Hydrangea - facts & care advice
The hydrangea with its large spherical flower clusters is one of our most magnificent cut flowers. It is as beautiful alone in a tall vase as it is in a bouquet together with other flowers.
Hydrangea is available to buy in flower shops from April to October. In the spring you will find them in bright colors such as pink, blue and white. They are very popular to give as both a Mother's Day present and to the new student.
In autumn, the hydrangea is most popular with its deep, beautiful colours. And they are in full bloom in all the country's gardens. In September and October, it really is high time to feast among hydrangeas.
How to care for your hydrangeas
How to care for the hydrangea as a cut flower
Hydrangea is a hardy flower and if you give it the right love and care it can stay beautiful for up to ten days.
1. Start by removing all green leaves from the stem of the hydrangea. Then make a diagonal long cut in the stem.
2. Pour some water into the vase. It should be so small that the cut of the stem just ends up below the surface of the water. Then let it dry slowly at room temperature. When the hydrangea is completely dry, place it in a dry vase.
3. Avoid direct sunlight. Place the hydrangea a bit into the room. If it is left in direct sunlight, it risks losing its beautiful color.
4. Keep the flower cool overnight.
Bonus tip
Is your hydrangea starting to droop and look tired? Make another fresh cut and submerge the flower in a bucket or sink of water.
Let the whole flower lie and bathe overnight as cool as possible. In the morning the flower will be resilient and beautiful again.
How to dry your hydrangea
Enjoy your hydrangea for longer by drying it. That's how you do it in three simple steps.
1. Start by removing all green leaves from the stem of the hydrangea. Then make a diagonal long cut in the stem.
2. Pour some water into the vase. It should be so small that the cut of the stem just ends up below the surface of the water. Then let it dry slowly at room temperature. When the hydrangea is completely dry, place it in a dry vase.
3. Avoid direct sunlight. Place the hydrangea a bit into the room. If it is left in direct sunlight, it risks losing its beautiful color.
Hydrangea in a pot
Can you exhibit it. Then replant it in a larger pot and place in partial shade. The hydrangea can also be planted in the flowerbed in a sheltered position and it will bloom again next year. Läs mer om Hortensior i kruka här.
1. Place the hydrangea brightly, but not in direct sunlight.
2. Hydrangea does well with lots of water. However, it does not want to stand in water. Therefore, immerse the potted plant in water and keep it there until it stops bubbling. Repeat three times a week.
3. Cut off unsightly flower clusters.
This is how the color of the hydrangea is determined
Blue hydrangea, white, purple red or green? Why does the one that was blue last year suddenly turn pink this year? Yes, that's a little chemical wizardry.
The color of the hydrangea can vary depending on the soil conditions and their pH value. In acidic soils the flower turns blue and at a higher pH value the flower turns pink or red depending on the variety. White hydrangeas always remain white regardless of the pH value of the soil.
To get a blue hydrangea, avoid fertilizing with calcium. You can also try putting a rusty nail or a piece of rusty rebar in the soil. Or you can try the trick of coffee grounds and citrus peels that are crowded into the soil a couple of times a year.
To raise the PH value in the soil and thus get pink hydrangeas, you can add lime to the fertiliser. Or crushed eggshells.