Water from cucumber peels: A gardener's secret to saving hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are among the most popular garden flowers. When they start to brown, care mistakes have been made. If this happens, you can save them with a homemade supplement, such as water from cucumber peels.

Properly cared-for hydrangeas can decorate terraces and gardens even until early October. Unfortunately, this rarely happens due to improper care, which is related to watering and the lack of supplements or composts. How can you save hydrangeas when the flowers begin to brown, and the leaves dry out?

If the hydrangeas in the garden have started to brown, there is a chance to save them. The flowers usually react this way when they are too dry and have not been watered regularly. What should be done to restore their charm?

The first step is to water the plant but be careful not to over-water it. Then, remove the dry and brown shoots, inflorescences, and leaves. The final step is to spread compost under the bush, which will help the underground part of the plant late in the summer and fall.

In addition to compost, homemade supplements are worth helping hydrangeas. One of these is water from cucumber peels—rich in microelements such as phosphorus and potassium, which are essential for properly developing the shrub. How do you make such a supplement?

Begin by peeling a kilogram (2 lbs) of cucumbers. Put the peels into a jar, pour in a litre (4 cups) of water, seal it, and wait five days. After this time, strain the peels and water the plant or spray it with the remaining water—especially the undersides of the leaves.

Another way to nourish hydrangeas is to water them with nettle slurry. Although the name may not sound appealing, the hydrangeas will surely thank you for this help.

You'll need fresh nettle leaves or dried ones (collected in early summer) and water to create nettle slurry. Cut up one kilogram (2 lbs) of leaves and soak them in 10 litres (2.5 gallons) of water. Leave in the shade, cover with gauze, and stir daily. After 14-20 days, when the foam disappears, the slurry is ready. Water the plants with it once every two weeks in a 1:10 ratio.