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Not all types of hydrangeas tolerate the harsh Russian winter well, therefore many growers grow them only in a pot method. In this case, the plants, after appropriate preparation, are removed to the room in which they are kept until spring. It is quite simple to keep a hydrangea in a pot during the winter, you just need to provide it with suitable conditions.
How hydrangea winters in a pot
Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub, and under normal conditions it ends its growing season in the fall and goes into hibernation mode. Plants that are grown in a pot method behave in the same way. It is mainly used for large-leaved hydrangea species with poor winter hardiness.
Large-leaved varieties winter well in pots
In autumn, the bright inflorescences on them gradually dry out, the leaves from the shoots begin to fly around, the sap flow inside slows down. From this point on, watering of the plant should be limited. After the end of the leaf fall, containers or pots with hydrangeas can be removed for the winter.
Dried inflorescences must be cut off before moving to winter.
To preserve hydrangeas in winter, you can use any room in which a temperature close to 0 ° C will be maintained during the winter. It can be a basement, basement, attic, staircase, terrace, balcony. As a last resort, hydrangeas in a pot can also overwinter at home, if you provide them with an appropriate microclimate. During the winter, no manipulations with hydrangeas are carried out. You just need to control the temperature and humidity in the room, avoiding their sudden changes. Watering the plants at this time requires very moderate watering. If the soil dries up, you can put some snow in the pots.
In March, pots of hydrangeas are removed from storage by moving to a warmer room or gradually increasing the temperature. In order for the plant to start growing, it is recommended to shed the soil with slightly warmed water with the addition of a water-soluble fertilizer (Fertika-Lux, etc.). It is advisable to add to the soil and some special feeding of prolonged action. So that the water does not evaporate, the surface of the root zone is covered with a layer of mulch from old needles, it not only retains moisture in the soil, but also acidifies it.
In the spring, you can transplant the overwintered bush into a larger pot.
In late April or early May, hydrangeas begin to be exposed to the open air. At this time, return frosts are still possible, therefore, if necessary, the bushes are covered with spunbond.
How to preserve hydrangea before planting in the ground
Winter preservation is required not only for potted plants, but also for seedlings that, for various reasons, were not brought into the ground in the fall. You can save, for example, a stalk of paniculata hydrangea until spring, in the same way, by placing a pot with it for storage in a cool, dry room.Adult plants of this species have good frost resistance, so they usually hibernate in the open field.
Seedlings ordered by mail are not always delivered on time
It is advisable to keep panicle hydrangea in a pot in winter only in unplanned cases, for example, a seedling was ordered by mail and was delivered with a significant delay. In addition, adult bushes can be stored for storage if there are doubts about their ability to survive the winter outdoors.
How to keep a large-leaved hydrangea at home
A basement is best suited for winter storage of large-leaved species, in which the air temperature does not rise above + 5-7 ° C. If there is no special room, the hydrangea in a pot can be stored until spring and in the apartment by placing it on the coldest windowsill. It is important that when kept on the window, direct sunlight does not fall on the flower; it is better to make it a little darkening.
At home, the coldest windowsill is suitable for wintering.
In order to preserve the hydrangea seedlings until spring, insulated balconies and loggias can be used, it is important that the thermal and light regimes are observed, and there are no sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Watering the plant for the winter period of time should be reduced to a minimum, making sure that the soil under the flower does not dry out.
How to keep hydrangea in your basement in winter
The basement is the most suitable place to store hydrangeas in winter. In the basement, the microclimate parameters are closest to optimal, and if they differ from them, then by a small amount. Here are their meanings:
- The lighting is minimal.
- Air humidity 60-70%.
- Temperature 0-4 ° C.
In the basement, hydrangeas are perfectly stored all winter.
Hydrangeas are removed to the basement after the first frost. Until this period, the flowers are kept outdoors so that the earth in the containers cools down gradually, and the plant quietly goes into hibernation. Place the pots of hydrangeas in such a way as to move them as little as possible during the storage period. And also you need to make sure that the branches do not come into contact with the walls of the basement.
There are several ways to store containers with large-leaved hydrangeas in the cellar:
- On the floor. The simplest method, which is used with a low basement height, as well as with significant sizes of containers with hydrangeas. The advantage of this method is clarity, but in this case the pots take up a lot of space. Large bushes, which were dug out specifically for wintering, are usually kept on the floor.
- On the shelves. If the height of the basement and the size of the hydrangeas allow, then it is better to place the pots on special racks. This way they take up much less space. However, it must be borne in mind that the plants located on the lower tier will receive less light, in addition, at the bottom of the basement there is always a higher concentration of carbon dioxide and the percentage of moisture.
Daylight hours in the basement have to be regulated by phytolamps
Starting in February, the light regime needs to be changed, gradually increasing the light intensity. Often the poor light of the basement is not enough for this. In this case, it is necessary to use special phytolamps for additional illumination.
How often to water hydrangea in a pot
During hibernation, plants do not need full watering, it is enough just to periodically moisten the soil in containers with water or snow so that the roots of the plants do not dry out. Excess moisture during hibernation is harmful, it can lead to mold, rotting of the stems. Watering hydrangeas in winter should be no more than 1 time a week and only when the soil dries out.
Experienced gardening tips
Hydrangeas have been successfully grown for a long time, even in areas with a cold unfavorable climate. This is possible only with appropriate preparation of plants for the winter period.
Here are some tips from experienced flower growers to help preserve hydrangeas in winter without harming them:
- It is necessary to prepare large-leaved hydrangeas for wintering in advance. In September, many of the varieties still bloom, but at this time it is necessary to remove the foliage from the lower part to about half the height of the shoot. This promotes good ripening of shoots and an increase in the immunity of the plant as a whole.
Removing leaves from the bottom half of the bush will prepare the plant for winter faster.
- Large-leaved hydrangea cannot shed all the leaves on its own for the winter, however, you cannot leave them on the branches. This will cause rot. Together with the dried inflorescences, you need to cut off the remaining leaves, leaving small petioles on the stem. After 1.5-2 weeks, they will dry out and fall off themselves, if this does not happen, then you need to carefully break them off from the stem.
- Large hydrangea bushes are dug up and transferred to conservation with a large clod of earth on the roots. If a container of suitable size cannot be found, the root system is wrapped with a piece of cloth or breathable cover material. You cannot use plastic wrap for this purpose.
- Before digging up an adult hydrangea bush for moving to winter storage, it is advisable to cut out some of the old shoots.
- Excavation work can only be started when the air temperature has dropped to 0 ° C. If you do this earlier, then the plant may not have time to go into a dormant state.
- Large bushes, together with a lump of earth on the roots, can be heavy, so it is better to dig them out together with an assistant. This is less likely to damage the plant when removing it from the pit and moving it to winter storage.
It is better to use help to move large bushes.
- If the temperature and humidity rise in the basement where the hydrangea is stored, then the plant may start growing prematurely. This will not lead to critical consequences, however, it will create inconvenience for the owner, since it will require additional labor costs for lighting and constant watering.
- Excessive humidity in the basement often provokes the appearance of rot on the plants stored there. To avoid this, the premises must be regularly ventilated. You can reduce air humidity with quicklime, containers with which are placed throughout the basement.Important! Quicklime is a serious hazard. When working with it, you must observe all precautions and be sure to use personal protective equipment.
- Containers in which hydrangeas are stored for the winter must necessarily have drainage holes. Otherwise, stagnant water will cause root rot and plant death.
Conclusion
It is quite easy to keep a hydrangea in a pot in winter if you carry out all the preparatory measures in time and find a suitable room. In extreme cases, flowers can also overwinter in an ordinary apartment, although this is inconvenient and will require additional costs. However, all the efforts spent will pay off, because the blooming hydrangea is a real decoration of the personal plot.
