Hydrangea Chameleon: photo, planting and care, reproduction

Hydrangea Chameleon is a popular garden shrub that has the rare ability to change the color of the inflorescences. There are many reasons why this happens. Professionals have been studying this issue for a long time. Chameleons bloom in shades of blue, pink and purple. Growing a shrub is very difficult, the reason is difficult care. To enjoy the beauty of hydrangeas, you must take into account the advice of experienced gardeners.

Description of hydrangea variety Chameleon

“Chameleon” is an ornamental shrub, whose homeland is considered to be Far Eastern Europe. The plant can reach a height of 1 to 3 meters. Only competent care is the key to the long attractiveness of the Chameleon.

Most plants flower best in partial shade, but some will tolerate full sun. Flowering time is summer, some hydrangeas earlier and others later.

In order to form flowers of a certain shade, you can water them with alum. The result is blue from a pink hydrangea, purple from a red bush. You can get a blue-blue plant by digging rusty nails into the soil.

If you pour a bush with a solution of manganese, then the inflorescences can change color from pink to blue

Hydrangea variety Chameleon in landscape design

Hydrangea is used for:

• framing tracks;
• hedge;
• creating bright and colorful corners in the shade of the garden;
• as a neighbor for hosta and fern.

For the winter time, “Chameleon” is cleaned in basements or greenhouses. You can also continue growing indoors in flower pots.

“Chameleon” is one of the main plants of a beautiful garden. Proper care will help preserve the shrub for a long time.

Do not plant hydrangea next to yellow and red flowers.

Blue inflorescences can be obtained as follows:

1. Create an acidity level of 4 to 4,5.
2. Add aluminum ions to the soil.

When the pH reaches 6, the hydrangea will take on a pink hue. A value above 7 can be detrimental to the plant.

The plant prefers to grow in partial shade.

Winter hardiness of hydrangea variety Chameleon

Hydrangea tolerates cold well, but in areas with harsh winters, it is always possible to plant the plant in containers and decorative containers.

Preparatory work before the winter cold:

1. Reduce watering in late summer.
2. Warming of the roots (with the help of spruce branches, sawdust, foliage of trees or special material).
3. Mulching the soil (the layer is able to protect the roots from severe frosts).
4. Bending the stems to the ground.

Simple measures will save the “Chameleon” during severe frosts. Growing hydrangeas is a simple, but very responsible process. Beautiful flowers can only be obtained if all conditions are met.

Hydrangea tolerates severe frosts relatively well.

Planting and caring for hydrangea Chameleon

“Chameleon” can grow and bloom in a slightly darkened place, closed from gusts of wind. The soil should be slightly oxidized. Red high-moor peat or spruce residues are mixed with leaf humus. When planting seedlings, the composition is added to the hole. Throughout the season, plants will need constant watering.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

The best location for a Chameleon is a garden site that receives morning sun and afternoon shade. When choosing, it is important to consider the size of the hydrangea – the plant needs a lot of space to grow. An area of ​​the garden that has excellent drainage is well suited. If necessary, replenish the soil with compost. Do not plant hydrangeas under trees – root competition and lack of sunlight will not allow them to flourish.

Rules of landing

Cultivation successfully begins with the planting process. Hydrangeas bought in containers should be planted in spring or autumn.

Hydrangea is photophilous, therefore it prefers sunny places, but can also grow in partial shade. The best time for planting in spring is the first half of May, in autumn – September.

Landing pits are dug 50x50x60 cm in size at a distance of 1-1,5 m from one another.

The composition of the soil mixture:

• humus;
• leafy land;
• peat;
• sand;
• fertilizer.

Соотношение составляет 2:2:2:1:1.

Rooting large-leaved hydrangea Chameleon is presented in the video:

Landing rules:

1. You can not plant a plant under trees (the roots absorb nutrients from the soil, the hydrangea will lack nutrients).
2. Too aggressive sun is not suitable for “Chameleon”, this leads to rapid drying of the soil (also flowering will begin much later).
3. You need to trim the roots a little.
   Advice! The root neck should not be planted deep.
4. The distance between bushes is at least 1 meter.

The optimal period for planting is May and September

Landing algorithm:

1. Prepare a hole. Its size depends on the number of roots in the seedling. Required depth – 50 cm, length and width – 75 cm.
2. Lay gravel and sand at the bottom of the pit. Chernozem is added on top, it should be more than the rest of the components.
3. Put the “Chameleon” in the center of the pit. The neck can only be deepened by 3 cm.
   Important! The roots need to be spread along the bottom.
4. Cover the seedling with soil.
5. Water the plant thoroughly.
6. Top up the earth, it is important to carefully compact it around the bush.

Compliance with the conditions will help grow an adult and sprawling bush. If the Chameleon is not provided with suitable soil, it may die.

Watering and top dressing

The main function of feeding is to provide “Chameleon” with nutrients. It is necessary for normal development and growth.

What the procedure gives:

• obtaining flowers and buds;
• soil saturation with micro- and macroelements;
• long and intense flowering.

Universal top dressing: nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

Hydrangeas love moderate humidity. Container plants need daily watering.

Feeding rules:

1. If a soil mixture was used during planting, then the first 24 months of fertilizer are not needed.
2. During the period when the buds appear, 80 g of superphosphate and 50 g of potassium sulfate are added.

In the summer, “Chameleon” is fed with a solution of mullein (1:10).

It is necessary to apply fertilizers for the growth and flowering of the plant constantly.

A way to improve soil aeration is to add coarse sand. “Chameleon” does not like heavy and loamy soil, this leads to waterlogging.

Ways to protect against lack of oxygen:

• periodic loosening;
• mulching (carried out at the base of the bush).

Soil permeability is the main condition for growing a beautiful plant. You can improve the properties of the soil by adding peat or sand. This will allow the liquid to flow more easily to the root system.

For watering hydrangeas, it is best to use rainwater. Plumbing is a bad option. The best time to water is morning or evening. The amount of liquid per bush is 2 buckets.

Pruning Hydrangea varieties Chameleon

Hydrangeas don’t need much pruning. They just need to be maintained in order, removing old flowers and dead stems, thereby improving the structure and shape of the bush. The result is the penetration of sunlight and air.

Circumcision of hydrangeas is necessary, it gives splendor and luxurious appearance. Improper pruning of “Chameleon” can slow down the flowering process. First of all, it is important to cut the crooked branches, then the shoots of the last season.

How to Winterize Chameleon Hydrangea

It is believed that the hydrangea is a whimsical flower that needs shelter for the winter to protect flower buds. This applies only to large-leaved plants. Others may spend the winter uncovered in the middle regions of the country.

It is not necessary to trim hydrangeas that have faded, it is advisable to perform this action in the spring. Thanks to this, it is possible to save the kidneys located below. Under the weight of snow that accumulates on the flowers, the stems can simply break.

In late autumn, it is advisable to prune dry flowers that will definitely not survive the winter. Fallen leaves should be removed and burned.

Reproduction

Hydrangea can be propagated by cuttings, layering and dividing the bush. The method of grafting and using seeds is also possible, but is used extremely rarely.

Reproduction of hydrangea:

1. Layers – shoots no older than a year are bent to the ground and dug in so that about 20 cm remain on the surface, for the next season the rooted shoot is separated from the mother plant and transplanted.
2. By division – the bush is dug up and divided into several parts, while each must have a renewal bud.
3. Cuttings – carried out in April-June, annual shoots 10-12 cm long are cut from the bush, leaves are removed in their lower part, and the shoot itself is treated with a growth stimulator, the final stage – the cutting is planted in a greenhouse or greenhouse, and a year later – in open ground.

Diseases and pests

Hydrangeas are generally not susceptible to serious disease or insect problems. ‘Chameleon’ is susceptible to some kidney disease, bacterial wilt, leaf spot or mold.

Chlorosis has a number of symptoms:

• lightening of the leaves;
• loss of the usual color.

Chlorosis appears due to a metabolic disorder in the plant

The cause of development is considered to be an excessive content of humus. The way to fix the problem in hydrangeas is to water with a solution of copper sulfate (with the addition of soap).

Powdery mildew appears due to excess moisture. Aphids can be removed with garlic infusion. It is prepared as follows: 200 g per bucket of water. “Chameleon” should be watered for 7 days. During this time, the aphid will completely disappear.

Conclusion

Hydrangea Chameleon is the leader among flowers. The plant has been pleasing gardeners for a long time, various shades attract attention from others. “Chameleon” is often used in landscape design. Hydrangea is very easy to care for, the main thing is to follow the recommendations of professionals.