Forever easy
Unlike nearly all other hydrangeas, you don’t need green fingers to look after Forever&Ever®. It does of course require water, but otherwise nothing much can go wrong. Forever&Ever® is not affected by frost damage or extensive pruning, making it ideal for garden backgrounds, borders or as a patio and balcony plant. You can even succeed with cutting fresh flowers and putting them in a vase or drying them.
Planting
Dig a hole which is two or three times the size of the root ball. Sprinkle plenty of potting soil or peat into the planting hole. Remove the hydrangea from the old pot. Wake up the root system by purposely damaging the root ball here and there, as this stimulates regrowth of the roots. Fill the planting hole with soil and press down firmly. Give the hydrangea plenty of water after planting. Water repeatedly and regularly, especially just after planting.
Pruning
It is blindingly simple to prune Forever&Ever®. The best time to prune Forever&Ever® is towards the end of winter, just before the new growing season begins. To maintain a compact plant, cut all stems 15 cm above the ground. If you want a larger bush, then just avoid pruning. Watch the intruction video
Forever&Ever®hydrangeas develops its buds on young wood, i.e. on the twigs which grow in spring and summer. The plant continually produces new buds that blossom in the same year into large, mophead flowers even after pruning or frost.
Watering
Hydrangeas are really thirsty. The plant loves water. If the leaves wilt, this is a sure sign that the hydrangea needs more water, and it will recover fully once it has been watered enough. Of course, it’s better to avoid this situation, by making sure that the plants always have enough water, especially when they are in pots.
Re-potting
When your hydrangea has outgrown its pot, make sure you choose a new pot which is quite a lot bigger. Use fresh potting soil and add a slow-release fertiliser if available. Remove the plant from the old pot. Wake up the root system by purposely damaging the root ball here and there, as this stimulates regrowth of the roots. Place the hydrangea in the new pot and carefully fill the sides with potting soil. Press down gently and give the plant plenty of water.
Fertilisation
Fertilize lightly every spring for optimum growth and flowers. A slow-release fertiliser is the best option. Depending on the temperature, these fertilisers gradually release a controlled amount of fertiliser throughout the season (Osmocote, for example). Use fertilisers with an N-P-K ratio of around 10-10-10. Follow the instructions on the pack for the best results.
Cut flowers
Forever&Ever® hydrangeas are ideal as cut flowers. In summer, you can cut the flowers with long stems for arrangement in a vase. Even the dried flowers are very decorative indeed. Cut them at the end of the season for very stylish decorations. In order to encourage extra flowers, cut the stems deep in the plant, just above two buds. These buds will then sprout in spring, giving a wonderful display of flowers again.
Changing colours
Forever&Ever® Pink flowers can be changed into blue ones. Vice versa, the blue Hydrangea Forever&Ever® Blue flowers can be changed into pink ones. An acidic soil (with a low pH) gives blue flowers. You can make pink flowers turn blue by adding aluminium sulphate to the soil. This increases the acidity (lowers the pH), and the flowers react by turning blue.
Flowers can change from blue to pink by decreasing the soil acidity (higher pH). This can be done by adding lime, for example. Take note, these are only general guidelines and each situation is different.
If you want to determine the exact acidity of your soil, we suggest you have it tested by an expert, your garden centre can help you with this. They can provide you with advice tailored to your situation.