Content
- 1 Description of Hydrangea paniculata Candelight
- 2 Hydrangea Candelight in landscape design
- 3 Winter hardiness of hydrangea paniculata Candelight
- 4 Planting and caring for Hydrangea paniculata Candelight
- 5 Propagation of hydrangea paniculata Candelight
- 6 Diseases and pests
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews of Hydrangea paniculata Candelight
Hydrangea paniculata Candlelight is a beautiful plant with an unusual color scheme of inflorescences. Winter-hardy and sun tolerant. It is demanding of moisture and fertilizing.
The Candelight variety does not like transplants, so the planting site is selected for many years
Description of Hydrangea paniculata Candelight
Hydrangea paniculata Candlelight (candle flame) is a new plant variety bred by Dutch breeders. The shrub is up to 1.5 m high, while the height of the trunk is about 60 cm. The spreading dense crown grows up to 2 m in diameter.
Deciduous hydrangea Candelight has an unusual color:
- The serrated, elliptical leaves are a rich, dark green color with prominent veining.
- Large conical inflorescences are greenish during the flowering period, change to a golden hue by mid-season, and become pink and reddish in the fall.
It is noteworthy that the inflorescences consist of large sterile flowers, as well as small fruiting ones, on which miniature capsules with seeds ripen. Hydrangea blooms magnificently and beautifully. Considering its color scheme, thanks to which the plant received a silver medal at the exhibition in 2013, Candelight is widely used for decorative purposes. Interestingly, when individual branches are properly dried, they are kept at home in an empty vase in the form of a beautiful decoration that will not crumble.
Hydrangea Candelight in landscape design
Plants of this type are spectacular; Candelight hydrangea is a shrub that can be grown on a trunk; it has an unusual color that changes during the flowering period. It is common among novice gardeners and professionals, including in the design community.
Hydrangea variety Candelight is beautiful in single compositions, as well as in combination with other plants, especially with evergreen perennial flora
It is used almost everywhere, be it summer cottages, vegetable gardens, or within the city - public parks, alleys and other places. Flower growers prefer the Candelight variety because it produces beautiful live bouquets and compositions from dried hydrangea specimens.
Winter hardiness of hydrangea paniculata Candelight
Hydrangeas are famous for their frost resistance, and the Candelight variety is no exception. It is also planted in the harsh Siberian climate, without using additional means to cover the plant. Often this variety of hydrangea is severely pruned, so there is no danger that snow will accumulate on the remaining inflorescences, under the weight of which the branches could suffer.
Young plants need to be protected from frost
However, the first 2-3 years of life of a young representative of the Candelight variety needs protection from severe Russian frosts. Hydrangea is covered with coniferous spruce branches, fern or several layers of special material (burlap, spunbond). Often greenhouse conditions are created for the plant using polyethylene.
Planting and caring for Hydrangea paniculata Candelight
The first few years after planting the Candelight hydrangea, you need to take good care of it until it takes root completely. First of all, you need a suitable place for planting, because it will bloom for decades, and it is difficult to tolerate “moving”. Secondly, the Candelight variety requires abundant, timely watering, as well as good, regular seasonal feeding. Among other things, young representatives of the variety must be protected from frost by covering them with auxiliary materials during the dormant period.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Choosing a suitable planting site for Candelight hydrangea is a very important step. The fact is that this variety is long-lived; with proper care, the shrub blooms for at least 50 years.
We are talking about a place where there will be no sharp gusts of wind and excessive drafts. The Candelight variety is tolerant of sunlight, but it would be better to plant it in partial shade. However, you should not plant hydrangea under trees, because they can take the necessary moisture from the bush. There is no need to place it in a place with an excess of groundwater; it is better to provide stable watering yourself or equip a drainage system. Therefore, the ideal place for planting shrubs is considered to be near a wall, fence, or fence.
Landing rules
Planting holes for hydrangea varieties Candelight are prepared in advance. The pit should be spacious.When planting several specimens, it is worth considering the distance between them; it should be at least 2.5 m. Immediately before the planting process, the place is watered abundantly so that the soil absorbs water well. The soil in the planting hole is mixed with fertile composition (2), sand (1), peat (1) and humus (1). The first fertilizer should also be added there, consisting of potassium sulfate (25 g), superphosphate (65 g) and urea (25 g). It's worth waiting for the soil to settle.
The Candelight variety blooms for decades
Then the roots are straightened, the seedling is placed in the hole and dug in so that the root collar is barely above the surface of the soil. Flatten the soil so that it comes into contact with the roots, water it abundantly, and mulch the tree trunk circle with pine needles, leaf humus or acidic peat so that the moisture does not evaporate. The first time after planting hydrangeas, you need to provide shade and protect them from direct sunlight.
Watering and fertilizing
During the flowering period, Candelight hydrangea requires additional feeding and proper watering. Like other species, it loves moisture, but does not tolerate its excess. It is important to provide the plant with moderate humidity and, if necessary, create drainage.
Hydrangeas should be provided with fertile soil with a clubroot medium, excluding an excess of alkali. Feeding is carried out approximately four times:
- In the spring, before flowering begins, organic matter (bird droppings, horse manure) is added to the soil.
- During the formation of buds, fertilizing is done from a mixture of potassium sulfate (35 g), superphosphate (35 g), urea (25 g) in 10 liters of water per 1 m2;
- Mid-summer is accompanied by complex mineral fertilizers of the soil according to the instructions.
- In the fall, shortly before preparing the plant for wintering, the soil is fertilized with phosphorus-potassium preparations to increase frost resistance.
Pruning Candelight hydrangea
Pruning is done before the so-called sap flow, shortly before the hydrangea awakens from winter, at the end of March.
Young bushes form from 5-10 strong shoots. They are shortened to 5 buds. Old hydrangeas are rejuvenated by cutting shoots to 7 cm from the soil surface.
Preparing for winter
Hydrangea Candelight withstands the winter cold with dignity, without the need for additional means of frost protection. However, for their own peace, gardeners can mulch the soil under a mature plant by wrapping it in burlap.
One has only to pay attention to the young representatives of the Candelight variety; up to 3 years they are mulched and covered.
Closer to winter, the inflorescences turn red
Propagation of hydrangea paniculata Candelight
Propagation of Candelight hydrangea differs little from its other varieties. First of all, cuttings are noted. Gardeners recommend collecting material for future seedlings in mid-summer, at noon, when the plant is filled with moisture and natural forces. New shoots are selected and cut closer to the lower bud, 2 cm from it. The shoot is placed in water with the addition of a mixture for root growth. If there is foliage, cut it in half. The inflorescences are removed completely. After the roots have appeared, the cuttings are planted in separate containers with soil (2) and sand (1).
Flower growers prefer seedlings that are 3-5 years old, so there is no need to rush to plant them in a permanent place. Gradually they are transferred to larger pots, without changing the growing conditions much, because the Candelight variety does not like “sharp changes”. Seedlings can be sown in the ground, young offspring should be carefully cared for, and protected from cold and dryness. Planting in a permanent place of growth is carried out in the spring so that the Candelight variety has time to adapt before winter.
Diseases and pests
Lack of care, as well as some pests, can affect the appearance of the plant. If the Candlelight hydrangea's inflorescences quickly dry out, it means that there are insects, for example, aphids, which feed on the juices of the plant, which is why it literally loses its vitality. It is customary to exterminate insects with insecticides. Usually the treatment is carried out according to the instructions, it is only important to do it early in the morning or after sunset so that the hydrangea does not get sunburn.
In addition, drying out of the soil is dangerous, especially for this variety. You can water not only the ground, but also the bush itself.
Even though Candelight hydrangea is one of the most sun tolerant hydrangeas, brown spots may appear on the foliage, which means the plant is overheating and needs more shade.
Conclusion
Hydrangea paniculata Candlelight is a shrub growing on a trunk, an ornamental plant that has captivated many gardeners. It is valued for its unusual color, as well as the ability to give it any shape. Hydrangea Candelight decorates vegetable gardens, gardens, and public places. It is also used by florists to create bouquets.
Reviews of Hydrangea paniculata Candelight
