How Do You Change The Color Of Hydrangea Flowers?
Hydrageas are unlike most plants in that you can change the color of the flowers so they will bloom pink or blue depending on the soil they are grown in. Just like blue litmus paper indicates acid, acid soil allows the hydrangea to change to blue because it allows the plant to uptake aluminum. For blue hydrangeas, plant the hydrangea and water with 1 tablespoon aluminum sulphate added to each gallon of water. The soil must be acid. To acidify the soil, you can add coffee grounds, citrus peels, or a little vinegar to the water. The soil should be in the range of 5.2-5.5 pH. Fertilize with a fertilizer high in potassium and low in phosphorus – close to 25/5/30 (Phosphorus is the middle number, potassium the last) If your soil is alkaline, the only way to keep the hydrangeas blue for more than a short time is to grow them in containers or build the soil up with compost and organic matter before planting. For pink hydrangeas, add dolomite lime several times a year. pH should remain between
