Typical color changes
A change in flower color is not sudden. Often two-colored flowers appear at first, which can look very attractive. So it can happen that:
- A pink hydrangea will turn creamy white or greenish pink.
- A blue hydrangea pink blooms.
- A white hydrangea is sprouting green flowers.
also read
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The soil conditions determine the flower color
If you plant the hydrangea in normal garden soil with a pH of around 6, most varieties will flower pink. Only in very acidic soils with a pH value of 5.5 can the hydrangeas absorb enough aluminum from the soil to change the flower color to blue. If, on the other hand, the hydrangea thrives in a more alkaline substrate with a pH value above 6.5, the flowers will turn bright pink or even red.
If the background changes, the original shade of the flowers often fades before a new shade appears.
Prevent it from fading
So that the hydrangea blooms in the desired color, the correct pH value of the soil should be taken into account when planting. You can measure this value yourself with test strips from the gardening trade and prepare the substrate accordingly.
Acidify the soil - blue hydrangeas
If you plant a blue hydrangea and the substrate has a pH value higher than 5.5, you should enrich the soil with a larger amount of compost or rhododendron soil. The soil is also acidified in a natural way by spreading bark mulch.
You can also try to water the hydrangea with water and vinegar before applying blue fertilizer containing aluminum. Add so much vinegar to the watering water until the desired pH value is reached.
Shift the soil value to the alkaline range - red and pink hydrangeas
If the soil is too acidic and you want bright pink or red flowers, the subsoil must have a pH value of over 6.5. You can do this by regularly liming the soil.
Tips & Tricks
Shortly before blooming, the flowers fade naturally and exude a uniquely morbid charm. As long as the drifting hydrangea flowers show strong colors, you do not need to take any action.
