Hydrangeas: Beautiful, Pest Resistant, and Disease Resistant!
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Beautiful, Pest-Resistant, and Disease-Resistant Hydrangeas are beautiful, colorful flowering plants that are pest resistant and disease resistant. They make beautiful dried flower arrangements, and come in many different varieties. You will need to know the hydrangea selections that will do well in your particular zone. The Plant Hardiness Zone Map and your local nursery or the knowledgeable gardeners in your area can help you determine the best varieties for your specific locale. Some of the very cold hardy varieties are the Annabelle and the Paniculatas. All hydrangeas are partial to the morning sun and afternoon shade
Propagation of Hydrangeas Although most hydrangeas do not root in water, you can often root them in moist paper towel. Snip the blossoms very close to the base. Wrap the stem in a wet paper towel and keep moist for two weeks. If desired, change the paper towels daily. It takes about a week or two for the hydrangea to start rooting. Prepare a small pot filled with equal amounts of compost and potting soil. Cover with one layer of plastic. Do not place the plant in direct sunlight, as it is not strong enough at this stage. Water only when the soil is a little dry to your touch. When the plant has formed strong roots, you can plant outdoors. Select Varieties of Hydrangeas The Climbing Hydrangea This hydrangea variety needs only light pruning, if at all. Usually, pruning is done for aesthetic purposes. The time of pruning determines whether your blooms are numerous and smaller or few but larger. Prune in the early fall, and you may have numerous but smaller blossoms next season. Prune in the spring and you may not have buds, or you may have fewer but larger blossoms. If you do not prune it at all, get ready for smaller blooms. Pruning out-of-bounds shoots can be done in the summer. This variety is hardy and has mid-summer blooms. The vine attaches itself to wood, masonry, or brick. The Florist or Hortensia Hydrangea This hydrangea variety has large globe-shaped blooms. It is commonly grown. Florists sell them as indoor plants during spring. The blooms are usually forced. It you want to move it outdoors, pay attention to your soil pH. For this variety of hydrangea, you are better off pruning in the late summer as it blooms only from the previous season’s lateral shoots. When you see fading flowers and developing strong shoots from the lower ends of the crown and stems, it is time to prune. Take care to leave a number of new robust stems for next season’s blooms. Whatever you do, do not prune in the fall as you are risking improper development of your Hortensia. Winter protect in December. More on Hydrangeas!
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