Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky: description, sizes, reviews and photos

The hydrangea Pinky Winky will help ensure long-term flowering of the garden, which produces beautiful inflorescences throughout the summer. This variety is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful. The color of panicles varies from white and greenish to rich pink tones. Thanks to this, Pinky Winky attracts attention and cheers up.

Description of the variety of hydrangea Pinky Winky

This variety of hydrangea is a small, rather compact shrub with elastic shoots. The height of the Pinky Winky hydrangea is about 1,5-2 m, so sometimes it even looks like a small tree with a dense crown. Greenery has classic dark green hues that turn to orange-red in autumn.

Hydrangea blooms almost the entire season – from June to early October. In this case, the flowers regularly change their color. At first they are pure white, then pink panicles appear, after which a greenish color may even appear. At the same time, inflorescences of different shades can be placed on the same brush, thanks to which the bush looks very beautiful even by itself.

Thanks to the unusual coloring of Pinky Winky, it is considered one of the most attractive varieties of hydrangeas.

Hydrangea paniculata Pinky Winky in landscape design

Pinky Winky hydrangea inflorescences are quite large: the length is 25-30 cm. Throughout the season, they densely dot the bush and look great both against the background of the lawn and along houses and other structures. Therefore, such a flowering tree can be used in the garden, and in single plantings, and in flower beds:

1. Hydrangea planted next to the porch of the house.

   

2. Landing option near the house.

   

3. Hydrangea can also be used with other plants in a common flower bed: since the rest of the flowers and bushes are not so tall, it is better to plant them in front.

   

4. The bush looks good in single plantings.

   

5. Pinky Winky and other varieties of hydrangeas are often placed next to the bench.

   

6. To give the plant the appearance of a flowering tree, Pinky Winky hydrangea on a trunk is also used in the side design.

   

Winter hardiness of hydrangea Pinky Winky

The plant is highly winter hardy: there is evidence that the bush survives even when the temperature drops to -25 degrees. However, if the temperature in the region can drop even lower, for example, to -30, the hydrangea must be covered for the winter. For this, any material is used (burlap, agrofibre). The roots are mulched with needles, foliage.

According to the experience of gardeners, adult bushes of Pinky Winky hydrangeas do not need shelter, because they survive even in 30-degree frosts: the older the plant, the higher its winter hardiness. However, young shoots in such conditions can still die, so it is better to take care of shelter in advance.

One of the simplest shelters is a plastic film fixed with bricks.

Planting and caring for hydrangea Pinky Winky

Hydrangea Pinky Winky is a rather capricious plant for which you need to carefully choose a place. In addition, it requires good watering, especially during hot periods, timely fertilization and pruning.

Selection and preparation of the landing site

When choosing a suitable place for planting a plant, you need to pay attention to such factors:

• lighting level;
• soil fertility;
• attractiveness (whether the bush will fit into the design of the garden or other site);
• openness to winds (the plant does not tolerate constant drafts).

Paniculata hydrangea Pinky Winky is very fond of lighting, but not too bright light. At the same time, she does not tolerate shading well. Therefore, you can plant such a bush in a light shade from other shrubs or trees. If you place it next to the house, then only from the south or southeast side, because otherwise there will be very little light, and abundant flowering will not work.

Pinky Winky loves lighted places, protected from strong winds (next to buildings or other trees).

Rules for planting Pinky Winky hydrangeas

The soil for hydrangea must be fertile. The optimal composition (all parts in the same amount):

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

The bush takes root well on chernozems and light loams. The fundamental requirement is that the soil should have a slightly acidic reaction. Pinky Winky, like other hydrangeas, does not accept alkaline soil. You can acidify in different ways:

• sawdust, needles;
• fresh manure;
• leaf compost;
• high peat;
• iron sulfate (500 g per 10 m²);
• citric acid (1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water);
• 9% vinegar (100 ml per 10 liters of water).

Pinky Winky hydrangea is planted at the very beginning of spring, even before the juices move. Landing technology is simple:

1. First, they dig a hole with a diameter of 60 cm and a depth of not more than 50 cm. Its size should be such that the roots of the seedling are placed freely. At the same time, it is not necessary to make the recess too large – the root system of the plant is superficial.
2. Water the hole abundantly with water – you will need 2-3 standard buckets.
3. Then the soil of the desired composition is prepared, for example, based on leafy, coniferous soil and humus.
4. Seedlings are prepared – for this you need to cut the roots a little so that they become the same size. Cut off and shoots for 1-2 buds (although this is not necessary).

Next, the plant is set exactly in the center – so that the root neck remains visible (at ground level). The bush is watered again, after which the roots are mulched with peat and sawdust.

The pit should be spacious for the seedling, but not very deep.

Watering and top dressing

Pinky Winky loves water very much, so the optimal watering regime is as follows:

• in the presence of natural heavy rainfall, watering is excluded;
• 1 time per week in spring, autumn in case of complete absence of rain;
• 2 times a week in summer, if the weather is hot, dry.

The top layer of soil should remain as slightly moist as possible. But abundant moisture is also not allowed – it harms the plant.

Top dressing for hydrangeas is extremely important – if you do not apply fertilizer, the bush will not grow so actively, and flowering may completely stop. Therefore, top dressing is applied at least once a month (on poor soils it is possible every 2 weeks). The application mode is as follows:

1. As soon as the first leaves appear in spring, nitrogenous compounds are introduced. You can use both mineral and organic top dressing (infusion of mullein or chicken manure).
2. As soon as the first buds begin to form on the bush, potassium and phosphorus compounds are added monthly. They will provide the longest and most lush flowering. At the same time, in the middle of summer, they stop giving nitrogen.
3. The phosphorus and potassium fertilizing regime is valid until the end of August. At this point, the application of all fertilizers stops – the plant should prepare for a dormant period.

Hydrangea pruning Pinky Winky

Hydrangeas need to be pruned regularly. The main haircut is carried out at the very beginning of spring (after the snow melts). The main task is to remove all damaged shoots and give the correct shape. To do this, you need to remove the branches:

• in a dense crown;
• protruding beyond common boundaries;
• growing inside the bush.

To form the correct crown, shoots up to 5 buds are removed from young bushes, and in adults they are removed almost completely, leaving branches 5-7 cm high.

Pruning is best done with secateurs.

Preparing for Winter Hydrangea Pinky Winky

Seedlings up to 3 years of age are usually grown indoors, since their shoots can be damaged already at a temperature of -1 degrees. And even adult plants in an unfavorable climate (especially in Siberia and the Urals) need winter shelter.

Preparation for winter is carried out in several stages:

1. In autumn, the last pruning is carried out: it is necessary to remove dead, damaged branches, and treat the cuts with ash or a special solution. At the same time, it is not necessary to remove dry inflorescences – they can be left to decorate the garden in winter.
2. All fallen leaves are removed from under the bush. It is better to carry it away or just burn it.
3. Hydrangea is covered with the help of improvised material – burlap, agrofiber.
4. As soon as the first frosts begin, the roots must be mulched with sawdust, bark, peat. The layer should be large – up to 10 cm.

You can cover the bush with ordinary burlap

Reproduction of hydrangea Pinky Winky

The bush can be bred in the usual ways:

• seeds (rarely used, since a full-fledged seedling will appear after 2-3 years);
• layering;
• cuttings.

Among them, the propagation of Pinky Winky hydrangeas by cuttings is considered the easiest way. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Cut green cuttings in early summer at the stage of bud formation.
2. Select young apical shoots, leaving 2-3 pairs of leaves.
3. The bottom 2 sheets are removed, the rest are cut in half.
4. The petiole is soaked overnight in a solution of a root stimulator, for example, for this you can choose “Epin” (0,5 ml per 1 liter of water).
5. After an hour, the cuttings can be planted in wet sand at an angle of 45 degrees.
6. Immediately after that, they need to be sprayed with water and covered with a glass jar.
7. Periodically it is necessary to water, up to transplanting into a container with soil.

The first roots will appear in a month – at this stage, the cutting can be transplanted into a pot, and the transfer to a permanent place is carried out next spring

Hydrangea Pests and Diseases Pinky Winky

Pinky Winky is subject to the same diseases and pests as other hydrangea varieties. Therefore, when organizing care, it is imperative to carry out periodic preventive maintenance and inspect the plant.

Most often, the bush is affected by chlorosis (yellowing) and foliage burns. In these cases, it is necessary to feed the plant and transplant it to a less lit place. If the bush does not bloom, then it needs potash and phosphate fertilizers, which should be applied 1-2 times a month.

Fungal diseases of hydrangea are often observed:

• powdery mildew;
• leaf spot;
• gray rot;
• root rot.

Various fungicides are used to prevent and treat Pinky Winky hydrangea. Spraying is carried out according to the instructions, in dry and calm weather at sunset.

Finally, damage to the plant by pests is not excluded – mainly aphids and spider mites. Treatment from them is carried out with insecticides or folk remedies (solution of wood ash, soda, ammonia).

The presence of yellow-brown spots on the leaves is a clear sign of the appearance of a spider mite.

Conclusion

Pinky Winky hydrangea is bred easily, since the variety is fully adapted to the climatic conditions of Our Country. You can grow it not only in the middle lane, but even in the Urals and Siberia. If fed in a timely manner, the bush will bloom all summer and September. This is an important advantage that distinguishes hydrangea from many other flowers.

Hydrangea Paniculata Pinky Winky Reviews