Influencing Hydrangea Colors - How to change Hydrangea Colors
 Hydrangeas
come in a number of vibrant colors. However, not all of these are
naturally occurring. In fact, many cultivators utilize special
techniques to grow hydrangeas of a specific hue and shade. Many of these
methods are simple enough for even amateur gardeners to adopt if they
want to create a unique array of hydrangea colors. Color changing works
mainly with species of macrophylla hydrangeas, and you are best to
select these if you wish to experiment with different hues. The most
common way of changing a hydrangea’s color is by altering the pH of the
soil. It is easiest to do this when growing a hydrangea in a pot or
container since this allows you the most control over soil properties.
In fact, moving a hydrangea from a pot to a garden can change its color
even if the plant is already mature.
As a general rule, hydrangea flowers range from blue to pink based upon
how acidic the soil is. Blue flowers appear when the soil has an acidic
pH of 5.5 or lower. In contrast, pink flowers result from a basic soil
with a pH above 6.5. The small neutral pH range between 5.5 and 6.5 can
result in purple flowers or flowers with mixed shades.
The easiest way to alter your soil’s pH to make it more acidic is to
change its aluminum content. Aluminum can be added to water and
transmitted to soil during watering. More aluminum will lower the soil’s
pH and make it more acidic. Aluminum should be added over time, rather
than in one large dose. After several “feedings” with aluminum, you can
measure the soil’s pH to see if it has achieved the desired level of
acidity. To make your soil more basic, or alkaline, limestone can be
added using a similar technique as aluminum. Additionally, you may want
to fertilize your hydrangeas with a mixture high in phosphorous.
Obviously, the water you use on your plants will also
impact soil’s pH. Ideally, you should try to measure and alter your
water’s pH before you use it on a hydrangea. It is not recommended to
use water as a means of changing soil pH. This is because inconsistent
moisture will not maintain the desired level of acidity. Instead, try to
get water with a pH that is neutral.
Keep in mind that while you can change the shade of your hydrangeas,
you may find it impossible to change the deepness of the color.
Intensity of color is not closely related to soil pH. Instead, it is a
combination of factors including weather conditions, genetics, and plant
health. So, do not be discouraged if you only get a pale blue hydrangea
instead of a deep, dark hue. |
