Hydrangea macrophylla
crop cultivation advice

Stage 1: Cuttings and young plants

Make cuttings preferably in May – June from outdoor mother plants with similar stem-thickness.
Hydrangea develops branches and leaves prior to any root growth which can cause excessive evaporation. Try to avoid any peaks in temperature, humidity and irradiance and maximize the root growth as smoothly as possible. Provide enough water to keep the substrate always moist. Stimulate rooting with 5 g/m2 Peters Professional Plant Starter 10-52-10. Support plant strength during finishing stage with 15 g/m2/week with Peters Professional Plant Finisher 9-9-36. Before transplanting: stimulate roots with 10 g/m2/week Peters Professional Plant Starter 10-52-10.

Stage 2: Vegetation (deliverable Hydrangea in container)

Pot the cuttings in early spring to get the best results. Ensure high humidity for potted plants because evaporation can be enormous, however, be careful with varieties sensitive to mildew. Try to avoid plant stress due to ‘evaporation shocks’. Ensure sufficient levels of trace elements, especially when potted Hydrangeas are grown outside. Spring nights can be cold, causing difficulties with phosphorus and iron availability. Keep EC levels low and stimulate roots with high P fertilizers when pruning the plants. Mix 4 g/l Osmocote Exact Standard 8-9M through the growing media. In the growth phase you can give additional Universol Blue or Universol Green.

Stage 3: Finishing

Customers demand compact plants. Limit the need for growth regulation by stopping water-soluble feeding as soon as plants reach the desired length in August/September. Use potassium-based fertilizers and add trace elements to fulfil the plant’s high nutrition needs, like Universol Basis 4-19-35.