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Hydrangea Chameleon is a popular garden shrub that has the rare ability to change the color of inflorescences. There are many reasons why this happens. Professionals have been studying this issue for a long time. Chameleons bloom in shades of blue, pink and purple. It is very difficult to grow a shrub, the reason is difficult care. To enjoy the beauty of hydrangea, you need to consider the advice of experienced gardeners.
Description of hydrangea variety Chameleon
"Chameleon" is an ornamental shrub native to Far Eastern Europe. The plant can grow in height from 1 to 3 meters. Only competent care is the key to the long-term attractiveness of the Chameleon.
Most plants flower best in partial shade, but some will tolerate full sun. Flowering time is summer, some hydrangeas earlier and others later.
In order to form flowers of a certain shade, you can water them with alum. The result is a blue hydrangea from a pink hydrangea and a purple one from a red bush. You can get a blue-blue plant by digging rusty nails into the soil.
If you water the bush with a manganese solution, then the inflorescences can change color from pink to blue
Chameleon hydrangea in landscape design
Hydrangea is used for:
- framing tracks;
- hedge;
- creating bright and colorful corners in the shade of the garden;
- as a neighbor for the host and the fern.
In winter, "Chameleon" is removed to cellars or greenhouses. You can also continue growing in a room in flower pots.
Chameleon is one of the main plants in a beautiful garden. Proper care will help preserve the shrub for a long time.
Do not plant hydrangeas next to yellow and red flowers.
Blue inflorescences can be obtained as follows:
- Create an acidity level of 4 to 4.5.
- Add aluminum ions to the soil.
When the pH reaches 6, the hydrangea will turn pink. A reading above 7 can be detrimental to the plant.
The plant prefers to grow in partial shade
Winter hardiness of hydrangea varieties Chameleon
Hydrangea tolerates cold well, but in areas with harsh winters, it is always possible to plant the plant in containers and decorative containers.
Preparatory work before the winter cold:
- Reduce watering in late summer.
- Warming of roots (using spruce branches, sawdust, tree foliage or special material).
- Mulching the soil (the layer is able to protect the roots from severe frosts).
- Bending the stems to the ground.
Simple measures will allow you to save "Chameleon" during severe frosts. Growing hydrangeas is a simple, but very responsible process. Beautiful flowers can only be obtained if all conditions are met.
Hydrangea tolerates severe frosts relatively well.
Planting and caring for chameleon hydrangea
"Chameleon" can grow and bloom in a slightly darkened place, closed from gusts of wind. The soil should be slightly oxidized. Red high-moor peat or spruce residues are mixed with leaf humus. When planting seedlings, the composition is added to the hole. Plants will need constant watering throughout the season.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The best spot for the Chameleon is a garden plot that receives morning sun and daytime shade. When choosing, it is important to consider the size of the hydrangea - the plant needs a lot of space to grow. A well suited area of a garden that has excellent drainage. If necessary, the soil should be replenished with compost. Do not plant hydrangeas under trees - competition of roots and lack of sunlight will prevent them from thriving.
Landing rules
Growing successfully begins with the planting process. Container-bought hydrangeas should be planted in spring or fall.
Hydrangea is photophilous, therefore it prefers sunny places, but it can grow in partial shade. The best time for planting in spring is the first half of May, in autumn - September.
Planting holes are dug 50x50x60 cm in size at a distance of 1-1.5 m from one another.
The composition of the potting mix:
- humus;
- leafy land;
- peat;
- sand;
- fertilizers.
The ratio is 2: 2: 2: 1: 1.
Rooting of hydrangea large-leaved Chameleon is presented in the video:
Landing rules:
- You can not plant a plant under trees (the roots absorb nutrients from the soil, the hydrangea will lack nutrients).
- Too aggressive sun is not suitable for "Chameleon", this leads to rapid drying of the soil (also flowering will begin much later).
- It is necessary to trim the roots a little.Advice! The root collar should not be planted deeply.
- The distance between the bushes is at least 1 meter.
The optimal period for planting is May and September.
Landing Algorithm:
- Prepare the pit. Its size depends on the number of roots in the seedling. The required depth is 50 cm, the length and width are 75 cm.
- Lay crushed stone and sand on the bottom of the pit. Black soil is added on top, it should be more than the rest of the components.
- Place the Chameleon in the center of the pit. The neck can only be deepened by 3 cm.Important! The roots need to be straightened along the bottom.
- Cover the seedling with earth.
- Water the plant thoroughly.
- To fill up the earth, it is important to carefully tamp it around the bush.
Compliance with the conditions will help grow an adult and sprawling bush. If you do not provide the "Chameleon" with suitable soil, it may die.
Watering and feeding
The main function of feeding is to provide the Chameleon with nutrients. This is necessary for normal development and growth.
What the procedure gives:
- getting flowers and buds;
- saturation of the soil with micro and macro elements;
- long and intense flowering.
Universal feeding: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
Hydrangeas love moderate humidity. Container plants need daily watering.
Feeding rules:
- If potting soil was used during planting, then fertilization is not needed for the first 24 months.
- During the budding period, add 80 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium sulfate.
In summer "Chameleon" is fed with mullein solution (1:10).
You need to apply fertilizers for the growth and flowering of the plant constantly.
A way to improve soil aeration is to add coarse sand. "Chameleon" does not like heavy and loamy soil, this leads to waterlogging.
Oxygen deficiency protection methods:
- periodic loosening;
- mulching (carried out at the base of the shrub).
The permeability of the soil is the main condition for growing a beautiful plant. You can improve the properties of the soil by adding peat or sand. This will allow the fluid to flow more easily to the root system.
It is best to use rainwater to water your hydrangea. Plumbing is a bad option. A good time to water is morning or evening. The amount of liquid per bush is 2 buckets.
Pruning Chameleon hydrangea
Hydrangeas don't need serious pruning. They just need to be kept in order by removing old flowers and dead stems, thereby improving the structure and shape of the bush. The result is the penetration of sunlight and air.
Pruning the hydrangea is necessary, it gives a splendor and luxurious appearance. Incorrect pruning of the Chameleon can slow down the flowering process. The first step is to cut the crooked branches, then the shoots of the last season.
How to prepare hydrangea Chameleon for winter
It is believed that hydrangea is a whimsical flower that needs shelter for the winter to protect flower buds. This only applies to large-leaved plants. Others may spend the winter uncovered in the middle regions of the country.
You should not trim hydrangeas that have faded; it is advisable to perform this action in the spring. Thanks to this, the kidneys located below can be preserved. Under the weight of the snow that accumulates on the flowers, the stems can simply break.
In late autumn, it is advisable to cut dry flowers that will definitely not survive the winter. Fallen leaves should be removed and burned.
Reproduction
Hydrangea can be propagated by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. The method of grafting and with the help of seeds is also possible, but it is used extremely rarely.
Reproduction of hydrangea:
- Layers - shoots no older than a year are bent to the ground and buried so that about 20 cm remains on the surface, the next season the rooted shoot is separated from the mother plant and transplanted.
- By dividing - the bush is dug up and divided into several parts, while each must have a renewal bud.
- By cuttings - carried out in April-June, annual shoots 10-12 cm long are cut from the bush, leaves are removed in their lower part, and the shoot itself is treated with a growth stimulator, the final stage is the cutting is planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse, and a year later - in open ground.
Diseases and pests
Hydrangeas are generally not prone to serious illness or insect problems. Chameleon is susceptible to certain kidney diseases, bacterial wilting, leaf spot or mildew.
Chlorosis has a number of symptoms:
- clarification of leaves;
- loss of the usual color.
Chlorosis appears due to metabolic disorders in the plant
Excessive humus content is considered the cause of development. The way to eliminate the problem in hydrangea is to water it with a solution of copper sulfate (with the addition of soap).
Powdery mildew appears due to excess moisture ingress. Aphids can be removed with garlic infusion. It is prepared as follows: 200 g per bucket of water. The Chameleon should be watered within 7 days. During this time, the aphid will completely disappear.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Chameleon is the leader among flowers. The plant pleases gardeners for a long time, various shades attract attention from others. Chameleon is often used in landscape design. It is very easy to care for hydrangea, the main thing is to follow the recommendations of professionals.
