I actually bought a blue hydrangea. It might sound like magic, but it’s true. Both the color changes are gradual. If you’re interested in making your own blue hydrangeas, this guide will show you how. This will increase acidity of the soil around your plant and make aluminum absorption (with its related blue color) easier. The soil needs to be slightly acidic (pH 5.2 – 5.5), so doing a soil test first will help determine a starting pH level. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Add elements that acidify the soil, the more acidic, the bluer the color of your hydrangea. Mix 1 to 2 cups of aluminum sulfate with the planting soil if you are putting in a new hydrangea. Hi Lore – To turn your Hydrangeas blue to need to add acid to the soil. Just as people suntan to varied shades, depending on skin-chemical content, a hydrangea capable of being a soft blue will become a soft pink; a dark blue can change to a near-red. You see, for most French hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), the flower color indicates the pH of the soil. Keep on keeping on to produce consistent color results. Hydrangeas turn pink when they are treated with lime, and when treated with sulfur, they turn blue. Starts to work instantly - Promotes quick, beautiful results. How do I turn my soil acidic? A fertilizer low in phosphorus and high in potassium is helpful in … This is, after all, an experiment. Pink to purple suggests a heavier hand. Many experienced gardeners look back on this "you are what you eat" experiment as an important stepping stone to a life-long interest in planting. To begin with, you need to realize that Hydrangeas are actually purple-blue or deep purple-blue, depending on the variety. To obtain a blue hydrangea, aluminum must be present in the soil. Hydrangeas absorb it up into blooms, which then turn blue. ... Products like Miracid® will help you maintain a lower pH once achieved. Generously water hydrangea shrubs immediately after fertilizing with Miracid to prevent the fertilizer from burning the uppermost roots of the shrubs. I will be posting about using the dill oil later today. Miracle-Gro® Water Soluble Miracid® Acid-Loving Plant Food is great for use on Azaleas, Camellias, Gardenias, Hibiscus, Holly, Hydrangeas, Orchids, and many others. 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. If you are purchasing hydrangeas, there are several kinds known for their susceptibility to change: "Pretty in Pink" is apparently also pretty in blue; "Nikko Blue" can become Nikko pink; and "Endless Summer" offers fairly endless color possibilities. Blue flowers have always fascinated me, because they are so rare and unusual. View on Amazon. I followed the instructions on the Miracid … Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →, Hydrangeas, Hydrangeas: Changing the Color of Hydrangeas. Apply these products 2-3 times a year. What is the Best Fertilizer for Hydrangeas? What Kind of Soil to Use for Hydrangeas. This … My experience is pretty interesting, however. General fertilizers. The only way to do this is to add garden lime to soil to help raise the pH. Scotts Company 185001 Garden Pro Water Soluble Miracid Acid Loving Plant Food, Espoma UL30 Organic Soil Acidifier Fertilizer, Dr. Earth 703P Organic 4 Azalea/Camellia/Rhododendron Acid Fertilizer, Miracle-Gro Plant Food Fertilizer for Acid Loving Plants, Jobe's Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Fertilizer Spikes, BONIDE PRODUCTS INC Bonide 56429 Pink Fertilizer, JR Peters Inc 59324 Jacks Classic Hydrangea Fertilizer, 10 Best Fertilizer for Roses – (2020 Reviews & Guide), The 8 Best Fertilizer for Hibiscus – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 10 Best Solar Garden Lights – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 8 Best Organic Weed Killers for Garden & Lawn (2020 Reviews), The 12 Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 8 Best Potting Soil for Indoor Plants – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 10 Best Soil Test Kits – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 8 Best Fertilizer for Strawberries – (2020 Reviews & Guide), The 15 Best Solar Landscape Lights in 2020 – (Reviews & Guide), 10 Best Fertilizer for Flowers – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 10 Best Fertilizer for Indoor Plants – (2020 Reviews & Guide), The 10 Best Potting Mix for Orchids – (2020 Reviews & Guide), 6 Best Fertilizer for Trees and Shrubs – (2020 Guide & Reviews), How to Prevent Grass from Growing between Pavers, The 12 Best Indoor Herb Garden Kit – (2020 Reviews & Expert Tips), The 10 Best Electric Leaf Blower – (2020 Reviews & Guide), The 10 Best Compost Tumbler in 2020 – (Reviews & Guide), The 12 Best Lawn Sprinklers in 2020 – (Reviews & Guide). Trial and error will teach you the exact amount of aluminum sulfate and the frequency of application needed to maintain blue blossoms. All Rights Reserved. Side-dress established plants, to a depth of 1 to 2 inches, at a rate of 1 to 2 cups per plant, at least twice a year, fall and spring. Miracid is a soil acidifier that helps boost soil acidity. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Harvard University and a Master of Science in early childhood education from the College of New Rochelle. Spread evenly around the hydrangea out to its drip line, or the widest reaching branches. I had so much trouble even with a small pot. To maintain the blue hydrangea add Aluminum Sulfate usually found at any local garden center. I followed the instructions on the Miracid … Hydrangeas require and acidic soil to produce blue blooms. In particular, it will enhance blue blooms in your hydrangeas and works great in both pink and blue hydrangea varieties. When the pH is above 7.0 (alkaline), it gives pinks and reds. Your email address will not be published. To confirm your soil’s pH level, let’s test a sample: Above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla. Miracid will turn them blue but I would steer you against it due to the dependancy your plant would build up always having the esstential nutrients handed to it in a readily available form. Regular effort plays an important part in eventual success. Prepare to persist in your efforts. We are not certain exactly why Miracle-Gro Miracid Plant Food was discontinued, however it appears that Scotts has replaced it with a different product for acid-loving plants that is water-soluble and much safer around turf and other ornamentals. The blue is how they’re most commonly described. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of garden lime per 10 square feet. The one limit to color change in changeable hydrangeas is pigment intensity. All Rights Reserved About Us | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Terms | Amazon Affiliate Disclosure, The 8 Best Fertilizer for Hydrangeas – (2020 Guide & Reviews). JR Peters Inc. Jack’s Classic Hydrangea Blue is a water soluble fertilizer that is derived from ammonium sulfate and aluminum sulfate. Or to transform established hydrangeas into blue beauties, apply 2½ cups of Organic Soil Acidifier. I have 2 hydrangeas planted in urns. For many garden projects, a soil test is the first step. Bluer the color change in changeable hydrangeas is pigment intensity 60 day intervals until pH! 'Annabelle ' only bloom in white or cream to begin with, need. 4 Azalea/Camellia/Rhododendron Acid fertilizer, your flowers will change color do is change the hydrangeas. This will increase acidity of the soil before the flowers of bigleaf ( hydrangea macrophylla ), also known mopheads. Takes a small amount of soil to produce blue blooms bloom in white or purple is a soil-chemistry that... 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