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Plants
for your home
(By Mary Efanti)
Hydrangea
Origin
 Hydrangeas
originate from Japan and are members of the saxifrage family. They now come in
two types - "macrophylla" cultivars have sterile florets and are known
as "mop-heads", while "serrata" cultivars have a centre of
fertile flowers surrounded by a ring of sterile ones and are known as "lace-caps".
The name hydrangea derives from
the Greek hydro "water" and aggos "a jar" referring to the
cup-shaped seed pods.
Care
 It
is interesting how we've come to associate certain plants with specific holidays,
roses for Valentine's Day, and of course poinsettias at Christmas. And among
spring flowers the hydrangea, one of the most beloved of all, is perfect for
Easter and Mother's Day. It’s easy to see why we are so taken with it. They
are bold, beautiful and evoke memories of our grandparent’s gardens.
Hydrangeas you see in early
spring for Easter and Mother’s Day have been grown for florists, forced into
bloom early for that special someone. Of course they can be enjoyed for years to
come in the garden if cared for properly. But while you're enjoying it inside
don't let the soil become dry. This can weaken the plant and even kill it if
dryness is prolonged. Any grower of these will tell you that the blooms will
last for a long time. Don't set them in full direct sun. You see this can cause
the flowers to fade quicker and the leaves to blister.
When you plant them outside always remove the blossoms and plant them in partial
shade. They are often seen
planted on the north side of the house because it's cool and shady.
An interesting thing about
these old-fashioned hydrangeas is the color of the bloom is dictated by the soil
pH. For pink flowers you want an alkaline soil and for blue flowers you need
more acidic soil. Regardless of your soil's pH you want to make sure that it’s
rich with humus so put some of that compost to good use. And of course you want
to make sure your hydrangeas are kept consistently moist.
If you receive one of these as
a gift or pick one up at the florist, give it a life long after you've enjoyed
it indoors.
Mary Efanti
mefanti@otenet.gr
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