Hydrangeas: Color Changing Blooms

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Hydrangeas:  Color Changing Blooms

Ever look at a Hydrangea and wonder why the blooms and not the same color as your neighbors?  Well let's just dive right in....

Most people have a hate/love relationship with Hydrangeas and the color of the blooms.  My daughter for the most part, does not like hydrangeas.  She likes the colors of certain blooms that some have but yet hates others.  

You can manipulate the color of the bloom by checking your soil.  Soil with a high pH will generally produce blooms of pink to red flowers and lower pH soil tends to lean on the purple and bluish flowers.  

 Does this mean you can create color variations to blend in with your current landscapes???  YES..., well all except..., Hydrangeas with white blooms!  Unfortunately, Mother Nature will not let you manipulate all colors she offers.

So what to do you ask???  You must first determine if your soil is Alkaline or Acidic.  How you wonder do you test this?  Its very simple.  Using a few items from you pantry and you too can find your soil pH. 




Becoming a Scientist: Testing your soils pH

You will need the following:  
  • Distilled Water
  • White Vinegar
  • Baking Soda
  • 2 Bowls 
  • 2 Spoons
Dig some soil up from the area to be tested.  But some soil in each bowl.  Mix each soil sample with water to form loose mud.  You will then add some vinegar to one sample and baking soda to the other sample.  

Which fizzes?  Baking Soda fizzes then your soil is Acidic.  If the Vinegar sample fizzes then your soil is Alkaline.  Easy as mud pie!  

Now that you know the pH of your soil, it will be easy to manipulate the color variations of the blooms and make you fall in love with Hydrangeas all over again!



 If you would like the blooms to be pretty pinks to red tones, you would need to raise your pH by taking out the Aluminum in your soil.  You can do this by adding some lime to the base of the plant.  Make sure you water the lime in really well! 

If you are like me and wish for blue to purplish blooms, you will need to lower your pH by adding in Aluminum.  To do this, use your left over coffee grounds or compost.  You can also us Aluminum Sulfate.   Once again, just add to the base of the plant and water it in really well.

Viola!  You have beautiful blooms to match your landscape!  Doesn't it just make you smile!  :) 

 Nature is a beautiful thing when we take time out to appreciate and respect all it has to offer.  You never know what you will see when you look at beauty through her eyes.

Your Landscape is your Sanctuary. Let it bring you peace and keep you grounded. Dream it.., build it. If I can help, let me know.


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