Will blue hydrangeas stay blue?

The more acidic the soil, the more blue the hydrangea becomes, as long as it's a variety that is capable of producing a blue tint. Some varieties stay white, so no amount of acidifying or adding aluminum to the soil will make them blue.

Then, how do you keep blue hydrangeas blue?

To encourage blue hydrangea flowers, grow the plant in soil that has a pH of 5.2-5.5. If your soil is more alkaline, you can lower the pH by applying Soil Acidifier at the rate specified on the package. Soil pH can also be lowered (more gradually) by applying an acidic organic mulch, such as pine needles or pine bark.

Similarly, can you turn pink hydrangeas blue? To keep your garden organic, all-natural and safe for people, pets and the planet, lower soil pH levels using an organic soil acidifier like Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier. Before changing your pink hydrangeas to blue, check two things. To turn new hydrangeas blue, use 1¼ cups of Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier.

Likewise, do coffee grounds make hydrangeas blue?

If you're growing hydrangeas, use coffee grounds to affect their color. Coffee grounds add extra acidity to the soil around hydrangeas. On a chemical level, this increased acidity makes it easier for the plant to absorb naturally occurring aluminum in the dirt. The effect is pretty blue clusters of flowers.

What compost keeps hydrangeas blue?

Ericaceous Compost is ideal. So, to make sure your hydrangea stays really blue add Vitax Hydrangea Colourant, a powder containing aluminium that you can mix with the growing medium when you plant. You can also mix a little into the soil surface each spring and add it to the can when you water your plant.

37 Related Question Answers Found

Will vinegar turn hydrangeas 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.

Do rusty nails turn hydrangeas blue?

Benefits. A rusty nail changes the pH of soil so it is more acidic. This is why rusty nails, saw blades, tin cans or other forms of tin buried among the roots of the hydrangea shrub seem to change the color of the hydrangea to blue.

Does Epsom salt turn hydrangeas blue?

When the ions of Epsom salt disassociate, they have a neutral effect on the pH of the soil. Since the blue color of a hydrangea is formed by aluminum made available in acid soil, adding Epsom salt would not make your flowers change color.

How do pennies make hydrangeas blue?

Hydrangeas planted with pennies may display colorful blooms, but those pennies can't take credit for the color. Hydrangea flowers change color based on aluminum absorbed from the soil up into bloom tissue. Formed from copper-plated zinc, today's pennies do not contain any metals that influence hydrangea bloom color.

Why are some hydrangeas blue?

Some varieties of hydrangea are blue or purple when grown on acid soil and pink or red in alkaline soil conditions. So if you plant a lovely blue lacecap or mophead hydrangea in the garden, and your soil is neural to acidic, it will produce blue flowers year after year.

How do you look after blue hydrangeas?

Hydrangea Care Tips

Water at a rate of 1 inch per week throughout the growing season.
Add mulch underneath your hydrangeas to help keep the soil moist and cool.
Apply fertilizer based on your specific hydrangeas.
Protect against pests and disease by choosing cultivars with resistant traits.

How long does it take to turn hydrangeas blue?

The label recommends sprinkling about 1-2 cups around the plant and watering it in. Repeat at 60-day intervals until you get the color you want. My hydrangea just received its third application and I'm still waiting for the first sign of blue.

What do you feed blue hydrangeas?

Use acidic compost and aluminum sulfate powder.

You can buy acidic compost at the gardening center - it is usually labeled as "ericaceous".
Instead, add one tablespoon of aluminum sulfate to one gallon of water and use this solution to water fully-matured hydrangeas throughout the growing season.

Are eggshells good for hydrangeas?

If you want pink hydrangeas, crushed eggshells may be one way to get them. Eggshells will slowly break down and reduce the acidity of your soil—making it harder for hydrangeas to absorb aluminum.

Are tea bags good for hydrangeas?

Used Teabags

Like coffee grounds, tea leaves are rich in tannic acid. If the teabags are fully biodegradable, you can just slip them under the plants' mulch rather than cutting them open. You also could place a few used teabags under the soil of an acid-loving potted plant, where its roots can draw nutrients from them.

Is Baking Soda Good for hydrangeas?

For flowers that thrive in alkaline soil (like begonias and hydrangeas), mix just a little bit of baking soda in with water and use it on those plants. The extra baking soda will help them grow and flower beautifully!

How do I make my hydrangeas purple?

Generally speaking, acidic soil, with a pH lower than 6.0, yields blue or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms. Alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds. With a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink. To lower your pH, add garden sulfur or aluminum sulfate to your soil.

Should I deadhead hydrangeas?

Since hydrangea blossoms are so big, deadheading a hydrangea makes a real difference in diverting energy to more important parts of the plant's growth. You should carry out this practice all through the blooming season to encourage new blossoms and keep your plant looking fresh.

What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas?

Fertilizing: Hydrangeas do especially well when fertilizers are effectively used in spring or early summer. We recommend using a granular, slow-release fertilizer with a high percentage of phosphorus (the middle number in the NPK ratio). Phosphorus is the element that encourages bloom production.

How often should I put coffee grounds on my hydrangea?

Final Considerations. Coffee grounds also help retain moisture in the soil, which is an additional benefit to your hydrangea. Hydrangeas grow best with deep weekly watering rather than light daily watering, and the coffee grounds help keep the soil moist between watering times.

How do I get more blooms on my hydrangea?

How to Get More Smooth Hydrangea Flowers:

Plant smooth hydrangeas in full sun if the soil stays moist.
Water them during times of drought, especially during the heat of summer.
Amend the soil with organic matter (such as compost).
Prune stems back in early spring, just before new growth emerges.

Will vinegar kill hydrangeas?

While vinegar can kill many common plants, others like hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and gardenias are acid-loving drought-tolerant plants that thrive on acidity. Combine a gallon of water with one cup white distilled vinegar and use it the next time you water these plants.