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Taking Care of Hydrangeas

Rajib Singha
Know what factors go behind a proper Hydrangea care and growth. Endemic to the regions of southern and eastern Asia, the Hydrangea is one of the most popular and among the favorite flowering plants grown in most parts of the world.
The hydrangea plant is a common sight in the regions of the Himalayas, China, Korea and Japan. Parts of Indonesia, North and South America are also populated with several species of the Hydrangea plant. About 70-75 species of this plant are known to exist.
Some species grow as small trees and some reach a height of 1-3 m or upto 30 m, by climbing other trees. The Hydrangea may be deciduous (shedding foliage at the end of the growing season) or evergreen (bearing foliage throughout the year), the most cultivated are deciduous.

How To Take Care of Hydrangeas
Partial sun and shade are the lighting requirements of the Hydrangea plant. It is important to remember that the flowers may suffer from burn when exposed to midday sun.
An exposure of sunlight in the morning or late afternoon is considered ideal. Even if, the plant gets sunlight for half a day, it is good enough for it. Although this plant is suited to grow in most types of soil, it prefers moist soil with proper drainage. This means that it requires to be watered regularly, in order to keep the soil from getting dry.
Feeding the Hydrangea plant with nutrient rich fertilizer is essential for its growth. The plant does not require a lot of it though. It is not required to fertilize young plants, at least until they are about two months old and still establishing themselves and taking root.
The given fertilizer must be well-balanced. Late winter or early spring are the best times when the plant must receive fertilizers. Caring for a hydrangea also involves mulching. Mulch not only helps in holding water around the roots but as it decays, it keeps adding nutrients to the soil, as well.
Pruning is also an important aspect in a Hydrangea care. It comprises getting rid of dead branches, stems and flowers. In case if you desire the plant to obtain a particular shape, then you can make some arrangements with respect to the time of the pruning.
If the blooming of your plant takes place in the current year's growth, then it is advised that the pruning must be done in late winter or early spring. However, pruning, after your Hydrangea plant blooms, must be done if the blooming takes place on the previous year's growth.
If your Hydrangea grows in an area where the temperature might drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, then it is better if you provide it with a proper cover. Taking care of the ailments which are typical of this plant is also essential.
Pests like Japanese beetles and aphids are commonly known to affect this species of plants. So get some good quality insecticides to treat the problem. Alternatively, keeping some ladybugs in the garden will take care of the problem naturally.
Caring for a hydrangea is as simple as complimenting its beauty. One interesting fact to be mentioned about in the description is that the colors of the flowers of the plant are decided by the pH of the soil.
Blue flowers are those which grow in acidic soils and pink or purple are the ones which have been planted in alkaline soils. While soils which are neutrals, result in pale cream hydrangea flowers.