Hydrangea is one of the most popular flowers grown in the garden. At home, several methods are used to propagate this plant, but the most high-quality and strong seedlings can be obtained only using the seed method. More details on how to prepare the seed for planting, as well as on the rules for growing seedlings, transplanting seedlings in open ground and further care for them - later in the article.

What do hydrangea seeds look like?

The main external signs of hydrangea seeds:

• dark brown color;
• elongated shape with a pointed edge;
• embossed surface;
• small sizes.

The easiest way to buy hydrangea seeds in a nursery. There you can find products from various manufacturers, but it is recommended to choose planting material from China or Japan. The territory of these countries is the natural habitat of hydrangea, so Chinese seeds are considered the best and germinate faster.When buying, it is recommended to find out from the seller how much planting material corresponds to the declared characteristics of a particular variety.

Did you know? According to archaeological excavations conducted in the northern regions of the United States, it was found that hydrangea grew on the globe 40 thousand years ago.

Is it possible to grow hydrangea from seeds at home

Many gardeners grow hydrangea at home from seeds. But for this it is necessary to understand what a quality planting material looks like, and to know the optimal timing for its incorporation into the ground. Seeds can be bought or collected independently from a flowering adult plant. First, seedlings are grown by sowing planting material in a box or a wide pot with prepared soil mixture. The main features of this process are listed later in the article.

How to collect hydrangea seeds

You can harvest hydrangea seeds yourself. This procedure is performed in dry weather after flowering, when fruits form in the form of small boxes on the plant. They appear only on small and nondescript flowers growing in the center of the bush, which are called fertile. Bright and lush inflorescences have a beautiful appearance, but are sterile.To extract seeds from the fruit, it is carefully opened. The resulting planting material is slightly dried at room temperature, and then folded into small paper bags and stored in a dry place away from sunlight. Harvested seeds are recommended to be used for several months, since during this period the probability of their germination is highest.

When to plant flower seeds for seedlings at home

Plant hydrangea seeds for seedlings begin in the second half of winter. With this planting, by the onset of summer, the sprouts will already have several leaves. Grow seedlings in room conditions, having prepared for this a suitable container and light loose soil. To accelerate the appearance of young shoots, planting material must be properly prepared. The procedure for planting seeds in the ground itself is quite simple and does not require special knowledge or experience from the gardener.

Did you know? The color of hydrangea petals can determine the level of soil acidity. When grown in acidic soil, the inflorescences are blue in color, in alkaline soil they are painted in pink and purple, and in a neutral substrate they become beige.

Landing tank preparation

For planting seeds, it is recommended to use a wide wooden box of medium depth. It is recommended to fill it with soil so that at least 3-5 cm remains to the upper edge - this will make it possible to cover the container with a film, without interfering with the germination of planting material. You can plant the seeds in special containers for seedlings, the inner space of which is divided into separate cells.

Soil preparation

To accelerate the germination of planting material, it is planted in specially prepared soil. It should pass air and moisture well, and also contain enough useful substances necessary for the normal development of sprouts.

The substrate is prepared from such components, taken in equal proportions:

• sheet earth;
• sand;
• peat.

The box is filled with the mixture, and then abundantly watered with a strong hot solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. After cooling the soil, it is slightly irrigated with warm water.

Seed preparation

To improve germination, as well as prevent the occurrence of diseases, planting material must be prepared before planting in a container with soil.

To do this, it is recommended to perform these steps step by step:

1. Select planting material without damage and deformation.
2. Soak the seeds in a pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30-40 minutes to disinfect.
3. Wrap the product in a damp cloth. Leave it for several days so that each seed swells and releases a small seedling.
4. As it dries, lightly irrigate the napkin with water - it must always be wet. Germinate seeds need 2-5 days.

Seed Planting Instructions

After completing all the preparatory measures, they proceed to the direct seeding of seeds into the soil. Usually they are sown in rows, observing a distance of 3-4 cm between neighboring plants.

Important! During the germination of seeds in a damp cloth, make sure that they are not covered with mucus. If this happens, then the planting material is washed with warm water and the whole procedure is repeated again.

Step-by-step landing instructions:

1. Spread the seeds on the surface of moist soil in a container, gently squeezing them into the soil.
2. Sprinkle planting material with a small layer of sand. Sprinkle it lightly with water.
3. Cover the container with film or glass, put in a warm (+ 20 ° C) and sunny place.
4. Spray the soil in the tank with a spray gun as it dries. Remove cover for a short time daily so that the seeds do not lock up without access to fresh air.
5. After sprouts appear, remove the film or glass from the container.

Usually from the moment of planting the seeds to the appearance of green sprouts, several weeks pass. When the first pair of leaves is formed on the plants, they are dived into individual pots with a diameter of 6–7 cm, in which seedlings will be located before transplanting into open ground. For filling individual containers, a soil mixture of the same composition is used as when planting.

Hydrangea seedling care

For active growth, young hydrangea seedlings need heat and a sufficient amount of scattered light, so they are placed on the southern windowsill. But direct rays of the sun should be avoided - under their influence, burns may appear on the leaves of the plant. For this reason, it is recommended to hang the window with tulle, slightly shading the seedlings.

In summer, in a room with hydrangea seedlings should be at least + 20 ° C, and in winter, plants are transferred to a dark place and kept at + 10 ° C. Care for young shoots consists of regular watering, top dressing and proper pruning. And in the open ground the described flower is transplanted only after 2 years, so that the seedlings have enough time to get stronger.

Watering

One of the most important factors affecting the active growth of hydrangea seedlings is watering. But during irrigation of plants it is necessary to observe the norm, since waterlogging of the soil can lead to the appearance of diseases and even death of the sprout.

Basic watering rules:

• in spring and summer, irrigation is carried out with settled water at room temperature as the top soil layer dries up, and in the cold season, the soil in the pot is kept only slightly moist;
• it is recommended to irrigate plants in the morning or in the evening;
• in the warm season, seedlings are periodically sprayed from the spray gun;
• to increase the level of air humidity, water trays are placed next to hydrangea;
• every 30 days, the sprouts are watered with slightly acidified water - this helps to increase the acidity of the soil.

Important! After watering, the soil in a container with hydrangea must be loosened, as well as periodically remove weeds. These procedures help to remove dense earthen crust, facilitating the access of water and air to the roots.

Top dressing

In addition to a sufficient amount of moisture, hydrangea also needs nutrients. Fertilizers help seedlings grow stronger before further planting in an open area and strengthen the plant's immunity.

Basic rules for applying dressing:

• hydrangea is fertilized only in the warm season;
• frequency of nutrients - 1 time in 2 weeks;
• for feeding use "Agricola", "Agrovita" or a special store fertilizer for hydrangeas, using it according to the instructions on the packaging;
• the required dose of the substance is determined according to the instructions indicated on the package.

Pruning

During seedling cultivation, pruning is not carried out, since young sprouts are not yet sufficiently strengthened, and this procedure can adversely affect the further growth of hydrangea. The first time the shoots are shortened only after the seedlings are transplanted into the open ground when they turn 3 years old. But if, when growing seedlings, buds of inflorescences appear on it, then they are cut off so that the plants spend their strength solely on the growth of roots and green mass.

Transplanting strong seedlings to the site

Before planting hydrangea seedlings on the street, you need to find a suitable place for them. It is recommended to choose a well-lit area with loose and light soil containing a sufficient amount of nutrients. In terms of acidity, the soil should be slightly acidic. It is recommended to plant seedlings on the street in May. Before this, the land on the site selected in the garden is cleaned of weeds and dug up with the addition of a small amount of peat.

Did you know? According to one version, the flower got its name in honor of the Princess of the Roman Empire Hortense.

To fill the planting pits, a fertile substrate is prepared by mixing in equal proportions such components:

• sheet land or black earth;
• peat;
• sand.

Step-by-step instructions for transplanting hydrangea seedlings to the site:

1. Dig up planting pits 2–2.5 times larger than the size of the earthen coma around the roots (approximately 50 × 50 cm). The distance between neighboring plants should be 1–1.5 m.
2. Put a drainage layer of pieces of broken brick or pebbles on the bottom of each recess. Pour some nutrient soil on top.
3. Water the soil abundantly in a pot with a seedling. Remove the plant from the tank with an earthen lump.
4. Lower the seedling into the planting hole, placing its root neck at the level of the soil surface. Sprinkle the roots with the remnants of the soil mixture.
5. Tamp lightly around the hydrangea. Pour seedlings abundantly with warm water, saturating the soil with moisture to a depth of 30–40 cm.
6. After absorbing moisture, fill the ground around the plant with sawdust or peat.

Further care

After transplanting seedlings, seedlings need proper care. It will help plants adapt faster to a new place, and will also achieve magnificent flowering. In order for hydrangea to maintain a decorative appearance, it is trimmed. You can form a plant in the form of a bush or a tree (such as, for example, a variety of panicle hydrangea sugar dreams).

Important! Remove winter shelter from the plant in question is necessary only in the spring, when the probability of the occurrence of return frosts disappears.

Basic rules for caring for the crop:

• watering is carried out as the top layer of the earth dries up;
• about 20 liters of water are consumed per plant per week;
• after each irrigation, the soil around the plant must be loosened to a depth of 5-6 cm;
• the area of ​​the trunk circle is periodically cleaned of weeds;
• Around the trunk lay a layer of mulch from sawdust and peat - it keeps the soil loose and holds moisture well in it;
• in early spring, and then at the end of May, hydrangea is fed with a solution of chicken droppings or mullein (1 liter of product per 10 liters of water);
• after the beginning of flowering, 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium nitrate and 10 g of urea are introduced under each plant - top dressing is performed with an interval of 14 days;
• in early autumn, hydrangea is fertilized with complex store preparations, following the instructions on their packaging;
• starting from the age of three, autumn pruning is performed - dry and damaged shoots are removed, as well as small shoots, thickening the crown;
• after the plant reaches the age of 4–5 years old shoots are gradually removed, replacing them with young ones;
• to prepare for winter, the branches of the bush are bent to the surface of the soil and lightly sprinkled with earth, and covered with branches of spruce branches or lutrasil.

Breeding

There are several ways to reproduce hydrangeas. All of them can be carried out using planting material collected independently on a garden plot from an adult plant. At home, the flower is propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering. Each of these methods has its advantages and disadvantages, having weighed which the gardener can decide on how he will grow a new plant.

Seeds

This method of propagation is described in detail above and is mainly used in the cultivation of large-leaved hydrangea. It is quite laborious, since from the moment of sowing the seeds to the transplantation of the plant in the open ground, it takes as long as 2 years. In addition, the gardener needs to create the right microclimate conditions for seedlings in the room and carry out the necessary care for the seedlings, which is also associated with additional time costs.But subject to the indicated step-by-step instructions, hydrangea grown independently from seeds has the most stable immunity to diseases and pests.

Cuttings

The easiest way to propagate hydrangea in terms of labor is cuttings. Cuttings root well, so even a novice gardener can grow a new plant. Harvesting of planting material is performed in the second half of spring.

Did you know? Hydrangea entered Europe only at the beginning of the 19th century. The plant was brought by the participants of the first French round-the-world expedition led by Louis-Antoine de Bougainville.

Step-by-step instructions for propagating a flower by cuttings:

1. Choose annual shoots that will be used for harvesting cuttings.
2. Cut pieces of the stem 12 cm long, having 5-6 leaves.
3. To clear the lower part of the prepared seedling from leaves. Place it in the Kornevin solution for 1 hour.
4. Prepare a container with fertile soil mixture consisting of sand and peat (1: 2 ratio). Pour the resulting soil with warm water.
5. Deepen the stalk into the substrate for a couple of centimeters. When landing in one capacity of several copies between them leave a distance of about 5 cm.
6. Water the seedling, cover it on top with a glass jar or plastic bottle to create a greenhouse environment.
7. Put the container in a shaded place. Water the soil around the planted cuttings as it dries. Periodically remove the shelter for ventilation, maintaining the temperature in the room +18 ... + 25 ° С.

The rooting process of cuttings lasts up to 1 month, and its completion can be judged by the new leaves on the cuttings. When the plant takes root in the ground, the shelter can be removed. Seedlings are grown on a temporary bed until next year, and then transplanted to a permanent site.

Layering

In early spring, even before the buds open, hydrangea can be propagated by layering. In this case, by the beginning of October it will be possible to obtain young plants up to 0.5 m high.

Step by step instructions:

1. Dig the soil around the mother plant, flatten its surface.
2. Choose side shoots on the bush, which will be convenient to bend to the ground. Dig longitudinal grooves up to 2 cm deep for them.
3. Lay one shoot in each well. Fix the branches in this position, sprinkle them lightly on top of the soil.
4. Perform moderate watering of the dug shoots so that the soil near them is always wet. After a few weeks, several daughter shoots are formed on the layers.
5. When young plants reach a height of 20 cm, they are sprinkled with earth every 1.5 weeks.
6. In early October, carefully separate the layering from the mother bush. To dig them in a temporary bed with soil from equal parts of peat and sand.

Young plants are provided with standard care in the form of moderate watering, periodic loosening of the soil and removal of weeds. It is allowed to move seedlings to a permanent place only after a year.

Hydrangea diseases and pests

If you violate the recommendations for care, hydrangea can suffer from diseases and pests. In such a situation, the gardener needs to recognize the infection in time, find the true cause of the problem and immediately take up the treatment of the bush.

Important! To prevent the occurrence of fungal diseases, the soil around hydrangea is disinfected once a month with a pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Most often, the flower is attacked by such infections and insects:

1. Gray rot. It occurs as a result of waterlogging of the soil and thickening of the crown of the plant. In this case, a fluffy gray coating appears on the leaves, which leads to yellowing and death of the foliage. Infected areas are cut and destroyed, and hydrangea is treated with Fundazol.
2. Powdery mildew. The disease develops in conditions of lack of moisture in the soil, as well as with an excessive amount of nitrogenous fertilizers. Yellow-green spots appear on the leaves, which are covered on the back with a gray or purple coating. Over time, the size of the spots increases, capturing the entire leaf, and the plant begins to lose green mass. For the treatment of a diseased instance, Topaz is used.
3. Septoria. It occurs in cold weather with high humidity. Infection first affects the lower part of the shoots - small spots with dark brown fringing form on the leaves, which gradually cover the entire surface of the leaf plate. Affected areas must be removed from the bush and destroyed, and hydrangea treated with the drug "Profit".
4. Viral infections. These include ring spotting and cancer. In the first case, characteristic stains in the form of rings appear on the leaves of the bush, and in the second, brown spots appear on the back of which small ulcers are noticeable. Viral diseases lead to deformation of the shoots, and the plant loses its leaves and fades. Infection can occur through garden tools or poor-quality planting material, and there is no cure for such ailments.
5. Aphid. It feeds on the juice of leaves and shoots, causing them to yellow and dry. Insects are clearly visible on the surface of the leaves and quickly spread over all bushes. For treatment, hydrangea is treated with Iskra.
6. Spider mite. This pest quickly spreads to the plant in dry and hot weather, enveloping leaves and stems with a thin web. As a result, the green mass of the bush dries and twists, hydrangea stops growing and dies. You can get rid of the tick with the help of the drug "Acarin".
7. Gall nematode. It affects the roots of the bush, so it can be difficult to find. The main symptom is red swellings in the lower part of the stem of the plant, which eventually begin to rot. In this case, hydrangea stops growing, withers and dies. To combat the nematode, the drug "Actofit" is used.
8. Slug. They feed on the tender pulp of leaves and young stalks of hydrangea. The pest actively propagates in areas with high humidity and dense thickets, and its appearance can be noticed by the characteristic damage to shoots and sticky traces on the plant. Deeper ones need to be collected manually, as well as to destroy their egg clutches, which are located in the axils of the bush leaves.

To prevent the appearance of diseases and pests, they perform the following actions:

• choosing the right place for planting bushes;
• the use of high-quality planting material;
• adherence to watering and dressing schedules;
• removal of plant debris and weeding of weeds on the site;
• annual pruning of the bush.

In order to independently grow hydrangea from seeds at home, the gardener needs to be patient and make some effort. Using the information presented in the article, it is possible to successfully prepare planting material, properly plant it in the soil and provide young plants with proper care. And the resulting plant will have strong immunity and will appreciate the annual lush flowering.