Basic gardening tip - hydrangeas

The Hydrangeas are looking very pretty at the moment, but they are all pink.   My fault because I didn't  test the pH levels and adjust according to the colour I wanted.

Hydrangeas are fascinating in that, unlike most other plants, the colour of their flowers can change dramatically.   Blue require a more acidic soil and pink nitrogen rich soil.  I also use Hydrangea Pinking and Blueing to enhance the colour.  Although I only applied the colouring mixture once this season there are a few flowers that have a speckling of purple, which means that they were trying to change colour but didn't have the right soil balance.

 It is easier to control the colour of  hydrangeas if they are grown in containers because you can control or alter the pH of the soil in a container better than it is in the ground.

On the other hand, hydrangeas often change colour on their own when they are planted or transplanted. They will adjust to the new environment very quickly.   It is not unusual to see several different colours on one shrub the next year after planting.

After flowering and in the Autumn cut them back hard and they will respond  brilliantly next spring/summer.



Happy gardening

Bronwyn