Content

• Steps

Hydrangeas are beautiful flowers with many different colors and sizes. If you want your garden hydrangeas to stay beautiful, water and prune regularly. When cutting hydrangeas, try dipping the ends of the stem in alum powder, changing the water of the vase, and dipping the hydrangeas in slightly lukewarm water.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Keep the hydrangea stems fresh

1. 

   Cut flower stalks diagonally. Cut the hydrangea stalk diagonally with a deep angle at the end of the stem. The diagonal cut angle will help reduce damage to the tip of the flower stalk.
   • Cut the stem under warm water to prevent harmful air bubbles from forming on the stem.

2. 

   
   
   Dip the stem of the hydrangeas in the alum powder after cutting. Pour a little bit of alum powder about 1 cm thick into a dish. Dip each cut flower stalk into the alum powder. Then you can plug the flowers into a vase filled with water and arrange the flowers so beautifully. This will keep the flowers fresher for longer.
   • You can find alum on the spice shelves in grocery stores.

3. 

   
   
   Plug the flowers into warm water right after cutting. Once you have the stalks removed, put the flowers in the water as soon as possible. Fill the vase with lukewarm or room temperature water so that the water level is about 7.5-13 cm high.
   • Avoid fluttering the ends of the stem, as this can prevent the flower from absorbing water.

4. 

   Mist the petals once a day. Hydrangeas actually absorb more water through the petals than through the roots and stalks. If you want your cut hydrangeas to stay fresh, spray the petals lightly with water every day to keep them moist.
   • Use a small spray to avoid damaging the delicate petals.

5. 

   
   
   Change vase water every day. Clean water helps your hydrangeas retain enough moisture and prevent wilting quickly. Remove the stems from the vase, fill with old water, and fill the jar with clean room temperature water.
   • Rinse the flask to remove any residue before adding fresh water.

6. 

   Place ice in the vase if the hydrangeas wilt from exposure to high heat. If the hydrangeas start to wilt, fill the vase with 2 parts stone and 1 part water. The cold water will help cool the stems if they are too hot.
   • You will notice that the flowers will appear fresher one day. You can continue to use the ice / water method for several days to try to make the flowers fresh again.

7. 

   Dip the flowers in warm water if they start to wilt. If the hydrangeas start to wilt, you can "revive" them by soaking them in a bowl of warm water for about 30 minutes.
   • Be careful when lifting the flowers out of the bowl of water, as the water can make the flowers quite heavy.
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Method 2 of 2: Take care of a garden hydrangea

1. 

   Plant hydrangeas in a sunny and windy area. Hydrangeas need sunlight to thrive, so plant them in a place with full or partial sun. Hydrangeas also need to be planted in a sheltered area.
   • Winds can dry out the hydrangeas, so protect it from wind and keep it hydrated.

2. 

   Grow hydrangeas in temperate climates. Hydrangeas grow best in zones 3-9 according to the US Department of Agriculture's farming zoning. The ideal temperature is around 21 degrees C in the day and 16 degrees C at night. Flowers can wilt if the temperature is warmer than above, and if it is colder, the canopy can be damaged by frost.
   • Hydrangeas will bloom in the fall and bloom the following year. During this time, plants need 6 weeks in temperatures below 18 degrees C to grow flower buds.

3. 

   Use standard potted or compost soil to grow hydrangeas. If you are planting in the ground (rather than in a pot), be sure to add the potted soil mixture or bagged compost into the planting hole to help your plant through the transition. But keep in mind that the color of a hydrangea will depend on the pH of the soil.
   • The high level of aluminum ions in the soil causes the hydrangeas to turn green.
   • A pH of 6.0 or higher produces pink hydrangeas.
   • White hydrangeas are not affected by pH in the soil.

4. 

   Water the plants every day to maintain moisture in the soil. Hydrangeas need to be watered with enough water to survive, especially during the first two years. If the soil is too dry, the leaves and petals will begin to wilt. Try watering your plants every day - just enough water to moisten the soil and monitor the condition of the plant. You should at least water the plant 3 times a week.
   • You can water less if you live in a rainy climate, or water more in a dry climate.
   • If the leaves start to wilt, try watering them more. If the leaves look sticky or wet, consider watering less.

5. 

   Maintain pruning. While it may sound contradictory to say pruning to keep the plant healthy and growing, this is actually a common tree care. Cut off old branches or buds that appear wilted or pale.
   • Always cut above the eye of the branch.
   • Remove old branches to make room for new shoots!

6. 

   Cover the plants in the fall with leaves or mulch to protect them from frost. If you want the hydrangea to survive the cold season, cover it from fall to spring, when it starts to get warmer again. This will protect the plant from cold weather and prevent frost damage. Cover plants with bark, pine needles, leaves or straw.
   • You may want to cover the entire tree by making a metal cage with a trellis net and shooting it over the tree. Place the leaves and mulch into the iron cage to keep the plants from cold outside.
   • Do not use maple leaves as a mulch for this purpose, as maple leaves are very quickly decaying.

7. 

   Prevent gray mold by cutting off contaminated parts and spraying with an antifungal spray. Botrytis blight, also known as gray mold, is a fungal disease that commonly occurs in hydrangeas. If you notice a patch of gray mold on the tree, prune it. Cut the affected part and discard it, then spray the plant with an organic antifungal to protect the plant from further fungal infection.
   • Be sure to disinfect the shears with a household disinfectant between cuts to prevent the spread of fungal spores.
   • You can use sulfur (spray or powder for water) as an antifungal medicine. Just remember to stop using when the temperature rises above 27 degrees Celsius, as sulfur can damage plants during hot weather.
   • Try to water under the branches to keep the leaves from getting soaked. This can prevent gray mold.
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