The hydrangea has faded
Withered hydrangea - what to do then?
Hydrangeas impress with their easy care and especially the magnificent flowers with which they enchant, depending on the variety, usually from May to September. But often they have ornamental plants struggling with withering. When the flowering period is over, the panicles turn brown. Now the question arises as to whether you should grab the scissors and cut them off.
Danger:
As a rule, it is advisable to remove the spent umbels in order to stimulate new shoots and the formation of new buds. However, if you prune hydrangeas too early or incorrectly, next season's flowers may suffer.
Note the cutting group!
It is important to avoid flower failure. Before you cut off any dead flowers, check which cutting group it is. This determines what you can do with the faded hydrangeas:
First cutting group
Cutting group 1 includes most species, for example:
- Garden or farm hydrangeas
- Giant leaf hydrangeas
- Hydrangeas
- Climbing hydrangeas
- Velvet hydrangeas
- Rough hydrangeas
A rural cottage garden includes hydrangeas with their full flowers, which often give us a...
These hydrangeas develop buds the previous year. This will produce flowers next year. In order to enjoy beautiful flowers next year, you should only cut back the hydrangeas in early spring. The wilted inflorescences serve as winter protection for the new flower buds that form in the fall of the previous year.
Cutting group 2
The group of the second cutting group includes:
- Panicle hydrangeas
- Snowball hydrangeas
In these much more frost-hardy varieties, the flower systems are formed on the new shoots, so that Unlike hydrangeas in the first pruning group, they are less sensitive to severe pruning are. The optimal time is autumn or early spring. Shorten all shoots, including the wilted inflorescences, to increase the number of new shoots and flowers.
What causes hydrangeas to bloom?
The ornamental plants are sensitive to environmental factors, for example:
- sunlight
- temperature
- Nutrient deficiency
- Diseases and pests
Too much direct sunlight will cause hydrangeas to wither more quickly. But too little light is also unfavorable because the plant then lacks the energy to form the flowers. Extreme temperatures and a lack of nutrients are also risk factors. Important nutrients include:
- Nitrogen
- phosphorus
- Potassium.
Diseases and pests can also shorten the flowering period, for example mildew or aphids.
How is the cut done?
For hydrangeas in the first cutting group, remove the dead flowers below the flower and above the first leaf base. Do not cut the shoots too deeply, otherwise they may not produce flowers. For plants in the second group, remove the entire shoot above the first pair of eyes except for a few centimeters with secateurs.
Hydrangeas are popular ornamental plants with magnificent flowers, but they can wither. Depending on the cutting group, use it at the optimal time, usually in February or autumn Garden shears and cut off the dead flowers properly so that the flowers don't stop next year affect.
