Hydrangea

[bonsai-novice]

Hi all,
So I took this cutting from a bog standard hydrangea about a year ago and I am quite impressed with how small the leaves have got as the parent plant has leaves bigger than my hand. I only took it as a cutting as it had pretty blue flowers.

I know they should be outside in the uk, but I was just wondering whether they would survive as a house plant as I am short on space and.

I was just curious whether a normal hydrangea would be suitable for bonsai? I never thought I would be as it is quite pithy but I know once it finally becomes properly woody I doesn't look bad. And as I said, I am surprised and how small its leaves are. If so, what style would be suitable? And if not,what's the best way to get it into a nice bushy pot plant

 

[MaciekA]

I grow quite a bit of hydrangea macrophylla both in pots and in the ground around my house. I’m quite certain this species will do very poorly as an indoor houseplant. I’m also fairly certain it doesn’t respond to bonsai techniques very well if at all (some other hydrangea family species might respond but this one is questionable IME). I would put it outdoors and enjoy it as is.

If you want something fun to try with this species, give propagation a shot this summer. Last year I found that cuttings root very easily, so it’s quite simple to clone your favorite cultivar.

 

[Alcam]

I'm pretty sure that hydrandreas are deciduous shrubs and likely need hibernation each year, so I doubt it would last long inside (maybe someone can correct this thinking?). Mine definitely lost its leaves in the fall and have already been pushing.

 

[MaciekA]

Yes they’re deciduous and go dormant.

 

[bonsai-novice]

Thanks

I did keep mine inside for the whole of winter so far and it just lost its leaves and put out fresh ones about 1.5 months after it lost them and it doesn't seem to seem to been badly effected, though I can't imagine it would do it much good if that was a regular thing