Did you know that you can change the color of hydrangeas? Well, at least when it comes to the kind mophead It is lacecap of the following species: Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea involucrata It is hydrangea serrata.
Maybe you want a new look for your arrangements or, who knows, you’ve noticed that your once blue flowers are turning pink unexpectedly and you want to recover their old tone. Anyway, the process is pretty straightforward once you know what to do.
This is one of our favorite plants when it comes to bringing more structure and vitality to the room. garden. In addition, learning to grow hydrangeas is easy, so they are ideal for novice gardeners.
And they’re not just for flowerbeds – you can plant them in vases. In fact, changing the color of hydrangeas in containers is easier than when they are planted directly in the ground, as you have more control of the soil. We explain everything you need to know in this simple guide.
How do you change the color of hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas with blue or pink flowers tend to be:
- blue in acid soil conditions
- lilacs in acidic to neutral soil conditions
- roses in alkaline conditions
Explains Christine, gardening specialist at Amateur Gardening.
This means that, changing the pH of the soil, you can get different hydrangea colors to complement your garden palette. However, remember that color change won’t happen overnight – it’s an ongoing process.
How to make your hydrangea blue?
You can keep the flowers in shades of blue acidifying the soilexplains Christine.
Try covering the soil with organic matter – separate from mushroom compost, which is more alkaline. “Sulfur is also a common acidifying material, although it can take weeks to take effect,” adds Christine. The use of ericaceous compound also tends to be effective.
You can even buy “bluing” compounds at garden centers and online, which should be applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions. These products contain aluminum. Some gardeners also say that adding coffee beans to the soil can help, and hobby gardeners even suggest working with pieces of rusty metal in the plant’s root area.
John Negus, who also writes for Amateur Gardening, adds using rainwater to water the hydrangeas to help them stay blue. You can use a cistern – a good approach if you want a more sustainable garden.
How to make hydrangeas pink?
hydrangeas in neutral or calcareous (alkaline) soils they usually produce pink or lilac, slightly cloudy flowers. “The pink flowers come from a relatively high pH, around 7.5 to 8,” says John.
The best way to do this is to add garden lime to the soil. Follow the instructions on the packaging for your chosen product, but 1/2 cup per square foot once every two weeks during the growing season should be enough.
Adding wood ash to the soil around your plants can also help increase the alkalinity.
Why are some flowers on my hydrangea blue and others pink?
It is quite unusual to have hydrangeas with pink and blue flowers, but it can happen. The reason behind is usually because there are pockets of acidity in the root area of the plant. For more control over the soil, you can grow your hydrangeas in large pots and include them in your landscaping project.
Is it possible to change the color of white hydrangeas?
Hydrangeas with green or white flowers are increasingly popular these days, working well in modern and romantic country house garden designs. But unlike the blue and pink varieties, these types cannot be color-changed, as they are not affected by soil pH. Some, however, turn slightly pink as they age, says John Negus.
*Via Gardening Etc