Hydrangea Motley

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Hydrangea variegated (lat. Hydrangea heteromalla) - cold-resistant ornamental shrub; a representative of the genus Hortensia of the Hortensia family. Another name is multi-pubescent hydrangea. It is found naturally in the Far East. In Russia, it is grown extremely rarely, despite its frost-resistant and high decorative properties.

Characteristics of culture

The variegated hydrangea is a low-growing shrub up to 2.5 m high. The species in question is called a soil crop, since in its natural form the plant grows in the underbrush and covers the ground with its dense foliage. The shoots of the variegated hydrangea are rather strong, stiff. The leaves are elongated, green on the outside, lighter on the inside, with varying degrees of pubescence. The flowers are white, later turning crimson or pink, collected in flat corymbose inflorescences with a convex center. The species is shade-tolerant and unpretentious, ideal for landscaping rocky gardens, since it is not tall.

Growing conditions and planting subtleties

Variegated hydrangea is an unpretentious plant, however, for successful cultivation, it is preferable to plant a crop in calm and slightly shaded areas. Planting is possible near small architectural structures, including the walls of houses, but taking into account the optimal distance. The soil for variegated hydrangea is desirable light, loose, rich in humus, with a slightly acidic pH reaction. Loams are optimal. The lime content in the soil will have a detrimental effect on the condition of the plants, especially the foliage. The cultivation of the species under consideration on sites with neutral soil, previously acidified with organic materials, for example, semi-rotted coniferous litter, is not prohibited.

Planting seedlings of variegated hydrangea is carried out in the spring. Autumn planting is also possible, but not desirable. The sizes of the planting pit vary depending on the degree of development of the root system and, as a rule, are 50 * 50 cm, 60 * 60 cm or 70 * 70 cm. When planting seedlings on sandy loam soils, a layer of clay is laid at the bottom of the pit, and a layer of clay is laid on heavy soils high-quality drainage. If the planting of hydrangea seedlings is planned in the lowland of the site, it is necessary to raise it, otherwise the plants will not be able to develop normally due to the accumulation of melt water in the spring.

As when planting other ornamental shrubs, a hill is formed at the bottom of the pit, the mixture for which is made up of the top layer of soil, peat, sand, humus with the introduction of mineral fertilizers (the amount of nitrogen fertilizers is minimal - up to 15-20 g per pit). Instead of humus, you can use compost or rotted manure, but, in no case, fresh. Such an oversight can lead to severe burns of the root system, which will adversely affect the plants themselves. When planting a seedling, the root collar is not buried, but left on the soil surface.

Pruning

In order for the motley hydrangea to please with abundant flowering and dense saturated foliage, it is important to properly care for it. One of the most important crop care procedures is pruning. The first pruning is carried out at 4-5 years of age. Both sanitary and formative pruning is recommended in early spring before the start of sap flow. First, the broken, frozen and damaged branches are removed from the plants, then the shoots of the last year are shortened to 3-4 pairs of strong buds. Adult hydrangeas will also need anti-aging and thinning pruning. The second type of pruning involves removing weak and thickening shoots.

Pest control

Like most ornamental shrubs, variegated hydrangea is often attacked by pests. Among the most dangerous spider mites should be noted. Its negative effect is manifested in the form of yellowing of the leaves, their acquisition of a marble color and further litter. The pest develops and multiplies especially actively at elevated air temperatures (28-32C). In the fight against spider mites, spraying with thiophos or any other insecticides is effective.