Can Sulfur Benefit Hydrangeas?

Hydrangeas absorb more aluminum from acidic soil than alkaline, resulting in bluer blooms. To lower the pH of the soil around hydrangeas, gardeners can add sulfur to the soil around them in the spring. Ammonium sulfate and sulfur-coated urea fertilizers are good for maintaining acidic soil for blue hydrangea flowers. Avoid using iron sulfate, which can damage plants if overused.

Fertilizers with sulfur or aluminum sulfate can help maintain acidic soil for blue hydrangea flowers. Some hydrangea fertilizers also contain ingredients to adjust the soil pH, allowing for desired flower colors. For blue blooms, use a fertilizer that contains sulfur or aluminum sulfate.

Timing fertilization efforts is crucial in nurturing a healthy hydrangea. Begin fertilizing in early spring as soon as new buds form to give hydrangeas the boost they need after a cold period. Hydrangeas also benefit from secondary macronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, which play a vital role in physiological processes like chlorophyll production, enzyme activation, and cell structure formation.

A combination of equal parts peat moss, compost, and sulfur can be used to work into the moist soil surrounding hydrangea bushes once early in spring and again at bloom time. Small amounts of sulfur or lime can change the color of hydrangeas, with sulfur treating them to stay or turn blue or purple, and lime treating them to turn pink.

Sulfur and lime are effective for both in-ground and potted hydrangeas. Some newly developed hydrangea varieties have an extended bloom period, and to gradually change flower color from pink to blue, broadcast one-half cup of wettable sulfur per 10 square feet and water it into the soil. A combination of sulfur, compost, and peat moss is a good organic mix for hydrangeas.

What plants do not like sulfur?

Sulfur and lime sulfur are harmful to plants sensitive to sulfur, such as grapes, apples, pears, blueberries, currants, gooseberries, apricots, brambles, and vine crops. They can cause damage like scorching, leaf dwarfing, premature defoliation, and reduced yields. To avoid these issues, it is recommended to avoid using sulfur at temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit and lime sulfur at temperatures above 75 degrees F.

Is sulphur good for hydrangeas?

To promote blue blossoms on hydrangeas, add sulfur to the soil using Earth Science’s Fast Acting Sulfur®. This helps lower the pH and create a better soil environment. Both sulfur and lime are effective for both in-ground and potted hydrangeas. Some hydrangea varieties have extended bloom periods or naturally produce multiple colors without pH adjustment. Creating different soil pH levels allows you to test out the range of hydrangea colors, from pink to blue, making color changing an art form in your garden.

How much sulfur to turn hydrangeas blue?

To change the color of a hydrangea, sprinkle ½ cup of garden sulfur over the soil and water it in. For an alkaline soil, use ground lime. ‘Endless Summer’ Color Me Pink and Color Me Blue products provide pelletized lime and sulfur. Apply the product several times at 60-day intervals, depending on the plant’s size and soil conditions.

Choose your hydrangea color from six popular varieties: ‘Ami Pasquier’, ‘Ayesha’, ‘Endless Summer’, ‘Madame Emile Mouillere’, ‘Nikko Blue’, and ‘Purple Tiers’. Each variety has its own unique color and may take months or not become evident until next year’s bloom. The pH of your soil may affect the hue of your hydrangea.

What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas?

Organic, slow-release fertilizers for roses and hydrangeas are suitable for increasing the size and quantity of their blooms. Rose fertilizers, such as 15-10-10 or 10-5-5, provide the necessary nutrients for healthy growth, while hydrangeas require balanced fertilizers with a 10-10-10 ratio for healthy growth.

Growers often ask if they need to purchase different types of fertilizer for multiple hydrangea types. The answer is no, as the same type of fertilizer can be used for all types. However, adjustments may be needed if enhancing or changing the color of specific hydrangea blooms.

However, some types of fertilizer can cause harm, and Natalie Carmolli of Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrubs advises against using acidic fertilizers.

How do you add Sulphur to hydrangeas?

To change the color of hydrangea flowers, apply half a cup of wettable sulfur per 10 square feet of soil and water it in. For pink, apply 1 cup of dolomitic lime per 10 square feet. Granular products can be applied anytime throughout the year, but it may take a year to see a noticeable change. A quicker method is through liquid soil drenches applied in March, April, and May. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of aluminum sulfate in 1 gallon of water to make the flowers blue and 1 tablespoon of hydrated lime in 1 gallon of water to make the flowers pink. With the right care and materials, you can achieve the desired color of your hydrangea.

Does baking soda help hydrangeas?

Baking soda, a household item popular in gardening and home cleaning, does not improve hydrangea flowering due to its lack of essential nutrients. Gardeners often use home remedies like baking soda or Epsom salt to boost their plants, but this often leads to disappointment. Impatient gardeners often seek quick fixes and household items with miraculous effects, such as baking soda. However, the science and testing of baking soda on hydrangeas does not always reveal the desired results. To determine if baking soda is beneficial or detrimental to hydrangeas, it is essential to understand its potential benefits and limitations.

Can I use vinegar to make my hydrangea blue?

To make your hydrangeas blue, dilute 1 cup of apple cider vinegar into 1 gallon of water. If you’re new to using vinegar, use white vinegar, which can be stronger. The acidity ranges between 5 and 10, and it’s important to avoid damaging the roots of your hydrangea. Pour the vinegar solution around the base of your hydrangea, avoiding the stalk, stems, and leaves. Repeat this process every two weeks, and within a few months, the blooms should start to turn blue.

Before using vinegar, ensure you have the right kind of hydrangeas. Some selections like Ami Pasquier will never turn blue, but fade to purple in extremely acidic soil. White hydrangea varieties will never turn pink or blue, no matter how you manipulate their soil. The best hydrangeas for color-changing blooms include Ayesha, Endless Summer, Purple Tiers, and Nikko Blue.

If you’re worried about pouring vinegar into your plants, there are other methods to obtain blue hydrangeas, such as soil additives, tablets, coffee grounds, compost, and acidifying fertilizer. For potted hydrangeas, opt for an acidic potting soil or ericaceous compost mixture.

To make your hydrangeas pink, add lime, wood ash, ground eggshells, or baking soda to the soil. Use this vinegar hack or any other soil-modifying solution in early spring before the hydrangeas start to bloom.

How do I naturally acidify my hydrangeas?

To acidify your soil and turn hydrangeas blue, mix ¼ oz aluminum sulfate with water and soak the soil around the plant in spring. Reapply the acidity every 4 weeks and 8 weeks throughout the growing season. Organic materials like coffee grounds, egg shells, or citrus fruit peels can also be used to make soil more acidic. Gradually grinding these materials into the ground can take a year to reach the right acidity.

Most hydrangeas are already blushing at a neutral pH, so don’t add aluminum-based products or acidic fertilizers. If your hydrangeas show a purple tinge, add lime products to increase alkalinity and restore them to a perfect pink color.

Do hydrangeas like coffee grounds as fertilizer?

Coffee grounds can be employed as a fertilizer for a diverse array of flowering plants, including roses, hydrangeas, and petunias.

How to turn hydrangeas blue quickly?

Coffee grounds can be used to change the color of hydrangeas, but it’s best to use aluminum sulfate for a proven flower color change. Crushed eggshells may work, but they should be used with a proven method of raising the pH, like applying garden lime. Vinegar can be added to watering cans to change soil acidity and turn hydrangeas blue, but it’s not a long-term solution and can be harmful to local wildlife.

What to put on hydrangeas to make them bloom?

To achieve bigger hydrangea blooms, use a “bloom booster” fertilizer with a high level of phosphate, like osmocote. However, too much fertilizer can hinder blooms. Additional plant food can be used throughout the growing season, but too much nitrogen in spring may reduce flowering. Deadheading is a process where spent flowers are removed from hydrangeas when they fade to make way for new, fuller blooms.

If planted in the right location and given ample space, the only trimming needed is to remove deadwood and dried blooms. Early removal may encourage a second flush of blooms, as hydrangeas that flower on new wood may sometimes flower again.