With the hydrangea Endless Summer, an American researcher has succeeded in breeding a special and extraordinary variety. In this case, the term “Endless Summer” really keeps what it promises: the perennial plant flowers several times in a row in summer and is able to develop its distinctive flowers on old and new shoots alike.
Table of Contents
location and substrate
The Endless Summer hydrangea needs a sunny to light, partially shaded location to develop its lush flowers. A place that is too dark often promotes stunted growth of the plant and prevents the flowers from fully developing. Thanks to its fine root runners, however, the hydrangea can still be moved to another location after a few years without suffering any consequential damage.
The perennial plant prefers a permeable, humus-rich substrate. The pH of the soil depends on the color of the flowers. While hydrangeas with blue flowers need acidic soil, the substrate for pink flowers should be alkaline. Hydrangea plants are sensitive to large amounts of lime. If possible, prefer a lime-poor soil or upgrade it with larger amounts of conventional potting soil, peat or rhododendron soil.
watering and fertilizing
The plant with the ball-shaped flowers needs a lot of moisture in summer. Allow the top layer of substrate to dry slightly before pouring rainwater. The intervals at which the water supply must take place depend on the type of cultivation and the size of the hydrangea. However, avoid waterlogging with plants in tubs by creating a drainage made of basalt or broken pottery at the bottom of the pot. Lush green leaves and few flowers can also indicate overwatering of the hydrangea. Water more frequently during the week instead of watering the plant every day.
The Hydrangea macrophylla is fertilized in spring and late summer. Rhododendron fertilizer has proven its worth with the Endless Summer hydrangea, but you can alternatively use horn shavings and hummus. The uncomplicated flowering plants do not tolerate phosphorus, but need large amounts of nitrogen for this. Therefore, when buying a complete fertilizer, pay attention to the minerals it contains.
plant
The hydrangea Endless Summer can reach a height of over 2 meters. Nevertheless, the robust farmer’s plant can not only be cultivated outdoors without any problems, but also gives the terrace or a large balcony a romantic atmosphere.
Cultivation in tubs
Choose a sufficiently large planter with a minimum diameter of 30 – 40 centimeters. Not only can the roots of the hydrangea grow optimally in it, but they are also better protected against frostbite in winter. Hydrangeas are extremely moisture-loving plants, but prolonged waterlogging can cause root rot in them too. A permeable layer of potsherds, lava grit or fine gravel makes it easier for excess water to drain away.
The location on the balcony or terrace must also be chosen so that the hydrangea is not too shady. At least 6 hours of sunshine in the morning are particularly tolerable and beneficial for flowering.
Planting outdoors
With the Endless Summer hydrangea, you have a perennial plant that will delight you with lush blooms in summer. With the hydrangea you get a distinctive and uncomplicated eye-catcher in your home garden, so choose the planting place carefully. The best time for transplanting outdoors is in early spring. For faster rooting of the flowering plant, it is recommended that the size of the excavated planting hole is twice as wide and deep as the root ball of the hydrangea. If you do not know the exact composition of the soil, you should also use rhododendron earth outdoors.
After inserting the hydrangea, press the filled substrate only slightly and water it firmly. It must be watered regularly over a period of about 2 weeks. Freshly after planting, the fine adhesive roots are not yet able to supply the plant with sufficient moisture from the soil.
To cut
The new hydrangea variety is extremely hardy and robust, which is repeatedly shown when it comes to pruning. Unlike many other members of the hydrangea, the flowers of the hydrangea Endless Summer are formed on young and older shoots alike. A radical pruning in late autumn is not necessary, but the plant will sprout again bushy and flowering in the following year. Regularly remove old inflorescences by breaking them out and thin out the hydrangea only after the 4th year of planting. You have to completely cut out 2/3 of the old shoots. This stimulates the formation of new buds and shoots.
hibernate
All cultivars of the Endless Summer hydrangea are characterized by their winter hardiness, temperatures of down to -30°C hardly impress the plant. Only wrap plant pots with a special fleece to protect the root ball and the substrate from freezing completely. The hydrangea itself can be left in place. Late frosts in spring can affect early developing flowers and buds. At this point, cover the plant with burlap or a blanket. But even if these measures were unsuccessful, the hydrangea will reliably form new buds and flowers within 4 – 6 weeks.
multiply
The Hydrangea variety “Endless Summer”, which was introduced to the international market in 2003, can also be propagated without any problems. Ideally, this step should be done in early summer so that the young hydrangeas can develop sufficient roots before the frost.
For the successful propagation of the plant you should have the following materials ready:
- Sharp knife
- cultivation vessel
- nutrient-poor substrate
- Transparent Foil
From the hydrangea, separate young shoots about 15 centimeters long without buds or inflorescences. At the top, the cuttings must have a pair of leaves from which the front piece is cut off. This means that fewer nutrients are used and the formation of the roots is stimulated. To increase the chance of success, you can also dip in rooting powder in front of the cut surface of the prepared shoot. This agent supplies the plant section with important minerals, and also promotes and accelerates the budding of the fine root system. You can use the rooting powder for all plants that are propagated by cuttings.
Fill the planter with a nutrient-poor substrate. A mixture of 1/3 garden soil and 2/3 sand has worked well, but you can also get special growing soil from specialist retailers. Place the cuttings about 4 centimeters apart in the prepared container and water carefully. The young cuttings have no objection to increased humidity. To do this, cover the vesseland plants carefully with a perforated, transparent film. However, you should not only check the moisture of the substrate every day, but also allow the cuttings a little uncovered time. Watch out for any mold growth and counteract this in good time. The best location for propagation is in the light penumbra. Direct sunlight would possibly lead to the soil drying out too quickly.
The first roots should have formed within 3 – 5 weeks. As soon as the young plants start to sprout new shoots and leaves, you can separate the hydrangeas. Wait until spring before planting outdoors, because the young plants cannot yet adequately protect themselves from sub-zero temperatures and frost.
Tips for cultivation and care
Change flower color – The color of the flowers is affected by the substrate. While the buds will have a blue tint at an acidic pH , an alkaline level will encourage pink buds. Test it yourself with the large-leaved hydrangea variety and raise or lower the pH value of the substrate.
Combine plants – hydrangeas do not have to be set as a solitary plant. Take advantage of the versatility of the plants and create a colorful oasis with Japanese maple, pampas grass, bamboo or rodgersia. There are hardly any limits to your imagination, even different varieties of hydrangeas cultivated next to each other offer an interesting bloom. However, avoid tall plants, which could compete with the hydrangea for light and nutrients.
Colorful splendor in winter – the flowers of the Hydrangea macrophylla can easily be brought into your own four walls, whether in a vase or in a dried state. If the last inflorescences remain on the plant in autumn, they also offer a refreshing eye-catcher in the otherwise dreary winter garden.
Identify pests in time
The Endless Summer hydrangea was bred for its hardiness and frequent flowering, but like other hydrangea varieties it is not immune to pest infestation.
Woolly scale insect – These pests belong to the species of insects that feed on the cell sap of the host plant by sucking and biting. The plant is weakened by an increasing population of animals and the excretion of lice can also promote the colonization of sooty mold. The woolly egg sacs of the scale insects are most clearly visible in spring, but sticky residues in the substrate and on the plant parts are also an indication of an infestation with this type of pest. Combat is difficult to carry out due to the protective back armor of the females, under which the young also slip. Remove heavily infested hydrangea shoots and use chemical insecticides if there is a large population.
Spider mites – These voracious insects don’t stop at hydrangea varieties either. The tiny arachnids are only about half a millimeter in size on average and can therefore hardly be seen with the naked eye. Much more recognizable is a silvery shimmering leaf surface, which is caused by the penetration of air into the empty cells. The underside of the leaves, on the other hand, often has a brownish discoloration. Black shoot tips and the complete death of young branches and leaves are also the result of spider mites . Some types of 8-legged pests tend to form webs. Spray the affected plant with a water atomizer to make the fine nets visible.
Outdoors, you can use natural predators such as lacewing larvae and assassin bugs to successfully combat spider mites. With hydrangeas in pots, however, you can also temporarily increase the humidity by watering the plant sufficiently and wrapping it in transparent foil. If none of these measures prove successful, you can obtain effective means of eliminating the pests from specialist dealers.
Conclusion
Hydrangea lovers will find an uncomplicated plant that blooms several times in the newly bred “Endless Summer Hydrangea”. The Hydrangea, which comes from America, not only delights the viewer with a new bloom every 6 weeks in summer, but is also extremely frost-resistant. The robust and undemanding plant is equally suitable for beginners and passionate hobby gardeners.
