Monday, November 16, 2009

Should i cut the flowers off my hydrangea?

my two blue hydrangeas are ailing due to a lack of water. they had lots of pretty flowers but they are turning brown. i now have a watering schedule but don't know how or when to cut the damanged ones or proper pruning for them. most of this years blooms appear to be on last years growth. is this the norm? Thanks!

Should i cut the flowers off my hydrangea?
If you prune them now they will not bloom next year. they are temperamental,, you can clip the flowers but you only prune them in late summer when they begin to die down.
Reply:thanks too all of you, this old dog is certainly learning new tricks when it comes to plants, something i never took time for in my younger days(regrettably). i have MANY more questions and look forward to your answers. Report It

Reply:It all depends upon what kind of hydreangea you have. Some bloom on old wood and some on new.





You can clip off the old blooms, but don't prune until right after the blooming stops for the year. If you prune too late in the fall you will cut off next year's buds and you won't have a Spring bloom.
Reply:Cutting off the spent or dried up flowers in called 'deadheading' in the landscape trade. It is done to make the plants look better, it is a good idea to remove them. At the same time you can cut them back so they will regrow to the height you want them.





Yes many bloom on last years growth.
Reply:I read the answers with interest. I LOVE hydrangeas and have several in my yard at the Oregon coast. I bury old rusty nails near the roots of some to get different colors. I've never had a problem growing them....they survive like weeds here. But as a side note....did you know that you can cut a bloom, dry it and the color will stay for years in that dried bloom? They make wonderful arrangements. Good luck with your hydrangeas.
Reply:Like the others, I think you should cut the dead blooms, but wait until later to prune. Water and feed!





I have a great idea for spent hydrangea blooms. At least I think it is great. I have used them for the "bow" on a natural Winter wreath before. Attach natural foliage, like pine or ceder to a straw wreath. Instead of using ribbons and bows, I used a large, dried hydrangea bloom and some wild berries. I cannot tell you what the berries are called, but they grow on ditch banks and hedgerows everywhere. The berries are tiny and purple, and they grow in clusters like grapes. Spray paint the blooms and the berries gold. Attach the bloom in the center of the wreath where the bow would go. Drape the berries underneath where the ribbon would be.





For color, I recommend artificial red berries. I used wild red berries once, and I found them all over the house for months!


Is there a symbolic meaning or representation to the hydrangea plant?

every winter I find dried hydrangeas in my yard even though I have scoured the neighborhood and can't find any in the summer. I also seem to find hydrangeas bushes or blosoms in most unusual places. Usually places that are associated with a decision I have to make or a conflict I feel.

Is there a symbolic meaning or representation to the hydrangea plant?
This is the meaning that I found off of a wedding website.


Hydrangea: meaning: Devotion. Colors: blue, mauve, pink, red, white Season: Summer to Fall
Reply:I have a hydrangea, and I've always liked them so I was really surprised to see some of these harsh answers from various websites:


------------------------


Understanding


Thank you for understanding


frigidity, heartlessness


Boastfulness


Devotion








Hydrangea: For a period of time, it was very much in vogue for noble human maidens to wear long, trailing pastel-colored gowns and to react to all courting with as much indifference as possible. The cool pastel colors of the hydrangea plant's blossoms probably played a role when poets in the Turamzzyrian Empire designated hydrangea as a symbol of heartlessness.





------------------


I think that although they also seem to mean "boastful, frigid, and heartless," the sentiments of "devotion" and "understanding" hardly describe how beautiful these flowers are. I also think that they should also be symbolic of "sensitivity" or "insightfulness" because the color of their blooms are so easily affected by the acidity/ alkalinity of the soil.


How can I make my Hydrangea turn blue?

I have heard that you can put different things into the soil of Hydrangeas and they change colors. If that is true what do you put in the soil?

How can I make my Hydrangea turn blue?
It is dependent on the pH of your soil. Hydrangea's will bloom pink when the pH is above 7....blue if it is below 6.5. You can add soil sulfur to your soil to bring the pH down or coffee grounds mixed in the soil will also help. Good luck.
Reply:There are varieties of white hydrangea that don't change no matter what you put in the soil. Report It

Reply:Yes, steel nails worked for me. I did it thinking "sure" but the next season they were a beautiful blue. That was several years ago %26amp; I haven't added anymore nails. I probably used 1/2 pound stuck them right in the ground around the roots %26amp; tapped them in with a hammer until the head was just buried.
Reply:I'm not sure what you put in, but I know it does have to do with the PH and Acidity. Check with the local garden center.
Reply:1.Spray Paint


2.Food dye the water you use to water it


3.Bury some smurfs around it.
Reply:If you live in the south, they mostly will be blue. If you live in the north, they mostly will be pink. PH is the key.


More acid, more blue, say 6.5 or lower should do it.
Reply:I think you need ericaceous soil. It should be available from any garden centre.


How to deadhead a potted hydrangea (macrophylla)?

I have a store-bought macrophylla hydrangea (which I love!) and most of the blooms have died as summer is winding down. I've read that I am supposed to deadhead the spent blooms, but I'm not sure where exactly to cut. If I cut under a pair or two of leaves below the flowering part, won't I be left with a bunch of cut stems on my plant? Will they ever grow from those stems again or should I just cut the stems completely from the bottom? But then I wouldn't be left with much of a plant at all! There are a few new stems that haven't flowered yet this year but still, that isn't much if that's all that's left. I am new to growing hydrangeas and would appreciate any help anyone has to offer. Thanks!

How to deadhead a potted hydrangea (macrophylla)?
Dead flowerheads of mophead hydrangeas can be removed after flowering, but it is better to leave them on the plant over winter as they will provide some frost protection for the rather tender growth buds below them. Instead, remove the dead flowerheads in early spring, cutting back to the first strong, healthy pair of buds lower down the stem. You will know the buds I am shore,





If there is any frost damage in spring, prune back damaged shoots to just above the first undamaged pair of buds on live, healthy wood. Also remove any weak, straggly stems.
Reply:Yes, you would be left with a bunch of stems. But this would happen to one that is planted outdoors, too. I have a florist friend who says these potted plants may not grow outside.





Once you cut the stems, keep watering like always. Make sure you fertilize every other week, and give it part sun/part shade. Don't give it hot, afternoon sun. Good luck!
Reply:You don't need to deadhead a hydrangea. You can leave the flowers on -- they look very nice when dried. I did nothing to my hydrangea last year and this year it has more blooms than ever... My hydrangea is not potted, and it's probably approx. 20 years old, but I don't think it makes a difference. Just leave the stems, flowers, etc. If you deadhead the hydrangea you will be missing 1/2 of it's charm.

addis

Adding coffee grounds to hydrangea soil?

I have a hydrangea that I just bought and planted yesterday. Its in a 10 gallon pot and I'm keeping it on my patio. The flowers are kinda mauve in color. I want to make them blue in the future. How much coffee grounds should I add and how often do hydrangeas bloom. I'm in zone 9 by the way.





Thanks

Adding coffee grounds to hydrangea soil?
Add as much coffee grounds (tea bags too) as you like. Won't hurt them. Epsom salts also good for blue.


Hydrangea wilting?

Have replaced it once... exact same hole. There are other hydrangeas close by which are having no problems and the sprinkler system seems to be hitting all of them equally. I've checked the soil and it seems to have the same moisture content as where the others are doing great.


Could it be something in the soil? Am I being fooled? Any suggestions?


I am thinking of cutting it back and giving it a bit of root stimulator and a fish emulsion feeding.


It is a 'Nikko Blue'..., there is an 'Endless Summer' with which I am having almost exactly the same issue. Others around it are doing fabulous.


Zone 6, have them in part shade... this really should not be happening.

Hydrangea wilting?
It could maybe have a bacterial wilt. This would need a fungicide. Yes, it could be in the soil. Treat before it spreads to others. Try Daconil or Fungonil or other fungicide available in your area.
Reply:It still could not be getting enough water, mine started wilting and I immediately gave it a couple gallons of water and it perked right back up
Reply:I am watching your question! I also have a Nikko Blue, and I am in zone 6. My Blue was planted about 7 years ago, is in a mostly shaded area, but when the little bit of evening sun hits, it wilts. I give it some water and it perks up again. The soil does not look dry though. This spring, I dug it up, amended the soil with compost and fertilizer, and moved it about 2 feet from it's previous location. Same problem! The soil is wet, but the plant wilts. Water it, and it seems revived. It is still a small bush, but the blooms this year are better than ever.
Reply:You have different hydrangea types. You other ones might withstand heat or sun better. I have Endless Summer, and every afternoon, it wilts a bit. It is in part sun/part shade. In the evening, it "comes back to life".





Do they stay wilted, even when it's shady and cooler? If they stay wilted, I can only echo Katie and say it's a fungus, disease or insects. If so, it could spread to the other hydrangeas.
Reply:Unlikely, but could it be overwatered? Overwatered plants will have the same symptoms as underwatered. Check for fungus and insect damage as well.


Hydrangea help?

I planted two hydrangeas in May of 2007. I am aware these plants are difficult to grow because of soil issues and such. I planted them in an area that receives about 6 hours of sun a day (not quite partial shade, but very close). The plants did well, but if I don't water them every 2 days, the leaves will sag and look floppy. But, after I water them, they pop right back up and look great. The card said bloom time is summer, but they haven't bloomed since mid-June. Can anyone give me some useful info on them? I read one website that said they would tolerate full sun. Will I have to water them next year as I do now since they will be established? The type is endless summer or blushing bride. Thanks.

Hydrangea help?
It takes time for the plants to settle in your yard and started to grow. Mine took at least 1 to 2 years. Perhaps, your plants is done blooming for this year, because it is still small, so go ahead and do the deadheading(take the spent flowers off), but make sure you won't cut too deep. Hydrangea produce their new buds on the old cane, so cutting it off means there will be no flowers next year. Just cut the point below the flower %26amp; stem where next leaf buds are coming out(Don't cut the leaf bud.). It could take full sun, if it is well established in the soil, but it doesn't mean that you can water less. Hydrangea loves to drink water! You know? Hydro=means water, right? The ideal location is part-shade, but adding mulch around the plants helps. Water deeply and mulch around it and it'll keeps moisture under ground. I love hydrangeas. I have several of them and propagation is so easy from a small cutting. You said that it is difficult to grow, but it's really not that hard. Water well and give them a good acid food(like Miracle grow for acid loving plants) will be enough care.
Reply:Hi:


Hydrangeas need partial shade. If you planted the shrub in mid- June it could be going through a shock stage. It could also need a little more shade. When you planted Hydrangea, did you use mushroom compost or any type of fertilizer like a 10-10-10? Mushroom compost is an organic fertilizer that will last up to a year.


Watering is critical in the beginning. Your climate conditions will also play a role in how much you should water. If you are in drought conditions, watering the first month is important.


Putting a hose near the trunk of the shrub and using just a little water pressure may help. This should be done every other day in hot weather for about two weeks. Soak the roots for three to four minutes. Sometimes depending on the age of a shrub, it may not bloom the first year.


The Endless Summer or Blushing Bride can be tricky in soil conditions. Sometimes it is best to have your soil tested if you are investing in Hydrangeas. I have planted several Endless Summer Hydrangeas for peolple and the bloom turned pink. As you know, it is suppose to be blue. Don't give up on this shrub as it may just take until next year to bloom. Try and get on a watering schedule with your climate conditions. If it doesn't seem better in a week take a look at factors of soil, more shade, mushroom compost and drought and heat.


It is alright to transplant the shrub to another location in the next few weeks if there is no improvement. If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me. I hope this has helped some. Good luck to you and let me know how you make out!


Kimberly


http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...
Reply:I actually did the same thing, I planetd 2 plants in May. However I found that burying a "soaker hose" and running it around each plant worked very well. I hooked it up to a timer and it goes on for about 5 minutes twice a day to keep the soil moist. They are both blooming and have been for a couple of months. The soil isn't particularly fertile either. every week or so I water with miracle grow bloom booster.
Reply:Go to a store such as Wal Mart's gardening center and buy pound-in liners. Very easy to pound into the ground. Make a circle around your plants with the liners for holding about 4 to 6 inches of water.





If you live in the hot south such as zone 8 or 9, you might have to water them once per day. Each leaf on a plant takes up water in order to live.





Happy gardening to you.
Reply:If you just planted them in may 2007. I assume they are small plants. Keep them well watered until they establish good root growth, probably the rest of this year, and maybe some next year, Hydrangeas take several years to reach full growth potential. After they quit blooming, you can prune no more than 1/3 of it`s growth at a time. Deadhead (remove dying flowers) to prolong flowering.
Reply:Yes..........they are thirsty plants.





I had to move mine that gave them a partial sun exposure and are planted right near the daily sprinkler system.


Hydrangea size?

I have a few Hydrangeas that have been in the ground for about two years and each year they only seem to come back and grow to about 6 to 8 inches in height. (Zone 7) I dont trim the dead stems from the previous year because I have been told the provide nutrients throughout the winter month to the root system. When I planted them a used mushroom compost and since mulched with organic compost the following year. One is in full sun about 8 hours a day and the other in partial sun about 3 to 4 hours a day, and yet another a forgot about in almost full shade all day except for maybe an hour a day under some vines on a fence. All are the same height now in late July no matter where they seem to be planted........Any help here to make them bigger?

Hydrangea size?
Do you know what variety of hydrangea you planted? Some cultivars of H. macrophylla are bred to be compact . Also, if you used too much mushroom compost to amend the soil when planting, it is possible that may contribute to poor performance in your hydrangeas. Mushroom compost is mostly sterile and has not been composted as thoroughly as that in your compost pile; it does not provide nutrients immediately, and may lock up some nutrients in the process of decomposing. I would suggest a slow release organic fertilizer such as Espoma over the course of a couple of seasons. For further information, try these websites: http://www.conweb.com/hydrangea/ or http://squtch.quiet-like-a-panther.org/s...
Reply:this could be what there suppose to grow in a season as not get too big too fast there are diffrent kinds and colors
Reply:hm. I got one of those "box with a stick in it" things from my boyfriend when we just started dating, about a year and a few months ago. Planted it in a pot... it grew 3 sprouts 8 inches tall. Planted it in the garden last fall, in a semishaded position, watered well all spring since it was near some grass I seeded, and it's got three blooms on it and is about 18 inches tall. Not bad for first year.





Yours should be doing similar things. If they are not... were they in some sort of "plant the whole pot!" kind of thing? If so, I have found that those things do not generally decompose the way they're supposed to. Or, if you have really hard or rocky soil, the plant might be stuck in the hole... that is, it might not be able to get into the surrounding soil. With that sort of soil, you have to dig a hole meant for a much larger plant... like 3x the size of the root ball you're planting... and fill most of it back in with good loose (friable) soil.





I'd dig one of them up to look at the root system, see if it's stuck in a pot or stuck in the hole.

larry

Is my hydrangea dying?!?!?!?!?!?!? - please help!?

Hey all. We recently had to make way for a driveway extension. In doing so we had to transplant 2 beautiful, very well established, in bloom hydrangeas. Now in my research prior to moving them I did see this is a terrible time of year for doing this. But the drive way needed to be dont and it was either we transplant the hydrangeas or they would have just been ripped out and trashed. SOOOOO its been 2 days and already the leaves and branches are looking limp. We've been watering 2 times a day and I'm hoping for a turn around. Anyone out there with any other tips or ideas to help us save these babies???

Is my hydrangea dying?!?!?!?!?!?!? - please help!?
Were you able to save a decent rootball with each? A good rule of thumb is that if you have to cut out roots, you should get rid of at LEAST the same amount of green growth. You might need to give the bushes themselves a good trim back, including blooms (sad, I know...but better than losing a whole beautiful hydrangea!). Keep on the watering (but keep an eye out for water-logged soil), give them each a haircut, and just hope that they bounce back. Good luck!





Edit:


It might seem like you're doing more damage by cutting off branches, but you're actually helping it out by decreasing the plant's need for water. Leaves need water, plain and simple, so more leaves means a larger water demand, and cutting off greenery (especially stuff that's already damaged) will help the plant balance out after a troublesome transplant. Good luck!


Trim a Hydrangea bush?

I have a rather large Hydrangea bush and each summer it grows larger but still has the dead "sticks" visible. Is it possible to trim the bush down to the ground (and will it grow as big)? Someone told me that if I trim the stalks they could have rain enter them and rot. Is that true? Can you please advise me on Hydrangeas?.. Thank you!!

Trim a Hydrangea bush?
you do not stat where this plant is in relation to to your home. This can make a significant difference. In the early winter (you can do it even now) remove any dead growth you can see. Throughout the seasons remove any dead growth you see.


Most shubs only require a small pruning shear device. Other landscape plants require larger, more peoplepower, devices. Regardless of the size or purpose, equip yourself.


My boss practically cut-off a finger trying to prune RedTwigs using a hedge sheerer versus a pruner.


If the plant is away from the home, in it's normal environ, then prune two time a year. Prune the truly wild stalks each late summer, and the dead in the Spring (or whenever regardless of season you see dead). Fert the plant both during the flowering and about two weeks into October. Between the fert, pruning, and care you will have a healthy plant for years.


Some people play with Hydrangea. You can too. The color of the blooms is directly related to the acidity of the soil. White become whiter with the intoduction of BoneMeal or Lime. You can make the color Red/Purple with the intro of Acid (Miricle Gro) .


The weekend after Thanksgiving is the time to bring the plant to it's knees. Yes, you can take it to about six inches above ground level. It will grow back over the next three seasons/years. It will love you for the action as it is more sturdy. Good Luck.
Reply:You are supposed to trim out some old 'finished' stems on Hydrangeas every year to rejuvenate the shrub, so don't worry if you have to do this. I've never heard the one about the rain in the stalks, it must have been in Noah's time.





They do flower on the mature stems so only cut the newer stems down when they have had their flowers to two fat buds further down their stems.
Reply:I wouldn't trim it down to the ground, but you can trim it back. HOWEVER wait till it starts showing leaves (which is this time of the year) and then trim it back to avoid snipping away all the leaf buds. The biggest mistake someone can make is trimming it back so much that the thing stays a bundle of sticks and doesn't bloom at all that year.
Reply:It is ok to trim off old wood but hydrangeas only bloom on mature sticks so it maybe a while till they bloom again. Remember to always do a little and then step back. Sometimes we get over zealous and they don't look so good.
Reply:Trim the canes below the last years bloom.


If leaves are budded trim above that.


Trim the dead sticks out before new growth begins. They break easily by hand so you recognize the dead ones.


I cut mine clear back to 6 inches tall because I want to move mine. Its too big for the spot its now in. I may not have any blooms this year but doubt it will rot. I saw green in the canes and that was this years new canes.


Some divide the plants to keep them downsized. Start a branch in starting soil and begin a new bush if that one is too large. Dividing the bush may be your solution. Just place the shovel in heart of bush early before growth begins and break apart. Move shovel around bush to lift out the section you want to remove. That is how I got my start. Someone wanted to downsize their bush.


My big beautiful purple hydrangea wilted, why?

I got a 6" pot with hydrangeas's from walmart brought it home and set it where it only got the early early early morning sun then it was completely shaded by the house and it wilted and the flowers died the very next day could it have been from heat because the tempeture got to the high 90's during the day? I'm trying to revive it because the leaves are still green so I brought it in the house and watered it. Will it grow new flowers or just die off?

My big beautiful purple hydrangea wilted, why?
usually plants wilt if they get dried out...or if they can't absorb enough water thru the roots to keep up the upper leaves...basically the leaves transpire or realease moisture faster than the plant can transport more water up to the upper part... if it got up to 90 and it was in a 6" pot ... that sounds like a perfect recipie to dry out... chances are that if you got it in a 6" pot from walmart and it was already blooming ... it was meant to be a house plant... so it isn't used to 90 degrees anyways... keep it inside... can't be sure that it will bloom again... it might if you do it right... but put it in a bigger pot if you can and try slowly acclimating it to your outside shady area...
Reply:re-pot your hydrangea and get some fertilizer and soil specifically for that kind of plant. Make sure the soil stays moist, not soaking wet and slowly start to acclimate it to your weather. If you take extra care with it, you may be able to plant it outside next year.


How do I get Hydrangea bushes to produce purple flowers like on cape cod?

I live just north of cape cod. My hydrangeas already produce blue flowers.

How do I get Hydrangea bushes to produce purple flowers like on cape cod?
My parents (on Cape Cod) stick long nails in the ground near the roots to turn them purple. Cheaper than acid fertilizer!
Reply:acid soil, this is advice from my gardening guru mother
Reply:Hydrangea are fun plants..you can make them go pink by fertilizing with Acid Fertilizer, or make them go Blue by adding Lime around their roots (ground under bush). Have at it.
Reply:there are many different varieties and colors of hydrangea. most fall into pinkish, blueish, or white. soil PH greatly affects them. among other things, lime to raise PH, sulfur to lower it. you can even put one on one side and one on the other and have more than one color on the same plant. experiment, have fun with it.
Reply:I think it needs an acid soil. I'd try Mir-Acid (its an acid form of the fertilizer Miricle Grow.)

Chemicals

Moving hydrangea plant now !, How do I successfully move a 3 ft tall hydrangea plant see below ?

I cut down a tree and then realized now my hydrangeas are burning. should I prune them down even tho it is their spring growing season and dig them up after watering them well ? I will lost them if I don't move them ,it is now very hot there.

Moving hydrangea plant now !, How do I successfully move a 3 ft tall hydrangea plant see below ?
Water well. Prune them back hard, move them, getting as much of the rootball as you can, water well, with a little root stimulator in the watering.





Pruning will lessen the shock - as shock comes from water loss, and with fewer leaves, there will be less asiprated loss through the leaves. You'll lose the flowers this year if they haven't yet flowerred - but that's a small price to pay to increase the chances of the plants surviving the move.
Reply:If you move it now you are taking a large chance of losing the bush. However, it can be done if you move it in the evening when it has cooled down; be sure to water it well after it is moved. I would go to the local garden center and purchase fabric shade (it can be purchased by the yard) to make a kind of umbrella. It should make it through the summer, if watered well during the season. Then you can move it safely when the weather cools off.
Reply:My hydrangeas are in full sun and they do wilt a bit, but I doubt you will lose them, unless you don't water. The sunburn you see on the leaves should not occur on new leaves that come out. In other words, they can probably stay where they are...





If you do want to move them, moving now should be OK, but you will have to water all summer to ensure they get established. You might not get flowers this year, either.





Don't prune them down prior to moving, because many hydrangeas bloom on old wood and you would definitely be foresaking the flowers if you cut down the old wood.





If you do move them, dig really good, deep, wide holes to transplant them to. Build a "moat" around them to hold water so you can really soak them after planting.





Or just leave them be till fall. Maybe they'll adapt to their new home. We have them growing at the beach in absolute beating sun and they love it!


Hydrangea Wedding Bouquet?

I think that I've decided to have hydrangeas for my wedding bouquet and for my bridesmaids. Does anyone have any pictures or links of nice arrangements? My colors are clover, lavendar and cream.





My dress is very simple...I'll attach it for reference...


http://www.davidsbridal.com/bridal_gowns...





Has anyone used hydrangeas? If so, what were the pros and cons?

Hydrangea Wedding Bouquet?
I could only find one picture pf the 3 colors together, but they arent all hydrangea, but you get the gist of what the color combination will look like at least.





http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilyd/1452...





As for using hydrangea, we had alot of luck with them for my BF's wedding. It was the hottest day of the summer in june when we used them (100 degree heat in direct sun the entire time). We were concerned they would wilt in no time, but they were actually really hearty and my bouquet still looked good the next day. We were told by the florist that it was hit or miss, but my BF had her heart set on them so she decided to go with them anyway. I am so glad she did because they were beautiful!





Good luck!
Reply:I too love hydrangeas, but I opted not to use them. I had an August wedding and did not want to chance them wilting. They are a very sensitive flower and I didn't want to risk it. I've heard stories where they were lovely and I've heard horror stories. I instead used roses, lisianthus, gerber daisies, mini tulips, freesias, and pearl studded stephanotis. It lasted wonderfully. If you have your heart set on hydrangeas I would get a list of brides that used them from your florist for references to the quality that they provide.
Reply:I like this bouquet, you could make the calla's cream and add some lavender hydrangea.


http://www.bloomeryweddings.com/blog/Fea...
Reply:http://www.kremp.com/index.cfm/fuseactio...


http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/BDX/BDX22...


http://www.celebrationsflowers.com/brida...
Reply:Hydrangeas are BEAUTIFUL nice!!! I'm using them for my bridesmaids bouquets as well we are doing a single bundle with greenery around it. The new bridal magazines for March and Feb have WONDERFUL ideas for hydrangeas (who knew that they would be in this year) As a matter of fact my colors are lavendar and orange and they make a WONDERFUL addition!!! Best Wishes!!
Reply:My girlfriend isn't here, but I know that she would adore your decision to use hydrangeas. She loves them.





Brandon
Reply:I love hydrangeas, Im having my centerpeices, hydrangeas, roses and cala lilys, all my favorite flowers. I think it will look nice with your dress, no matter what color.
Reply:Hydrangeas are beautiful. Grenn hydrangeas from Holland along with lavender spray roses make a beautiful bouquet. And the colors are what you are looking for.


I can't attach a photo of a Bridal Bouquet I did with hydrangeas in those colors because my website is under construction.


The cons; they don't hold up as well as other flowers especially in the summer months. Also they tend to be pricey.


I have an old myspace that i had before I moved which I haven't updated- if you go to that you might be able to see one of the photos- http://www.myspace.com/dezyner_gal


The bouquet that Mrs. S. showed is lovely and they contain the green hydrangeas from holland. I would make the callas lavender and use spray roses in lavender. If you use those colors against a wedding gown they look beautiful.
Reply:http://www.hydrangeabouquets.com/


Are my hydrangea's dead or dormant?

I live in zone 6 (cambridge ma) and all of my endless summer hydrangeas I planted last year look like skeletons. Are they dead or just dormant? If they are dormant, is there anything I can do to encourge them to come back strong? If they are dead, any idea why???

Are my hydrangea's dead or dormant?
I am in Sydney Australia ,and my Hydrangeas look like sticks in the winter as they are deciduous ,after the frosts have finished I then prune them back to old wood just above a junction of the new buds ,always prune so that new growth will grow outwards.Don't fertilise until early spring as dormant plants do not like to be fed in winter.
Reply:Hydrangeas may be dormant,don't do anything drastic yet,,they like a acid soil,so you may want to give them so acid rapid grow,you can buy it at the garden center. Good Luck. i hope they come back for you.

miriam

How much does each hydrangea stem usually cost?

I want my centerpieces to have about three hydrangeas and when I went to the LA Flower Marker I found white hydrangea bunches for about $6 but colored hydrangeas (pink and purple) for about $12. Each bunch was about 4-5 stems, so for white hydrangeas it averages to $1.50-$2 and colored for $3-$3.50 per stem. Is this right? I was looking into having a florist arrange 3 hydrangeas and 6 roses in vases that i have botten (rose Im sure are cheaper around $1.00-$1.50 per stem). They said it would be $35-$40 isnt this way too much, I understand labor cost but are they totally ripping me off or is this how much it will cost? I would think as florist they would even get flowers even cheaper since they buy by bulk right? I am totally wrong by asking them to do it for at least $25-$30?

How much does each hydrangea stem usually cost?
average cost is between 3 and 8 dollars each
Reply:See if you can get a florist that works from home? I did that and got great centerpieces for about $60 total cost.. I did however, bring my own containers...I got married in Las Vegas and brought home the buckets from each casino and had arrangements in those.. My guests took everything home ! Which is something you can do as well.. Instead of renting containers.. Then guests can take the whole arrangement home ! good luck
Reply:No, I think you are totally right. I mean labor is something to consider but it just sounds like they are totally just trying to get more money. If I were you I would insist on them lowering their prices or just find a florist who would do it for cheaper. Don't get defeated just keep trying!


Hydrangea problem?

I have several Hydrangeas that I thought were healthy but they have these ugly spots on them with some leafs have died. Any idea what this is and how to deal with it?

Hydrangea problem?
Your ugly spots may be what is called "leaf spot" (cercospora hydrangeae). The identifiers for this fungus are, brown to yellow spots or blotches on the leaf surface. The spots may have dark or yellowish margins, and the leaves may shrivel and drop prematurely. Does this sound like what you have?





The fungus is spread by the air, or splashing water, and it's favored by prolonged cool, wet, conditions. It harbors in the spent plant debris. Good horticultural practices during the growing season will help to control this fungus. You should avoid wetting the foliage at all cost. Use a drip irrigation if possible, or keep the main stream of water directed towards the base of the plant when irrigating with the garden hose. Do not splash soil from around the root zone. Use good sanitation practices and remove and dispose of debris and infected leaves. Make sure there is no buildup of fallen leaves around the base of the plant, this is where the fungus thrives. Like one poster said, it is getting late in the season and the foliage will be dropping for the winter months, so about all you can do at this late stage in time is remove the fallen leaves immediately when they drop. It's rather late to apply a fungicide at this time. Hope this answers your question.





**Billy Ray**
Reply:check this website:





http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/hy...
Reply:Hydrangeas are deciduous their getting ready to go to sleep, is this their first year?. Mine are looking ratty now, just cut


Off all the flours and let them rest for the winter.


Hydrangea blooms changed colors?

I bought some lilac purple hydrangeas. Soon after buying them I repotted them and all the blooms turned a pale green, what can I do to turn them back to the purple, or really any other color besides the green. Not sure if it matters but I replanted them in Miracle grow potting soil, and I live in Japan. Thanks

Hydrangea blooms changed colors?
Hydrangeas blooms change color due to change in the soil ph
Reply:Bury a soda can, foil, or something metal (aluminum) near the flowers. Their PH has changed. This happens often with hydrangeas. The PH in your soil determines their color so if you "plant" something metal close to the plant, it should change colors (back to violet) for you.
Reply:All hydrangea are the same plant. It is the soil that determines the color of the blooms. I, unfortunately, stop being of help there. I don't know what soil conditions determine which color. I do know that I had pinkish / purplish blooms when I lived in VA, and our soil was very basic - high acid?
Reply:Hydrangea bloom color depends on soil pH. It is much easier to change a hydrangea from pink to blue than it is from blue to pink. Changing a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding aluminum to the soil. Changing from blue to pink means subtracting aluminum from the soil or taking it out of reach of the hydrangea.





You should be able to find the aluminum in nurseries or plant supply shops. Not sure about the availability in Japan though.
Reply:The change in color indicates a change in the ph of the growing medium - in this case, Miracle grow potting soil. If you want deep blue hydrangea you can bang several iron nails into the soil. You have to use iron, though. Stainless steel won't work.
Reply:LIMITATIONS TO


HYDRANGEA COLOR CHANGE:


White hydrangeas can NOT be changed to pink or blue by the grower. (The Almighty sometimes adds pink and red to blooms as they age).








If you live in a hot climate, it is unlikely you will ever see a "true red" hydrangea. No matter how convincing those pictures in the catalogs are or how much lime is added to the soil, one can only achieve a very deep or dark pink, but not a true red (at least here in the South. I'd love to hear from you if you have a different experience).








One can rarely change the intensity of a color (how strong or pale the color is). The intensity develops for a number of reasons: the heredity of a particular hydrangea variety, weather conditions (hot or cold, humid or dry), health of the plant, and possibly other natural factors. Fertilizing hydrangeas once or twice a year may result in a little more saturated color simply because the health of the plant may be improved.








A few varieties of hydrangeas tend more toward the pink or the blue range of colors, but will not retain even this color if soil conditions are not right.
Reply:To change its color fast, buy ironite from any local nursery. Work it into the soil around the plant. Also you can put a few rusty nails around the surface of the soil.


Hydrangea question...?

I have beautiful Endless Bloom Hydrangeas. They are full and produce bright beautiful blooms. However, they do not grow up or out... just more full. Is this normal? I would like the plants to grow larger. What can I do to facilitate their growth?

Hydrangea question...?
This plant only grows to between 3-5 feet. If you have had it in the ground for a while, more than three months, give it some fertilizer. If you give it the type that is for acid loving plants it will turn a little bluer than pink. It is a beautiful plant. Keep it well watered, they love water, and make sure it has some shade at least in the afternoon.
Reply:If they get too tall the stems cannot hold up the huge blossoms, self defense by staying fat and not very tall. A rhododendron will get tall and covered with huge blossoms and has a woodier body. I had a lace cap hydrangea that got much larger and was awesome--also a pg gets big and tall and has huge white blossoms.
Reply:Hmmmmmm, it's almost sounds like the roots are all balled up. Do have a lot of clay in your soil, or rocks perhaps? Wait until the end of the bloom season before you go poking around the roots. This plant only gets to be about 5' x 4'. Good Luck

irene

Hydrangea bouquets but what other flower to add?

my colours are blue and purple.


whats another nice flower to add or should i just have hydrangeas?


and should i mix the colours up or have the girls with blue and me with purple or them with plain white and me with the colours mixed, as you can read i really dont no what i am talking about. ha ha

Hydrangea bouquets but what other flower to add?
Hi. First of all.....what color(s) are the bridesmaids wearing?





I think too many brides think you need to match the color of the dress with the color of the flower. That is exactly what you don't want to do! Otherwise, it will kind of all blend together for the pictures. You want contrast. If they girls are in blue OR purple....then have them with a MIX of all colors. And for you...possibly just one color. For you....you could do all white along with some white roses too.





Go to a florist and get their opinion. They are more than willing to help!
Reply:They come in sev eral tones and loook great with just bridal wreath
Reply:Here are some pics and ideas of what might look good.I know that they are pricey but that does not mean that you have to spend that much,but rather use what you can from what I am providing and you will be happy.





http://ww22.1800flowers.com/product.do?b...








http://ww22.1800flowers.com/product.do?b...








i know that you want different,well maybe this will help





http://ww22.1800flowers.com/product.do?b...





i also think that something like in the pic would work with what you have described; you can find out the flowers used,go and see the flowers in person and design your own bouquet!


http://ww22.1800flowers.com/product.do?b...





this would be a good wedding bouquet except make it for cheaper if you like it or improvies some of the expensive flowers!


http://ww22.1800flowers.com/product.do?b...





this would also be a good bouquet..expensive here on line yet you can tweak it if you like it and come up with a similar,affordable one!plus it includes all the colors you listed!


http://ww22.1800flowers.com/product.do?b...





i like the last one (bouquet) best for the girls and the first one for you because it has all the elements that you have described!
Reply:You could add one color of roses (like white) to tie all the girls bouquets (I'm guessing they will have colored, while you have white)... and I would definitely do the girl's with different colored hydrangeas. I think it makes each girl look unique, and it's really awesome looking in pictures. I think it is a very modern idea, and I think it will make your wedding day different.





You may not even need roses... I like the look of just hydrangeas. If I were you I would probably carry white, I think it makes you look different from the girls, and white it reserved for you. Usually, I would go with colors... but if the other girls are carrying something very similar to you- I think white makes you look even more special.
Reply:OH you are like me!! i am adding silk purple roses..they go INCREDIBLE!!!!





and yes whatever the main color is go with that..I am going with purple maid of honor in blue! OR make a smaller bouquet of the smae flowers but yours is bigger
Reply:Hydrangea is a very bold flower so keep additions simple some greenery and maybe a few sprigs of babys breath in a mutted white to set it all off...





Similar to this look...





http://www.save-on-crafts.com/paperflowe...


Annabelle Hydrangea?

Hydrangeas are my favorite flower, and I love having as many as possible in my garden.





I have no problem with most hydrangeas. They all thrive in my zone 9a climate.





However, I can't seem to get Annabelle Hydrangea to thrive here. They can't seem to make it through the summers here, even in full shade. I know people with them, so I know its possible for them to do well here. What can I do to make sure the ones I plant this year thrive?

Annabelle Hydrangea?
Perhaps you should wait for a Fall planting. Give them the cool season to root out and settle in, instead of the scorch of summer.


What should I use to protect my lilac bush from frost tonight? And do I need to protect hydrangeas too?

gardening tips

What should I use to protect my lilac bush from frost tonight? And do I need to protect hydrangeas too?
If you feel the need to cover stuff, use fabric, not plastic. Lilacs have been around for a long time... you may lose some flowers this year, but the plant will be fine. Don't know how tender the hydrangeas you mention are -- they vary all over the place, but if they grow ok in your area (as opposed to plants you have to take inside in the winter) they'll be fine, too.
Reply:Cut up big plastic garbage bags and secure them over your hydrangeas. Your lilacs are probably too big to cover? Unless the lilacs are blooming, they'll be ok.
Reply:the lilac should be okay if it's an older bush...but a new planting should be protected... same with hydrangea if it has green buds showing, cover it!!!...... cover with cloth not plastic ...
Reply:Use cheese cloth or burlap, not plastic. But only cover your lilac bush and hydrangeas if they've started to bud, otherwise, they'll be fine.
Reply:Have lilac bushes and hydrangeas for years and never covered them. The frost has not hurt them. They are hardy plants.
Reply:Don't worry. Lilacs and hydrangeas are pretty hardy and don't need to be covered to keep off the frost.
Reply:try a couple of towels just drap them over the plant during frost period.


How can i get big flower heads on my hydrangeas?

Forced Hydrangeas can bloom in April and stay in flower until September. Overwintered plants won't bloom until summer.Choose a cool, light spot or on the patio in the shade of other taller plants. The temperature should not be much over 68%F in the summer. Give only enough water to keep the plant from drying out in the fall and winter, but water daily after the first flower buds have appeared. Add 2 grams of sulphate of ammonia per quart of water until it has finshed flowering. Water twice a day if it is very hot. It will thrive best in a mixture of potting soil and sphagnum, which should be well drained and with a pH of less than 7.


Try experimenting. Take pink flower heads and stick them in a pot of acidic soil with a pH of about 4.5 - 5.5 (the soil should be at least half sphagnum) and see what happens. That's right-blue flowers! This blue color can be strenghtened by adding a teaspoon of aluminum sulphate every 14 days. Make a mark on your calendar - the timing must be exact.


If more flowers are desired on the hydrangea you should pinch them out just above a well-developed pair of leaves. Continue doing this until the end of July. Cut the flower heads off just after they have finished flowering.


(sphagnum is a type of moss that grows in wet, boggy acidic areas, whos remains eventually become compacted with other plant debris to form peat)

How can i get big flower heads on my hydrangeas?
Miracle-Gro.
Reply:prune very litle if plant is established just cut off old flower heads,


check your plant now you will see flower buds if you want bigger flowers remove some of the stems


the stems on the top of plant take out every otherone this will promote larger flowers good luck
Reply:aggressive proning when dormant to open up the structure of the woody primary growth,light prune the following year and you will be happy with results,for purer white flowers crush up egg shells and sprinkle around base,for strong blue colour sprinkle metal filings,enjoy your plsnts

Wisdom Teeth

Is it possible to change the color of white hydrangeas? if so, how?

I currently have white flowers blooming and would like to make them a different color.

Is it possible to change the color of white hydrangeas? if so, how?
You can make them blue by using Epsom salts in the soil around the plants.
Reply:Chi Chi is right. You can make them blue, blue-purple, or pink just by adjusting the alkalinity in your soil. Have fun with it!
Reply:If it is possible, the others who suggested more acidic soil levels were correct, and this can be done by adding ammonium sulphate. However not all hydrangeas are affected this way, so it may depend upon the type of hydrangea that you have.
Reply:Actually, the hydrangeas that change color are either blue or pink when you buy them. The everblooming hydrangea is a good example. Most hydrangeas that you buy that are white, will stay white regardless of the soil pH. Refer to the link and limitations of changing colors of hydrangeas. So to answer your question, no it is not possible to change the color of white hydrangeas.
Reply:Only if you pick them, go to your florest, buy some "horticulture dye" fallow the directions on the cantainer. but I don't know about changing the color while they are still in the ground, unless you mix up the hort. dye and dip the blooms in it.
Reply:There are many colors of hydrangeas. Why not buy some plants?
Reply:Cowboy'sWife is correct.
Reply:Feed your hydrangeas Miracle Gro Miracid. The more acidic the soil, the more color [bluish-purple] they will become. Follow directions carefully. DO NOT OVERFEED - MORE DOESN'T MEAN BETTER! You could do more harm than good by overfeeding. GOOD LUCK!
Reply:I think you change the amount of acid in the soil.


Any serious gardeners out there?? How do you get hydrangeas to stay blue, I have already used hollytone.?

The soil pH has to be LOWERED, not raised. Lower pH is acidity and that's what they need to turn blue.





Aluminum is one way of lowering pH. Iron or Sulfur are others. the key is re-application. You can't make alkaline soil permanently acid and still have conditions that plants can survive in.





Keep adding the hollytone and look in to aluminum sulfate (you can buy it at better garden centers) and add it to your soil to acidify.





Sorry, Mark, but you have it backwards.

Any serious gardeners out there?? How do you get hydrangeas to stay blue, I have already used hollytone.?
Ammonium Sulphate.
Reply:The pH of the soil has to be alkaline (above 7.0). As the soil gets more acid, you get more red in the flowers, first muddy blue, then gradually redder as the pH drops. You will need to use Calcium Carbonate. Dolomite will not take the soil higher than 7.0 and Gypsum does not raise the soil pH.


Over time the soil tends to get more acid. This is caused by acid from mulches, some fertilizers, and over time the plants themselves gradually acidify the soil. You may have to reapply the lime every 2 or 3 years.
Reply:Changing a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding aluminum to the soil.


Changing from blue to pink means subtracting aluminum from the soil or taking it out of reach of the hydrangea.
Reply:I know for blue roses you need a high level of boric acid in the soil; I'm not sure if its the same for hydrangeas.


My best advice, call your local garden center. Some garden centers will allow you to bring in a sample of your dirt. Then they'll test it, and discuss with you as to what nutrients your garden is lacking. Thats the best way of handling it.
Reply:Add Epsom Salts, coffee grounds, and tea bags around the drip line.
Reply:I just give Miracle Grow for Hydrangeas/Rhodies/Azaleas. They all love acidity in the soil. Your hydrangeas stay blue.
Reply:I mulch with pine needles and use Miracid...works for me.
Reply:Just sing sad songs to them all the time.


Does anyone know where I can get some silk hydrangeas for a wedding at a good price.?

Check out your local Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Both offer a 40% or 50% off coupons in the newpaper. Hobby Lobby offers them online. You can only use one per item but if you print an online coupon, you can just make copies %26amp; use them to buy as many as you want for a discounted price!

Does anyone know where I can get some silk hydrangeas for a wedding at a good price.?
You can check out local shops or can try this one





http://www.silkflowersplus.com... Report It

Reply:Depending on how much time you have, do a search for a craft warehouse in your area - or try ebay.
Reply:Try http://www.save-on-crafts.com





I almost used Hydrangeas as my wedding theme (a couple years ago)! I went with ocean/tropical instead :)





Good Luck %26amp; Have Fun!


Since it's the end of Oct., is it too late to transplant my hydrangeas?

Where are you? If it is cold you may want to winter them over and wait for spring. Hydrangeas are deep drinkers and require a lot of water.

Since it's the end of Oct., is it too late to transplant my hydrangeas?
Lol, where are you?????
Reply:Hi:


As long as your ground isn't frozen it should be fine. If you have had your first frost, make sure you have a few warm days ahead after you transplant your hyrangeas.





Be careful about transplanting them if they are over three years old. There is a chance you could damage the mother root. Loosen the dirt around the base with a shovel. I actually get on my hands and knees and see where the mother root is and the other main roots. Put your shovel underneath the base and carefully lift the plant up. Have your new hole ready and add some organic mushroom compost to the soil. This acts as an organic fertilizer for up to one year. It doesn't smell great but your hydrangeas will love it.





Good luck with your transplanting and go ahead and give your plants a new home. Browse through my site map and see if you can find any articles, photos and descriptions that may help you with other landscape solutions. Have a great day!


Kimberly


http://www.landscape-solutions-for-you.c...

may

Help ! who out there knows how to grow hydrangeas? I need lots of tips please!!!!?

Hydrangeas are easy to grow. They prefer full sun to partial shade. In warmer climates, put them in a more shaded area, to reduce wilting in the midday sun. They prefer moist, rich, loam soil that drains well.





When planting, add generous amounts of rich compost. Add mulch yearly to help retain soil moisture, and to replenish nutrients for the plants. Keep the soil moist the entire season to promote lush growth and big blooms. Add a general purpose fertilzer monthly.





Flowers will begin to bloom in mid summer. Remove spent blooms. This will promote more blooms. To grow bigger blooms, thin some of the stems.





Prune bushes back in winter to early spring. If the bushes become too big or winter damaged, they can be cut back close to the ground.

Help ! who out there knows how to grow hydrangeas? I need lots of tips please!!!!?
keep them moist...they hate drying out. add aluminum sulphate to the soil if you want blue blooms....


Do you have to do anything special for hydrangeas for the winter?

Depends on the specie and what zone you live in. Endless summer is cold hardy.

Do you have to do anything special for hydrangeas for the winter?
nope because they winter over well, and dont even need extra mulching

imax theater

What is the best way to get hydrangeas to sprout from a cutting?

The best way to get new cuttings(plants) from hydrangeas is a system called 'layering'. Bend one of the stems down to the soil and 'peg' it to the ground with a little piece of bent wire, and cover about 4-5 inches of the stem with more dirt. Keep it moist. and in a few weeks it will sprout new roots. Cut it off from the mother plant, and transplant your new hydrangea! Sometimes, you can cut off a stem and place it in a glass,(any other container) with a thick, wet, slurry of mud,and it will root that way, but it`s not as successful as the first way.

What is the best way to get hydrangeas to sprout from a cutting?
This is a great source of information:





http://www.nantuckethydrangea.com/propag...





Using sand or vermiculite works very well with a rooting hormone.


What is the correct way to cut hydrangeas?

I have a large plant outside and want to cut blooms to bring inside

What is the correct way to cut hydrangeas?
Cut them just above a bud or leaf, you don't have to, but it's the right way.
Reply:With a chainsaw!!!!


Does anyone know where I can find instructions on making a wreath with hydrangeas?

Okay, this is an easy project! I made one a few years ago as a house warming gift for my friend. I used dried blue, violet and pink Hydrangea flower heads and floral wire and one of those $5 grapevine wreaths. I just wired the flower heads to the wreath, used about 20 of them, it was full and beautiful! And my friend loved it!

Does anyone know where I can find instructions on making a wreath with hydrangeas?
http://searchwarp.com/swa9312.htm





http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1...





http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf629766.tip.h...





have fun!
Reply:go to Amazon books and look in the category of flower arranging. Paula Pyke is very good. I have made one. It isn't hard. I am lucky to have a big hygrandea bush.... Are you doing dried or silk. I used a grapewreath vine weath and wired and hot glued my flowers in two rows of circles using ones I had dried.You can email me if you like this method.
Reply:This should help you out:





http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1...


http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf629766.tip.h...


http://searchwarp.com/swa9312.htm


http://www.allfreecrafts.com/nature/hydr...


http://www.save-on-crafts.com/wreatmakan...


http://www.wickedknits.com/29224.php


http://www.onlinediscountmart.com/making...


http://www.pioneerthinking.com/vg_hydran...


http://www.crafty-moms.com/seasonal_craf...


http://www.allfreecrafts.com/nature/inde...





Hope this helps!


I live in the northern part of PA and I was wondering if Hydrangeas were hardy enough to live here?

Are there any care instructions available such as fertlizer to use and winterizing steps etc.

I live in the northern part of PA and I was wondering if Hydrangeas were hardy enough to live here?
They grow well in Michigan. Reliable bloomers here are Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (white, 4-5') and all the Hydrangea paniculata varieties which are woody shrubs with white or white to pink flowers.





The blue or pink types are less flower-bud hardy though the plant lives well even if winter-killed down to the soil line. The best performers I know of in my area seem to be Hydrangea 'All Summer Beauty' and Hydrangea 'Endless Summer'. 'Endless Summer' has only been out a couple of years and will bloom on both new wood and old wood (remarkably blue) and came out of a breeding program in Minnesota. They are introducing another one called 'Blushing Bride' this year that is white flushed with pink and reportedly blooms as well. You may have more choices in PA than what is offered here in Michigan. Visit a local garden center.
Reply:I live in Ontario, Canada near Toronto. I have always had hydrangeas in my garden and they do amazingly well. They love the heavy shade where they grow and provide me with mosterous blooms every year. The only care I give them is to cut them down to one or two buds in the early spring. I sometimes fertilize them in early summer but not always. They grown with or without fertilizer. Enjoy!!
Reply:In Northern NY, hydrangeas grow well and don't need any special care for winter. I have 2 that are planted near the foundation of the house that my grandparents planted 50 years ago. I just prune them once a year.
Reply:A garden center would be a better place to ask. Not Home Depot or Lowes those people are idiots. Look in the phone book under gardens, they would have the correct information for your area.

ben

Peach leaf curl and fungus infection on hydrangeas?

I've used the recommended spray but it still returns. I am on The Costa Blanca, can anyone help with a more permanent treatment?

Peach leaf curl and fungus infection on hydrangeas?
Disease Cycle. The fungus that causes peach leaf curl (Taphrina deformans) survives as spores in microscopic crevices on the tree. Spores from old infections lodge in loose bud scales and other tiny fissures, waiting for the next spring. Then, spores that are washed into buds or onto the first new leaves will cause infections if leaves stay wet and temperatures are between 50º and 70º F. Wet, cool springs keep peach growth slow, so new buds and leaves remain susceptible for a long time, and heavy leaf-curl will develop in untreated peaches. A warm spring, even if it is wet, won't produce nearly as much disease.





Treatment.





Leaf curl is relatively easy to prevent, even though the timing of the treatment is a little inconvenient. A fungicide spray applied in the autumn after at least 90% leaf-fall, or in the spring just prior to bud-swell, will generally stop leaf curl. If an orchard has been heavily diseased, making both fungicide applications may be necessary to deal with the large amount of inoculum. The fungicide applications should not be concentrated to more than 2X, to insure that the coverage is thorough. Fungicides need to penetrate the microscopic crevices that are protecting the fungal spores.





The most effective fungicides are chlorothalonil (Bravo) or copper compounds (Kocide, COCS, etc.). Ziram, lime sulfur or Bordeaux are useful but somewhat less effective. Check the label for rates and other use recommendations.





For the growing season when a leaf curl epidemic hits, the only treatment is to minimize stress on the infected trees. After infected leaves drop, peaches will generally produce new leaves. This new growth stresses the tree. In severe cases canker infections develop more easily and trees may fail to develop adequate winter hardiness. Severe leaf curl can ruin one season's crop, and may set the stage for more long-term problems related to stress. Minimize the stress by supplying some extra fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, irrigating, and removing the fruit load.


Will soap and water sprayed on my hydrangeas help get rid of powdery mildew?

Milk will help with the powdery mildew. You can either use it full strength or mix it with half water. Just put it in a spray bottle and spray the heck out of your plants. The milk will dry and form a coating on the plant that will basically suffocate the powdery mildew growing on the leaves. Make sure to get under the leaves as best you can. You will have to do this weekly or every time it rains it will need redone. The best thing is that it is totally harmless to you, your kids, or your pets. and Milk is a lot cheaper that the harsh chemicals they sell on the market.

Will soap and water sprayed on my hydrangeas help get rid of powdery mildew?
rubbing alcohol works excellent for snowy mildew and aphids,on orchids doesn't hurt the plant a bit,should also work on ur problem
Reply:Steviewag had the best suggestion so far. One T. baking soda to a gallon of water, sprayed on the leaves, repeat after a rain. This changes the pH on the leaf surface and resists mildew. Clean up any leaf debris on the ground, since spatter will re-infect the clean leaves. If you water the shrub, water at ground level.





Powdery mildew is exacerbated by high humidity. Anything you can do to improve circulation around your hydrangea will help.
Reply:before it spreads like crazy, get out the fungicide and spray everything......I almost lost all my tip cuttings on hibiscus from powdery mildew....then, I even had to use a Banrot soil drench on them....good luck
Reply:Buy Benomyl, follow container spray instructions. Be aware it is quite expensive but it does work.
Reply:Nope. Unfortunately for any mildew, you are better to use an anti fungal spray, or copper sulphate. Ivory dish soap and water is used mostly to rid yourself of aphids or other "soft shelled" pests. You can check with your local garden center to find the fungicide which best suits the needs of hydrangeas. Best of luck
Reply:Organically, use 1 tsp. baking soda in 1 litre or quart of warm water to dissolve it. Spray over and under leaves. It will dry to a powder, washed by the next rain. It will slow the process, but not kill the mildew. Sulphur is another anti-fungal agent, used more specifically for black spot on roses.
Reply:No you will need a mildew spray
Reply:I use garlic water for my roses, and Hydrangeas, it repels aphids on my roses, and keeps bugs off my hydrangeas.
Reply:I have heard that powdery mildew will only grow in a specific ph range. It you keep your plants sprayed with 1/2 milk 1/2 water - it changes the ph enough on the leaves that the mildew will not grow.





It will NOT get rid of powdery mildew that is already there. Just prevent more.





I have not yet tried this out; but I'm planning to on my roses next year. But right now, it's going into freezing season...so I wn't be seeing any powdery mildew until next year.


How is the best way to make hydrangeas blue?

Adding alkali (limestone) will cause them to turn pink. If you want them to be blue, add Miracid powder you your hose sprayer or watering can in the correct dosage. Any garden supply carries it. It's made by the Miracle Gro people, now owned by Scott's.

How is the best way to make hydrangeas blue?
Why pay money for expensive products when all U need do is bury rusty nails around their roots.
Reply:Hydrangas need an acid soil, if there suppose to be blue and there not then the soil dosn't have enough. I add coffie grounds, a feww times a week, during the spring and summer. Theres also something you can add to the soil, just tell them you need to add acid to your soil
Reply:can you say bucket of paint
Reply:Try using epsom salts to adjust the acid in the soil


When is the correct time to prune hydrangeas?

Prune in the Fall, taking down 3/4 of the shrub. This will not take the new buds out as they form in the Spring.

When is the correct time to prune hydrangeas?
It isn't essential but can be done each spring as new shoots appear. With established plants, just remove about one-third of the older, less productive stems and cut back old flowering stems to a strong pair of buds. Leave the old flower-heads on over winter to give frost protection to the delicate new growth below. The flowers look fantastic when their brown, papery domes are covered by frost. Left unpruned, hydrangeas will continue to bloom but the size of the flowerheads will be reduced by the overcrowded stems. H. paniculata needs to be cut back completely each spring.
Reply:the best time to prune hydrangeas is in late march early april this allows the dead flower heads from the previous year to protect the new buds from frost damage. prune back to 1-2cm above new buds
Reply:Shouldnt really prune too much, I with mine take dead heads off end march early april, when frosts past, for them to grow for flowering in august onwards. Im in the U.k. , so its spring when i do mine.
Reply:I never truly prune mine. I wait until they completely leaf out and then remove the few dead branches that are still on the plant. :)
Reply:In the Autumn of winter when the flower heads and most of the leaves have died off.





Cut them back to just after a bud on each branch at the height you want the bush next year, minus about 6 to 12 inches to allow for flower head and new branch growth.


I am in the UK - but if you like this can wait till spring but I prefer to do it in the autumn
Reply:i really don't prune them, i will cut branches off that are dead or cracked from the winter.

kick scooter

What is the best time to find hydrangeas?

What months are they easier to find in floral shops? I would like to use them in a June wedding, but will they be available at that time?

What is the best time to find hydrangeas?
June should be fine. They are in the shops now and coming into bloom. I would suggest pre ordering to be sure you get the type you want. The white lace caps and panicle hydrangas are great. If you let the guests take them at the end they may even have a reminder of the wedding growing in their garden!


How often should I water my hydrangeas?

I know they need a lot of water. Someone told me they should be watered twice daily, which seems excessive and time-consuming.


Any ideas?

How often should I water my hydrangeas?
You can soak them really good just once a day but you should put mulch around them to hold the moisture also I have a large bucket next to them I poked a few very small holes in the bottom fill it up and it will water slowly that way.
Reply:it all depends on where you live. twice a day is way too much, maybe they meant twice a week.





if you live in a dry area then every other day should be fine.





when i lived in georgia, where the ground is rich and holds moisture, i only watered mine about once a week and they were huge.





you can also go online and just type in how to care for hydrangeas and you will get helpful sites.





good luck.
Reply:the soil should be constantly moist...I have no idea what climate you live in so it's hard to guess how much water you need to give them.
Reply:watering twice daily is good try mulching around base of plants to retain moisture and dig in compost with water retaining granules to keep a higher level of moisture around base of shrub
Reply:depends on the soil, just keep them moist,mulch is great,some mulch have bugs so buy from a reputable dealer,try water at dusk to avoid evaporation from the hot sun. good luck and happy gardening, and don't forget to talk to your flowers they need love too :)
Reply:once the plant has established itself it should not require any more than the equivalent of one inch of water per week, that can be obtained in my area. new England by deep root watering once or twice a week, too much water is as bad as too little. just remember that if it rains or showers for a day that usually is only equal to a 1/4 to 1/2 an inch at most. mulching helps retain moisture just keep it away from the stems as it can cause rotting . hydrangeas don't require allot of water once established..blanco;


How do I take care of Hydrangeas?

I'm not sure of the complete name and species, but it's a pastel powder pink and after it flowered, many petals fell and scattered and the others dried on the stem.


Shold I cut the dead flowers off?


The plant itself is actually a cluster of them.


Should I transplant some? If I do, How?


When I bought the plant, the leaves were a dark green. Now, they turned yellow green. Is it normal? Am I doing something wrong, maybe?


Or is it because it's rainy season here, and we've had a few typhoons...?


Any advice would help.

How do I take care of Hydrangeas?
Always cut off the blooms when they are through flowering. You may have a soil deficiency so buy an all purpose fertilizer
Reply:Ahh...Hydrangeas.....Beautiful flowering plant.





They like shade and lots of it.


Your plant needs nitrogen or iron. This is what's lacking in your soil. Probably from overwatering the nutrients will be depleted after so much water.





Ask for a fertilizer with a high nitrogen analysis...This is the first number on the fertilizer product. Or just add some type of iron to the soil.





It works....How do I know? I do it almost daily. Be sure to read instructions on each bag of fertilizer.





Yes prune off old expired blooms, this will encourage new growth and blooms.
Reply:Scroll down this link for the care and pruning of your shrub:





http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Hydran...
Reply:everything you need is on this site....





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/





explore there and learn a lot!!....





your plants need iron and more acid, most likely.... a good feed won't hurt, either.... look for 'chelated iron' and any good fertilizer with an acidic nature.....cut off old blooms....





don't transplant anything right now... find the name of your plant on that site first and read up on it's care.... once you have a good understanding of what the plant likes, you'll be set !!!.....


What kind of soil to plant hydrangeas?

decent to good soil with a lot of sun. Hydrangeas need lots of water.

What kind of soil to plant hydrangeas?
hydrangeas are great, but remember they bloom on second years growth. So, any 'cane' or stem that blooms this year will die back. Any cane that does not bloom this year DO NOT PRUNE. It will bloom on that cane next year. Use Aluminum Sulfate (at any garden center) and follow instructions to acheive blue blooms, do not use if you want pink blooms. Fertilize well and if it is a big plant, make sure it gets lots of circulation around the base. Clean out any dead canes in early spring. good luck
Reply:I believe hydrangeas require an acid soil. Any garden center should be able to advise you on this as well as advise on the fertilizer that acidifies the soil correctly.





Good luck and have fun! Hydrangeas are everlasting; they dry beautifully and make great arrangements and wreathes.
Reply:Hydrangeas love acidic soil. I have a few bushes and I do give them a special hydrangea food. My soil around the house is more on the sweet side. Miracle Grow for acid loving plants(Rhodies, Azaleas, hydrangeas, etc.) works good. If you have a lot of acidity in the soil, the blossom will be blue, but if it's more alkaline, it'll have pink flowers. The white flower stays white.

omar

Does anyone know how to dry hydrangeas properly?

When is the best time to cut the flowers and what is the best method of drying them please.I cut some a fortnight ago, but they've just shrivelled rather than dried.

Does anyone know how to dry hydrangeas properly?
While it is tempting to cut the hydrangea blossoms for drying at the height of their color, this seldom, if ever, works. Fresh, recently opened blooms, rarely dry well in the open air. Hydrangeas do best when allowed to dry a bit on the plant before picking. Experiment with harvesting from August through October.





It is not necessary to hang them unless they have weak stems.





Here is a link to help you with drying fresh ones for colour.





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/dryi...
Reply:Unlike yourself, I have never had any trouble drying hydrangea. They are the easiest. simply hang them upside down and they will retain their shape. A cool,dry, dark or muted room is the best. After they are dry spray them with a matte or glossy clear spray paint, depending on your preference. will help them last FOREVER
Reply:I leave mine on the bush 'til they have dried themselves out.
Reply:Hi Wonder Women. I adore them fresh or dried.


This is a good time to dry them ,as they are now in all there Glory.


What I do is cut them and stand them in warm water with lots of sugar. I leave them for about 3/4 days. I then take them out, dry the stems with kitchen paper and hang them upside down in the airing cupboard for a month or two or untill your ready to use them.


What I like to do is at Christmas, spray them with either silver or gold paint and maybe add some glitter. They look wonderful


on any table or in an arrangement.


W.W. this method works for most flowers.


Have a go and enjoy.


Regards,


C


What do you add to make Hydrangeas Blue?

I was told you add something to the soil to make them blue, what is it?! I purchased them blue and planted them in the garden but would love to have the blue.


Thanks!

What do you add to make Hydrangeas Blue?
Hello





Hydrangeas require and acidic soil to produce blue blooms. Miracid will turn them blue but I would steer you against it due to the dependancy your plant would build up always having the esstential nutrients handed to it in a readily available form. To maintain the blue hydrangea add Aluminum Sulfate usually found at any local garden center. To maintain their healthy state use Holly Tone. It will also maintain the blue color of your Hydrangea as well as feed it and replenish the soil with the 15 essential nutrients that a plant needs and processes from the soil. One application in the Spring and one application in the Fall is all you need. Goodluck!





Greenman
Reply:That is a Great way to grow them,


The Garden has a book on them as well , Report It

Reply:That would be Miracid, which is a fertilizer that also acidifies the soil.





Adding: it's now called Miracle Gro for Azalea and Camellias. Same thing, just renamed. :)





Also, aluminum sulfate will keep your blooms blue. This might be what you're looking for!
Reply:The soil needs to be acidic..I went natural with mine....pine trees are acidic and I put pine mulch around my endless summer hydreangeas....you cant touch the plant with the mulch. But my flowers are blue. Next year I want to plant one right under my pine tree...perfect conditions with the morning sun and afternoon shade. My endless summer is my favorite plant!!
Reply:they turn blue with acidic soil, pink with more alkaline





If your soil needs to be more acidic, sulfur may be used to lower the pH if it is available. To reduce the soil pH by 1.0 point, mix in 1.2 oz of ground rock sulfur per square yard if the soil is sandy, or 3.6 oz per square yard for all other soils. The sulfur should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. Sawdust, composted leaves, wood chips, cottonseed meal, leaf mold and especially peat moss, will lower the soil pH.
Reply:above is true but I hear that pine needles are also good for helping with acidity.
Reply:If you want your Hydrangea to be blue, add Aluminum Sulfate.


Oh, and also Hydrangeas will like to have acidy soil for them to be blue. I have mulch around mine, its blue. I just got it last month.


How do I keep fresh cut hydrangeas looking pretty for a long time?

They wilt so quickly I hate to cut them, but I have so many it's a shame not to.

How do I keep fresh cut hydrangeas looking pretty for a long time?
I have used an aspirin in the vase to help the stems supply water to the flowers for a longer time period.
Reply:enjoy them while they last but do know they look lovely dried also.When mine dry out I remove water from vase and enjoy them dried.


I need to Transplant my Hydrangeas...can I do that now in the summer?

I transplanted one of mine a couple of weeks ago and it's done quite well. What I did was I dug my new hole and then I filled it up with water and let it drain off. Next I dug up the Hydrangea put it in the new hole and then I put some more water in the hole and let it drain again. Then I took some Osmocote and mixed it in with the dirt and then filled in the hole. For about the first week I watered it every evening and now I water it every couple of days as needed. It has done very well. Just be careful not to hack the roots up too bad when you take it out of the ground and it should be just fine. Good Luck!

I need to Transplant my Hydrangeas...can I do that now in the summer?
If you live in the cooler parts of the world, and/or if you don't mind flooding your yard for a few weeks they should be OK, but I would wait until spring.





Right now in most areas, the dirt will be dry, and hard to dig, and if you're not really careful on watering it will be harmful to the plant.
Reply:Hydrangeas are in their growing period right now. You can try to transplant if it is not blooming. If it is blooming, do not transplant.





Depending on what part of the country you live, transplanting can be done as long as you give it a good stimulator once it has been transplanted. They will be this as a booster to prevent shock. All plants go through a bit of shock once they are transplanted.





I make sure I have a hole dug before I transplant, just to avoid too much shock on the plant.





Hydrangeas are so beautiful. dd
Reply:Don't do it unless you can (and will) water them EVER:Y day for the rest of the summer. You would be better to wait till winter, but you CAN if you'll water.
Reply:Only if you can make sure the roots are well protected, watered well and regularly if they are in a dry area of the country. This heat will drain even the strongest of the plants we can have at this time of the year.





Most plants prefer to be transplanted and seperated while in dormancy. Pick a nice sunny cool day to do the job to get the roots use to the new soil and get time to get setteled in.

games hardware

I have 2 vividly blue hydrangeas, how can i change one to pink without shockin?

They are a good 50 or 60 feet apart, and are both blooming bright blue. I would like one to be the pretty pink color i have seen, but don't know whether to increase or decrease the pH of the soil or how to go about so that the plant doesn't die of shock.

I have 2 vividly blue hydrangeas, how can i change one to pink without shockin?
Hello,


i found this link a while back. I thought it was VERY informative!!


This guy shows you how to change the color of these flowers! Easiest for you to just go look at it, very good!
Reply:Add lime to raise the PH for sweeter soil


pink = girls = sweet.





BTW It will not happen over night, and you will want to test the soil periodically as you attempt to raise the Ph gradually.
Reply:my grandmother just emptied coffee grounds around the base of them.
Reply:I have pink ones here and I could buy a blueing agent from the nursery but the other way round I don'tknow . Just ask your nurseryman for help
Reply:It is easier to change from pink to blue, and if you want them a deeper like purple color bury some rusty nails close too but not touching the roots...check out this site for the blue to pink:)


www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com
Reply:dilute a tablespoon of "lime" in a gallon of water and water the plant with this mixture for the next 2 or 3 waterings and it will eventually raise the "ph" in the soil which will give u the pink color ur after!


I'm looking for antique hydrangeas?

Why? Is there a particular bloom form, growth habit, stem pattern, or leaf that you particularly want?





There are one or two older hybrids which are mildew resistant, but most of them that are resistant are modern hybrids. Some very modern hydrangea hybrids sometimes are remontant, which means you get a rebloom if the frost kills off some of their buds. It also means you get an another batch of bloom here in California (just now!) in addition to the early summer one.





Given how long you have to wait for them to bloom, and how long the bloom heads stay dormant and vulnerable to bad things happening to them, you'd have to want something really special about the antique ones. There's lots of different hydrangeas, so you could give us some help on what speficially you are looking for, we could answer you better.


Saturday, November 14, 2009

My-yard-recently-flooded-with-...

gardening

My-yard-recently-flooded-with-...
wait a few days for it to dry out and try again???
Reply:Well, it is the season for many yards to be flooded with gardening! To early for mine though, but watch out - the time is approaching for the gardening flood here!
Reply:And...........................


What do I do about hydrangeas damaged by frost?

Not a thing. they will regenerate their leaves and stems.. be patient. it's all you can do.

What do I do about hydrangeas damaged by frost?
Same thing with me... Just let it go and they'll be back next time around...
Reply:simply remove the damaged leaves from the plant with garden pruners and they will regenerate. hydrangeas flush out quickly with adequate water
Reply:Give 'em a month or so to recover, then trim off the dead branches. Both of mine appear to have been killed down to the ground this year, but are starting to grow from the base again. I'll trim them in a couple of weeks after I'm sure the branches are dead.

gert

What do you put on hydrangeas to make them deep purple?

For blue flowers, maintain a soil pH between 5 and 5.5. Apply aluminum sulfate or sulfur to reduce the pH to this range when you see new growth emerging in April.

What do you put on hydrangeas to make them deep purple?
It is much easier to change a hydrangea from pink to blue than it is from blue to pink. Changing a hydrangea from pink to blue entails adding aluminum to the soil. Changing from blue to pink means subtracting aluminum from the soil or taking it out of reach of the hydrangea.
Reply:Bucket loads of blood and bone.
Reply:LIME
Reply:Aluminium Dust
Reply:Grape Kool-Aid
Reply:The color of your flowers will vary bases on the acid level in your soil.


Is it possible to grow hydrangeas in a container? If so, how deep does the container have to be?

Sure .. You can grwo them in containers . The size of the container all depends on which type you are growing , but I have done well


with most types in a 5 gallon container. They like water ( hence their name ) so make sure they are well watered in the summer months.


Come the winter , they can survive quite well outdoors ( but not too cold - they bloom on " old wood " ; what was grown the year before )


an unheated garage or enclosed porch would work well ....


I have 2 Glowing Embers Hydrangeas that didn't bloom last year & showed signs of insects. Any suggestions?

Both plants came up looking fine, but the leaves were soon being eaten by something and not a single bloom appeared on either plant. They get afternoon sun. I'd appreciate any suggestions as to how to get these plants healthy and blooming again.

I have 2 Glowing Embers Hydrangeas that didn't bloom last year %26amp; showed signs of insects. Any suggestions?
Glowing Embers Hydrangea is in the Big Leaf Hydrangea species (Hydrangea macrophylla hortensias). This is important if you live in hardiness zone 5 because these Hydrangeas bloom on second year wood, but this shrub is not stem hardy in zone 5 (hardy in zones 6-9). In zone 5 the stems die back each winter. They regenerate new stems in spring but, because this is first year wood, they will never bloom again unless we have a real mild winter %26amp; you have no stem die-back. Are you in zone 5?





Have you fertilized these shrubs? The overuse of nitrogen will promote vegetative growth at the expense of blooms.





Next problem with the macrophyllas is they do not like the hot afternoon sun. They do best in part sun/part shade with moist, well drained soils. Afternoon sun is hot %26amp; tends to dry/stress these plants. Do they look wilted in the late afternoon/ early evening? Make sure they are getting adequet water with that western exposure. Insects like to attack plants that are stressed. They have weakened defensive systems. It sounds like your Hydrangeas are stressed from their western exposure %26amp; that's why you now have an insect problem.