Hydrangea Health Care
How do I change the color of my blossoms?
If you want blue or purple flowers you need acidic soil. To produce pink or deep magenta flowers you need an alkaline soil. For pale or cream colored blossoms you must have a more neutral soil. White hydrangeas generally cannot be changed. If you see the intensity of the colors changing from year to year it’s simply the plant adjusting to weather, humidty, or just the plant’s general health. Oftentimes when hydrangeas are transplanted into new soil they will change color too. So with all these variables, how do you get the color you want? The key is aluminum. It exists naturally in most soil. Keep aluminum away from the roots if you want pink blossoms and allow the roots to take aluminum in for shades of blue. For pink blossoms: Adding dolomitic lime several times each growing season or using fertilizer that is rich with phosphorus will raise the pH levels to the ideal 6 to 6.2 and help keep aluminum at bay.
For blue or purple-ish flowers: Adding aluminum sulfate to the soil during the growing season will lower the pH levels to the necessary 5.2 to 5.5 level. Mix a solution of about 1 gallon of water with 1 tablespoon of aluminum sulfate and be cautious when applying because too much can burn the roots. Holly-tone fertilizer is recommended for creating an acidic soil. Some people even add organic compost material (coffee grounds, fruit & vegetables, grass clippings) around the soil at the base of the plant to lower pH levels. If you’re hydrangea is near a concrete patio or walkway you may have trouble achieving blue blossoms because lime from the concrete may seep into the surrounding soil which will maintain shades of pink.
Why isn’t my hydrangea blooming?
There are a few different reasons your hydrangea plant may not flower. Sometimes we might have a warm spell that encourages the plant to bud early and then a late spring frost comes along and damages all the new bloom buds. In this situation you may not get any flowers until the following year, again, weather permitting. Improper pruning can also leave you blossom-less. If you are cutting the stems too far down once the bloom buds have begun developing it stunts the growth of that new blossom. You’re hydrangea also might just not take to the climate it is located in. Endless Summer and Brushing Bride hydrangeas grow just about anywhere and are the hardiest types for this area. It is best to buy hydrangeas from a local nursery where they have been growing in the same climate so as not to shock it once planted. With winter temperatures in this area sometimes in the single digits, we suggest protecting your dormant hydrangea. You can frame the hydrangea with steaks and burlap and then insulate the enclosure with leaves or straw. Just be careful not to break the tips off the branches because the buds have already formed there for the coming summer.
How do I dry out my blossoms?
By the end of the summer your hydrangeas will be fading to various shades of pale blues and purples. To perserve this look you can easily dry out the blossoms by cutting the blooms and removing the leaves. Arrange them as you wish with or without water and soon the flowers will dry out. Unlike other flowers, you don’t have to hang them upside down to dry out.
How can I safely prune my hydrangeas?
Regular pruning is important to get the best looking hydrangeas. You have probably seen the stems that sag to the ground with the weight of the blossoms. This occurs when the bush becomes too leggy when it hasn’t been properly pruned and it can result in the stems breaking. Blue and pink mophead hydrangeas (macrophylia) are the most common types and only bloom on the stems from the previous summer (called “old wood”). Since they will produce buds on these stems between August and October for the following summer. So you must be careful not to prune in late summer through the spring otherwise you may not see flowers that next summer. Pruning should be done in June and July and stems should be cut as short as possible. The safest way is to cut above the first group of large leaves. (Source: www.HydrangeasHydrangeas.com)