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Hydrangea Mini Penny is a bred hybrid with high frost resistance. A remontant variety, with a long flowering period, inflorescences are formed in early summer on annual shoots, then on young ones. An ornamental shrub with a bright habit is popular in the south and in temperate climates.
Description of Hydrangea Mini Penny
Wild species of hydrangea are native to Asia. The beautiful plant was an integral part of the gardens of the Japanese emperors. After breeding climate-resistant varieties, the heat-loving culture spread throughout Europe. More than 50 varieties are grown in Russia.
The most popular are the blue varieties, which include the Mini Penny. The plant is characterized by medium hardiness. If the temperature of the regional climate drops below -180C in winter, shelter is required. In warm climates, moisture-loving hydrangea needs regular watering.
Mini Penny is a remontant variety that blooms in July. Forms buds on last year's stems, as the shoots of the current season grow, inflorescences of the second wave also appear on them. The plant is covered with bright blue balls until September.
Bright green leaves are harmoniously combined with pale blue inflorescences
In regions with early winter, the culture does not have time to bloom completely.
Description of the large-leaved hydrangea Mini Penny:
- grows in the form of a rounded bush. Height and diameter are within 1m;
- flowers are collected in large spherical inflorescences, abundantly covering the bush;
- the color depends on the composition of the soil and lighting, in the shade the color is lighter, if the reaction is alkaline it is pinkish, on acidic soil it is dark blue;
- the leaves are oblong with a pointed tip, large, bright green in summer and brown in autumn, persist on the branches until winter.
Hydrangea Mini Penny in landscape design
The Mini Penny variety is used in ornamental gardening; with proper care, the plant blooms for a long time, attracting the eye with large inflorescences. Hydrangea is an unusual culture: blue, light and dark pink flowers can be located on one bush. The Mini Penny variety is used in almost all compositions, combining with any types of plants.
Examples of landscaping a garden using Mini Penny hydrangea:
- They are planted en masse in the foreground of the building.
The hydrangea looks especially impressive on a well-groomed lawn in front of the house.
Grown in gardens to decorate the path.
Bushes growing on both sides of the path create the appearance of an alley
Used as a decor option near the benches in the garden.
Blue inflorescences are clearly visible against the background of conifers
Planted on the slopes in the garden to decorate the gazebo.
The garden is decorated in contrast to varieties with different colors
Hydrangea is used for tamping large-sized hedges.
Densely growing bushes cover the inaccuracies of the lower part of the thuja crown
- The Mini Penny variety is suitable for creating a hedge.
The variety has abundant flowering, the hedge is completely covered with blue balls
The bush of the correct rounded shape is used in a single planting for a color accent of the lawn.Hydrangea is successfully combined with conifers and ornamental shrubs
The plant serves as a good frame for the flower bed.Blue hydrangea sets off a variety with pink flowers
The short plant is suitable for growing in flower pots.
Portable hydrangea flowerpots can be used to decorate any corner of the garden, a gazebo or an open veranda
The composition of two varieties is complemented by ferns
Winter hardiness of hydrangea large-leaved Mini Penny
It is possible to grow hydrangea in an open area only in the Crimea, Rostov Region, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories. If the temperature in the region does not drop below -180C, the plant hibernates without shelter. In areas where the average is -230C, preparatory measures are required. In Siberia, Mini Penny can only be grown in containers; for the winter, the plant is removed from the site, because even with careful shelter, the hydrangea will not overwinter in the ground.
Planting and caring for Mini Penny hydrangea
Hydrangea Mini Penny is a rather whimsical culture. To maintain the decorative shape, the correct planting site and careful maintenance are necessary.
Selection and preparation of the landing site
The Mini Penny variety is picky about the composition of the soil. On weak or medium acidic soil, it will bloom with blue inflorescences of a rich shade. On neutral ground, the color will be lighter, and single dark pink inflorescences will appear on the bush. If the reaction of the soil is alkaline, the hydrangea will grow, but the flowers will turn pale pink with a yellowish tinge, the Mini Penny's varietal feature will completely lose.
The plant is thermophilic, but does not tolerate prolonged exposure to the open sun. The place is chosen with periodic shading. A plot in permanent shade is not suitable for hydrangea, since it will not bloom.
The soil is chosen light, aerated, fertile. Hydrangea has a low drought tolerance, the root circle should be constantly wet, but not wet. Lowlands, wetlands, places with closely located groundwater are not suitable. In such conditions, the Mini Penny variety will die.
The highly acidic composition is corrected with dolomite flour, alkaline soils are not desirable, but if there is no choice, then aluminum sulfate is added.
Landing rules
The work is carried out in the spring, the sap flow in the culture is later, therefore, the optimal time is chosen when the earth warms up well and the threat of frost passes.
Sequence of work:
- Dig a hole about 0.5 m deep and the same diameter.
- The bottom is covered with expanded clay, creating a drainage cushion.
- Peat, compost, sand are mixed, superphosphate is added and poured into a depression.
- A seedling is acquired at two years of age with a closed root, if the material is grown independently, it is lowered into "Kornevin".
- The plant is placed in the center of the pit, covered with soil, watered with plenty of water.
The plant is mulched. For hydrangeas, coniferous litter is used, it increases the acidity level.
Mini Penny is planted in a flower pot along with an earthen ball
Watering and feeding
It is impossible to fill the culture, the root can rot, and the plant will die. With a moisture deficit, hydrangea slows down growth, flowers and shoots dry out. For an adult plant, 20 liters of water is enough for 4 days, the regime is oriented to the frequency of precipitation. The seedling is watered every evening with a small amount of water, provided that there is no rain for a long time and the weather is hot.
It is not necessary to fertilize the seedlings, since they have enough nutrition laid in the hole during planting. For the next season, they look at the intensity of flowering, if necessary, they are fed with organic matter.In the third year of growth, during the formation of leaves, "Agricola" is applied, during the flowering period, fertilized with "Kristalon", and in the fall they are fed with organic matter.
Pruning hydrangea of a large-leaved variety Mini Penny
The first formative pruning is carried out at the age of four. Leave 10-12 strong shoots, the rest are removed. In subsequent growing seasons, the tops of annual and young shoots are shortened, old branches (except for skeletal ones) are cut out completely, since they will not bloom. In the spring, they do sanitary cleaning, removing dry and frozen areas.
Preparing for winter
Prepare the Mini Penny hydrangea for winter when the temperature drops to zero:
- The cut stems are collected to the center, pulled together with a rope to make a bunch.
- The root is spud, the embankment should be at least 15 cm.
- Cover with a thick layer of dry peat or straw.
- Arches are set on top 15 cm above the stems.
- Stretch any covering material.
- The edges should rest on the ground. They are sprinkled with soil, a load is placed on top so that cold air or moisture does not get into the middle of the structure.
Reproduction
Hydrangea Mini Penny can be propagated in any way:
- In the fall, seeds are collected, planted in the ground, after the emergence of sprouts, they dive into separate containers. For the summer, they take it out to an open area, put it in partial shade. At the age of two in the spring, they are determined to a permanent place.
- By dividing the bush. A hydrangea of at least 4 years is suitable for this purpose. An adult plant does not respond well to this method of propagation. The plot and the mother bush are ill.
- Layers. They are made from the lower stem in the spring, and are well covered in the fall. After the snow melts, the rooted areas will be visible, they are cut and planted. The survival rate of such planting material is 60%.
The best, fastest and most productive way of propagation is by cuttings. The material is harvested by trimming the tops of annual stems. Cuttings are placed in the ground, in the south you can do this on a plot in a greenhouse.
In temperate climates, it is better to put Mini Peni in a portable container and bring it into a room for the winter where the temperature will not be higher than +15 0C.
Diseases and pests
At high humidity, the plant is threatened by gray rot. The initial focus of the lesion is the root, then the fungal infection rises up the stem, destroying the plant.
Of the pests parasitizing on the Mini Penny variety:
- shield;
- aphid;
- slugs.
Get rid of pests with Fitoverm.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Mini Penny is a remontant variety with long flowering. A medium-sized bush with globular inflorescences of blue or blue color is widely used in ornamental gardening. Suitable for outdoor cultivation. Ideal for containers and flower pots.
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