Hydrangea Phantom

Those who are not indifferent to flowers, as a rule, have flower beds and flower beds with various flower cultures in their summer cottages. As for hydrangea, not everyone has an unambiguous attitude towards it. Some growers believe that this is a capricious plant, which, at the slightest mistake during planting or leaving, begins to wither. However, this culture will be a great addition to your summer cottage. The flowers have a bright honey aroma. In this article, we will introduce you to the panicle hydrangea variety, Phantom variety. So, the Phantom hydrangea: its main characteristics, planting and care rules.

Why is Phantom hydrangea good?

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

Hydrangea is quite widespread in the Far East. Even in ancient times, hydrangea flowers were revered in the wild in China, Japan, Korea and even on Sakhalin. This plant was cultivated only in the middle of the 18th century. For such a long period of time, the selection did not stand still, and scientists came up with many different varieties, in particular the Phantom hydrangea variety.

The varieties of the new generation have a considerable number of advantages that wild plants do not have:

• Cultivated flowers adapt even to the most difficult conditions with almost one hundred percent guarantee. For this reason, hydrangeas are grown every year in larger regions. Flowers can normally survive drops in temperatures up to minus twenty-five degrees. After the winter period, recovery is quite rapid.
• Even the most demanding flower lovers cannot fail to note the abundance and beauty of hydrangea flowers.
• This culture is not too whimsical in its care, as many growers mistakenly believe. In the same area, a plant can grow successfully for many years. At the same time, without losing its decorative appearance.
• As for the composition of the soil, hydrangea also does not show any special requirements, which is very convenient when growing on not the most favorable lands.
• The root system of plants is quite strong and resistant to major diseases.
• For growing hydrangeas, you can choose the shape that you like best. It blooms beautifully both in the form of a tree and in the form of a bush.
• Reproduction is not difficult at all. Different methods will work. You can divide the bushes, make layering, and also use the cuttings method.

When choosing a place for planting Phantom hydrangeas, it is best to give preference to a well-lit area, but so that direct sunlight does not fall there for too long. In addition, the site must be protected from wind gusts.

What is the Phantom hydrangea

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

The parent of the Phantom hydrangea was a species of hydrangea called Paniculata. All the best characteristics taken from this variety have been preserved. At the same time, some of the advantages have increased markedly. For example, the Phantom panicle hydrangea is a more hardy variety in terms of diseases and low temperatures. For these reasons, this hydrangea variety is quite popular among flower growers living in rather harsh regions.

Most often in such zones you can find treelike, large-leaved and paniculate hydrangea. In addition to the above varieties, deciduous and evergreen hydrangeas can also be distinguished. There are a great many varieties of them.In its height, the plant can reach both one meter and three meters. Under natural conditions, Panikulata can grow seven to eight meters in height.

Tree-like the Phantom variety, as a rule, reaches no more than three meters in height. The leaf plate is oval, slightly elongated. In their length, the leaves reach about twenty centimeters. Small flowers are grouped in large lush inflorescences that are no more than twenty-five centimeters long. As for the possible colors, even one variety can have several of them. This hydrangea blooms from June until the end of warm weather.

Some growers note that this culture is capable of hibernating, being in blooming state. The phantom, which blooms with white flowers, at the end of the season changes the color of the petals to a pleasant slightly green tone.

Flowers, being cut, are able to maintain their beautiful appearance for a long time. At the same time, the shape of the inflorescences and the color of the flowers are preserved. For these reasons, the tree-like form of hydrangea, in particular the Phantom, is very popular in the floristic and design environment.

It must be admitted that the cultivation of tree hydrangea is somewhat difficult in regions with a cold climate. This is due to the fact that such a hydrangea has an average resistance to low temperatures. If you want the plant to bloom well, then it must be pruned in the spring.

As a rule, plants are pruned in early April. The hydrangea feels best on well-moistened soils that have a sufficient amount of nutrients. The acidity level should not be high.

In addition to the tree-like hydrangea variety, there are also many hydrangea varieties that belong to the paniculate variety. The varietal variety is rich in different colors, plants can also vary in the size of bunches of flowers, bush or tree.

Hydrangea Phantom: variety description

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

Hydrangea Phantom grows in the form of a shrub or tree, the bush has a fairly spreading shape. The crown is about two meters in diameter, the plant grows a little more than two meters in height. The leaves are dark green in color, they are quite large, the edges are even, the denticles are absent. The stems of such a bush are quite powerful, grow intensively. Young stems differ from those that are older in green color. Branches that are already lignified turn brown with a reddish tint.

The Phantom panicle hydrangea needs to be pruned every year. This is due to the fact that shoots that have reached a certain age become too brittle in their structure.

The first flowering occurs, as a rule, on plants that are four to five years old. Subject to all the basic rules for growing, the flowering of the paniculate Phantom can last for more than a dozen years. Moreover, a plant in the same place can be successfully cultivated for about forty years.

The flower cluster grows about thirty centimeters long, the flowers are grouped in inflorescences. The flowering of the panicle hydrangea variety occurs in the last days of June and early July. At the same time, this process lasts until the onset of low temperatures.

An interesting fact is that the color on the same plant can change throughout the season. If the plant has a white color, then at the first stage, the flowers, being in the state of buds, have a creamy color with a greenish tint. Then they become white with a creamy sheen. And when flowering begins, a tone of pink appears.

Cream varieties of this variety acquire a delicate pinkish color at the end of the flowering period.

The varietal variety of the panicle hydrangea variety is quite extensive.Each variety, in particular the Phantom, is used, one way or another, in the creation of landscape design. Gardens, courtyards, city parks are planted with such hydrangeas.

Plant height can vary from cultivar to cultivar, so the panicle hydrangea can complement the landscape design in different ways:

• Such hydrangeas can well decorate shrubs or lawn trunks with solitary plantings.
• You can plant hydrangeas using a ribbon method. In this way, green framing is created, which is located along the paths in parks or gardens. In addition, with the help of hydrangea, you can create a "living fence".
• Hydrangea can become part of a flower arrangement that consists of several tiers and different crops. It is best to plant such flowers in the foreground. It is worth noting that the Phantom hydrangea in the panicle variety is excellent in combination with different cultures, including evergreens.

If you follow the basic design principles, then the Phantom hydrangea will become a magnificent decoration of a wide variety of areas: from a flower bed in a country house to a city square.

Planting hydrangea Phantom: choosing the right place

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

Hydrangea Phantom is not too whimsical to care for. However, it is still necessary to know about some specific points regarding planting and agricultural technology. We will talk about this in more detail later.

Choosing a place for planting Phantom hydrangeas is quite an important point. This culture is doing very well in shaded areas. However, the sun's rays must reach the plants at least before lunchtime. If you place your hydrangeas under the crowns of tall trees, the bud structure will be too loose and the color of the variety will be different from what you would expect.

Also, do not plant plants under the scorching rays of the sun. So there is a risk that the foliage and inflorescences of the hydrangea will get burns. Subsequently, the hydrangea can lose its decorative appearance, which will no longer please the eye.

It is undesirable to plant Phantom hydrangea in areas where winds often walk. The fact is that the shoots under the weight of the inflorescences can bend or even break.

Thus, diffused lighting is best for shrub or tree species. The eastern exposure is good for this. Plants must be protected from wind gusts. For these purposes, a fence or some kind of building is well suited.

Soil composition for Phantom hydrangea

The Phantom panicle hydrangea is not too whimsical in terms of soil. It is capable of blooming on almost any land that has a certain level of fertility. However, the best results can be obtained on loamy soils with a neutral reaction. If the soil contains too much alkali, then the inflorescences become too small. The bushes or trees themselves become painful and frail.

If the acidity level in the soil is too high, then a deoxidation procedure must be performed. For this, you can use lime, chalk, wood ash, dolomite flour. In order not to harm the root system of plants, deoxidizing agents must be dissolved in water and water the plants with this solution. Dry such funds can not be used.

What time does the Phantom hydrangea sit?

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

Choosing the right time to plant Phantom hydrangeas is just as important as the location of the plantings. It is best to choose early spring for this event. Plants should not yet have time to wake up after the winter period.

The beginning of the spring period for planting is good because the seedlings, as a rule, are able to take root and adapt in a new place before the hot weather and sap flow sets in. Hydrangea Phantom, planted in early spring, is best able to withstand cold temperatures in winter.

If you are planting bushes or standard trees in a different period, then a mulching layer must be laid in the zone of the near-stem circles of plants. Otherwise, the plant may overheat.

The same measure is relevant when planting in the fall. It is not recommended to use sawdust or wood chips for this purpose. It is best to use coniferous litter or peat.

How to plant Phantom hydrangea

Panicle hydrangea Phantom in the same place can successfully grow for more than a dozen years. For this reason, planting pits must be large. It should be at least eighty centimeters in diameter and about forty centimeters deep.

A drainage layer must be laid at the bottom of the planting hole. In addition, it is necessary to prepare a nutrient mixture, which should consist of humus, compost, peat. In addition, it is necessary to make mineral fertilizing necessary for the normal growth and development of plants. Usually, planting holes should be prepared in advance so that the soil sinks a little, and the plant does not go too deep into the ground.

The root system of the planting material is different. There are open and closed root variations.

If you purchased seedlings in which the root system is open, then you need to make a mound at the bottom of the planting pit. A plant is installed on top of it. In this case, the roots must be straightened. They should point clearly downward. Fertilized soil must be poured on top.

As the hole is filled with earth, it is necessary to water each layer with water. This is necessary in order for the nutrient soil to reach the root system of the plant.

If you have purchased the Phantom hydrangea, which has a closed root system, then the planting process becomes even easier. You need to dig a hole, set a seedling in the center and pour soil on top.

Hydrangea Phantom: plant care

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

The Phantom hydrangea is no more difficult to care for than other flower crops. Periodically, plants need to be watered, nutritious, and formative and sanitary pruning. In addition, the soil directly near the plants must be loosened and weeds must be removed from time to time.

Do not forget about preventive treatments for hydrangeas against major diseases and harmful insects. Covering plants for wintering is also a necessary measure so that hydrangeas will also delight you with their beautiful flowers for the next season.

It is worth noting that the root system of any type of hydrangea is located in the upper part of the soil. For this reason, care must be taken when you water, loosen, or weed your flower garden. Weeds should not grow in the zone of the near-stem circles of hydrangeas, as this is fraught with the appearance of harmful insects and fungal diseases.

In order for Phantom hydrangeas to delight you with their beautiful flowers, it is necessary to introduce additional nutrition quite often, since abundant flowering requires a lot of strength and energy.

For this purpose, both organic fertilizers and mineral fertilizers can be used. A very good option for these purposes would be green dressing. The herb infusion contains a sufficient amount of various nutrients for the normal growth and development of hydrangeas.

The first application of nutrients is carried out when the Phantom panicle hydrangea is planted. Fertilizers are applied to the planting pits. Already matured hydrangeas are fertilized before the onset of flowering, as well as in flowering itself. In addition, the plants will need additional nutrition before leaving for the winter.

It will not be superfluous if you apply natural fertilizers at intervals of a couple of weeks. For these purposes, an infusion made on the basis of mullein or bird droppings is well suited.

Pruning Hydrangea Phantom occurs annually. If this procedure is neglected, then the stems of the bush will grow too actively, and the bush itself will be too thick. This all threatens, in turn, with the absence of inflorescences or a noticeable decrease in their size. Hydrangea is usually pruned in the fall.

The first step is to remove the weakened branches, as well as those that have already stopped blooming. In addition, branches that grow inside the crown are necessarily removed. Such shoots create unnecessary thickening and shade. In many ways, the pruning process depends on what kind of shrub appearance you prefer.

In the spring, Phantom hydrangeas are also pruned. During it, you also need to remove damaged branches, those that are frozen, broke. In addition, you need to carry out formative pruning. If the plant is already old enough, then it must be rejuvenated by pruning. All stems must be cut to the very root.

Experienced flower growers recommend not throwing out good, strong shoots, as they can serve as a good material for planting.

Whether to warm the hydrangea for the winter?

Panicle hydrangea Phantom: photo of the variety

Hydrangea paniculata Phantom needs preparation for the winter period. To do this, you must follow a certain algorithm of actions.

• Starting in September, it is necessary to reduce the watering of the plants. If it is rainy time, then the plants take cover. This will prevent excess moisture from reaching the root system.
• It is necessary to make additional fertilizing based on phosphorus and potassium. These elements help the shoots to ripen. Top dressing, which contains nitrogen, should not be applied in the fall in any case.
• The area of ​​the trunk circle is covered with a mulch layer. Trimming is in progress. Those branches that remain must be tied.
• The Phantom hydrangea variety tolerates low temperatures quite calmly. However, if you grow this crop in an area with harsh winters, then to be on the safe side, it is better to use a shelter for your hydrangeas. If it happens that the shoots freeze, then you should not expect that the buds will bloom on such shoots.

There are many ways to cover hydrangeas. To do this, you can use wooden boxes or build special frame structures. Covering material can also be used. To do this, you can use non-woven materials or, for example, spruce branches.

The shelter must be securely fixed, since gusts of wind can simply tear down your additional insulation. This procedure is performed at the end of the season, when stable low temperatures occur.

If you have covered your plants well, then they are not afraid of temperatures even minus forty degrees.

For aged plants, shelter is not so necessary. You can only lay the mulching layer in the trunk circles. When spring comes, the mulch needs to be removed.