Hydrangea, more popularly known as hydrangeas, are bushy plants originating in the American and Asian continents, characterized by the spectacular beauty of their inflorescences in white, pink or blue tones. They are especially popular plants in Japan, Korea and China, although they are actually grown as an ornamental plant throughout the world. However, despite their beauty, the care of hydrangeas can be somewhat demanding when it comes to the soil, and it is very common to find these plants in poor condition because they do not have the soil they need.
if you want to learn how to transplant hydrangeas In order to take them to an ideal location for them, join us in this EcologíaVerde article.
When to transplant hydrangeas
Unlike what happens with pruning, in which it is necessary to wait until the plant is in vegetative rest to minimize the health risk for the plant, a transplant will have better results if it is carried out when the plant is active and strong.
In the case of hydrangeas, this best time is given to early springas the plant has come out of vegetative dormancy and has the energy to settle into its new habitat before the sweltering summer temperatures arrive and put further stress on it.
If the weather in your area is not particularly cold, you can also try transplanting in late winter. This is a particularly recommended practice when it comes to transplant hydrangeas in poor condition to which a drastic pruning has been applied to rejuvenate them. The plant will take longer to adapt to the new environment, but in return the pruning will be less damaging and its root system will not suffer as much.
Tools for transplanting hydrangeas
The ideal is to always have tools as sharp as possible and properly disinfected before making any cutting or cutting. If you’re simply transplanting an entire plant, you probably won’t need to prune anything unless parts of it are in poor shape. You will probably need a shovel and gardening gloves If you don’t want to get your hands very dirty, they don’t need to be protective since these plants don’t have spikes or harmful substances that irritate.
The next, and also the most important, will be prepare a large enough pot if you are going to put it back in a pot, or the ground area of the garden, and also prepare the substrate or soil in which you are going to transplant your hydrangea. Hydrangeas are acid-loving plants, that is, they need acid soils to develop properly. The pH of the soil in which the hydrangea is found must be between 5.5 and 6.5, or in the long run the plant will experience difficulties in getting its nutrients and signs of chlorosis will appear. At this point, it is important to emphasize that, although hydrangea flowers can change color depending on the acidity of the substrate, it should always be grown in acidic soil, or it will experience health problems in the long run.
Thus, get substrate for acidophilic plants, or fertilizer that acidifies the soil. It is also possible to use products such as sulfur or iron sulfate, always in measured quantities, to acidify the soil. A more natural way to do this is to apply pine bark mulch, which will also achieve great results.
How to transplant hydrangeas step by step
These are the steps to transplant a hydrangea successfully:
- The first thing will be to prepare the soil or substrate in which we are going to place the plant. Use a mixture with substrate for acidophilic plants or previously acidified and, if possible, very rich in organic matter, since the plant will need a large amount of nutrients to adapt to its new habitat and flourish at the right time. Worm humus is, as always, one of the best options.
- Take the cuttings or seedlings you want to transplant. If you have to pull the plants out of the ground, do it very carefully so as not to damage their roots. If they are very caked due to being an old plant, try to loosen them as much as possible with your hands and carefully. In addition, during the transplant, make sure that they are in good condition and the soil too, if you see or suspect that there is rot, you will have to prune the parts in poor condition and not water the plant for several days, and if you see or think that there is fungi or other parasites you will have to apply an adequate treatment.
- Place the plant in its new soil and remember to cover the roots and the base of the stem well with substrate so that it holds up well. It is important to keep in mind that the pot must be larger than the previous one, as well as that the first few days you place it in the shade so that the sun does not stress the plant while it acclimatizes.
- Maintain humidity in the first days, watering frequently but always without flooding, wetting the soil and not the plant.
Here you can learn some more details about How to plant a hydrangea.
Caring for a transplanted hydrangea
A newly transplanted hydrangea is especially delicate until it has been made to its new location, so you have to be particularly careful with it. Follow these tips:
- Give it a sheltered semi-shade location, protected from direct sunlight but with some natural lighting.
- Keep the substrate moist with frequent watering, but not too abundant so as not to drown the plant. It is always better not to wet the leaves when watering.
- Check the acidity of the soil to make sure it’s right for your hydrangeas.
- Depending on the amount of lime that the tap water has in your area, it could alkalinize the substrate too much if you irrigate with it. The most advisable thing is always to use rainwater or mineral water when watering the hydrangeas so that this does not happen.
To learn more, check out these other gardening guides on General Hydrangea Care and How to Care for Potted Hydrangeas.
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