Hydrangea Heaven....

This beautiful snap is compliments of flickr

It's that time of the year here in the Northeast when one of my favorite bushes is in bloom! Hydrangeas are soooo heavenly here. The closer you get to the ocean the more vivid the blooms it seems. I've done some good research on how to change the color of  hydrangea blooms & thought I would share with all of you~Enjoy the photos of the summer's prettiest blossoms! xo

 

 

Here are some tips for changing the color of  these scrumptious blossoms~:)

Changing Blooms To Pink~

For hydrangea blooms to be pink, the plants must not take up aluminum from the soil. If the soil naturally contains aluminum, one must try to keep it away from the hydrangea's system. Following are a few tricks that might work:

• Add dolomitic lime several times a year. This will help to raise the pH. Shoot for a pH of about 6.0 to 6.2 (If it goes above 6.4 hydrangeas may experience an iron deficiency). Since hydrangeas take up aluminum best at lower pH levels, raising the pH will help to keep the bluing effect of aluminum out of the hydrangea's system.
  
  
• Use a fertilizer with high levels of phosphorus. Phosphorus helps to prevent aluminum from creeping into the system of the hydrangea. Choose a fertilizer close to the ratio of 25/10/10 (Phosphorus is the middle number).
  
  
• In areas that naturally produce blue hydrangeas (soils with aluminum), consider growing pink hydrangeas in large pots. If hydrangeas are grown in pots, it would be best to use soil-less mixtures, since these mixes would probably not have aluminum in them. In a pot, it will be much easier to control the requirements for growing pink hydrangeas.

Changing Blooms To Blue~

To obtain a blue hydrangea, aluminum must be present in the soil. To ensure that aluminum is present, aluminum sulfate may be added to the soil around the hydrangeas.

Authorities recommend that a solution of 1/2 oz (1 Tbsp) aluminum sulfate per gallon of water be applied to plants (which are at least 2-3 years old) throughout the growing season. Important: Water plants well in advance of application and put solution on cautiously, as too much can burn the roots.

To make the aluminum available to the plant, the pH of the soil should be low (5.2-5.5). Adding aluminum sulfate will tend to lower the pH of the soil. Another method for lowering the pH is to add organic matter to the soil such as coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels, grass clippings etc.

If the soil naturally contains aluminum and is acid (low pH) the color of the hydrangea will automatically tend toward shades of blue and/or purple.

The choice of fertilzer will also affect the color change. A fertilizer low in phosphorus and high in potassium is helpful in producing a good blue color(25/5/30 is good. Potassium is the last number). Superphosphates and bone meal should be avoided when trying to produce blue.

After stating this with much certainty, I hasten to add that it is virtually impossible to turn a hydrangea blue for any length of time if it is planted in soil with no aluminum and that is highly alkaline (chalky). One would have to be very diligent in keeping the soil properly conditioned as stated above.

Perhaps the best idea for growing blue hydrangeas in an area with alkaline soil would be to grow them in very large pots using lots of compost to bring the pH down. The above suggestions for bluing would also work for a potted plant. Reduce the strength of the Aluminum sulfate to 1/4 oz per gallon of water. In a pot, it will be much easier to control the requirements for bluing.

Have fun with your hydrangeas my friends! xo

Comments

[Teresa Sheeley]

Oh my gosh, you are a genius!! I wish I could grow anything, anything at all. Brown dirt thumb here. :) Hope you are well!!!

Hugs
Teresa
xoxo

[tattingchic]

Oh, I LOVE hydrangeas! Iknow, I know, who doesn't, LOL! Those are beautiful photos! I LOVE that last photo with the beautiful patio set on it.

Thanks for the sweet comment on my baby dress with tatting blog post! :)

[Bunny Rose Cottage]

CHRIS!!!!!!! Those are the most beautiful hydrangeas I have ever seen!! WOW you are good in the garden! I wish mine would look that pretty. Hydrangeas are one of my very favorite flowers. You have such a beautiful yard Chris!

Love ya,
Amy

[Shabbyfufu (Janet)]

Oh Tutts......we can't grow hydrangeas here in Miami~BOO HOO! Sometimes I buy them at Whole Foods, but they are so pricey. Do you ever dry your hydrangeas? They take on such soft colorways when dried:-) ~XOXO my friend, Janet

[janet]

The first and most important step is to have blossoms. Mine are a dismal failure this year. Guess I was a bit aggressive with the spring pruning!

I met your friend Jackie at Bliss Farm and she is a delight.

Janet

[Tina]

how very pretty.
--------
wanted to invite you over to my blog where I am hostessing my 500th post giveaway.
~Tina

[JO]

Wow darlin ...as usual you have a heavenly array of the most gorgeous blooms I have ever seen...

What fabulous tips you have shared with us on the color.... I have also heard or read somewhere that to make the blossoms blue you should put coffee grounds in the soil....

Anyhoo hope you are well and things are good and you are enjoying your summer

HUGS
JO

[Rosemary]

Just beautiful Chris!
Mine are blooming, but I mostly have the white ones. They do turn green then burgandy as the summer goes into fall.
Have a great weekend,
Rosemary

[Jo-Anne]

Hi Chris,
The sun is shining, can you believe it!
I really injoyed this post as my hydrangeas are bigger then ever this year.. Must be due to all the rain. Anywhow, they are blue, so Im off to turn them pink thanks to you! Wonderful tips..
WIshing you a fabulous weekend Chris,
Love to you
JO
xo

[Julie Marie Vicknair]

Hello Chris, I found your blog through Jo~Anne Coletti. Your flowers are absolutely breathtaking! Lavender and pink are my favorite colors in everything, including flowers. I also just ordered a beautiful Limoge cup and saucer from your boutique, can't wait to receive it! Julie Marie

[kayellen]

Beautiful!!
Your Hydrangeas are wonderful:)
and that iron bistro table is so pretty!

Have a wonderful weekend...

You have inspired me today,
KayEllen

[Carrie]

Chris,
The hydrangeas are fabulous. I am enjoying my Endless Summer in white and blue.

I was wondering if you received the wall decal you won in my giveaway. Please let me know.
Carrie - Oak Rise Cottage
http://oakrisecottage.blogspot.com
carenterprises@comcast.net

[DEBBIE GARRETT]

Chris...Oh sweets your hydrangeas are gorgeous!!! Of course I love them also & last year I planted a lot of the endless summer ones..They are beautiful! We must have high acid here in our part of OKLA.
because the blooms are a gorgeous blue & of copurse I want pink! lol
I am behind a little also..Your home in RC was wonderfullllllllllllll sweets!!!! I LOVE your kitchen & all of it looks comforable & homey & of course so chic!!!
Sounds like you had a wonderful grandma & a lovely time growing up:) Your way tooo young for the beautiful grandaughter you have! Have a great rest of the summer hon!!!
Come on over here..lol..its a 105 today!
Hugs...
Deb:)
PS love my pink butter dish:)

[m]

Just gorgeous!!!!!

m ^..^

[Brook]

I love these gorgeous pictures!!! Wonderful!

Blessings,
Brook

[June]

Hi Chris, hydrangeas are my favs. I love having them in the garden. I cannot grow the colored ones well in my climate (they don't winter over well here) but I do love the 'Annabelles' and the 'Limelight','Pink Diamond' also do well in my part of Idaho. Yours are so lovely.
Smiles,
June

[Rose]

Hello Chris, your hydrangeas are gorgeous, I was wondering, I got a white one for Mothers Day with huge blooms, but I have been afraid to plant it for fear that it will change colors. Can that be avoided? Also, do you know how to dry them? I have seen some gorgeous dried ones on peoples blogs and I so wish I could get some. Have you ever heard of one called "Vintage"? They had it at Albertsons Grocery stores in So. California, for Mothers Day the year before and I have had no luck finding them again :( The blooms are varying shades of burgandy and green mixed together, as they aged they looked gorgeous, almost like the already dried ones if that makes sense. Anyways love your blog :) Rose

Please visit me at mine it is new, still in the bebe stages :)

[Aimee Boschet]

I love the flowers!!! Oh, they make me smile just looking at them...

[Suzie Button]

Hi there! I just discovered your beautiful blog through "Blogging for Bliss" and I have a little award for you over at my blog! Please pop over! Suzie

[Personal loan]

what a lovely garden especially that cutie stone angel!

[tattingchic]

Hi there! I came back because I wanted to let you know that I'm having a giveaway! Be sure to come on over and join in!

[Donna Jenkins]

I also just LOVE hydrangeas! I have pink Hydrangeas that are supposed to be blue. I have tried all the different treatments that I'm given by my faithful nursury to no avail. Thank you for the pot suggestion. I really never thought of it. I will have to let you know what happens next summer.

[Jackie Lantry]

OK, what I got from this is that you have to be a chemical engineer to grow hydrageas...could you just stop by and take care of mine??????????????????

[Mike]

Your Hydrangeas are beautiful !!!!!!

I have only had 1 blossom in 10 years.

Should I buy a new plant and grow it in a pot?

How do you get multi-color Hydrangeas?