Saturday, November 14, 2009

What makes Hydrangeas change colors?

You can change the color of their blossoms by changing the acidity of the soil in which they are growing. The color is actually determined by the availability of the aluminum in the soil to the plant. If the pH is low (pH 5-6, acidic) the blooms will be blue. If the pH is high (pH 6.8-7.2, alkaline) the blooms will be pink. If your hydrangea has both pink and blue flowers at the same time, the soil is at, or near neutral.





So how do you change the pH of the soil?





For pink blooms:





* Add dolomic lime 3-8 cups around the base of a large plant (less around a small one) 2 or 3 times between the blooming seasons.


* Or try a bit of superphosphate around the base of the plant.





For blue blooms:





* Aluminum sulfate, 3 to 4 Tablespoons per gallon of water, applied 2 times, 2 weeks apart, 4 to 6 months prior to blooming.


* You can also add egg shells, coffee grinds, ground-up Orange or Grapefruit peels





Be patient. It sometimes takes a year or two to see the results, and you will need to continue the treatment, or the plant will revert back to the color it was.





Have fun with your hydrangeas. The white varieties, such as Peegee, Silver Leaf, and Hills of Snow, DON'T respond to the pH change, they stay white.

What makes Hydrangeas change colors?
The weather sometimes......but you can put epson salt around them to make a pink one blue
Reply:Hydrangeas come in many colors.A Hydrangeas flower color/shade will be determined by the variety of the plant and the soil PH level.
Reply:sun light number of hours
Reply:Acidity of the soil or lack thereof.
Reply:This is a great page for your question!!





http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/colo...
Reply:the ph of your soil
Reply:Aluminium sulfate willl turn your hydrangea blue and I believe lime will turn it pink. change it to whatever color you like!!! The change in the acidity of the soil with the amendments is what delivers your new color.

irene

No comments:

Post a Comment