If you’re growing hydrangeas in your garden, you may have heard that it’s possible to alter the color or hue of your plants by altering the pH of the soil. While those interested in hydrangea care and cultivation have been using different methods for years, amateur plant ladies (or fellas!) may still be asking how to change hydrangea color. Keep reading, dear friends, to find out!
Which Hydrangeas Change Color?
Hydrangeas are billowing, beautiful, and giant flowers that are an excellent addition to any DIY or hydrangea you ordered online. They’re generally beloved by all thanks to their limited scent and their versatility. But one of our favorite things about growing hydrangeas is the possibility of changing their color.
Still, those already pursuing their plant lady dreams by investing in hydrangea care really need to know which hydrangeas can change color before pouring a bunch of kitchen ingredients into the garden.
The short answer: All of them except the white ones. White hydrangeas cannot be altered by changing the pH of the soil in the same way that pink and blue hydrangeas can.
How to Change Hydrangea Color
If you’re absolutely in love with the unique and beautiful blue of hydrangeas, we feel you. Hydrangea blue isn’t common in the natural world and is in fact not found in any other natural element in its exact hue. Many begin growing hydrangeas for the simple addition of that specific color to their garden.
But before you purchase a beautiful, healthy hydrangea at your local garden store, you might want to start by first testing the pH of your garden soil. Hydrangeas naturally change color due to the pH level of their surrounding soil: High acidity generally means more blue. Lower acidity, or more alkaline soil, is how you get pink and even green hydrangeas.
If your garden has very low pH, then keeping your hydrangeas blue will be an uphill battle. You may want to consider spending time altering your soil for a season to get the right pH level before adding hydrangeas to the mix.
On the other hand: where there’s a will, there’s a way. Adding organic materials such as coffee grounds, citrus peels, and even eggshells can all work toward raising the pH of your soil.
Thankfully, all of these items can be found in a typical kitchen. Instead of throwing out your kitchen scraps, simply add them to your garden.
Before trying to change your soil composition, however, it’s a good idea to purchase a pH soil test kit and keep the pH strips on hand for regular monitoring.
Hydrangea Care 101
Did you know that there are about 75 different species of hydrangeas? Learning how to change hydrangea color might be one of the most fun parts of growing hydrangeas, but choosing between pink, blue, or white hydrangeas can also be a fun experience.
Here are five things you need to know about hydrangea care:
- They are a flowering shrub, so they’ll take up lots of room in your garden.
- They’re a perennial plant that can live for up to 50 years!
- They are heavy drinkers, so you’ll want to keep the water coming.
- They can grow in full sun or partial shade, depending on the type.
- They grow in USDA zones 2 to 9, so they’re very versatile.
If growing hydrangeas and general hydrangea care are just not your thing, but you still want to enjoy the beauty of these lovely blooms, consider ordering bouquets online with your favorite flower in them instead. Bouqs with hydrangeas are always a top hit for special occasions and for beautiful everyday centerpieces.
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