Did you know you can change the color of a hydrangea? Well, at least when it comes to the mophead and lacecap cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea involucrata and Hydrangea serrata. Maybe you want to try a new look for your shrub. Or, maybe you’ve noticed that your once-blue color has unexpectedly turned pink and want to return it to its former color. Either way, the process is fairly straightforward once you know how.
This plant is one of our favorite flowering shrubs to add structure and dynamism to a plot. What’s more, learn How to grow hydrangeas are simple, so they are ideal for novice and experienced gardeners alike.
And it’s not just for borders – you can plant it in containers too. In fact, changing the color of a hydrangea in a container is easier than one planted directly in the ground because you have more control over the soil. We explain everything you need to know in this handy guide.
How soil pH affects the color of your hydrangea
Hydrangeas with blue or pink flowers are blue in acid soil conditions, mauve in acid soil conditions, and pink in alkaline conditions.
This means that by changing the pH of the soil, you can achieve different hydrangea colors to complement the color scheme of your garden. Keep in mind that the color change won’t happen overnight, however – it’s an ongoing process.
How do you make your hydrangea blue?
what Growing hydrangeas in pots Or in soil, you can maintain blue blooms by acidifying the soil.
try mulching With organic matter – except for mushroom compost, which is more alkaline. Using an ericaceous compost, such as this one Courtesy of John Innes from AmazonBut effective.
You can also buy “bluing” compounds from garden centers and online, which should be applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Some gardeners also say that adding coffee grounds to the soil can help, or another option is to try working pieces of rusty metal into the fed-root area.
John Negus, gardening expert and author of Amateur Gardening, also recommends using rainwater to keep hydrangeas blue. You can collect them in a water butt – that’s also a good approach if you want more An eco-friendly garden.
2 x Vitax 500g Hydrangea Colorant
This can be used for hydrangeas grown in pots or in the ground. Dilute the solution in water and then mix with soil to make your pink hydrangea blue. Thin as directed and water weekly during the growing season.
How do you make your hydrangea pink?
Hydrangeas in neutral or chalky (alkaline) soils usually produce pink or mauve, slightly muddy colored blooms. “Pink blooms are caused by a relatively high pH, around 7.5-8,” says John Negus.
The best way to do this is to add lime to the garden, such as this Wasteland Garden Lime Soil Conditioner from Amazon, For clay. Follow the instructions on the pack of your chosen product, but doing so every two weeks during the growing season should be effective.
Adding wood ash to the soil around your hydrangea can also help increase its alkalinity—a helpful tip for those who have invested in a fire pit for their garden.
Can you change the color of a white hydrangea?
Hydrangeas with green or white flowers are increasingly popular these days, working well in both modern and romantic, Cottage-garden Plans But, unlike the blue and pink varieties, these types do not change their color because they are not affected by soil pH.
Some, however, will turn slightly pink as they age, says John Negus.
FAQs
Why are some of my hydrangea flowers blue and some pink?
It is very unusual to have a hydrangea with both pink and blue blooms, but it can happen. The reason behind this is usually pockets of acidity in the root zone of the plant.
To have more control over the soil, you can try planting your hydrangea larger Gardeners Instead
As previously highlighted, changing the color of your hydrangea will be easier if you are growing it in pots because you have more control over the pH of the soil thanks to the choice of potting compost.
Another advantage of growing them in pots is if you have problems with yours Hydrangea does not bloom You can easily move it to another location to see if different growing conditions help it thrive once again.
The original version of this article previously appeared on Gardeningetc, a sister website to Homebuilding and Renovating.
