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Hydrangea Mini Penny is a bred hybrid with high frost resistance. The variety is remontant, with a long flowering period; inflorescences are formed in early summer on one-year-old shoots, then on young shoots. An ornamental shrub with a bright habit is popular in the south and in temperate climates.
Description of hydrangea Mini Penny
Wild hydrangea species are native to Asia. The beautiful plant was an integral attribute of the gardens of the Japanese emperors. After developing climate-resistant varieties, the heat-loving crop spread throughout Europe. More than 50 varieties are grown in Russia.
Blue varieties, which include Mini Penny, are especially popular. The plant is characterized by average frost resistance. If the temperature of the regional climate drops below -180C in winter, it requires shelter. In warm climates, moisture-loving hydrangea needs regular watering.
Mini Penny is a remontant variety that blooms in July. It forms buds on last year's stems; as the shoots of the current season grow, inflorescences of the second wave also appear on them. The plant is covered with bright blue balls until September.
Bright green leaves harmoniously combine with pale blue inflorescences
In regions with early winter, the crop does not have time to bloom completely.
Description of large-leaved hydrangea Mini Penny:
- grows in the form of a round bush. Height and diameter are within 1 m;
- the flowers are collected in large spherical inflorescences, abundantly covering the bush;
- the color depends on the composition of the soil and lighting, in the shade the color is lighter, if the reaction is alkaline it is pinkish, in acidic soil it is dark blue;
- The leaves are oblong with a pointed apex, large, bright green in summer and brown in autumn, and remain on the branches until winter.
Hydrangea Mini Penny in landscape design
The Mini Penny variety is used in ornamental gardening; with proper care, the plant blooms for a long time, attracting the eye with large inflorescences. Hydrangea is an unusual crop: one bush can have blue, light and dark pink flowers. The Mini Penny variety is used in almost all compositions, combined with any type of plant.
Examples of garden landscaping using Mini Penny hydrangea:
- They are planted en masse in the foreground of the building.
Hydrangea looks especially impressive on a well-groomed lawn in front of the house.
Grown in gardens to decorate paths.
Bushes growing on both sides of the path create the appearance of an alley
Used as a decorative option near benches in the garden.
Blue inflorescences are clearly visible against the background of conifers
Planted on slopes in the garden to decorate a gazebo.
The garden is decorated with a contrast of varieties with different colors
Hydrangea is used for lining large hedges.
Densely growing bushes cover the imperfections in the lower part of the thuja crown
- The Mini Penny variety is suitable for creating a hedge.
The variety blooms profusely, the hedge is completely covered with blue balls
A bush with a regular round shape is used in a single planting as a color accent for the lawn.Hydrangea goes well with conifers and ornamental shrubs
The plant serves as a good frame for a flower bed.Blue hydrangea sets off a variety with pink flowers
A low plant suitable for growing in flower pots.
Portable flowerpots with hydrangea can decorate any corner of the garden, gazebo or open veranda
The composition of two varieties is complemented by ferns
Winter hardiness of large leaf hydrangea Mini Penny
It is possible to grow hydrangea in an open area only in the Crimea, Rostov region, Krasnodar and Stavropol territories. If the temperature in the region does not drop below -180C, the plant overwinters without shelter. In areas where the average is -230C, preparations are required. In Siberia, Mini Penny can only be grown in containers; the plant is removed from the site for the winter, because even with careful covering, hydrangea will not overwinter in the ground.
Planting and caring for Mini Penny hydrangea
Hydrangea Mini Penny is a rather whimsical crop. To maintain its decorative form, the correct planting location and careful care are necessary.
Selection and preparation of a landing site
The Mini Penny variety is demanding on soil composition. On slightly or moderately acidic soil it will bloom with blue inflorescences of a rich shade. On neutral soil the color will be lighter, and single dark pink inflorescences will appear on the bush. If the soil reaction is alkaline, the hydrangea will grow, but the flowers will become pale pink with a yellowish tint, and Mini Penny will completely lose its varietal feature.
The plant is heat-loving, but does not tolerate prolonged exposure to the open sun. The location is chosen with periodic shading. An area in constant shade is not suitable for hydrangea, as it will not bloom.
The soil chosen is light, aerated, fertile. Hydrangea has low drought resistance; the root circle should be constantly moist, but not wet. Lowlands, wetlands, and places with close groundwater are not suitable. Under such conditions, the Mini Penny variety will die.
The strongly acidic composition is corrected with dolomite flour; alkaline soils are not desirable, but if there is no choice, then aluminum sulfate is added.
Landing rules
The work is carried out in the spring, the sap flow of the crop is later, so the optimal time is chosen, when the earth is well warmed up and the threat of frost has passed.
Sequence of work:
- Dig a hole about 0.5 m deep and the same diameter.
- The bottom is covered with expanded clay, creating a drainage cushion.
- Mix peat, compost, sand, add superphosphate and pour into the hole.
- A seedling is purchased two years old with its root closed; if the material is grown independently, it is lowered into “Kornevin”.
- Place the plant in the center of the hole, cover it with soil, and water it with plenty of water.
The plant is mulched.Coniferous litter is used for hydrangea; it increases the acidity level.
Mini Penny is planted in a flower pot along with a lump of earth
Watering and fertilizing
You cannot overwater the crop; the roots may rot and the plant will die. With a lack of moisture, hydrangea slows down its growth, flowers and shoots dry out. For an adult plant, 20 liters of water is enough for 4 days, the regime is oriented towards the frequency of precipitation. The seedling is watered every evening with a small amount of water, provided that there is no rain for a long time and the weather is hot.
There is no need to fertilize the seedlings, because they have enough nutrition put into the hole when planting. They look at the intensity of flowering for the next season and, if necessary, feed them with organic matter. In the third year of growth, during the formation of leaves, Agricola is applied, during the flowering period it is fertilized with Kristalon, and in the fall it is fed with organic matter.
Pruning large leaf hydrangea Mini Penny
The first formative pruning is carried out at the age of four. 10-12 strong shoots are left, the rest are removed. In subsequent growing seasons, the tops of annual and young shoots are shortened, old branches (except for skeletal ones) are cut out completely, since they will not bloom. In the spring, sanitary cleaning is done, removing dry and frozen areas.
Preparing for winter
Mini Penny hydrangea is prepared for winter when the temperature drops to zero:
- The cut stems are collected towards the center and tied with a rope to form a bunch.
- The root is hilled up, the mound should be at least 15 cm.
- Cover with a thick layer of dry peat or straw.
- Arcs are installed on top 15 cm above the stems.
- Pull any covering material.
- The edges should lie on the ground.They are sprinkled with soil, and a weight is placed on top so that cold air or moisture does not get into the middle of the structure.
Reproduction
Hydrangea Mini Penny can be propagated in any way:
- In the fall, the seeds are collected, planted in the ground, and after the sprouts appear, they are planted in separate containers. In the summer, they are taken out to an open area and placed in partial shade. At the age of two, in the spring they are assigned to a permanent place.
- Dividing the bush. A hydrangea that is at least 4 years old is suitable for this purpose. An adult plant reacts poorly to this method of propagation. The plot and the mother bush are sick.
- By layering. They are made from the lower stem in the spring and covered well in the fall. After the snow melts, rooted areas will be visible, they are cut and planted. The survival rate of such planting material is 60%.
The best, fastest and most productive method of propagation is cuttings. The material is harvested by trimming the tops of annual stems. The cuttings are placed in the ground; in the south, this can be done in a greenhouse area.
In a temperate climate, it is better to plant Mini Peni in a portable container and bring it indoors for the winter, where the temperature will not exceed +15 0C.
Diseases and pests
At high humidity, the plant is threatened by gray rot. The initial focus of the infection is the root, then the fungal infection rises up the stem, destroying the plant.
Among the pests that parasitize the Mini Penny variety:
- scale insect;
- aphid;
- slugs
Get rid of pests with Fitoverm.
Conclusion
Hydrangea Mini Penny is a remontant variety with long flowering. A medium-sized bush with spherical inflorescences of blue or dark blue color is widely used in ornamental gardening. Suitable for growing in open ground.An ideal variety for containers and flower pots.
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