One of the most spectacular varieties of hydrangeas is Forever End Ever Red - a flower that fascinates with surprisingly beautiful large brilliant inflorescences of saturated red color. What are the main advantages of the described bush and what is the agricultural technique of its cultivation - find out from the article.
Description
Forever and Ever Red repairing hydrangea is a hybrid large-leaved, compact-sized shrub up to 1 m high, with upright shoots, bred in 2005 by American breeders. The green mass of the plant is represented by a rather large ovoid shape, slightly pointed to the edges with leaves of bright green color. Numerous large spherical inflorescences with a diameter of 20–25 cm, consisting of several large flowers with a diameter of about 3.5–5 cm, are considered a real highlight of the culture. The plant is both on the shoots of the current and past years.
Important! The color of hydrangea flowers of the described variety may vary depending on the composition of the soil. On acidic soils, it turns purple, and on neutral - raspberry.
At the beginning of flowering, which starts in July and lasts until September, the flowers have a strawberry-pink hue, and later acquire purple, richly red hues. Thanks to its luxurious appearance, Ever Red hydrangea flowers are used for landscaping a garden plot, cutting, creating bouquets, various decorative compositions paired with other plants.
Frost resistance
Ever Red belongs to the category of winter-hardy crops that are able to withstand the decrease in temperature indicators up to -25 ° C. Nevertheless, in regions with a cold climate, the plant will need insulation for the winter. Young seedlings need special protection.In addition to protection against frostbite, a good shelter in the winter period significantly increases the quality of hydrangea flowering and the aesthetic appearance of its inflorescences.
Did you know? To extend the life of hydrangeas in a vase, experts advise immediately after cutting to place it in water, and then lower it for half an hour in boiling water. Such a reception will allow you to admire the flowers for about a week.
How to grow and shelter for the winter
Proper planting of hydrangeas Forever and Ever Red and competent further care are a guarantee of the successful development of the flower and its high-quality long-term flowering. The plant prefers to grow in well-lit sunny areas or in small partial shade, the main thing is that the place be reliably protected from drafts and cold winds. As for the soil, light, well-drained, fertile soils with an average level of acidity and with a groundwater table of at least 1.5 m will be the best option.
Planting activities in the southern regions may be carried out in spring or autumn. In the northern zones, it is better to postpone the procedure for the spring period, because during the winter the seedlings will not have time to fully root and adapt to the climatic conditions of the region.
Did you know? In Japan, which is the birthplace of hydrangea, a flower is associated with sincere, strong feelings. According to legend, one emperor who wanted to sincerely apologize to his beloved family sent them a huge gorgeous bouquet of blooming hydrangeas.
The landing technology is traditional and is based on the following steps:
- dig a recess measuring 40 × 50 × 40 cm;
- mix part of the seized soil with humus, leafy soil, peat and river sand in a ratio of 2: 2: 2: 1;
- pour a layer of drainage at the bottom of the pit using expanded clay, broken brick or pebbles;
- line a layer of fertile soil on top of the drainage tier;
- lay a seedling in the pit, carefully spread the root processes;
- cover the plant with earth so that the root neck remains at ground level;
- Tamp the ground around the seedling so that voids do not form near the roots;
- Water the tree trunk circle and cover it abundantly with a layer of mulch from peat, fallen leaves.
After planting, the plant should organize quality care, which consists in conducting basic agricultural procedures:
- Watering. Hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant that negatively reacts to prolonged drought. It is necessary to ensure that the soil of the trunk circle always remains slightly moist. At the same time, excessive waterlogging of the soil and stagnation of moisture should not be allowed, as this can provoke the development of fungal diseases, as well as rotting of the root system.
- Top dressing. Several times a season, you need to nourish the bush using complex mineral fertilizers. In the spring, it is advisable to make preparations based on nitrogen, which activate the growth of green mass. In the phase of bud formation, the flower is fed with potassium phosphate, for example, a solution of superphosphate and potassium sulfate.
- Pruning. Hybrid Forever and Ever Red has a compact size, so it does not require frequent pruning. In the spring, before the bud budding phase, sanitary pruning should be performed by removing weak, shrunken, infected shoots from the bush. Every 5-6 years, experts advise cardinally cutting the shoots to 2-3 buds, which will allow you to rejuvenate the bush and promote the formation of large, strong inflorescences.
When growing a crop in the southern regions, it does not require additional shelter for the winter. If the plant grows in zones of the central or northern strip of the state, then it is necessary to take care of its insulation. To do this, a few weeks before the alleged frost, it is recommended that young bushes be covered with fallen leaves or sawdust. For adult shrubs, it is advisable to use spruce branches, non-woven “breathing” material as a covering material, or install a cardboard box on top of the plant. The procedure for sheltering hydrangeas must be carried out extremely carefully so as not to damage its fragile shoots.
Important! When planting several bushes at the same time, an interval of at least 1 should be maintained between them–2 m, because in the "cramped" inflorescences of the culture will fade.
To avoid damage that wind gusts can cause to the culture, a load, such as a brick, should be installed on top of the covering material. Large-leaf hydrangea Forever and Ever Red is one of the most spectacular and beautiful representatives of the Hortense family. From other members of the genus, it is distinguished by extremely luxurious, large inflorescences, mesmerizing by the brightness of colors and shades. In addition, the culture does not impose special requirements for growing conditions and responds well to traditional agricultural care measures, such as watering, top dressing and pruning.
