Hydrangea paniculata Candlelight - description
Content:
Hydrangea is often a decoration of the garden in the regions of Russia. This plant is successfully grown even under extreme conditions. Some varieties of hydrangea easily take root in Siberia. Lush inflorescences do not require special care, even a beginner can grow this green pet. Still, there are certain rules that must be followed when planting and caring for a flower. The article examines the Candlelight panicle hydrangea variety and helps novice growers avoid common mistakes in growing.
Candlelight is the most common cultivar in Russia. Someone is attracted by the appearance of a magnificent beauty, someone believes in the magical properties of the plant. In ancient times, it was believed that hydrangea brings happiness to its owners and protects from evil eyes. Be that as it may, pickiness and ease of growing are the main qualities that attract many gardening enthusiasts.
Hydrangea is a frost-resistant plant that will beautify any garden.
Origin and appearance
Candlelight panicle hydrangea is a new variety of Dutch origin. The name literally translates as "the glow of a burning candle." The inflorescences have a pleasant milky color, during the blooming period they acquire a greenish, then yellow tint. The crown diameter reaches 2 meters, the height of the bush is from 1 to 1.5 meters. The height of the trunk reaches 1 meter. The shoots of the shrub are durable and are painted in burgundy color. In autumn, the inflorescences acquire a reddish tint and do not lose their attractiveness with a decrease in temperature. Hydrangea Candelite blooms from July to October and tolerates the first frosts. As for the leaves, they are elliptical with a jagged edge and are painted in a rich dark green.
In the cold season, hydrangea petals acquire a more attractive appearance due to a pinkish tint.
The hydrangea shrub acquires an aesthetic appearance due to the lush milky inflorescences, which bloom continuously until severe frosts. The inflorescence has the shape of a cone, consisting of small flowers that fit tightly to each other. The description of the Candelite hydrangea differs from other varieties in that this species has large flowers and changes shades depending on the season. The fruit of an unripe flower looks like a miniature box with seeds, which ripens in late August or early September.
This flower owes its name to inflorescences, which acquire a yellow tint and a cone shape, which resembles a candle
Transplant after purchase in open ground
Before transplanting a candlelight hydrangea into open soil, you need to decide on the time, place and method of propagation of the shrub. If seedlings are improperly placed in the ground or planted in the cold season, there is a risk that the plant does not adapt to natural conditions. Experienced flower growers advise replanting your pet in open ground in early autumn or spring.
What is needed for landing
For planting, you can choose seeds, seedlings or cuttings, gardeners recommend paying attention to seedlings five years ago. This planting material is suitable for those who wish to admire the lush inflorescences in the first year after transplanting. For patient lovers to work in the garden, the option with seeds is suitable, since the first fruits will have to wait 2-3 years. This method is relevant for planting rare hydrangea species.
Optimal location
The best place for normal growth and flowering of Candy Light hydrangeas is an area protected from strong gusts of wind and drafts. The soil must be fertile and oxidized. Florists advise avoiding sandy soil, since this plant does not take root in it.
The place for transplanting hydrangeas should protect it from strong gusts of wind and direct sunlight.
Step-by-step planting process
After the gardener has chosen a suitable place and decided on the method of reproduction, you can start the planting process itself. To do this, you need to perform the following sequence of actions:
- Prepare a spacious pit in advance and saturate it well with water;
- Pour mineral or organic fertilizers into the hole. Fill up with sand, then peat. Mix the fertilizers well with the soil;
- Before planting, shorten the roots of the seedling;
- Deepen the seedlings into the ground, without completely covering the root collar;
- Re-water the plant and fertilize with humus or peat.
Reproduction
How soon the grower sees the first fruits in his garden depends on the method of flower reproduction. There are several ways to breed hydrangeas: cuttings, seeds, layering and dividing the bush.
Cuttings
For this breeding method, only large-leaved hydrangea is suitable. At the beginning of autumn, the parent seedling should be dug up and transplanted into a pot. After a few months, the shoots ripen, cuttings can be cut from them. The upper and lower leaves need to be cut off, leaving only the main part of the plant and transplanting it into fertile soil. The planted cuttings should be covered with plastic bottles to create a kind of greenhouse.
Growing from seeds
This method is very rarely used to propagate Kendle Light hydrangea. Before planting, the seeds must be prepared. You need to take a small dish, cover it with a layer of cotton wool and put the seeds on it. Then cover the seeds with another layer and cover with boiled water. The container should be left for several days. The seeds may become covered with a layer of mucus, which must be washed off before planting. For planting, you can take a small box of soil, after fertilizing the soil. Seeds must be scattered over the surface of the soil and slightly tied with earth.
Care
Despite the fact that this hydrangea variety is unpretentious, it reacts well to leaving, presenting its owners with fluffy inflorescences. This moisture-loving plant requires regular feeding and timely pruning of shoots. With proper care, you can increase the frost resistance of the flower and extend the flowering period.
Watering mode
Candlelight hydrangea is known to love oxidized soil when transplanting. When watering, you also need to observe the acidity level of the water, which should not exceed 5.6 pH. For this, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of vinegar must be diluted with 5 liters of water. If the summer is hot, you need to provide the hydrangea with enough water.
Top dressing
In order to get gorgeous inflorescences, the plant needs to be periodically fed with such fertilizers:
- Mineral fertilizers (25 g solution per bucket of water);
- Organic fertilizers - manure or decayed leaves.
During flowering
During the flowering period, hydrangea is sometimes attacked by pests. To avoid this unpleasant phenomenon, you need to prepare special solutions with which to process shrubs. Often the leaves of this plant are devoured by aphids. To eliminate this pest, you need to make a tincture of garlic. To do this, take 200 g of peeled garlic and soak in warm water. Infuse the mixture during the day. Spray the shrub with a spray bottle three times a week.
During the rest period
During the dormant period, the Candle hydrangea also needs care. Gardeners recommend regularly watering the shrub and pruning the shoots. The best time for pruning is early spring, when the buds of the inflorescence swell. In order for the plant to survive the winter successfully, at least four buds must be pruned.
During the dormant period, hydrangea needs pruning of dead inflorescences.
Preparing for winter
Candlelight panicle hydrangea is a frost-resistant plant, but still needs a reliable shelter in winter. To do this, you need to fill up and insulate the roots of the bush with fresh humus. The layer around the roots should be at least 20 cm. Use manure or dry leaves as insulation.
