It is now the end of November and the weather is already very cold. The leaves of hydrangea in the garden have long faded green, some have turned yellow, some have frozen to dark red, and a large number of leaves have fallen from the branches. Although hydrangeas have entered a dormant state, we cannot be careless in maintenance. In winter, we must achieve "three less and one more" in growing hydrangeas, so that the plants can recuperate well, and they will grow more lush next year and bloom large flower balls.
. Prune less
For most flowers, leaves must be pruned after falling in winter. Many flower lovers saw that the leaves of hydrangea turned yellow and fell, and they thought it was ugly, so they wanted to use scissors to trim it.
Hydrangea is actually a relatively special plant. Most hydrangeas are varieties with old branches blooming. The old branches of that year will begin to differentiate into flower buds in autumn and winter, and will bloom in the spring of the next year. If we prune in large quantities in winter, we will cut off all the buds of the hydrangea, which will seriously affect the blooming of the next year. So unlike other flowers, hydrangeas basically do not need to be pruned after falling leaves in winter.
. Water less
Hydrangea are more water-loving flowers, especially in summer, watering once every 1 to 2 days, otherwise the buds will wilt. Hydrangea consumes a lot of moisture mainly because its wide leaves have many pores, and the moisture continues to evaporate from the pores on the surface of the leaves. But after winter enters, the leaves of the hydrangea have fallen, so naturally there is no need to water as much as the peak growth season. If watering is too frequent, the root system absorbs too much water and can easily get frostbite.
In winter maintenance, try to keep the soil of hydrangea dry, and there is no need to water it frequently. Basically, water it once every 10 to 15 days. Try to choose to water when the temperature is higher at noon. If you are hydrangea growing indoors or on the balcony, the tap water you receive must be consistent with the room temperature before using it to avoid a large temperature difference irritating the root system.
3. Apply less fertilizer
The hydrangea in winter has stopped growing, so there is no need to fertilize and supplement nutrients. If a large amount of fertilizer is put into the flower pot, the plant cannot be consumed at all. The excess fertilizer will cause a burden on the root system and may even cause the entire plant to die.
When the temperature begins to rise above 0 degrees in late winter and early spring, we can bury some fertilizer for the hydrangea to help it grow in spring. Prepare some organic fertilizers, such as fermented beef and sheep manure, bean cake fertilizer, bone meal, fruit peel fertilizer, etc. Dig some small holes in the ground around the hydrangea and bury the fertilizer into the small hole. If it is a potted hydrangea, dig some small holes along the edge of the flower pot and bury the fertilizer. As the temperature rises, fertilizers will gradually dissolve into the soil, providing sufficient nutrients for the hydrangea's germination and growth in spring.
4. Swim more on the sun
Hydrangea is a semi-shady flower. It does not like too strong light, and cannot be kept in a completely dull place. In summer, hydrangeas need to be shaded and sun-proof, and in spring and autumn, flower pots should be placed in a semi-shady place. After winter enters the sun, the sun's light reaches the weakest in the year. In order for the plants to absorb more light to resist the severe cold, we need to put the flower pot in a well-lit position. With enough sunshine, the branches will be stronger and less likely to be frostbite, and there will be more buds and flowers in the coming year.
