How to water a garden hydrangea correctly

Hydrangeas can be found in parks and squares, on flower beds and lawns. Some varieties are grown indoors. Watering is an important part of plant care. This element of agricultural technology is necessary not only to maintain flower development, but also to regulate soil acidity.

How to know if a hydrangea needs watering

Hydrangea is demanding on soil moisture and its composition. The soil must not only have an appropriate level of acidity, but also be permeable to water. Stagnation of moisture for a plant is no less dangerous than drying out of the soil.

Watering is important for hydrangeas

It is not worth pouring over the plant. Factors that determine the frequency of watering should be taken into account:

• the amount of precipitation;
• soil structure;
• the presence of mulch;
• loosening frequency.

It is these factors that determine the time during which the soil will lose moisture and require moisture. You can determine the plant's need for watering by its appearance. With a lack of moisture, the leaves and inflorescences begin to wither, and their color fades. In this case, the flower is immediately watered, and after 2-3 days the surface of the soil is loosened.

Water requirements

Hydrangeas are demanding not only on the frequency of watering, but also on the quality of the water. In some cases, watering with a hydrangea hose can be dangerous.

Dangers of tap water to hydrangeas

It is strictly forbidden to water the plants with a hose. Cold water can damage the roots and lead to all sorts of diseases. A heat-loving flower needs water, the temperature of which differs from the ambient temperature by no more than 1-2 ℃.

Bleach and other impurities in the water pose a threat. They can correct the acidity of the soil and make it alkaline. The result is chlorosis. It is difficult to treat it. For this, dangerous drugs are used (ferrous sulfate and other chemicals).

Hose watering is strictly prohibited.

What kind of water can you use

The exclusion of the possibility of watering with tap water entails the need for alternative solutions. Possible options:

• collection of rainwater;
• upholding tap;
• filtration.

The best option is to purify tap water, followed by settling it for 2-3 days. This will improve its quality, clean it from impurities and obtain the required temperature.

Watering hydrangeas should be carried out with warm and free of impurities water. Only in this case it will be possible to avoid plant infection with chlorosis and prevent hypothermia of the root system. Having dealt with the water, it is important to decide how to water the hydrangea and what additives to use.

How to water a garden hydrangea

At different periods of development, as well as when changing the place of growth, the frequency of watering may change. There are rules for organizing irrigation that must be followed.Particular attention is paid to two important points in the life of a flower - the period of rooting after transplantation and the phase of active formation of inflorescences.

Rooting after transplant

It is better to transplant thermophilic hydrangea in spring, since sharp autumn cold snaps can damage the roots and shoots. Transplanting into open ground in the fall can only be used in southern regions with a warm climate. Particular attention should be paid to maintaining the moisture content of the soil when changing the place of growth of the flower.

It is important to maintain soil moisture after transplanting

There are 3 defining rules:

• The first moistening of the soil is carried out in the hole before placing the roots in it.
• After sealing the planting pit, re-watering is carried out.
• For successful rooting, the soil is moistened every 3-4 days.

After transplanting, hydrangea has an increased need for fluid. That is why it is important not to allow the soil to dry out.

Flowering period

Hydrangea care during flowering requires a standard one. Watering the flowering hydrangea is carried out once a week at the rate of 2 buckets per one bush. If there is no precipitation for a long time or the air temperature is high, the rate is doubled. It is advisable to combine watering with top dressing. Subsequently, fertilizers are applied, the soil is loosened. Complex care will prolong flowering.

What to add to water for irrigation

With the help of additives, you can change the color of the inflorescences by feeding the plant and changing the acidity of the soil. The goals can be as follows:

• Color change. The color of hydrangea inflorescences is directly related to the acidity of the soil. The signal that it needs to be increased is a change in the color of the petals to pale pink or milky. To give the inflorescences a blue tint, vinegar, citric acid, aluminum sulfate are used as additives. To maintain the pink color, potassium permanganate is used. The acidity is increased by adding peat, pine sawdust and compost.
• For feeding. During the budding period, mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen are used, and during the flowering period, potash fertilizers are used. For adherents of folk remedies, the option using sour milk or kefir is suitable - the fermented milk product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 5 and watered at the root.

The color of the petals can be changed

What is the difference between watering garden and room hydrangeas

Large-leaved hydrangea is suitable for growing indoors. It is she who is most adapted to growing in a pot. Particular attention is paid to the irrigation schedule. Given the presence of a period of activity and rest, it looks like this:

• from spring to mid-autumn - regular soil moisture;
• towards the end of autumn, the frequency of watering is reduced to 1 time per week;
• in winter, watering is carried out only in order to prevent the roots and soil from drying out;
• in the spring, as soon as the first leaves appear, they switch to the standard mode.

Compliance with the schedule allows the plant to painlessly pass into the period of winter dormancy. This is a key factor for a lush bloom from early summer to autumn.

There is a special watering schedule for indoor hydrangea.

Watering errors and their consequences

Failure to comply with the rules can lead to a deterioration in the health of the hydrangea, a decrease in the number of inflorescences. The color of the petals may suffer. The most common mistakes include:

• Insufficient watering. Drying out of the soil is detrimental not only for the vegetative part of the plant, but also for the roots.The consequences of drought are wilting and yellowing of leaves, cessation of the formation of inflorescences.
• Ignoring acidifying additives. As the flower grows, the acidity of the soil changes towards alkaline, therefore, additives are used for watering. They help keep the acidity level at a given level.
• Lack of dressing. Fertilizers for hydrangeas are applied at the root, dissolving them in water. Lack of nutrients, especially during the flowering period, negatively affects the growth of shoots and the formation of inflorescences.
• Use cold tap water. Watering plants from a hose with cold water containing chlorine is unacceptable. The consequences will be hypothermia of the roots and correction of soil acidity.

Watering errors lead to disease

Hydrangeas require attention and care from the grower. The most important element of agricultural technology is watering. Timely moistening of the soil, the use of purified warm water, the introduction of preparations for feeding and maintaining the acidity of the soil is the key to the lush flowering of hydrangeas in the garden until autumn.