October 10, 2024, 11:19 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Hydrangeas are among the absolute classics in the garden. They come in a wide range of colors. From white to pink, purple, and blue, there is a lot to choose from. However, you can only count on a splendid bloom if you fertilize the plants accordingly. Sebastian Mühlemann from Bauer Nurseries explains what you need to bear in mind when doing so in response to a myHOMEBOOK inquiry.
As a bog plant, hydrangeas need acidic soil in order to grow well. But how do you get soil in the garden that is acidic enough for hydrangeas and stays that way? The answer is to fertilize hydrangeas properly.
What nutrients hydrangeas need
When fertilizing all plants, it is important to ensure that “all nutrients are available at the right time, in the right form, in the right proportions and in the right mobility in the right place so that they can be absorbed by the fine roots,” explains Sebastian Mühlemann from Baumschule Bauer AG. With hydrangeas, the right mobility is particularly important if you want blue flowers.
Hydrangeas that don’t bloom blue should also be fertilized, but you don’t have to pay much attention to this. It is important to fertilize in spring and the fertilizer should have a high nitrogen and potassium content. As hydrangeas have a high nutrient requirement, it is advisable to use special fertilizers. Fertilizers for azaleas or rhododendrons are also suitable, as these plants also require slightly acidic soil. This means that the pH value should be 4.5 or below.
Home remedies that can be used to fertilize hydrangeas
Ideally, you should use special fertilizers. It may be a little pricey, but you get what you want. Alternatively, you can also use coffee grounds. This also ensures that the soil becomes acidic. However, the quantity and frequency depend on the soil conditions and the size of the plant. Nettle manure can also be used, but make sure it is diluted.
Important: Home remedies can never be a substitute for a complete fertilizer. They only serve as a support.
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What do hydrangeas have to do with socks?
According to some websites and forum entries on the internet, a sock should be filled with rhododendron soil and hung overnight in a watering can filled with water. The water absorbs the nutrients, and you can save on fertilizer. Mühlemann confirms the trick and adds that you can also plant a filled sock in the soil next to the hydrangea: “The sock separates the two soil types from each other. This keeps the pH value of the substrate in the sock as low as possible for as long as possible so that the plant roots (which can root through the sock) can benefit from this area with a lower pH.” However, he emphasizes that the effect will not last forever and that you should only use socks made from natural materials.
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