How Can You Obtain Hydrangeas In Various Colors?

To change the color of hydrangeas, you can use fertilizers or organic matter to alter soil’s pH levels and change the color of their blooms. Acidic soil changes some hydrangeas to grow blue flowers, while alkaline soil changes them to pink. Neutral soil allows hydrangeas to revert to a color in the middle.

The most common colors are pink, blue, and purple, but hydrangea blooms can also be red, white, and green. The easiest way to acidify your soil and turn those blooms blue is with aluminum sulfate, which can be found at almost any garden center. Alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds, while with a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink. Hydrangeas change colors based on the soil pH levels.

Coffee grounds can change soil by making it more acidic, which causes hydrangeas to turn blue. Bigleaf and mountain hydrangeas can shift from pink to purple or blue depending on the soil pH and the presence of aluminum. Soil with a lower pH—and a higher acid content—provides bluer blooms; if your soil test shows a pH above five, add aluminum sulfate or another solution to make the soil more acidic.

In summary, hydrangeas have the unique ability to change their color based on their chemical makeup and soil pH. To change the color of hydrangeas, you can use fertilizers or organic matter to alter soil pH levels, such as adding fruit peels, lawn clipping, peat moss, or pine needles. Alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds, while bigleaf and mountain hydrangeas can shift from pink to purple or blue depending on the soil pH and the presence of aluminum.