Botanist's Lens: Happy Hyrdrangeas
Hydra Happy
"Hydra" in Hydrangea is derived from "Hydros," which in Greek refers to water (and "Angeoin," which refers to the fruit capsule that resembles a vessel). Hydra happy, is how I remember Hydrangeas' affinity for water: hydros makes hydras happy!
Hydrangeas require a moist, well drained soil; not wet feet. It is not as much that over watering that will hurt a hydrangea, but they are the quickest to show signs for underwatering. They also have the ability to absorb water fastest, so even if your hydrangeas look droopy/dead on hot summer days, load them up with hydros, and hydras will be happy again.
I like pink, but you like blue?
No problem! With breeders being extremely busy with this long lasting panicle bloomer, there are specific varieties wherein you can pick flowers to be pink/blue. “For H. macrophylla and H. serrata cultivars, the flower color can be determined by the relative acidity of the soil: an acidic soil, will have available aluminum ions and typically produce flowers that are blue to purple, whereas an alkaline soil will tie up aluminum ions and result in pink or red flowers.” Learn more here and here.
Pruning and Sun
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