From ancient times, hydrangea captivated with its beauty poets, artists, breeders and noble ladies. Each variety of shrubs is beautiful in its own way, but the paniculate appearance with lush, long-blooming inflorescences is particularly striking. It has more than 600 varieties, among which a prominent place is occupied by a bush with inflorescences of an elongated pyramidal shape - the Magic Candle, translated from English as “magic candle”.
Grade description
Panicled species belongs to the genus Hydrangeas of the family Hydrangeas. Its homeland is China, Japan and South Sakhalin. In the natural environment it is found in sparse oak trees, at the edges. Variety Magic Candle (hydrangea paniculata Magical Candle) refers to perennial drooping shrubs, reaching growth of up to 2 m, and in warm climates - up to 3 m.
The trunk is partially lignified. The variety is distinguished by the dense growth of the crown with branches located close to each other. The leaves are dark green in color with clear veins, a serrated edging and a length of up to 12 cm. The main feature of the variety is large, heavy inflorescences, under which shoots often bend.
Reaching a maximum height of 30 cm, they change color during the summer-autumn season. Initially, the inflorescences acquire a white, cream or pale green color, in the middle of summer they are replaced by soft pink, and in the fall they acquire the fullness of the colors of raspberry or saturated pink.
Did you know? The ancient Greek name "Hydrangea" is translated as "a vessel with water", which indicates a great moisture loving nature of the plant.
The flowers themselves are small, four-petalled, up to 2.5 mm in diameter. The first flowering occurs on the 4th year. Honey flowers, forming a fruit box with very small seeds. The flowering season lasts from June to October.
Landing
The agricultural technique of planting the Magic Candle variety does not differ from the standard planting scheme for the remaining hydrangeas. For the procedure, choose the off-season - the beginning of spring, before the buds open, or autumn, after flowering.
Planting will not cause difficulties, but for the development of a healthy and beautiful plant, you must adhere to some rules. First you need to choose a seedling, then decide on the place, having weighed all the pros and cons, and only then proceed to the planting itself.
Seedling Selection
The key to successful bush growth is the quality of the planting material itself. Seeds or seedlings are best purchased in specialized stores or nurseries. When buying, you should inspect the plant for defects, rot, stains or cobwebs. The presence of dry leaves can indicate damage to hydrangea by parasites or various diseases.
You should select instances with a closed root system. These rules are not excluded when choosing a self-grown seedling or cuttings. Even if you are sure that you have observed all the features when planting, you should carefully examine it carefully before placing the plant in a permanent place of growth in open ground.
Landing place
Hydrangea is a light-loving plant, but it does not tolerate direct midday sunlight. Before planting, it is better to choose a site with western or eastern lighting or light partial shade. Not the least role in choosing a place is played by the correct neighborhood.
Since hydrangea is moisture-loving and quickly absorbs nutrients from the soil, it is not recommended to plant it next to plants of the same species, otherwise they will have competition for useful substances contained in water and soil. Windy areas and drafts should also be avoided.
Important! To protect the bush from the attack of aphids, it can be planted next to a bed of marigolds. Fragile flowers attract ladybugs, which are the first enemies of parasites and harmful insects.
The Magic Candle variety likes soil acidic, slightly acidic or neutral, like other hydrangeas. The optimum level of acidity is 5.0 pH. The bush will not grow on calcareous, sandy, marshy soils. The soil can be acidified with humus, needles, urea, compost. Before planting, it is necessary to prepare a soil mixture of peat, leaf soil, sand and humus in a ratio of 1: 2: 1: 2.
Landing rules
Planting any kind of hydrangea does not take place on the same day, because the earthen mixture must be settled and infused to oxidize the old soil, so the preparation procedure begins a few days, and sometimes - two weeks before planting.
Important! For areas with neutral soil, a solution with diluted superphosphate and potassium sulfate can be added to the earth mixture.
After you have prepared everything you need and decided on a place, you must follow these steps:
- Dig a hole 60 cm wide and 30-40 cm deep.
- At the bottom lay out drainage from chipped bricks or expanded clay.
- From above, fill the whole pit with the prepared soil mixture.
- Two days later, place a seedling with an earthen lump in a pit.
- Lower the root neck into the ground to a maximum depth of 2 cm.
- Cover the roots of the seedling with earth.
- Compact the soil tightly without leaving air pockets.
- Pour 8 liters of water.
After planting, fresh soil can be covered with leaves or spruce branches, and the seedling itself can be shaded from bright light.
Hydrangea Care
After planting in a permanent place, the shrub needs regular watering and periodic fertilizing. For its normal growth and resistance to diseases, both mineral and organic additives are needed that enrich the earth and give the plant strength thanks to the nutrition of the root system. Different life cycles of the bush provoke certain natural rhythms, so feeding the flower during the flowering and dormant periods differs in composition, purpose and dosage.
Watering
Adequate moisture for the Magic Candle is the key to not only healthy development, but also good winter hardiness. During droughts and hot summers, 15–20 L of water is applied under each bush once a week. In moderate weather, watering is reduced to once every two weeks.
With wet and rainy summers, the procedure is performed about 5 times per season. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the soil under hydrangea and prevent its drying out or the formation of an earth crust. Watering should be done in the morning or in the evening with soft, settled water, since limestone is destructive for shrubs.
After each procedure, it is necessary to loosen the soil so that it receives a sufficient amount of air. To prevent chlorosis, several drops of potassium permanganate can be added to water. In the hot season, along with watering, it is recommended to spray.
Fertilizer
In terms of nutrition, hydrangea is as insatiable as in irrigation. Vitamin solutions can be prepared independently or you can buy ready-made preparations that you just need to combine with water in certain proportions. Among them are popular Planton H, Master Valagro, Royal Mix, Agricole, Biopon.
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All of them are designed for garden hydrangeas of different varieties and are sold in different forms:
- crystalline;
- granular;
- in dry mixes;
- in liquid concentrates.
As a rule, all dressings for a plant are divided into two groups: until mid-summer, nitrogen fertilizers are applied, and after it - mineral complex.
In order for fertilizers to stay longer in the soil, in early spring it is necessary to mulch the trunk circle.
For mulch, you can take hay, compost, needles, sawdust, bark or old leaves. The bush necessarily needs organic matter and mineral fertilizers during the season at different stages of the growing season, so each of them is described below.
During flowering
Experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing hydrangeas 4 times a season, three of which fall at the beginning and flowering period. In order to give impetus to the formation of lush inflorescences, in early spring with the beginning of sap flow (late March), an organic mixture of slurry is placed under the bush. This can be bird droppings or mullein dissolved in water in a ratio of 20 kg per 10 liters.
During bud growth (mid-April), a second dose of fertilizer is added from a mixture of superphosphate (35 g), potassium (35 g) and urea (25 g) to 10 water, distributing the liquid evenly around the bush.
The third stage is aimed at abundant, prolonged flowering. This top dressing is introduced in the middle of summer (July) already with the use of the mineral complex. Its composition must necessarily include iron, magnesium and potassium. Drug fertilizers are bred according to the instructions, and with self-preparation, minerals are bred in a ratio of 50 g per 2 buckets of water.
Important! It is not recommended to be zealous with organic dressing, as this can lead to uncontrolled growth of the bush and breakdown of shoots under the heavy weight of large inflorescences.
During rest
The last, fourth top dressing is administered for a successful wintering after the flowering period (October-early November). Nitrogen and organic components are contraindicated at this stage, since the fertilizer is not already aimed at activating the vegetation processes, but at strengthening and frost resistance.
At this time, use ready-made preparations for hydrangeas with a mineral content. It is necessary to have time to make the last top dressing before the start of night frosts. To warm the roots in the winter, the near-trunk circle is covered with coniferous branches, fallen leaves or tree bark.
Pruning
Shrub mowing is an integral part of the full care of him. Grade Magic Candle is characterized by profuse thickening, which can lead to the formation of rot and fungal infections. Each branch should receive a sufficient amount of light and oxygen, so trimming hydrangeas is carried out twice a year.
In the spring, before the sap flow begins, 10 strong shoots are selected from an adult plant, which are cut so that at least 5-6 buds remain on them. Weak, dry branches and parts growing inward are also removed. During the season, you need to monitor the flowering of the shoots, removing all unnecessary. In the fall, formative pruning is carried out and yellowed inflorescences are removed.
Did you know? Before giving cut hydrangea inflorescences while in other countries, study the symbolism of this flower. If in Japan these flowers mean a demonstration of sincerity, then in Europe they are interpreted as indifference. In many cultures, hydrangea symbolizes love suffering.
In young shrubs, the buds are cut off for the first two years in order to direct “forces” on the development of the root system and the aerial parts. In subsequent years, this will affect saturated and active flowering.
Old specimens are made mandatory anti-aging pruning with the removal of perennial shoots to the size of stumps not higher than 7 cm.
Winter preparations
Varieties of panicled hydrangea are considered frost-resistant and calmly tolerate temperatures up to -29 ° C. But this applies only to adultswho managed to build a powerful root system. It is recommended to replant very young year-old bushes for the winter in pots and bring them into the house.
The roots are considered the most sensitive part, so plants up to 4 years old with the onset of the first frosts are insulated in the near-trunk circle. To do this, the soil is covered with rotted manure, needles, foliage, peat or a mixture of them with a thick layer, about 20 cm high. In areas with severe winters, hydrangeas build a greenhouse from improvised means.
Did you know? Many signs and superstitions are associated with hydrangea. It is believed that the bush planted on the site helps the owner to find harmony, cope with sinful thoughts and pacify unrighteous acts.
It can be done according to this scheme:
- Remove all dry leaves from the bush.
- Spread the organic mixture in the center and at the base.
- From above, collect all the branches into a “tail” and not tightly bandage it with a rope.
- Cover with agrofibre or non-woven material.
- At the bottom, fix the ends with brick or stones.
According to another method, it is possible to divide the branches into bunches, tilt them to the ground and attach them with braces. In the center lay a warming cover and cover with agrofibre.
Breeding
Each gardener who managed to grow a lush and flowering bush on the plot wants to increase its beauty.
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For propagation of the Magic Candle variety, the following are used:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- layering.
Seed planting is rarely used in amateur gardens, but anyone can try their luck. To do this, planting material is dried and planted at home, covering the box with film.
With the advent of sprouts, the film is opened and, waiting for the appearance of two leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. In open ground, seedlings grown from seed are sent to the third year.
When propagating in the second way in summer, the upper and central parts of the year-old shoots are cut, the tops of the inflorescences are also cut. They are divided into cuttings with a length of 20 cm. Mowed sections are treated in a solution of “Kornevin” or other growth stimulants, after which they are deepened into a soil mixture of sheet soil, peat and sand.
The container is put in partial shade and covered with a transparent film or glass. While the sprouts root, produce watering and spraying. After 3-4 weeks, with the appearance of new leaves, the cuttings are planted in separate pots and continue to grow in a shady place. Next spring, you can plant in open ground.
No less popular rooting layering. To do this, in the spring, under the bush, dig one or more thin furrows. Young shoots are tilted to the ground so as not to break them off from the main bush. A branch is pinned to the soil with metal studs, leaving the tip open.
Places at the formation of the kidneys spud and sprinkled with earth. During the season, layering is treated together with the entire bush: watered, fertilized and cleaned of weeds, and covered for the winter. The following spring, rooted cuttings can be separated and transplanted to a permanent place.
Diseases and Pests
The variety of Magic Candle does not belong to the whimsical, but it, like any hydrangea, can succumb to various diseases. Fungi, viruses, bacteria and parasites cause them. All of them appear mainly due to errors in care., which affects the decorativeness of the plant. The affected bush loses its splendor, looks weak and dull.
The first alarm signal is the acquisition of an uncharacteristic color of leaves and inflorescences, their drying or the appearance of suspicious spots. If you notice yellowing of the leaves with green veins - this is a sign of chlorosis, common among hydrangeas.
It occurs as a result of alkaline soil, so the soil must be acidified with organic substances or a solution of copper sulfate. Another reason may be the growth of shrubs in the shade, lack of light.
Different types of rot often affect varieties, among which powdery mildew. It can be determined by the gray coating on the leaves, which eventually spreads throughout the bush. The affected areas are twisted, and rot spreads throughout the plant. The reason may be too high humidity, temperature changes.
For treatment, fungicides are used (Bactofit, Topaz, Horus, Ridomil Gold).
With improper care, hydrangea is affected by pests.
The most common parasites are:
- spider mite;
- aphid;
- nematodes.
The latter are capable of causing the greatest damage and completely depleting the plant. Nematodes affect the root system and cause severe changes in the development of the plant. They settle in groups and are difficult to remove even by biological preparations.
A mite wraps the leaves in small cobwebs, and the aphid leaves behind bites on the leaves, deformed and quickly fading flowers.
Machining to control insects is not enough, therefore, use chemical insecticides ("Actara", "Coragen") or folk remedies.
The variety of Hydrangea Magic Candle is able to decorate any area with its noble flowering, from which it is impossible to take your eyes off. In landscape design, it can be an independent accent, part of a composition or play the role of a hedge. But in order for the charm of the bush to be fully revealed, it is necessary to adhere to the basic rules for care and take the issue of the planting site seriously.