Hortensas should not be cut back often and only lightly, but there are still a few important points to consider when pruning. Read this article to find out what role the pair of eyes play in this.
What is a pair of eyes on hydrangeas?
A pair of eyes indicates the places where the new buds of the hydrangeas are formed. They are almost invisible and can only be seen once the buds develop. When pruning, make sure that at least one pair of eyes remains on each shoot.
What is a pair of eyes?
A pair of eyes indicates the places on plants where the buds sprout. The shoots, leaves and flowers grow from the buds. Eyes are usually found in pairs on the shoots. They are often located in the leaf axils and can be seen as dark or light spots if you look closely. In spring, more light and warmer temperatures give the eyes the signal to start budding.
Why are the pairs of eyes important when cutting hydrangeas?
With hydrangeas, the pairs of eyes play a major role in pruning. If too many pairs of eyes are cut off, the hydrangea will not sprout or will sprout only weakly and the flowers may also stop. For this reason, the cut should always be carried out above one pair of eyes if possible so that the hydrangea can continue to grow. At least one pair of eyes must remain on each shoot, otherwise it cannot grow any further.
When do I cut hydrangeas so as not to damage the pairs of eyes?
In order to avoid accidentally removing pairs of eyes when pruning and thus preventing sprouting, hydrangeas are divided into two cutting groups:
- Hydrangeas of theCutting group 1 form the buds in the summer. They bloom on biennial wood. However, since budding does not begin until next spring, you can accidentally remove the small buds when pruning in the fall. Therefore, hydrangeas in this cutting group should only be carefully cut back in February, when the growing buds are more clearly visible.
- Hydrangeas ofCutting group 2 The flower buds only develop on the new shoots in spring. That's why they can be cut back in autumn. These hydrangeas also tolerate radical pruning better.
Tip
Sleeping eyes
Not every eye produces a bud. Some eyes remain undeveloped, they are called “sleeping eyes”. Plants form them in order to quickly grow plant parts from them when necessary. The trigger can be, for example, a pruning.
