Large-leaved hydrangea is a very popular shrub in many flower gardens. It belongs to the Hydrangia family, and is very often called that. The bush can grow up to 3.5 meters in height. It has large ovoid leaves, rich green color. Flowers are collected in a kind of bunch, which can reach 20 cm in diameter. In decorative species, there are three plant colors: white, pale pink and sky blue. Florists love hydrangea for its long and abundant flowering. But sometimes it needs to be made to bloom, since the buds may simply not wake up after wintering. It can develop both in the open air and at home. This is a very light-loving plant.

Conditions for the development of hydrangea

Blooms early only if not growing in the shade. The more carefully it is sheltered from the sun, the later it begins to delight with its flowering, the less abundance of flowers. Prefers medium acidity soil.

Large-leaved hydrangea

Changes the color of inflorescences, depending on the acidity of the soil. Since the large-leaved hydrangea is a plant that loves warmth, in most cases it grows in greenhouses or at home. Not resistant to low temperatures.

The biggest obstacle to normal development is limestone soil. It can propagate both by cuttings and by dividing the bush. On the territory of the Russian Federation, in the open ground, until recently, large-leaved hydrangea developed only in the southern part. Recently, breeders have bred several varieties that are suitable for central Russia. At temperatures below 5 ° C, the plant begins to freeze, therefore it is recommended to cover the plant in the first ten days of November, or earlier if it was a cold autumn and frosts came in mid-autumn.

Why hydrangea does not bloom

Important!In order for the hydrangea to please the gardener with lush and abundant flowering, you need to know some of the subtleties regarding the care and maintenance of this flower. Why does the large-leaved hydrangea not bloom but gives leaves?

Incorrectly selected fertilizers

Initially, what is worth paying attention to is the top dressing that is applied to the soil. The fact is that fertilizers that contain a large amount of nitrogen can force the plant to develop a crown, and those in which there is a large content of potassium and phosphorus - an abundance of flowering. But hydrangia still needs nitrogen fertilizers, it is only recommended to apply them before sap flow begins. Potassium-phosphorus dressings are introduced throughout the summer. In order to help hydrangeas withstand low air temperatures and speed up the process of bud formation, phosphorus fertilizers are applied in the fall.

Unsuccessful place to plant a seedling

An important condition for planting is the place where the flower was planted. To obtain lush flowers that will decorate any area, the shrub should be planted in light partial shade or under diffused sunlight. If you block the access of sunlight to the plant, it will not bloom and may even die.There are many varieties of hydrangia, not all of its varieties tolerate direct sunlight. There are some that will thrive in full sunlight, but require more frequent and abundant watering.

Important!Hydrangea loves watering, so it is not recommended to plant other moisture-loving plants next to a shrub, as it will take most of the moisture onto itself.

Kidneys frozen in winter

Hydrangia can tolerate frost normally in the presence of snow cover. But since the winters in Russia have become less snowy recently, the shrub needs early shelter. You can start doing this already at the end of September, without waiting until it gets very cold, and without risking missing the first frost on the soil. To do this, the branches of the plant are pressed to the ground and fixed with special devices, which can be bought at any specialized store.

Note! If the branch is too stiff, you should not force it to the ground, because you can break it. The best option would be to put a brick or some other support under it.

After fixing the branches, the hydrangea is covered. For this, you can use greenhouse film or agrofibre. Any material for shelter is folded in two layers. Ordinary polyethylene is not suitable for sheltering shrubs, since ventilation, which is very necessary for the plant, will not remain under it. From above, the covering material is sprinkled with peat, to a height of 15 cm. The covering material can be removed only when the frost is over. This procedure will save the flower buds from freezing, and the hydrangea will be able to bloom profusely for the next season.

Kidneys frozen in winter

Lack or excess of moisture

Hydrangia is a very moisture-loving plant that needs watering, both before flowering and after the plant has shed its foliage. In summer and during high temperatures, the flower needs at least two watering per week. It is best to use the collected rainwater for watering the shrub, but, if there is no such, it is watered with plain water, which has settled for at least 5 days. Moreover, you also need to pay attention to the composition of the water. Since water is not acceptable for hydrangea, which contains lime impurities. One bush can take up to two buckets of water per watering.

Unsuccessful shrub pruning

Important! You should never cut off all the branches of a plant, since the buds, which begin to form in the fall, are the key to lush and abundant flowering. They should overwinter and only in spring wake up and release inflorescences.

One of the most common mistakes, due to which hydrangea produces foliage and does not give inflorescences, is incorrect pruning of the bush in the fall.

Only damaged or diseased branches need to be removed. Another important factor is that the buds, which in the future are responsible for the presence of inflorescences on the bush, are formed at the tops of the branches. Therefore, it is undesirable to shorten the shoots. This cannot make the hydrangia blossom.

Varieties of hydrangea

On a note!There are a lot of hydrangea varieties. Many varieties are not suitable for outdoor cultivation. But there are also those who decorate the territory of the garden and do not need scrupulous care and maintenance.

Most often in gardens and personal plots you can find the following types of hydrangia:

  • Grandiflora - has large inflorescences, is distinguished by an abundance of flowering. The inflorescences are sterile in nature. Large-leaved variety, remontant;
  • Lime light - has flowers of a greenish color, which changes by the end of summer to pale pink. Grows up to 2 meters in height;
  • Pinky-Winky - differs in cone flowering. The average height is 1.7 meters. Inflorescences are bright pink;
  • Phantom - also has cone-shaped inflorescences, but stretches up to 2 meters in height. Color - cream, which changes towards the end of flowering to pale pink;
  • Vanilla Freise is a gorgeous small-leaved garden shrub with a high flowering density. The color of the flowers is deep pink;
  • Daruma paniculata - has small flowers, which at the beginning of flowering have a pink color, which changes to purple by the end. In this case, the foliage of the shrub also becomes red. A low-growing variety, reaching a height of about 1 m.

Daruma paniculata

Hydrangea care

Important!Hydrangea is not too whimsical to care for, but still there are points that you should pay attention to so that it decorates the site with its exuberant flowering.

For example, a hydrangea needs moderate but constant feeding. Here you cannot overdo it, since with increased fertilization with potassium-phosphorus preparations, the hydrangea will give out too abundant flowering. This is fraught with the fact that the weight of the inflorescences will break the shoots. From organic fertilizers, hydrangia needs well-diluted manure and humus. Hydrangea needs frequent and abundant watering, especially during the hot season. In order for the earth not to dry out in the root hole, it must be mulched.

The best mulch option is wood chips, which will retain moisture and prevent cracks from forming in the ground. It is also necessary to loosen the soil regularly, at least 4 times per season. The soil is loosened to a depth of no more than 20 cm, as there is a risk of touching the root system. Also, the plant needs timely correct pruning, only then can it bloom on time.

Ornamental hydrangea is often planted in plots as a single or in groups. During the flowering period, it is impossible not to notice it. The inflorescences do not give any smell, but they look airy. Hydrangia leaf root is often used medicinally to treat the genitourinary system. It can be used to make tinctures and ointments. In other cases, it is used in landscape design to decorate the territory. With proper care, she will not have to be persuaded for a long time in order for her to decorate the garden plot with her flowers.