Do you want blue or pink hydrangeas? You can change their color very easily. That's how!
Did you know that hydrangeas in your garden can change color? This effect depends on the pH of the soil in which they live. We'll teach you how to get blue or pink hydrangeas!
Bright and delicate, hydrangeas are flowers that come in a variety of colors, including pink, blue, red, purple and even white. But did you know that we can change their color to suit our taste? Especially some types of hydrangeas, such as Hydrangea macrophylla and Hydrangea serrata, writes House Digest. This is possible because the shade of hydrangea flowers is determined by the pH of the soil in which they live, and as the pH changes, the color also changes.
Why the shade of hydrangea can change
In acidic soils (with a pH of 5 to 5.5), hydrangeas develop blue or purple flowers, while in alkaline soils (with a pH of 6.5 to 7) pink or red flowers appear, and in soils with a neutral pH (about 6 and above). up to 6.5) often produces shades of purple or lavender. This is due to the aluminum content in the soil, which affects the absorption of nutrients by plants, the source reports.
If you want to change the color of the hydrangeas in your garden, it is best if you switch from pink hydrangeas to blue hydrangeas or vice versa.
Advice: Before making any pH adjustments, it is recommended to conduct a soil test, which can be found at garden centers. Testing your soil will give you valuable information about your current pH levels and nutrient composition.
How to change the color of a hydrangea
Giving blue hydrangeas, you can use aluminum sulfate or sulfuric acid, substances that help lower the pH of the soil. It is ideal to apply these substances to the soil in early spring or autumn. On the other hand, to get pink hydrangeas, you can use lime, wood ash or baking soda. These substances raise the pH level, making the soil more alkaline, which helps achieve a pink hue. Getting shades violet or lavender requires balancing acidic and alkaline soil conditions. Correction can be done using special procedures.
Finally, remember that changing colors takes time and effort. It may take several months or even an entire season to achieve visible results.
Photo source: Schattestock
