Why do hydrangeas turn blue

Alternatively, if your hydrangea is near plants that need alkaline soil, your best bet is likely to move it, or the other plants, somewhere else. When planting your hydrangea, add a soil acidifier, and use a fertilizer for acid-loving plants for the fastest results.

If your hydrangea is growing near a concrete driveway or sidewalk, you may have a more challenging time making the flowers change to, and stay, blue. This is because lime is commonly used as a binding ingredient in concrete. Lime raises the pH of nearby soil, making it more alkaline. Soils in Iowa are pretty alkaline across the board, but if you want to see for yourself, try a simple home test with vinegar.

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Hydrangea blue: How exactly do you describe this particular shade? It is somewhere between violet and blue, existing in that shimmery space where color collides with silver. Hydrangeas change color except for the white ones based on the pH level of their soil.

The more alkaline the soil, the pinker the flowers. To make pink hydrangeas turn blue or to keep your blue ones from turning pink , increase the acidity of soil. Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla. First, get a handful of dirt. It only takes a small amount of soil to test the pH level. The higher the concentration, the more alkaline your soil. Next, place the soil sample in a container. Pour distilled white vinegar over it.

If the solution fizzes, the pH level is high and your soil is alkaline. Add organic materials to your soil to make it more acidic. Most hydrangeas do best in full sun up to noon or 1, especially if you live in a climate with a good amount of summer sun.

Hot afternoon sun will burn a hydrangea in no time. The client I refer to in this post lives just south of San Francisco, 6 blocks from the Pacific Ocean. This is a cooler area with quite a bit of fog. The flowers opening up after the soil acidifier had been applied a few times. Yes you should.

I always did because the plant looks better. I never fertilized hydrangeas when I was a professional gardener. I would apply a good layer of compost from local landscape supply companies every year or 2. It not only nourished the plants but helped to conserve moisture.

That being said, if you must have blue hydrangeas and your soil is on the alkaline side, have at it with the garden sulfur or another soil acidifier. You may never get your hydrangeas back to that intense blue they were or that you want them to be. This post may contain amazon affiliate links. You can read our policies here. Your cost for the products will be no higher but Joy Us garden receives a small commission.

I and my neighbor both have variegated Hydrangeas and they are covered with brown spots. We live in Central Florida and it has been unbelievably hot this summer. They get full sun. After reading your article I guess they are burned. Guess I should move them? Or put them in a pot and change the soil as you mentioned?

Thanks for your input and help.