If you want a blue one to stay blue, and your soil doesn't suit - you'll need to make a raised bed or large container for it so that you can choose the medium accordingly CFC.
Neutral soil can often mean the colour can be somewhere in between pink and blue, but it also depends on the type and variety of hydrangea - some are affected more than others.
The water you use can also affect the colour, so it's usually recommended not to use tapwater. That's not an issue if you're in a soft water area though. Too much sun can also have an affect - as with many plants. Whites are different - it's only the blue and pink ones that change colour, and of course, at this time of year, they're changing/fading anyway.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My Hydrangeas are definitely two separate plants - the 'flowers' are quite different. The bluer one is changing colour now to a lovely pale green so will be excellent as a dried flower.
I think its the availability of the various nutrients & minerals that influence the colour really & soil pH that affects that availability. I grow a pair of blue flowered Hydrangeas in large pots as well as keeping the soil pH low we also add Aluminium Sulphate (sold as Hydrangea colourant). I also have to water them with rain water only as I am in a hard water area. If I forget all this at any time the flowers will be pink once they are "set" for the season you can't change them but if I re-acidify then new flowers will be blue. Maybe the erratic rainfall we have had in many areas has affected the mineral availability in your soil.
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If you want a blue one to stay blue, and your soil doesn't suit - you'll need to make a raised bed or large container for it so that you can choose the medium accordingly CFC.
Neutral soil can often mean the colour can be somewhere in between pink and blue, but it also depends on the type and variety of hydrangea - some are affected more than others.
The water you use can also affect the colour, so it's usually recommended not to use tapwater. That's not an issue if you're in a soft water area though. Too much sun can also have an affect - as with many plants. Whites are different - it's only the blue and pink ones that change colour, and of course, at this time of year, they're changing/fading anyway.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I want one like Miss Sunshine and Aunty Rach...no acidic soil here and although I love hydrangeas I miss the huge blue flowers I had in Yorkshire
Though I did treat myself yesterday and rescued a paniculate grandiflora that had clearly been mistreated.
Then reeled back when I looked up how big it could get left to itself. The only answer clearly is NOT to leave it to itself!!
Last edited: 14 August 2017 04:01:45
My Hydrangeas are definitely two separate plants - the 'flowers' are quite different. The bluer one is changing colour now to a lovely pale green so will be excellent as a dried flower.
I think its the availability of the various nutrients & minerals that influence the colour really & soil pH that affects that availability. I grow a pair of blue flowered Hydrangeas in large pots as well as keeping the soil pH low we also add Aluminium Sulphate (sold as Hydrangea colourant). I also have to water them with rain water only as I am in a hard water area. If I forget all this at any time the flowers will be pink once they are "set" for the season you can't change them but if I re-acidify then new flowers will be blue. Maybe the erratic rainfall we have had in many areas has affected the mineral availability in your soil.
Just an Idea.
well iain I didn't know that