Hydrangea Macrophylla - Description

Macrophile hydrangea (large leaf) is considered one of the most beautiful garden plants. This magnificent flowering shrub is very popular among gardeners around the world.

Origin and characteristics of Macrofil hydrangea

Macrofill hydrangea was brought to Europe from China in the early nineteenth century. Thanks to the painstaking work of many breeders in the twentieth century, more than 120 hybrids of this plant were obtained.

This is a special type of shrub that can be grown both in the garden and at home.

Macrophile Hydrangea in Bloom

Macrofila Hydrangea macrophylla - bush description

• The height of the adult shrub is about 1.5 m, the width is 1-1.5 m;
• The leaves are large, dark green with notches along the edges;
• On the tops of wide-spreading stems spherical inflorescences are formed;
• A ball of inflorescences in diameter reaches 18-20 centimeters;
• There are two types of flower heads: fertile, which are in the center, and large barren, which are located at the edges.

At the beginning of flowering, all inflorescences are white, with a barely noticeable light green hue. Over time, they acquire a different color: blue, pink, lilac, purple or snow-white.

The acidity of the soil significantly affects the shade of flowers:

• at a neutral level of acidity, flowering will be white or cream;
• if the soil is more alkaline - the flowers will be lilac or pink;
• on acidic soil, hydrangea will bloom in blue or purple.

Bushes of hydrangea macrophiles bloom magnificently

Rough macrophylla hydrangea - planting and care in open ground

In order to successfully grow large-leaved hydrangea to a macrophile, it is necessary to choose the right place for planting and adhere to all the rules of agricultural technology.

Site selection and land preparation

A large-leaved plant is very fond of the sun, but can grow in slightly shaded places. The more light that enters the plant, the more magnificent and beautiful it will bloom. It is very important not to plant a bush next to large trees, buildings or tall fences.

A month before the macrophiles are planted in open ground, it is necessary to prepare a landing hole measuring 70-80 cm in diameter and 60 cm in depth. It is necessary to introduce a nutritious soil mixture into it, consisting of ripened peat, river sand, garden soil and beautiful pine needles.

Outdoor hydrangea planting

Landing

When planting a flower in open ground, it is necessary to follow the sequence of actions:

• A day before planting, pour 1.5-2 buckets of water into the hole so that it moistens the soil well.
• Fill the hole one third with humus, garden soil and surface peat. All components must be taken in equal proportions.
• Put the bush in the hole and spread the roots well.
• Fill the hole with earth, without deepening the root neck of the plant, and tamp the soil around the trunk, but you do not need to nail the ground much, otherwise the roots can be damaged.
• Water the planting abundantly - buckets of water per bush are enough.
• To preserve moisture and reduce weed growth, mulch the trunk circle with straw, hay or dry peat.

Planting a young hydrangea bush on a flower bed

How to transplant purchased hydrangea

If a rough macrophylla hydrangea is bought in a store or nursery, planting and caring for the acquired young plant is as follows:

• The acquired hydrangea is taken out of the pot and placed for 2-3 hours in a bucket of water.
• The fused roots are slightly separated and incised in several places at an angle.
• They don’t crush the earth from the roots, it is very important to put the flower in the hole along with the soil from the pot, so it adapts faster.
• A little potassium phosphorus fertilizer is added to the well.

Hydrangea in a flower pot

Propagation of Macrofil hydrangea

Macrophile hydrangea can be propagated by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush.

Cuttings

Cuttings can be cut from an adult bush in early spring. Hydrangea cuttings process:

1. Stems with one internode are selected.
2. The upper part is cut straight, and the lower one at an angle so that the cut is prickly.
3. On each leaf cut 1 2 part.
4. All blanks are placed in wet sand or clay, deepening to half ;.
5. Landings are covered with a film.
6. When the cuttings take root, the film is removed.

Growing from layering

In early spring, young annual sprouts, bend to the ground and dig well, leaving the tip on the surface of at least twenty centimeters. Watered cuttings every three days. When they take root, they are separated from the uterine bush and transplanted to another place.

Bush division

The dug bush is freed from the ground, all old and weak stems are removed. The bush is divided into two or three parts, the roots are trimmed and the delenki are immediately planted in pots. Landings are covered with soil and well watered.

Care for large-leaved hydrangea (macrophile)

In order for macrophile hydrangea to develop well and not lose its beauty, it must be provided with timely care.

Watering

Macrophile hydrangea, like any species of this shrub, loves moist soil very much. It must be watered every 2-3 days for 1-2 buckets for each bush. For irrigation, it is better to take settled and cleaned water. During the heatwave, the plant is watered every other day with 10 liters under one bush. Hydrangea macrophyll - home care:

• watering the bushes every two days;
• fertilizer every 14 days;
• transplanting into a new pot - once a year.

Watering can with water

Top dressing

Like any hydrangea, Macrophilia needs intensive feeding. Organic fertilizers (liquid manure and chicken droppings) and mineral complexes are used as fertilizers. A very good result is the introduction of special fertilizers for hydrangeas. Top dressing is carried out twice a month.

Using fertilizers, you can easily change the color of hydrangea. When aluminum sulfate and sulfur are introduced into the soil, pink and blue flowers will bloom simultaneously on the bushes. If aluminum or iron alum is added to the soil, pink flowers will turn blue. Turn blue inflorescences into pink, you can add a little alkali to the soil.

Flowering Shrubs Care

When caring for hydrangea during flowering, it is important to consider the type of fertilizer and what color the plants are for. In order to maintain the blue color of the flowers, once a week the bush is watered with aluminum alum (a tablespoon of 10 liters of water) or special top dressings for bluing hydrangeas.

It is also important to remove basal shoots and young lateral shoots, leaving the strongest stems for future flowering. Miss hydrangea macrophylla flower - home care during flowering includes:

• removal of all inflorescences that have faded;
• timely feeding and good watering;
• a flower pot in a well-lit area of ​​the apartment.

Macrophile blooms in blue flowers

Features of care at rest

After hydrangea fades, it is necessary to prune all dry and broken stems, thin out the center of the bush. It is very important not to prune healthy shoots, as flower buds will be removed during pruning. Macrofil Hydrangea blooms on last year's stiff stems, so it’s important not to prune them.

Winter preparations

Macrofil Hydrangea has an average winter hardiness. In order for the bush to winter well, it must be protected from the cold, for this:

1. With the advent of cold weather, the bush must be freed from all leaves.
2. Form bundles from the branches and carefully knit them.
3. Tilt the beams and pin them to the ground.
4. Wrap stitched and pinned stems with non-woven material.
5. Cover bushes with dry foliage.