Hydrangeas with white or cream flowers, such as Annabelle hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangeas and members of the PeeGee family, can only produce white or cream flowers. Changing Blue Hydrangeas Pink and Vice Versa . Grow hydrangeas in a partially shaded, sheltered spot, in moist but well-drained soil. As hydrangea flowers age the colour fades to reveal wonderful antique shades of lime, rose and copper which make a beautiful feature in vases. Or to transform established hydrangeas into blue beauties, apply 2½ cups of Organic Soil Acidifier. There’s just something about those beautiful blooms, the pinks, whites, and blues that really come alive in the sun. If the soil is neutral, you will get half-and-half. In South Africa, we also get awesome hydrangeas. To make pink hydrangeas turn blue (or to keep your blueones from turning pink), increase the acidity of soil. Click to see full answer. :-) In my experience, both of the following also work to make them blue, if you are in a place where you cannot get aluminium sulphate (yes, we spell it that way). First of all, not all hydrangeas produce blue flowers. The more alkaline in the soil, the plant will be pinker. If you plant more than one type of hydrangea in the garden you can have flowers from April to October. The more alkaline the soil, the pinker the flowers. To turn your hydrangea flowers blue, lower the soil pH to 6.0 or lower. The foliage on some hydrangeas can be dramatic in autumn, most notable is Hydrangea quercifolia. PeeGee and oakleaf types are seldom responsive. Given our history of paper floral arrangements, we decided to make hydrangeas the next flower to bloom year round! They can be used in landscaping as specimens, as edging … However, there's a bit of study and planning before attempting to make hydrangeas turn blue. The huge variety of sizes and blooms is what makes hydrangeas so appealing. You see, for most French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), the flower color indicates the pH of the soil. A pH lower than 6.0 will typically give you blue or lavender-hued flowers. So I always say why don’t you change the colour once you have planted the hydrangea in your garden, to this I always get a very puzzled look from the customer. First of all, not all hydrangeas produce blue flowers. Pink and blue flowers are both possible on Bigleaf hydrangeas - it is the combination of Aluminum in the soil and the pH to determine which color will prevail. Planting hydrangeas near a concrete foundation or sidewalk will often affect the color since the pH of the soil may be raised considerably by lime leaching out of these structures, making it difficult to obtain blue. Hydrangeas change color (except for the white ones) based on the pH level of their soil. Now let’s make magic happen! Or, lower the pH of the soil organically by spreading pine needle or pine bark mulch around the plants. How to grow hydrangeas. It’s the pH of the soil that determines the plant color, specifically whether the plant is getting aluminum. WHITE HYDRANGEAS can NOT be changed to pink or blue by the grower. Sometimes their blooms take on a pink tinge at the end of the season, but that’s about as colorful as they get. The flowers are perfect for picking and drying and are widely used in bouquets or own their own in a vase. Spread evenly around the hydrangea out to its drip line, or the widest reaching branches. The trend to use blue flowers, like hydrangeas, is growing. Acidic soil produces blue blooms and alkaline soil produces pink blooms, so the first thing you should do is determine what kind of soil you have. Choose a nice big, deep pot, at least 40cm (15”) … So, start by testing the pH level of your soil with a pH test kit which is readily available at garden centres and online. Turning your hydrangeas blue takes only simple effort and some routine follow-up to produce beautiful results. Hydrangeas (Hydrangea spp.) How to Get Blue Hydrangeas. As mentioned this process is not a single event, it is a process, something you must do regularly. (Yes, I meant both words). Rhapsody Blue hydrangea belongs to the group classed as reblooming hydrangeas. Blue and pink hydrangeas always brighten whatever space they’re in! You will receive a link and will create a new password via email. Understanding how to make hydrangeas blue isn’t difficult. If your hydrangeas are pink (because your soil is alkaline) and you want them to be blue, you need to make the soil acidic by increasing the presence of aluminum. masahiro Makino/Getty Images. Hydrangeas with white or cream flowers, such as Annabelle hydrangeas, oakleaf hydrangeas and members of the PeeGee family, can only produce white or cream flowers. For plush pink or blue flowers, look for macrophylla varieties, also called lacecap or mophead. Accordingly, how do I make blue hydrangeas with vinegar? If you have a pink hydrangea and you want it to be blue, you need to bring those pH levels down in the soil. Growers of hydrangeas with blue blooms must regularly water with aluminum sulfate drenches onto the potted medium to maintain the needed levels to force the desired blue coloration (but they cannot water too often or the excess Al 3+ will kill the plant). Blue Hydrangeas ~ Here’s an easy garden tip from Our Fairfield Homeand Garden to get and keep those blue blooms! Mophead Vs. Lacecap Hydrangeas . These bushes will bear blue flowers in acid soils, but pink blooms in alkaline ground. Hydrangeas are a hardy flower favourite that add colour, texture and vibrancy to the garden. You can do this by purchasing a soil acidifier plant fertilizer to feed your hydrangeas every one to two weeks. Once your hydrangea garden has produced these large, luscious blooms, they can be cut and brought inside to be used as centerpieces. Post Tagged with blue hydrangea, garden tips, hydrangea, hydrangea color ← Previous Post Next Post → 4 Responses so far. With garden sulfur, sprinkle pellets on soil and water. Use Blue Hydrangeas as Natural Décor in Your Home . The H. macrophylla species is made up of two groups, the mopheads (sometimes called "hortensias") and the lacecaps, terms that refer to the appearance of the flower heads; Rhapsody Blue hydrangeas are mopheads. You can find all the details of my kitchen decor and accessories here. Patty says: October 27, 2016 at 4:40 pm I am going to try this but I do have a question. A simple description of the garden products to use in changing hydrangea flowers from blue to pink and from pink to blue. To increase the acidity of your garden's soil, use vinegar!For each gallon of water in your watering can, add one cup of white distilled vinegar and pour on your hydrangeas.The acidity of the vinegar will turn your pink hydrangeas blue or keep your blue blooms from turning pink. How Do I Get Blue Hydrangeas? Feb 11, 2018 - Making hydrangea turn blue begins with knowing the pH of the soil. Usually this is done by adding aluminum sulfate or just sulfur. Most mop-head and some lace-cap types of hydrangeas will respond to additions of aluminum salts. The foliage of Oakleaf hydrangeas have brilliant color in the fall. Aluminum Sulfate and Soil pH - Opt for Balance Soil, as every gardener knows, affects the end result of the appearance of flowers and other blooms. In alkaline soil (pH above 7), flowers turn pink or even red. To turn new hydrangeas blue, use 1¼ cups of Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier. When the pH is above 7.0 (alkaline), it gives pinks and reds. The more acidic the soil, it will be blue. Hydrangeas turn blue based on the pH of the soil they are in. If I have pink hydrangeas my customers want blue, and if I have blue they want pink. Paniculata types are larger with conical flowers, great for mixed borders or hedges. Sometimes their blooms take on a pink tinge at the end of the season, but that's about as colorful as they get. Blue is a popular hue for gardeners. All natural way to turn Hydrangeas blue. Aluminum can burn plants, so if you add the aluminum sulfate, follow directions carefully. To determine the pH of your garden soil, purchase a soil test kit at a garden center or get a handheld pH meter. Flower colours range from blue, white, red through to pink. Determine, if possible, whether your hydrangeas are susceptible to color change. This is something you should test on an annual basis. In the open ground it can be more difficult to maintain those blue flowers, but it is easier if you grow it in a pot; hydrangeas make excellent subjects for pots and containers. In this case, you want to lower soil pH. In strongly acid soil (pH below 6), flowers turn blue. If a soil test reveals insufficient acidity and you desire a blue color, just raise acidity. You can often see both the pink and the blue in the same garden – we take pride in our hydrangeas! Potted hydrangeas also make gorgeous room accents. What Can You Add to Your Soil to Get a Deeper Blue of Hydrangea?. In slightly acid or neutral soil (pH 6 to 7), blooms may be purple or a mix of blue and pink on a single shrub. Some sulfur is sold specifically as a hydrangea amendment. Concrete often contains lime, which can make it tough to turn hydrangeas blue. 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