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Low, large-leaved hydrangeas are not winter-hardy, so in areas with cold winters they are traditionally grown as potted plants. Despite this, under certain conditions and shelter for the winter, some varieties of this species can be grown in open ground. One of them is large-leaved hydrangea Bodensi, which is not only highly decorative, but also easy to care for.
Description of Bodensi hydrangea
Bodensee (Hydrangea m Bodensee) is a type of large-leaved hydrangea. This variety is grown as a potted plant; in addition, it is used in landscape design as a border crop, in individual or group plantings.
Large blue inflorescences of large-leaved hydrangea Bodensi will not leave anyone indifferent
Here are its main characteristics:
Parameter | Description |
Plant type | Perennial deciduous shrub. |
Escapes | Smooth, straight, young shoots are green, then become light brown, often with a reddish tint. The average height of the bush is 0.5-0.7 m, under certain conditions it can grow up to 1.5 m. |
Leaves | Large, elongated-ovate, with a pointed end, serrated edge and short petiole. The leaf blade is dark green, dense, with clearly visible veins, slightly bent like a boat. |
Root system | Widely branched, fibrous, superficial. |
Flowers | They consist of 4 or 5 flat petals, collected in large spherical inflorescences with a diameter of up to 30 cm. Their color depends on the acidity of the soil in which the plant grows, and can vary from blue to pink. |
Flowering time | June-September. |
Hydrangea Blue Bodensi in landscape design
In open ground, landscape designers and garden architecture specialists use Bodensi hydrangeas as a border plant, planting them along paths, alleys, next to building walls and fences. These flowers can be used as colorful accents of an unusual blue hue, they are included in compositions, grown in groups and individually.
Large-leaved hydrangeas can be grown as potted plants
Bodensi hydrangeas, grown as potted plants, are used to decorate architectural objects, halls, halls, galleries, and are planted in flowerpots and flowerpots.
Winter hardiness of large-leaved hydrangea Blue Bodensi
Large-leaf varieties of hydrangeas have rather poor winter hardiness, and Bodensee is no exception. The international classification classifies them as plants of climate zone 6; for this group the permissible minimum temperature in winter is 23.6 °C.At the same time, the central part of Russia is located in zone 4, where the temperature minimum in winter can reach -34.4 °C.
From this we can conclude that growing large-leaved hydrangeas in open ground in the middle zone is a very risky activity, and even good shelter for the winter does not guarantee that the plant will not die in winter or will not survive in the spring.
Different regions of Russia have their own climatic characteristics. Therefore, there cannot be a clear opinion here. Of course, in the southern regions, large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea can be grown and left to overwinter even under a small shelter, but in Siberia it will not be possible to cultivate it in open ground.
Large-leaved hydrangeas can only be grown in containers in cold regions.
In order not to take unnecessary risks, many gardeners grow large-leaved hydrangeas only in containers, putting them indoors for the winter.
Planting and caring for Bodensi hydrangea
To grow large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea in open ground, you must first of all choose the right place for planting it. Only in this case will the bush grow beautifully and bloom profusely. Good care of the plant, timely watering, fertilizing and other measures are also important.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
Large-leaved Bodensi hydrangeas love light, but direct sunlight is contraindicated for them. In the south they are planted in partial shade, choosing places with diffused lighting, however, the further north you go, the more sunny the area you need to choose. Moreover, even in such areas, it is advisable to provide the ability to protect plants from the bright midday sun, under the influence of which flowers begin to fade and leaves turn black.
The place for planting large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea should also be well protected from the north wind.
An important condition for growing hydrangeas is the acidity of the soil on which the bushes will grow. A characteristic feature of many large-leaved varieties, and Bodensi in particular, is the dependence of the color of the inflorescences on the level of soil acidity. By adjusting the pH value within 4-6.5, you can change the color of the inflorescence petals from bright blue to pink. On calcareous soils, hydrangea grows very poorly and often gets sick, so the acidity level should be kept within the designated limits and the soil should not become alkalized.
Hydrangea Bodensi grows well in partial shade
The soil, in addition to a weak acidic reaction, must be loose and breathable. Loams and fertile soils are well suited for large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea, but this shrub will not grow on sand. The area should not be saline or swampy; this plant does not tolerate stagnation of water in the roots, although it loves moisture very much. The groundwater level should also not be too high, and rain or melt water should not accumulate on the site.
Landing rules
The right time for planting large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea is early spring, a period when the ground has completely thawed, but the growing season of the plant has not yet begun. In more southern regions, seedlings can be taken out into the open ground in the fall, but it should be taken into account that the shrub may need at least 1 month to adapt to a new location, which means there should be no frosts during this period.
Holes for planting seedlings must be prepared in advance. If Bodensi hydrangeas are planted as a hedge, then the distance between neighboring bushes should be about 1 m. The size of the planting hole should be no less than the volume of the root system of the seedling, it is better if it is about 3 times larger. Drainage is required. For this, crushed stone, large pebbles, and expanded clay are used. A layer of this material 8-10 cm thick should be poured onto the bottom of the planting hole. You need to prepare in advance the nutritious soil with which the roots will be covered.
It should include the following components:
- Leaf soil and humus - 2 parts each.
- Sand and peat - 1 part each.
In planting pits for hydrangeas, a layer of drainage is required.
All components are mixed together in advance. On the day of planting, the seedling is removed from the container and placed vertically on the bottom of the planting hole. If necessary, add soil, leveling the root neck of the seedling to the ground level. You cannot bury it; if you do this, then you may not wait for the hydrangea to bloom at all. The entire empty space of the planting pit is covered with nutritious soil, compacted, and then shed generously with water. After this, the soil is covered with a layer of mulch made from bark, sawdust or needles of coniferous trees.
Watering and fertilizing
Large-leaved hydrangea Bodensi, like any other type of this plant, is demanding on watering and responds well to it. In dry weather, the water consumption rate is 1-2 buckets per adult bush per week. If the weather is rainy, then watering should be limited or stopped altogether; excess water is harmful for hydrangeas. Water the bushes throughout the growing season, depending on the weather.
The first year after planting, large-leaved Bodensi hydrangeas are not fed. Starting next year, fertilizing must be done regularly. In this case, fertilizers are applied in the following sequence (table).
Fertilizer application timing | Composition, per 1 sq. m | Method of application |
Early spring. | Urea 20-25 g, potassium sulfate, superphosphate 30 g each. | Root |
Bud ripening | Superphosphate 60-80 g, potassium sulfate 35-40 g. | Root |
During flowering, twice with an interval of 2-3 weeks | Similar to the previous feeding. | Root |
After flowering ends | Humus or rotted manure, 10 kg per bush. | Root |
Some gardeners prefer to feed hydrangeas with slow-release fertilizers. Such compositions are sold in specialized flower shops and contain the entire range of necessary substances.
Long-lasting fertilizers - an alternative to traditional mineral formulations
They are produced under the trademarks Pokon, Agrecol, Green World, etc.
Pruning Hydrangea largeleaf Bodensee
A feature of the large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea is its long flowering, which occurs first on last year’s shoots and then on annual shoots. Therefore, the bushes require almost no pruning. During the first few years, only dried and broken branches are cut out. From 4-5 years old, faded shoots are cut in the summer to 0.15-0.2 m from the ground, leaving 1 growth bud, and in the spring the ends of young shoots are cut to 1-2 buds.
Preparing for winter
Since the large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea is not a frost-resistant plant, covering it for the winter is mandatory. Young bushes are completely covered with dry soil or peat; older bushes can be covered with fallen leaves or sawdust.The top of the hydrangea is covered with roofing felt or non-woven material folded in several layers. Mature Bodensi bushes require more careful cover. The shoots must be tied into one or more bundles, then carefully bend them to the ground and fix them in this position, having previously laid spruce branches under them. Then the entire bush is covered with fallen leaves or covered with spruce branches, after which it is covered with lutrasil, which must be pressed to the ground so that it is not blown away by the wind.
Hydrangea Bodensi must be covered for the winter
One of the options for sheltering the large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea for the winter is to arrange a dry house over the bush. After closing the bush, a strong frame is built above it from rigid wire or boards, on which a sheet of roofing material is laid on top. After the first snowfall, the entire structure is completely covered with snow.
Reproduction
Most often, ready-made seedlings are purchased for planting large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea. However, if necessary, it can be propagated independently using any vegetative method:
- Dividing the bush. A simple method that can be used if the bush is already mature and has many shoots. In early spring, before the growing season begins, it must be dug out of the ground and divided into several parts, each of which will contain shoots with its own root system. After this, they must be immediately planted in a new place like ordinary seedlings.
Dividing a bush is an easy way to propagate hydrangeas
- Air layering. In the spring, one of the young flexible shoots growing from the edge of the bush needs to be bent to the ground, fixed in this position and covered with soil.Over time, it will develop root growth points and the shoot will send out its own shoots. The cuttings overwinter together with the mother bush, and in early spring they are cut off and transplanted to a permanent place.
Hydrangea Bodensi can be propagated by air layering
- Cuttings. A common method of breeding hydrangeas, since the amount of planting material is almost unlimited. Green cuttings are cut in June from young annual shoots. Then they are rooted in special containers, and the next year they are transplanted to a permanent place.
Cuttings are the most common method of propagating hydrangeas.
Diseases and pests
Large-leaved Bodensi hydrangeas get sick relatively rarely. Most of the diseases of these plants are associated with improper care, excessive watering, and also with liming of the soil. Alkalinization causes chlorosis in hydrangea, a disease associated with iron deficiency. It is very easy to recognize: the leaves become pale green, while the veins on them remain dark and bright.
Alkalinization of the soil can cause chlorosis in hydrangeas.
Chlorosis is treated by increasing the acidity of the soil to the required level, as well as by introducing chelates into the soil - easily digestible iron compounds. They contain drugs such as Antichlorosis or Ferovit.
Excessive watering, as well as a large amount of precipitation at low air temperatures, can provoke the appearance of various fungal diseases in hydrangea: powdery mildew, septoria, white and gray rot. The disease appears in the form of various spots on the foliage and the appearance of lesions.
Various spots on hydrangea leaves are a sign of fungal diseases
The principle of treatment is the same in all cases: the affected parts are cut off and burned, and the bushes are treated with fungicides, for example, Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride.
Pests are rare on large-leaved Bodensi hydrangea, especially when grown in containers. In rare cases, aphids, a microscopic sucking insect that feeds on plant sap, may appear on flowers. In small quantities, aphids are harmless. If you notice it in time, you can remove insects by wiping the leaves with a rag soaked in a soapy solution.
Aphids are found on many garden plants
If the aphid colonies are large, then the bushes need to be treated with insecticides, for example, Decis or Inta-Vir.
Conclusion
Under certain conditions, large-leaved hydrangea Bodensi can be grown in open ground even in Central Russia. However, this is not always justified. The weak winter hardiness of these plants requires obligatory covering of them for the winter, which leads to other problems, because the bushes need to not only be covered in time, but also opened correctly and at the right time in the spring. Therefore, the potted option in the middle zone looks much more preferable, especially if it is possible to remove large-leaved Bodensi hydrangeas for the winter in a suitable room.
