutritious, fresh and moist, humic and has an acidic pH value of 4.0 to 5.5. Choose a commercially available rhododendron soil as the bucket substrate and optimize it with compost and lava granulate. (€ 13.76 at Amazon *)
What is the best time to plant?
The plate hydrangea is planted twice a year: in spring from April to May and autumn from late August to early October. Hydrangeas should not be planted only during hot, dry summer days and when the ground is frozen.
When is the flowering time?
Look forward to a summer flowering time from June to October with your plate hydrangea. In mild weather, flowering lasts into November.
Cut the hydrangea correctly
Since a plate hydrangea sets its flowers in the previous year, caution is required when pruning. How to do it right:
- In March / April only cut off the withered flower heads
- Do not cut any deeper than the next, strong bud
- Thinning out the entire bush
The pruning of the new 'Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout' variety is more flexible. Since this plate hydrangea blooms on the wood of the previous and this year, it tolerates a more extensive shape cutting in spring.
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Water the hydrangea
Those who water their hydrangea too seldom will feel their displeasure by indignantly shedding flowers and leaves. The ornamental wood appears to be weighed when watered like this:
- Water regularly and thoroughly without causing waterlogging
- Use soft rainwater or decalcified tap water
- Do not water the flowering bush from above
Check the substrate in the bed and tub daily with a thumb test. When the surface of the earth is dry, it is poured. In summer this may be necessary twice a day, in the early morning and in the evening.
Fertilize plate hydrangeas properly
You fertilize a plate hydrangea every 14 days from March to September with acidic coniferous or leaf compost, to which you add horn shavings (€ 6.39 at Amazon *). The supply of nutrients is less time-consuming with special hydrangea long-term fertilizers. A single dose in March is enough to cover the energy requirements for the entire season.
Overwinter
Even though a plate hydrangea is hardy, play it safe with these precautions when wintering in the bed:
- Before the first frost, pile up a thick layer of leafy soil and cover with needle twigs
- Protect the branches with reed mats, jute ribbons or a felt hood
Ideally, carry the hydrangea in a bucket to a light, cool winter area. Temperatures should be around 5 degrees Celsius here.
Propagate plate hydrangeas
Hydrangeas have the best chance of propagating if you use one of the following methods:
- Division of the rhizome in spring or autumn, while the sap is resting
- Cut cuttings during the summer, place in poor substrate and care for until the next year
- Pull the sinker to the ground, dig in the middle part and let it take root
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How do I transplant properly?
Transplanting a hydrangea is possible in spring or autumn. The ornamental shrub should be in its sap dormancy so that the stress does not affect it too much. A week or two before the appointment, prick off the roots all around and water repeatedly so that a lush fine root system can develop. In this way you proceed properly on the day of the transplant:
- Loosen the root ball and lift it out of the ground
- Maintain the previous planting depth at the new location
- Water abundantly and mulch with leaf compost
Plate hydrangea in a pot
Thanks to its graceful stature, the plate hydrangea creates a picturesque image on the balcony. If you choose a container with a volume of at least 20 liters, the shrub will be happy to spread its roots here. Drainage over the water outlet is essential. Use inorganic material such as potsherds or expanded clay. (€ 17.50 at Amazon *) As a substrate, we recommend compost-based bog soil, enriched with a handful of lava granules for optimal permeability.
How does a plate hydrangea keep its blue color?
The blue color of a plate hydrangea is based on horticultural skill, because Mother Nature did not use this tone for hydrangeas. In order to ensure the blue color for the entire flowering period, a low pH value of the substrate of 4.0 to a maximum of 5.0 is required. This works equally well in the bed and in the tub:
- Use a special preparation with Blaumacher as fertilizer, such as Norax hydrangea fertilizer with deep blue dye
- Supplement an organic fertilizer with 20-60 grams of alum from the pharmacy from March to July
The most beautiful varieties
- Blue tit: light blue plate flowers with a diameter of 10 cm from June to September; Growth height 100-130 cm
- Lanarth White: two-tone hydrangea beauty with white and pink flowers; Height 90-120 cm
- Pheasant: spectacular plate hydrangea with purple flowers and a broad, bushy habit: 100-130 cm tall
- Mariesii Perfecta: the graceful variety captivates with its delicate pink flowers; Growth height 100-130 cm
