Anyone try Incrediball last year?

[SpectroBelle]

Hi everyone, last year I saw these in a catalog and fell in love, but they were hard to find. Did anyone try them last year? What were your impressions? How do you think it would do with a Southern exposure against the house in Zone 5?

Thanks!

[luis_pr]

I did not try them but I think it is too early to know at this point. I have heard of problems transplanting (ie, dead plants) but that is something that could have been caused by a myriad of reasons. It should be interesting to see how they handled winter by this Spring in zones as cold as yours!

I could not find them for sale locally; only in mail order / Internet nurseries but they were out. Is that the route you plan to use? Some places sold out quickly last year so, be aware it could happen again until the supply of plants matches demand better.

[SpectroBelle]

Yes, I had only found them online but they were all sold out, except for one place that had marked them up so much I didn't want to pay that much for it. I waited too long. I am curious if it would do well with a southern exposure. I have only tried hydrangeas one time and it got too much sun, I scorched the poor little thing! The pictures of Incrediball really grab your attention though, don't they?!

[luis_pr]

Indeed those are nice pictures. But talking about pictures and the bloom color, I should point out something that I found out last summer. Someone from the Spring Meadows told me that the shrub color is not the same pink "all the time" but that the color matures and changes a little with time. In other words, the plant will have different hues of pink throughout the growing season. I hope that is a good thing.

I am surprised that your previous hydrangea did not make it; they are tough plants. In the northern half of the country, hydrangeas can tolerate more sun, even full sun. As soon as you see the leaves turning ALL yellow, including the leaf veins, consider protecting it or transplanting it elsewhere. At times, sun scorched leaves may turn white-ish as well, bleached by the sun.

Your problem reminded me of a problem I once had. I set up a rinky dinky way to protect a hydrangea from too much sun. Hail from a thunderstorm caused damage to a Crape Myrtle that provided afternoon shade to the hydrangea. The top leaves started turning all yellow and I was forced to do something since it was early July. I put some cardboard , held in place by 4 sticks, to help cast a shadow during the afternoons. Like I said, a real cheapo solution. Had to redo it on windy days but it served its purpose and I removed it by late August or September.

[SpectroBelle]

LOL! That sounds like something I would do. I have had to rig bunny barriers for many of my plants that didn't look so very um, professional! Ah the things we do for these plants. Think I could build a barrier big enough to have a Crape Myrtle up here? lol! I just love them.