Hydrangea Mega Mindy - description, planting and care
Content:
Landscape designers love to use perennials in their designs and their favorites include Paniculate Hydrangeas. These shrub plants bloom from the beginning of summer until the very frost, while the intensity of the colors does not decrease at all. They are unpretentious, easy to care for and even a novice gardener can handle it. This is probably why they are so common in gardens throughout the country.
Hydrangea Mega Mindy. It got its name due to its huge inflorescences. What are the advantages of this flower, the nuances in planting and further care, we will describe below.
Briefly about panicle hydrangea
Photo of hydrangea Mega Mindy
Panicle varieties of hydrangea are popular all over the world, scientists from many countries are engaged in their breeding. The purpose of this is to breed plants that can withstand severe frosts and bloom for a long time. Hydrangeas belonging to this species have large panicle-shaped inflorescences. They are collected from many flowers of various sizes.
Shrub plants of the paniculate species are grown in different parts of the world. They are used to decorate city parks, small squares and, of course, private gardens. These plants will thrive when planted along trails or near large plants in a recreation area.
This is possible due to the unpretentiousness of the hydrangea and its ability to take root anywhere.
Panicle hydrangea Mega Mindy: description and characteristics of the variety
Mega Mindy - this variety will not leave anyone indifferent. She is prized for her beauty. When the inflorescences bloom, they show white petals, which, at times, have a slight shade of blue, after a while, they turn pink or acquire a rich cherry color.
The shoots reach one and a half meters in height, the bushes themselves are compact in size, but the oval-shaped crown amazes with soy density. The stems are arranged vertically, they are very strong and despite the large inflorescences that grow on them, they do not bend. This greatly distinguishes the variety from its "brethren". The leaves are dark emerald color and 11 centimeters long can be ovoid and elliptical in shape. The outer side of the sheet is rough.
It is interesting to know that the stems grow by 25 centimeters a year, the inflorescences show their flowering only on the shoots that have appeared in the current season.
The inflorescences hang beautifully like brushes, demonstrating all the charm of large flowers. Flowering begins in mid-July and ends only in October. However, if the plant is grown in warm regions, then flowering can last until the cold weather sets in.
From dried inflorescences, you can make interesting bouquets or make compositions and decorate the house with them. If, during the autumn pruning, the inflorescences are left on the bush, then they will not change color and will serve as an ornament throughout the winter. All this suggests that the plant is able to maintain its decorative effect throughout the year.
In addition, mega mindy is highly resistant to frost, which allows it to be planted in many regions.
Hydrangea Mega Mindy: reproduction
Photo of hydrangea Mega Mindy
You can crush the Mega Mindy hydrangea using cuttings, dividing the bush, grafting and seeds.The last two methods take a lot of time and effort, for this reason it is better to use the first two.
Panicle hydrangea Mega Mindy: cultivation of a variety
If the propagation method is chosen by cuttings, then in order to collect the planting material, one-year lateral stems will be needed. Cuttings must be cut from them and planted in a container. The best time for these events will be the second half of July. The soil mixture in the container should contain equal proportions of river sand and the top layer of peat. Moss is also added there, it improves the moisture holding capacity. The cuttings are planted at a 45 degree angle. When planting, it is necessary that they are at a distance of 6 centimeters from each other. For rooting to go well and quickly, you need to place the container where the air temperature will be from +17 to +19 degrees. If everything is done correctly, then after 4 weeks roots will appear and young seedlings can be transplanted in their place in the garden.
Reproduction by division is carried out, as a rule, in order to transplant the bush to another site. Such events can be carried out at the 6th year of the plant's life. This can be done from May to September. To do this, you need to carefully dig out the bush, so as to minimize possible trauma to the roots, and divide the root system into parts in such a way that two healthy buds remain on each part. Before starting the procedure, it is necessary to prepare planting holes for them and, after dividing, immediately place the plants there. Correct division and transplantation guarantees the flowering of young bushes as early as next year.
On the territory of central Russia and in places where the climate is not too different, the planting of a panicle hydrangea of the Mega Mindi variety is carried out in the spring, this is important for the root system, which must have time to take root before the onset of frost. In the south of the country, planting can be carried out in September.
Planting holes are prepared in advance. They should go 50 centimeters deep into the ground and be 60 centimeters in diameter. This size will only be slightly larger than the crown diameter. If you plan to use the plant as a hedge, then a trench is dug for planting, the width of which will be about one meter. Young bushes are planted here, the distance between them should be one and a half meters. Then they are covered with earth so that there is no air between the roots.
The best place for planting is partial shade. Here they will develop more actively and their flowers will be larger than those planted in areas open to the sun. In addition, the place must be protected from wind and draft.
Hydrangea Mega Mindy: care
Photo of hydrangea Mega Mindy
Caring for the Mega Mindy panicle hydrangea is not difficult and does not take much time, you just need to follow some rules.
Water it regularly and abundantly. The development of the bush and its flowering depend on this. The soil must always be moist. You can save moisture in the soil by using mulch. It is applied to the trunk circle after watering. For this, needles and humus are perfect.
In adulthood, it is a perennial plant of a paniculate species, capable of withstanding even harsh winters and does not require insulation. However, young ones that have just been planted in the garden need additional protection.
Mega Mindy is a fast growing and actively flowering plant, so it quickly absorbs all nutrients. To support it and give strength for annual long and beautiful flowering, it is necessary to feed it with organic and mineral fertilizers 4 times a season.
Pruning is carried out twice a year. At the beginning of spring, all weakened, with any damage and unnecessary thickening branches are removed. In the autumn period, it is necessary to shorten the branches of the first year of life, leaving only 5 buds on them.
Diseases and pests: control and treatment
Photo of hydrangea Mega Mindy
The panicle hydrangea Mega Mindy can be attacked by a spider mite.You can understand that he has settled on a bush with a thin cobweb on the inside of the leaf and by the leaves rolled inward. You can deal with it with the help of insecticides.
You can also find leaf aphids on your favorite plant. You can deal with it with anabasine sulfate solution.
As for diseases, you can encounter powdery mildew, which can be identified by yellow spots on the leaves, which turn brown a little later. To overcome this disease, you need to use copper sulfate, green soap and water. The solution is prepared at the rate of 15g. x 150 gr. x 1 in.
Another disease that affects the Mega Mindy panicle hydrangea is chlorosis. If it is noticed that the green leaves begin to brighten, then the disease could not be avoided. The most common cause of this is a lack of iron. Potassium nitrate and copper sulfate, which are added to the soil a little later, will help to cure the plant.
Outcome
In landscape design, most often the panicle hydrangea Mega Mindy is used as a hedge, looks great as a single plant and can complement flower gardens. Juniper, thuja, or other evergreen shrubs can be excellent neighbors for hydrangeas.
