Large-leaved hydrangea or Macrophylla of the Aisha cultivar is a water-loving shrub with flowers unsurpassed in beauty. First came to Europe in the 19th century. He migrated to this part of the world from Japan. Since then, the plant has been successfully grown to decorate private and urban gardens, parks, plots. It is believed that hydrangea is an indoor plant, however, many amateur gardeners managed to grow it in open ground in summer cottages.
Description of hydrangea Aisha
Large-leaved shrub is popular because of the characteristics of its flowering and leaf shape. From the very beginning of summer and until late autumn, the foliage remains bright green, and only when leaf fall begins, it acquires a characteristic bright red color. In addition, bushes densely dotted with flowers delight with their colors and aroma. The only difficulty when growing a crop in the open field is the high susceptibility of the plant to low temperatures. It is this variety that does not tolerate even relatively warm winters of the middle lane. Therefore, during this period, the bushes are tightly wrapped.
The first flowers appear on hydrangeas in early July. They are collected in inflorescences, the diameter of which rarely exceeds 15 cm. In comparison with other varieties, this large-leaved shrub has large flowers. Their size reaches 3 cm. Depending on the species, hydrangea blooms in blue, pink and purple hues.
Landing
The process of planting a decorative shrub can be divided into several main stages. Each of them requires special attention from the gardener. Violation of even one rule can lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, it is recommended that you follow strict instructions.
Did you know? Hydrangea can independently change the color of flowering. It depends on the composition of the soil on which the plant grows.
When can I plant
The best time to plant hydrangea in open ground is considered to be early spring. In this case, the air temperature must be necessarily positive, and the likelihood of return frosts is negligible. You should also make sure that the land has thawed after a long winter.
Landing place
Hydrangia (from lat. Hyndrangea) or large-leaved hydrangea refers to plants that love sunlight. Therefore, it should be planted where a sufficient number of rays hit the ground during the day. The best option would be an open area with minimal protection on hot days. If you plant a bush in relative shade, then the more often it appears on the flowerbed, the smaller the size of the inflorescences.
Another important condition is the presence of wind protection. Since the inflorescence is large, and the stem itself is quite thin, under strong impulses it can break. It is better to plant a bush near decorative buildings or fences. If a tree is located nearby, then there is a high probability that hydrangeas will not have enough water.
Soil preparation
The plant prefers slightly oxidized and medium acid soils. Moreover, peat or sand must be present in its composition. If there is no such plot in the garden, it can be created artificially. With insufficient soil acidity, it can be fertilized with chemicals, such as garden sulfur.
An alternative is oxidation by applying mulch. Usually needles or bark of conifers are used. If you need to add sand or peat to the soil, then it is applied in a ratio of 1: 1. Be sure to dig weeds in the area for planting.
Important! Despite the frost resistance of hydrangea, most gardeners recommend sheltering it for the winter.
Landing algorithm
The most common way to propagate, and accordingly plant hydrangea in open ground, is the acquisition of seedlings. 15–20 days before they are planted in the ground, holes are created in the selected area. Their width depends on the diameter of the root system of planting material. If groundwater was affected at the time of their creation, then the bottom of the pit is laid with fine pebbles or expanded clay. Such drainage will allow water to quickly go deeper, preventing rotting of the roots of the plant. The next layer will be a peat-based substrate into which a shrub will be planted.
After removing the seedling from the container, its roots are slightly leveled. The remaining mixture is used as planting material. The root system is placed on a drain and filled with a mixture of soil and substrate from the container. It is imperative to make sure that the bush was removed along with a small lump of soil.
After hydrangea has been sprinkled with earth, the surface is a little tamped. The root neck should be about 2 cm above the soil surface. Around the trunk should be watered with about two liters of water. And then lay out a layer of mulch from organic materials.
Care
The correctness of the maintenance procedure will allow the bush to develop and bloom beautifully for many years. However, large-leaf hydrangea requires constant and scrupulous attention.
Watering
Even from the name it’s clear that hydrangia is very fond of wet places. For seven days, she needs at least two buckets of clean water. The watering process is allowed to be postponed for a while if it rains for several days. Also, less liquid is required for those plants that are covered with a thick layer of mulch. It does not allow moisture to evaporate, keeping the surface of the earth constantly moistened.
The opinion of gardeners agrees that it is better to use rainwater for watering the plant, which has stood for some time in the open air. Cold watering from a tap or stream should not be carried out. Please note that a little food acid should be added to tap water. It could be vinegar. It is added no more than one tablespoon per 10 liters. You can use citric acid. Dilute one teaspoon of “lemon” in a 10-liter volume of water used for irrigation. In this way, you can get rid of the likelihood of chlorosis and low soil acidity.
Loosening and mulching
The layer of mulch, which is created directly in the near-stem circle, must be at least 10 cm thick. For this purpose, sawdust of coniferous trees, their bark or spruce branches are suitable. In addition to the protective properties, this type of mulch will acidify the soil.
In the case when the earth is quite acidic, you can use sawdust and bark of deciduous trees. At the same time, it is not recommended to lay the leaves, since in the refined form they can become a source of fungal infection and rot.
Loosening the soil has two main objectives:
- Removing weeds. Hydrangea does not tolerate the neighborhood of tall grass.
- Improving soil properties. This increases the flow of air to the roots, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of the bush.
Nevertheless, it should be remembered that the root system of the shrub is located in close proximity to the soil surface. Therefore, deepening during loosening is not recommended. In most cases, just walk a rake. If other gardening equipment is used, for example, a shovel or a hoe, then the penetration into the soil should not exceed 15 cm.
Important! Avoid planting shrubs under the trees. They quickly absorb moisture necessary for flower growth.
Fertilizer and fertilizer
For the formation of large inflorescences, it is necessary to make about 1 tbsp. tablespoons of alum per 10 liters of water. Usually this procedure is done about once every two weeks. Some amateur gardeners can use a peculiar way of feeding, which will allow you to change the color of the flowers. For this, useful fertilizers, for example, manure, and trace elements - nitrogen, can be applied only on one side of the bush.
It is forbidden to use one of the most popular fertilizers from gardeners - ash. This substance will only harm the bush. An alternative is manure, which is previously insisted in water. To do this, take a portion of organic fertilizer and fill it with liquid. It is necessary to insist on slurry for several days. Throughout this cycle, constantly add clean water and carry out meticulous kneading. After a few days, the liquid is poured into the container through a sieve or filter cloth. Discard undissolved residues. Manure is usually fed once a year. This process is carried out in the spring.
Did you know? Hydrangea is often used in wedding bouquets. This flower means gratitude and affection of the soul to another person.
Top dressing also depends on the growth phase of hydrangea:
- In early spring, a complex of mineral (nitrogen) and organic (compost) fertilizers will help to move away from winter colds faster. The formation of buds and new shoots is accelerated.
- During the appearance of the first buds, fertilizer based on phosphorus or potassium will also be required. Usually this process is carried out in early summer.
- In the middle of August or the beginning of autumn, the third application of minerals based on potassium is carried out. This process is important if there is a desire to extend the flowering period.
One-year seedlings will need additional replenishment with potassium permanganate. Such top dressing will significantly reduce the likelihood of rot on various parts of the plant, especially the roots. To reduce the likelihood of the appearance of fungal diseases in the autumn, it is necessary to spray the bushes with Bordeaux fluid.
Trimming and Shaping
According to generally accepted standards, Aisha hydrangea does not need to be trimmed constantly. It is performed exclusively for the formation of shrubs. The first pruning can only be done two years after planting a seedling. During this time, the bush will fully form and grow to the required size.
Formation is carried out once a season: either in early spring or late autumn. When the plant blooms, it is not touched. Spring should visually inspect the shrub. Only old woody branches are cut and those that are damaged by a disease or mechanical means (for example, as a result of loosening the soil or the branches are broken under the weight of the snow). In the fall, when the flowering is over, shoots are cut, facing the inside of the bush, on which there are faded inflorescences.
Care
From the above section “Pruning and shaping” it is clear that flowers appear only on shoots that have grown on the bush for at least a year. Therefore, the heat-loving variety Aisha needs a trembling wrapping of stems during the winter. Initially, in September, the leaves in the lower part of each branch are removed. In October, they are cut to half the stem. About one bucket of peat is brought under each shrub. In November, spruce branches are laid on the ground next to the bush.
The branches of the bush are neatly bent to the ground and fixed on coniferous shoots. Any non-woven fabric is suitable for wrapping.. A layer of dry leaves is poured on top. All this embankment is strengthened with roofing sheets or boards. If during the winter warm days with thaws appear, the upper part of the structure for this period opens.
Diseases and Pests
Unlike other types of hydrangea, Aisha is susceptible to frequent diseases and some pests. Sometimes specific orange spots appear on the leaves of a plant. This disease is called downy mildew. The main problem is that the disease spreads quickly throughout the plant. After only a few days, the source of infection from one branch can spread to neighboring bushes. Therefore, you should timely resort to spraying the shoots with chemicals. For treatment use any commercially available fungicide, for example, copper oxychloride. If measures are not taken in time, the bush may die.
The most common disease is chlorosis. Recognized by dry foliage. The cause of the disease is considered to be too much alkali in the soil. To avoid illness, hydrangea is fertilized with nitric acid preparations, for example, calcium nitrate. You should also stop feeding organic compounds.
Among the common pests, a spider mite most often appears on a shrub. You can get rid of it with any insecticide, for example, Actellik. It is advisable to purchase a proven tool in a specialized store.
Despite the fact that the plant comes from the subtropics, it can take root on the territory of our country. The main condition for its cultivation will be the timely implementation of a package of care measures. In gratitude for the work, Aisha hydrangea will delight with magnificent flowers and a sweet aroma.
