How Should Soil Be Mixed To Obtain Blue Hydrangeas?

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) flowers can change color, while other types like oakleaf hydrangeas or smooth hydrangeas bloom in white or cream. To obtain a blue flowering hydrangea, the soil around the roots must contain aluminium, which requires a pH of 5.2-5.5. To make the soil more acidic, mix ¼ ounce of aluminum sulfate per 1 pound of soil. To make the soil more acidic, add compost, garden sulfur, pine needles, peat moss, or coffee grounds. Compost, pine needles, coffee grounds, and peat moss are better suited for hydrangeas.

To grow a blue hydrangea in a border or bed with neutral or alkaline soil, dig a hole 8 inches wider and deeper than H. serrata ‘Bluebird’. Plant in the right location, such as partial shade and well-drained soil. Hydrangeas thrive in fertile soil that is well draining, allowing them to bloom. To encourage blue hydrangea flowers, grow the plant in soil with a pH of 5.2-5.5. If the soil is more alkaline, lower the pH by applying Soil Acidifier at the rate specified on the package.

The color of hydrangea flowers varies according to the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil. For true blue hydrangeas, the plants need to be grown in acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 or lower. For pink flowers, the plants need neutral to alkaline soils (pH 6.5 or lower). To make the soil more acidic, mix ¼ oz aluminum sulfate with a gallon of water and soak the soil surrounding the hydrangeas in the spring. The most common way to raise the pH of the soil is to add powdered Garden Lime.

A few ways to acidify the soil include fresh soil amendments such as coffee grounds, peat, or wood-based byproducts like wood chips and sawdust.

What do you put in the dirt to make hydrangeas blue?

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 do you put in the ground to make hydrangeas blue?

To turn hydrangeas blue, adjust the soil’s pH by adding aluminum sulfate, coffee grounds, vinegar, or other substances. This is a proven method for changing flower color, but it may take up to a year for the flowers to transition to the desired shade. The process is gradual and may require multiple applications. Re-test the soil’s pH and adjust treatments as needed. If the hydrangeas already bloomed pink, they may not see blue flowers until next year.

Soil amendments affect developing buds, not bloomed flowers. Be cautious when lowering the pH too much or too quickly, as this may cause plants to struggle to absorb necessary nutrients. If the pH becomes too low, apply lime to raise it back up.

Does baking soda turn hydrangeas blue?

Loamy soil has high soil buffering capacity, making it resistant to pH change. Baking soda, a small amount, doesn’t significantly impact the hydrangea’s color, as it leaves the pH unchanged. Adding more can damage roots and potentially kill the plant. For practical pH alterations, use soil amendments like sulfur to lower pH and lime to increase it, as these amendments have been proven to be effective.

How do I make my hydrangea blue?

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 soil acidifier for blue hydrangeas?

Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier is a safe and long-lasting solution that employs the use of elemental sulfur and gypsum to reduce soil pH levels and induce a blue hue in hydrangeas. The product is manufactured in a solar-powered facility, which ensures both consistency and quality. The product has been approved for use in organic gardening and is safe for use by humans, animals, and the environment. It is suitable for use with blueberries and other berry plants.

Does lime make hydrangeas blue?

The act of squeezing citrus fruits such as lemons or limes over a plant can result in an increase in soil acidity, which may subsequently lead to a change in the color of the blooms from pink to blue. Garden supply stores frequently offer plant food that can elevate or diminish soil pH levels. In the case of high acidity, blue blooms result, whereas low acidity causes pink blooms.

What is the best fertilizer to turn hydrangeas blue?

Hydrangeas should be fertilized once in spring for blue cultivars of bigleaf and mountain hydrangea, using a low-phosphorous fertilizer like 12-4-8 to encourage blue flower production. For other types of hydrangeas, use a general-purpose fertilizer at recommended rates, incorporating dry fertilizer into the top 2-3″ of soil and watering thoroughly. Phosphorus in the soil can bind aluminum, making it difficult for the plant to access phosphorus.

What is the best potting mix for blue hydrangeas?

To grow blue hydrangea flowers, grow the plant in soil with a pH of 5. 2-5. 5. If the soil is alkaline, lower the pH by applying Soil Acidifier or an acidic organic mulch. Alkaline soil locks up aluminum, making it unavailable to the plant. To grow pink hydrangeas, grow them in alkaline soil with a pH of 6. 0-6. 2. Apply a high-phosphorus fertilizer to discourage aluminum uptake. To raise the pH of a naturally acidic soil, apply Garden Lime at the rate specified on the package. Both blue and pink hydrangeas can be grown in different soil conditions.

Will vinegar make hydrangeas 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.

What nutrient turns hydrangeas blue?

The pH of the soil in which a hydrangea is cultivated determines the hue of the flower. The presence of aluminium in acidic soil allows for the absorption of this element, which then interacts with the pigments present in the petals, resulting in the production of a striking blue colour. The color of bigleaf and mountain hydrangeas can be expected to change predictably, whereas that of smooth and panicle hydrangeas is known to undergo a color change as they age.