my outside macrophyllas
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (9)
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoRelated Discussions
I'm back along w/ my pretty Macrophylla
Comments (11)Sorry teisa for the confusion.I grow most of my hoyas in hydroculture. I use small drinking cups that I drill holes about 1/2 inch from the bottom to hold a bit of water.When I feel up to it I also drill holes all over the cup to help with aeration. I use many different types of inert items to grow my hoyas in.I have used hydro clay,leca,pumic,and turface. Sometimes I make a mix with all of them. I also can keep an eye on the roots this way. Cindy...See MoreHydrangea macrophylla 'Oslo' Variety Info?
Comments (4)Thanks, Luis. I never buy garden plants from the grocery store, but was so smitten by the lovely flower form and the white eye of this hydrangea. And of course, the color. And I figured the grower was acidifying the soil to some degree, so I went back to Trader Joe's to check on more of this variety. They apparently had just gotten in another large delivery. Sure enough, 'Oslos' in every shade of blue to pink, so they were simply messing around with the soil pH, but good to know this is a variety that WILL blue up. I also had a very nice chat with the grower as well. She assured me it will do well outside - her yard is full of them and she lives up in N. California, so climate is not too terribly different as far as hydrangeas go. Plus, my hydrangeas (Incrediball and possibly an Annabelle, was here when I moved in) do very well here, as do everyone else's hydrangeas as long as they're given afternoon shade (east or north exposure). My soil is 6.2 to about 6.7, we're a bit on the alkaline side, so my hydrangeas are pink (I'm a Master Gardener). I remember when I was little growing up in Vancouver, BC, my grandmother had the most gorgeous and huge hydrangea bushes that were full of lovely blue, blue flowers, due to their much more acidic soil. For us, actually, using aluminum sulfate works better to blue up those hydrangeas that will turn blue. Usually, folks will plant Nikko Blue here, and then treat with aluminum sulfate. You can acidify the soil with soil sulfur, but you still need to apply aluminum sulfate to get them to turn blue. Otherwise, you end up with the color I picked up, sort of a violet :-) So, I'll probably never get these to be blue, but I'll experiment a bit to see if I can at least get them to a pretty violet. Thanks for the tips, hoping more to see if anyone has grown this new variety, and how they do in the garden. My Annabelle tends to develop mildew in the location I'm going to be planting these 'Oslo' hydrangeas, the Incrediball is still lovely and full of blooms. I think I'm going to yank out the Annabelle, pick up 3 my Incrediballs, and plant both the Anabells and the Oslos along the back side of the house where they do so well. Patty S....See MoreTruth in Advertising Hydrangea macrophylla zone hardiness
Comments (22)Funny these ES bloomstruck. I'm North of International Falls MN (The icebox of the nation they call themselves)...Zone 3. 2 ES's, planted in spring '15 and they grew some. Summer of '16 great foliage but no flowers. Winter of '16-'17 mild for us up here (but still LOTS of -22F (-29C) in Dec/Jan and -13F (-24C in Feb/March)...yes that's mild for us lol. Summer of '17 we had our first crop of bloomstruck and they were plentiful and gorgeous. We were awed. Winter of '17/'18 was brutally cold hitting -40F/C a few times. Here it is May 30, everything in the yard is "up" as expected. Except the ES. Stalks are light brown/tan and just in the last couple days a little greenery is coming at the very bottom of the plant. I'll be surprised if we even get decent foliage never mind flowers. Meanwhile we have Annabelle's at 3 different locations in yard for 20+ years. Never fail to blossom and are quite spectalular (with literally NO winter protection). Probably last summer with flowers was a fluke, winters are just so cold here. Regardless, if we don't get at least a few flowers on each bush this summer they will be coming out. I don't know why people with mild winters when temps rarely get below freezing have problems with ES. Unless the breed itself is very finicky. Anyway, reading several threads on the ES's seems a lot of folks everywhere have issues with these. As a long time retailer (not nursery plants) the last thing we ever wanted was an un happy customer. If you haven't grown them yourself and had success with them, I don't know that I would even bother offering them for sale if I were you....See MoreWHEN do macrophylla buds for next year's flowers die?
Comments (41)NW.... Was thinking about ya after seeing Mac's in a tough love plant siting. I heart for you and your quest for Macs and the Pot Mover as well ;-) Walked down a fairly commercial avenue the other day 2 lanes each way, lotsa commercial buildings, big rigs zoom by, streetside cleaning is not done, close to the water so lotsa sand and rocks from a 2 miles over... Typical 2 feet concrete sidewalk if not some areas, no concrete but blacktop strip, with a 20" dirt hellstrip along some of the blocks of plantings . No irrigation, nada. Planted in Full Day Sun Siting. I observed a couple of compact macs in bloom, with nobody giving them TLC. Just Mother Nature and whomever who dug the dirt to plant them....See Morenicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
6 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESYour November Garden Checklist
What to do around the U.S. this month to help your garden thrive — when you're not admiring fall's brilliant colors, that is
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNPatio of the Week: Dramatic Black Accents and Layers of Plantings
A minimalist pergola, chic color scheme and romantic planting palette transform a backyard in British Columbia
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNPatio of the Week: A Beautiful Walled English Garden
See how a designer rescued an overgrown backyard in London using elegant plantings and a clever new layout
Full Story
HOUSEPLANTSHow to Keep Your Gift Plants Happy After the Holidays
Yes, you can keep your poinsettia, amaryllis, cyclamen and other gift plants alive and blooming for holidays to come
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDES10 Outdoor Updates for Summer That Won’t Break the Bank
These easy, low-cost ideas can boost your garden style and make your outdoor space even more enjoyable
Full Story
MOST POPULAR12 Stunning Spring Container Gardens
Welcome the season with fragrant hyacinths, cheerful daffodils, potted pansies and sweet early strawberries
Full Story
PATIOSLondon Courtyard Blooms With Year-Round Color
A once shady and dull outdoor space is transformed into a garden filled with beauty and scent in every season
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGNInside Houzz: Soft Geometry in a Modern Wisconsin Garden
In a city known for harsh winters, homeowners enjoy outdoor living inspired by Southern California
Full Story
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGHave a Ball With Hydrangeas
Even if you don't tinker with the hue by changing the soil, hydrangeas have an entertaining range of uses in all kinds of landscapes
Full Story
LANDSCAPE DESIGN9 Gorgeous Plant Combos for Summer Gardens
Brighten garden beds and enhance curb appeal with these annuals, perennials, flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses
Full Story
hyed