hydrangeas
Is gardening your thing?
Did you know you can change the color of your hydrangeas. That is one unique thing about these flowers.
I love hydrangeas. They are such a pretty flower for Easter.
hydrangeas
They are great for using for Patriotic holidays too. Our selection of blue flowers is limited after all.
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The changing colors may seem magical. It can be mysterious if you don’t know why.
It can be frustrating if you want a specific color but your flowers keep coming up another color.
Did you know that you can change the colors of your flowers by changing the ph balance of your soil?
hydrangeas
Sometimes people will replant flowers and when they bloom they come up a different color–it is due to the soil. It is easier to control the ph balance if they are planted in pots but it is not impossible if you have them in flowers beds. The ph scale is from 0-14.
hydrangeas
The colors can vary from a white, pink, blue, purple, red, mauve and they vary in shade. Certain plants tend towards one color or the other.
They do need shade. Here in southwest Florida we rarely see them. So I miss seeing the beautiful hydrangeas.
If you want your flowers to be BLUE you need to add aluminum to the soil.
If you want your flowers to be PINK you need to remove the aluminum from the soil. Add lime to the soil.
White Hydrangeas can not be changed.
No longer does it need to be a mystery it can be fascinating, as you play with the ph balance of your soil.
It will take time to get the desired colors but what a fun way to get to play with nature.
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
We have loads of Hydrangeas here in Oregon. I however, only have one plant… the deer love it very much. I believe it’s blue, but I don’t see many blooms. I just got another and it will be living on our upper deck. It’s a deep purple/blue. Love the PH info =)
Happy 4th of July!!
Shannon Fox recently posted..Blogging Without Borders {facing my DIY fears}
That is super cool. I love it when my inner nerd and artist are satisfied simultaneously!
xoxo,
Johnnie
Johnnie recently posted..DIY Crafter’s Clay Flowers
This is so interesting! I had no idea you could change the color.
Taryn @ Design, Dining + Diapers recently posted..Mini Pies with Raspberry Cream Cheese Filling
I have had this plant for about 10 years and cannot get it to bloom. The bush is beautiful and green but can someone email me and tell me what I am doing wrong.
Tina
From the Hills of WV
I would talk to a local nursery. They may want you to bring in a dirt sample.
Cheri
I knew it was soil type but never knew what to do about it (other than move to a part of the country where they’re prettier 🙂 , our hydrangeas and also our wisteria vine are white-ish and we want blueish / purple.
JoAnn
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How come my hydrangeas don’t bloom. I have lush plants with no bloom. So frustrated!
Lisa,
I would take a soil sample in to a local nursery and they can make suggestions based on your soil and what it needs.
I would recommend taking a soil sample in to a local nursery and they can tell you what your soil is lacking.
Hydrangeas are such a unique plant in the way they can change.
I wonder if your local nursery would have any suggestions to deter the deer. You could also call a hunting store for suggestions.
I have read that they can only be pruned right after blooming is done or you cut off the next years buds.
My parents’ neighbor uses bonemeal in her bed of hydrangeas here in Michigan. It changes the pH easily, although I don’t know the specific amounts for the desired color outcome. I know she has one side turn a pale blue-violet, the middle stay white and the other side turn a pale reddish pink around Independence Day.
Another way to alter the ph is to use coffee grounds. Plants like Hydrangea & blueberries like acidic soil, and tossing a handful of coffee grounds onto the dirt around the plant can make a big difference. I do this with my potted hydrangea, and I can always tell when I’ve neglected tossing in coffee grounds because I will get pink & green blooms. I will then toss a small amount of coffee grounds into the pot when I water, do this once or twice over a couple weeks, and my next blooms will come in blue & purple. It is so much fun to watch what comes up next!
Hi I was wondering why my hydrangeas which have mostly been either pink when I first had them and then turned pink another time and now after moving and planting them in another garden they have turned a beautiful dark purple color. I love the color but didn’t even know that there were purple hydrangeas.