One of the most beautiful plants in the plant kingdom are hydrangeas, but, as you know, these can be of multiple colors. The white hydrangea is one of the most beautiful, which is not easily seen, since roses are usually the best known. But, if you want to have one white hydrangea, the care you must provide is very important.
Here we help you to have a white hydrangea and to know what care it needs to make it last perfect for many years.
White hydrangea, which are the best?
Within hydrangeas, there are many different species. But In the case of white hydrangeas, we must highlight four types:
- The Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’. It is one of the most resistant and can easily reach two meters in height.
- Macrophylla. This is a little smaller, around five feet.
- hydrangea arborescens. It is characterized by having large, cream-white flowers, but when the specimen is young and it is the first time it blooms, its flowers are light green.
- oak leaf hydrangeas. It is even more resistant than the previous ones, and tolerates both heat and cold.
All of these hydrangeas are white, and some are hardier than others depending on the climate and location.
White hydrangea care
If you want to have a white hydrangea at home and that it does not end with the flowers changed in color or that they look wilted, the care that you should provide are the following:
Location
The white hydrangea, like any other type of hydrangea, prefers to be in semi-shade. In fact, the morning and afternoon sun (that is, sunrise and sunset) are more than enough.
The reason it is not good for it to be in full sun is because it is quite delicate and your flowers could burn if you have too much sunlight. But you need the sun to be okay. Of course, you will notice that it has too much sun if you see that the leaves and flowers begin to turn yellow (and lose their characteristic white color).
Temperature
Depending on the species of white hydrangea you have, you may have a higher or lower temperature. For example, the last one we told you about, the oak leaf hydrangeas It is very resistant to high and low temperatures, which can be an option for the Mediterranean climate.
Other species, when they exceed 20 degrees they can stop blooming.
Earth
For your hydrangea to be white it is necessary that you provide it a soil with a pH of 8.0. If this acidity drops a little, then the color of the flowers will change, so it must be taken into account.
You can have it both in a pot and in the garden, but always with enough space to grow. Keep in mind that we are talking about a fast growing plant and also quite large, so it will be usual that you have to change the pot every little time.
Irrigation
Unlike other hydrangeas, it is said that the white one does not need as much water as the others.
In summer you have to be generous with watering, to help the plant have all the nutrients, but in winter watering should be moderated a lot and not done at least until you see that the soil is moist but not waterlogged (rather slightly wet).
To give you an idea, if they say that with the rest of hydrangeas you have to water in summer every day, in the case of white hydrangeas it is better to do it day yes, day no, unless there is a very high temperature. And in winter it is possible that once every two weeks is enough.
Note that, If you water too much, the flowers will start to yellow. As for irrigation water, whether it be rain or softened water (if you add lime water to it, it can turn yellow).
Fertilizer
The subscription you should always use it when the plant is in bloom. The best is liquid, since you add it to the water and you can give it nutrients to keep it blooming and looking good. But watch out for overdoing it.
Pruning
The pruning of the hydrangea must be done in a minimal way. The best is remove only branches and leaves that look deteriorated or diseased, and leave the others alone. Now, it is also one of those that grows very fast, so sometimes you will need guides or cut a little so that the stems develop thicker and support the weight of the plant.
Transplant
In the case of having to transplant it, take advantage of the spring months to do so. It is a way to avoid frost or cold as this can cause it to spoil quite a bit. In addition, the acidity of the earth must be checked so that it has the necessary to develop well.
Plagues and diseases
One of the biggest problems that the white hydrangea has and the care to provide, is keep it away from aphids. These are very prone to appearing on the plant so you should have an insecticide or an anti-aphid on hand to spray it with it and avoid the problem.
How long does a hydrangea last?
Finally, you should know that these plants do not last forever. In a pot, a hydrangea can last four years if it is well cared for and all your needs are provided for.
If it’s planted in the garden, provided it’s given prepared soil and plenty of room to grow, it could last you many more years. So if you like hydrangeas, and you have a garden, it might be advisable to plant it directly there.
As you see, the white hydrangea in care does not differ much from other types of colorsbut it does have some peculiarities that, if you take them into account, can make it maintain that characteristic white of the specimen. Have you had or do you have some at home? How do you take care of them? Is there a trick you can give others who want to take care of these plants?
