HYDRANGEA

HYDRANGEA

Name from the Greek words 'hydro' - water, 'aggeion' - a vessel that has demonstrated the moisture-loving plant of the genus.

Popular with gardeners around the world plant received its name through the efforts of the participants of the first French world expedition, led by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville: French physician and naturalist Philibert Commerson and future Russian Admiral Nassau-Siegen.

November 7, 1768, the expedition Bougainville, arrived on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The crew went for a long vacation to the beach. Commerson, settling in a luxurious estate manager Poivre Island, quite a lot of time in the company of military engineer Jean-Henri Bernardera de Saint-Pierre, who took a great interest not only in botany, but Madame Poivre. This beautiful young woman always wore dresses and air loved flowers, and in both cases giving preference to white, pink and blue. Once the engineer took the Parisian scholar in that part of the park, where he grew up unknown bush, covered with flowers, of which he made bouquets for the woman. Plant, recently imported from China during the flowering covered with pink or blue blossoms-balls. Commerson immediately realized that to him unknown in Europe bush, and decided that he wanted to give the name of the beloved engineer. But on that day in their walk attended Nassau-Siegen. The young prince spoke passionately about his sister Hortense beautiful and showed her a miniature portrait. Commerson quickly realized that he has the opportunity to excel, and then proposed to call this Chinese flower called distant princess. Thus, ironically, the flower instead of being called "Poivre" became "hydrangea".

This is the latest European botany, plant taxonomy renamed to the name of Hydrangea macrophylla (Gidrangiya macrophylla) and carrying out the generic name from the Greek words hydro - water and angeion - vessel, stressing that that relates to moisture-loving plants. But the gardeners of the world is still called by his name Princess Hortense, sometimes adding the adjective "French" in memory of the fact that the Western world has learned about the plant by the first French world expedition.

Description: The genus contains 35 species distributed in Asia, North and South America. Under natural conditions in Russia grows two types.

Deciduous, large-leaved, ornamental shrubs (sometimes lianas), rarely small trees with many flowers in large inflorescences. Flowers usually of two types: small fruiting placed in the middle of the inflorescence boundary - large, barren, with 4-5 petaloid sepals, mostly snow-white, blue or pink. Fruit - 2-5-lobed capsule with many small seeds.

For the first time in Europe hydrangea was imported from Japan in 1820 From 1900 its selection. These were mostly varieties derived from low winter hardiness species Hydrangea macrophylla, or garden (H. macrophylla, H. hortensis). So first hydrangea grown only as an indoor plant. The first varieties have been bred French originators Lemuanom, Nancy, Muerom, Vendome. Already by the 60s of XX century. was removed about 100 varieties.

All botanical gardens Russia Introduced 12 species. They all grow well in the open Gunta central Russia. The exception was Hydrangea macrophylla, which is less winter-hardy than other species, and so is widely used in the south, but in the middle lane can be used for garden decoration as pot plants or as ornamental plants used in the interiors of practically everywhere.

The most common are: Hydrangea paniculata (H. paniculata Sieb.), Hydrangea (H. arborescens L.), hydrangea Groundcover 'Bretschneider' (N. heteromalla 'Bretschneideri' Dipp.). Much rarer more thermophilic species: oakleaf hydrangea (H. quercifolia), radiant hydrangea (H. radiata), ashy hydrangea (N. cinerea), hydrangea serrate (H. serrata), Sarzheta hydrangea (H. sargentiana), hydrangea rough ( H. aspera). In vertical gardening using hydrangea petiolate (H. petiolaris = H. anomala subsp. Petiolaris).

Location: in the south preferably half-shaded. Only some types of best bloom in the sun, but the strong watering. In central and north to plant hydrangeas in the open field choose well lit by the sun or a little shade. Young plants are best to keep safe from the midday sun and the wind. Because of the increased need for moisture hydrangea not to sit under the trees, which absorb moisture in large quantities.

Soil: demanding to wealth and soil moisture. Soil mix: humus, ground sheet, peat and sand (2:2:1:1). Please be aware that all types of hydrangeas are opposed to the presence of lime in the soil, the soil for them to be closer to the acidic (pH about 5.0). It is a reaction of the soil environment is usually the case in the middle lane. Several other less affected by lime, the tree, but also its "peace-loving" abuse is not necessary. Hydrangea hygrophilous. It is very easy to learn, since the literal translation of its Latin name gidrangea - a container of water. Hence, the soil should be watered timely.

Landing: hydrangea planted in the ground in the northern spring, in the south - in the spring and fall. Plants are planted in early spring at a distance of 1 m from each other, not buried root collar. The value of the pits for the young plants, 30 x 30 x 30 cm hydrangeas shallow root system, but extensive. Each hole is made third bucket of humus and peat, after planting the plants watered. Watering is better done with a soft rain water. After watering the soil loosened. At the end of May - beginning of June, spend fertilizing solution slurry at a ratio of 1:10 and complete mineral fertilizer: 20 g superphosphate, 10 g of potassium and ammonium nitrate in 10 liters of water. Fertilizers are applied repeatedly in 10-15 days. Supplementary feeding provides the best bloom in the current year and laying of flower buds of next year. Tree trunks humus or peat mulch, mulch after digging added. Conducted in autumn ridging bushes to a height of 20-30 cm

Care: well to all feeding. Spring at the beginning of growth make Riga mix with trace elements or 1 square. m account for 20 - 25 g of urea, 30 - 40 g of superphosphate and 30 -35 g of potassium sulfate. In the second period of budding make fertilizer at the rate of 60 - 80 g of superphosphate and 40 - 45 g of potassium sulfate per 1 square. m, and the third and fourth feeding - in the summer. Hydrangeas are hydrophilic: 15 - 20 liters under each plant give once a week, when rainfall is sufficient time in one month. To enhance the strength of plant shoots is recommended to water with a weak solution of acid-manganese potassium.

Peat or sawdust mulch layer 6 cm and leave them for the summer, otgrebaya from trunks of plants. Loosening to a depth of 5 - b cm spend together with weeding and watering 2-3 times per season.

There are two methods of artificial hydrangea flowers turn from white to blue. One - sprinkled around the roots aluminum sulphate. Second - shrub watering special bluing agent, which can be bought in the gardening store.

Most of the species described here hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla apart) does not require any special shelters. Only in the first 1-2 years of their harbor fall foliage and root system spud ground. Sargent hydrangea requires the same shelter and wrapping paper of the whole plant, or over the cartons. Hydrangea macrophylla needs a reliable shelter in winter and protection from spring frosts.

Pruning: Hydrangea paniculata and tree buds form on new growth this year. Without pruning hydrangea bushes very thickening, have started looking, and quality of flowering gradually decreases. If the early spring crop them tightly, they have formed strong shoots, which in the summer or early fall formed buds. The main requirement - holding pruning in early spring, so that there is time for a flowering growths. So pruning should hold in March-April, when growth buds begin to swell and you can see the location of new shoots. Clipped shrubs important to fertilizer to stimulate the formation of good healthy annual increase.

The purpose of the initial pruning is the formation of strong, evenly spaced skeletal stems. In the first year for the normal development of the root system of pruning hydrangeas should not be as strong as in the following years. When planting remove all weak and damaged shoots. In March-April, cut growth by one to three quarters of their length. Larger shrubs trimmed more than the less tall.

In the second year, in March and April last year strongly cut growth by developing buds of the older part of the stem. The soil at the base of the plant should be strongly zamulchirovat compost or manure to stimulate a powerful new growth. In subsequent years, trimming procedure is the same as in the second year. After a few years, the main lignified branches can thicken, so they should be periodically thin out. To ensure regular sprout need annual mulching plants. Shortage of food can lead to weak thin shoots. Hydrangea bushes rejuvenate aging by trimming on long timber or "on the stump" (heavily pruned, leaving a height of 0.5 - 0.8 m), such plants can bloom the following year, as the flowers are laid on the shoots of the current year. Autumn remove withered blossoms.

Do hydrangeas petiolate and ground cover in the spring slightly shorten long shoots, as a result they are better branch and bloom profusely. Annual growth of select few of the strongest shoots for subsequent replacement of old, weak shoots are removed, "the ring."

Hydrangea macrophylla have laid the flower buds on the ends of last year's shoots. In the spring of last year's only cut inflorescences, as well as small and dead shoots.

Growing plants and uterine trunks:  hydrangea plants intended for liquor and plant cuttings for subsequent capture in the first 3-4 years grow slowly. So try to put them thickening middle acid maintain moisture and soil reaction, for which they are fed superphosphate and ammonium sulfate. Green stalks are cut each year (70-90% of shoots). The life span of queen - 25-30 years. On average, one bush 5-8 years can be cut up to 50 cuttings. Stam for growing seedlings leave forms on one powerful flight, the next year cut back all shoots except one, and the remaining shoots are cut top and side shoots off of it, forming a crown on trunks. So, every year the main escape shorten to a well-developed buds. When he reaches the 1 - 1.5 m in height, provide a crown. Each year, the leader of the escape is cut off at a strong kidney, and of the lower located 4-5 pairs of kidneys develop skeletal branches. Then formed a one-year crown. To do this, before the growing season cut all annual shoots, leaving each shoot 2-4 pairs of kidneys, and so is repeated every year.

Reproduction: mostly green hydrangea propagated by cuttings, which are cut from the shoots of the current year. Among other methods known winter cuttings, division bush, reproduction by layering, seeds and grafting. The last two methods is not used as a more expensive, less reliable and more labor-intensive. Varieties possessing only sterile flowers are propagated vegetatively, ie, cuttings, division bush, layering.

Can be propagated by dividing the bush all the hydrangeas. This operation was carried out in spring and autumn. For this shrub is dug and divided in such a way that in each plot were kidney regeneration. Raise the plants watered. When planted in the spring, fall, they take root.

For reproduction by layering annual shoots bend down to the ground and placed in the prepared hole so that the underground was part of the shoot with the kidneys. Then dig a hole. The apical part of the shoot, about 20 cm, must remain outside. Autumn or next spring rooted escape separated from the mother bush and planted in a permanent place.

Most often conducted reproduction spring or summer cuttings. Spring cuttings taken in early June, at the base of them should be kept small part of old wood, the so-called "heel." Summer cuttings taken in July, but lignification escape. To do this, cut stems from the apical part of the shoot of the year. Duration rooting 20 - 25 days. Cuttings harvested one or two internodes. To reduce evaporation leaves pruned by half. Use or mechanized irrigation dose injectors, or spraying with a fine spray jet. In both cases, a high percentage of rooting. The best conditions of propagation - the artificial fog and soil mix consisting of 2 parts peat and one part sand, one can take a sheet on top of the ground and cover it with a layer of sand in the 3 - 4 cm in some species - ashy hydrangea, paniculata - give 80-100% - tion rooting stimulants without treatment, others - 100% rooting observed in the processing of indole-butyric acid at a concentration of 0.01% (Hydrangea Chereshkovaya) and 0.005% (hydrangea).

In northern areas, some prefer to keep their first winter hydrangea paniculata rooted cuttings and tree in pots in a cold frame or basements, avoiding drying coma. Spring planted in the ground. At the second winter bushes left on the ridge with good shelter from spruce branches. It was only three years old are considered to be ready for the Russian winters.

Winter cuttings performed only Hydrangea macrophylla. The mother plant in October dug out of the ground, are transplanted into pots containing at 0 - 2 ° C. In January, they are transferred into a room with a temperature of 7 ° -10 ° C. The soil mixture should be made up of turf, humus soil, peat sand in the ratio 4:2:1:1. Two weeks later, queen cells start to grow. In February, they are cut from green cuttings that were rooted in the boxes with loose fertile soil layer 2-4 cm, sprinkled with river sand. Leaves pruned by half. In such conditions, the cuttings take root quickly and grow well, forming an extensive root system.

Hortense can sow in the open ground in April and May, and in the greenhouse in December. When sowing seeds in the ground station hydrangeas start to prepare the fall. Bed should be above ground level, it improves soil drainage. Better around the beds to make formwork 20-23 cm tall. Ground dug with the addition of peat and compost from rotted leaves. In heavy soil add sand. The ratio of different elements in the soil, preparing for planting should be as follows: 1 hour sod land, 1 part compost, 1 part ground sheet, 1/2 hours of sand, 1/2 hours of peat. Before sowing of the land must be removed all the weeds. Surface ridges align. Planting carried out in spring after a warm bed. Soil moisture should be optimal to have enough moisture for germination, so they do not dry. At the same time it should not be too much, because the need for germination and air. Before sowing the seeds of hydrangeas do not need any treatment. Seeds are sown in the garden scattered with his hand high above the ground. The seeds lightly pressed to provide them a good soil contact. Top seeds sprinkled with sand. Coarse sand provides good drainage, uniform flow of water into the soil. Spring sown seeds sprout in a month - in June.

For seedlings need special care. Need fertilizing with nitrogen and potassium, which is better to make a liquid. During the spring frosts are possible there will be shoots should cover newsprint. Must also regular weeding, watering of melkoyacheynoy watering can, preferably with rain water. By the end of the growing season of their height is 3-5 cm seedling second year of life has a height of 12 - 15 cm.

Use: hydrangeas should be planted singly or in groups on the lawn, you can use them in complex combinations with conifers and other deciduous and evergreen ornamental shrubs. Hydrangeas certainly adorn any garden plot.

To cut hydrangea blossoms remain fresh longer, the ends of the shoots break down and burn, and the leaves are removed.

For dried hydrangea paniculata flowers shoots or tree cut at the end of flowering, in September, pluck the leaves and dried by hanging in a dark ventilated head down - so I save natural coloring inflorescence.

When composing the white hydrangea flowers well add dried sprigs translucent pearl Lunaians.

Hortense (especially macrophylla) can not only dry up, but the "cure" with glycerin. A solution is prepared for canning of 6 parts of glycerol and 4 parts very hot water.