How to keep hydrangea seedlings until spring: in the apartment and basement

Not all types of hydrangeas tolerate the harsh winter well, so many flower growers grow them only in a potted way. In this case, the plants, after appropriate preparation, are removed to the room in which they are located until spring. Keeping a hydrangea in a pot during the winter is quite simple, you just need to provide it with the right conditions.

How does hydrangea winter in a pot

Hydrangea is a deciduous shrub, and under normal conditions, it ends its growing season in the fall and goes into hibernation. Plants that are grown in pots behave in the same way. It is used mainly for large-leaved types of hydrangeas with poor winter hardiness.

Large-leaved varieties winter well in pots

In autumn, the bright inflorescences on them gradually dry up, the leaves from the shoots begin to fly around, the sap flow inside slows down. From this point on, watering the plant should be limited. After the end of leaf fall, containers or pots with hydrangeas can be removed for the winter.

Dried inflorescences must be cut before moving to wintering.

To preserve hydrangeas in winter, you can use any room in which the temperature close to 0 ° C will be maintained during the winter. It can be a basement, underground, attic, stairwell, terrace, balcony. In extreme cases, hydrangeas in a pot can also overwinter at home, if they are provided with an appropriate microclimate. During the winter, no manipulations with hydrangeas are carried out. It is only necessary to control the temperature and humidity in the room, avoiding their sudden changes. Watering plants at this time requires very moderate. If the soil dries up, then you can put some snow in the pots.

In March, hydrangea pots are removed from storage, moving to a warmer room or gradually increasing the temperature. In order for the plant to start growing, it is recommended to shed the soil with slightly warmed water with the addition of a water-soluble fertilizer (Fertika-Lux, etc.). It is advisable to add some special long-acting top dressing to the soil. To prevent water from evaporating, the surface of the root zone is covered with a layer of mulch from old needles, it not only retains moisture in the soil, but also acidifies it.

In the spring, you can transplant the overwintered bush into a larger pot.

In late April or early May, hydrangeas begin to be exposed to the open air. At this time, return frosts are still possible, therefore, if necessary, the bushes are covered with spunbond.

How to save hydrangea before planting in the ground

Winter preservation is required not only for potted plants, but also for seedlings that, for various reasons, were not taken out into the ground in the fall. You can save, for example, a stalk of paniculate hydrangea until spring in the same way by placing the pot with it in storage in a cool, dry room. Adult plants of this species have good frost resistance, so they usually overwinter in open ground.

Seedlings ordered by mail are not always delivered on time

It is advisable to keep panicled hydrangea in a pot in winter only in unplanned cases, for example, a seedling was ordered by mail and was delivered with a significant delay. In addition, adult bushes can also be stored if there is doubt about their ability to survive the winter in the open field.

How to save large-leaved hydrangea at home

The basement is best suited for winter storage of large-leaved species, in which the air temperature does not rise above + 5-7 ° С. If there is no special room, the hydrangea in a pot can be stored until spring in the apartment, placing it on the coldest windowsill. It is important that when kept on a window, direct sunlight does not fall on the flower, it is better to make it a little darkening.

At home, the coldest window sill is suitable for wintering

To keep hydrangea seedlings until spring, you can use insulated balconies and loggias, it is important that the thermal and light conditions are observed, and that there are no sharp fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Watering the plant for the winter period of time should be reduced to a minimum, making sure that the soil under the flower does not dry out.

How to keep hydrangeas in the basement in winter

The basement is the best place to store hydrangeas in winter. In the basement, the microclimate parameters are closest to optimal, and if they differ from them, then by a small amount. Here are their meanings:

1. Lighting is minimal.
2. Air humidity 60-70%.
3. Temperature 0-4 °С.

In the basement, hydrangeas are perfectly stored all winter

Remove hydrangeas in the basement after the first frost. Until this period, the flowers are kept outdoors so that the earth in the containers cools down gradually, and the plant calmly goes into hibernation. Arrange the hydrangea pots in such a way that they are moved as little as possible during the storage period. And also you need to make sure that the branches do not come into contact with the walls of the basement.

There are several ways to store containers with large-leaved hydrangeas in the cellar:

1. On the floor. The easiest way, which is used with a low basement height, as well as with significant sizes of containers with hydrangeas. The advantage of this method is visibility, but in this case, the pots take up quite a lot of space. Large bushes, which were dug out especially for wintering, are usually kept on the floor.
2. On the shelves. If the height of the basement and the size of the hydrangeas allow, then it is better to place the pots on special racks. So they take up much less space. However, it should be borne in mind that plants located on the lower tier will receive less light, in addition, the concentration of carbon dioxide and the percentage of humidity are always higher at the bottom of the basement.

Light day in the basement has to be regulated by phytolamps

Starting from February, the light regime needs to be changed, gradually increasing the intensity of lighting. Often the meager light of the basement is not enough for this. In this case, you have to use special phytolamps for additional illumination.

How often to water a hydrangea in a pot

During hibernation, plants do not need full watering, it is enough to periodically moisten the soil in containers with water or snow so that the roots of the plants do not dry out. Excess moisture during hibernation is harmful, it can lead to the appearance of mold, rotting of the stems. Watering hydrangeas in winter should be no more than 1 time per week and only when the soil dries out.

Tips from experienced gardeners

Hydrangeas have long been successfully grown even in areas with a cold unfavorable climate. This is possible only with appropriate preparation of plants for the winter period.

Here are some tips from experienced flower growers to help keep hydrangeas in winter without harming them:

1. It is necessary to prepare large-leaved hydrangeas for wintering in advance. In September, many of the varieties are still blooming, but at this time it is necessary to remove the foliage from the lower part to about half the height of the shoot. This contributes to the good ripening of the shoots and the increase in the immunity of the plant as a whole.
   
   

   Removing leaves from the lower half of the bush will prepare the plant for winter faster.

2. A large-leaved hydrangea cannot shed all its leaves for the winter on its own, however, it is impossible to leave them on the branches. This will cause rot. Together with dried inflorescences, you need to cut off the remaining leaves, leaving small petioles on the stem. After 1,5-2 weeks, they will dry out and fall off themselves, if this does not happen, then you need to carefully break them off from the stem.
3. Large hydrangea bushes are dug up and transferred to conservation with a large clod of earth on the roots. If a container of suitable size cannot be found, the root system is wrapped with a piece of cloth or breathable covering material. Polyethylene film cannot be used for this purpose.
4. Before digging up an adult hydrangea bush to move to winter storage, it is advisable to cut out part of the old shoots.
5. Digging work can only be started when the air temperature drops to 0 °C. If you do this earlier, then the plant may not have time to go into a dormant state.
6. Large bushes, together with a clod of earth on the roots, can be heavy, so it is better to dig them out with an assistant. So there is less chance of damaging the plant when removing it from the pit and moving it to winter storage.
   
   

   To move large bushes, it is better to use the help

7. If the temperature and humidity rise in the basement where the hydrangea is stored, the plant may start growing prematurely. This will not lead to critical consequences, however, it will create inconvenience for the owner, since it will require additional labor costs for lighting and constant watering.
8. Excessive humidity in the basement often provokes the appearance of rot on the plants stored there. To avoid this, the premises must be regularly ventilated. You can reduce the humidity of the air with the help of quicklime, containers with which are placed throughout the basement.
   Important! Quicklime is a serious hazard. When working with it, you must follow all precautions and be sure to use personal protective equipment.
9. Containers in which hydrangeas are kept for the winter must necessarily have drainage holes. Otherwise, stagnant water will cause root rot and death of the plant.

Conclusion

It is quite easy to keep a hydrangea in a pot in winter if all the preparatory measures are carried out in time and a suitable room is found. In extreme cases, flowers can also winter in an ordinary apartment, although this is inconvenient and will require additional costs. However, all the efforts expended will pay off, because the blooming hydrangea is a real decoration of the backyard.