Almost like a mood ring, you can change the flower color of certain hydrangeas from pink to purple and sky blue. But instead of temperature changing the color as in a mood ring, the pH, or the acidity, of the soil in your garden controls whether you'll have blue hydrangeas or pink ones. By adjusting the pH, you can turn pink flowers into blue (or blue flowers into pink). Growing the best blue hydrangeas on the block starts with testing your soil; if it's not acidic enough, you may end up with pink or purple flowers instead. Follow these tips to make sure you'll get gorgeous blue flowers every time.
Bigleaf hydrangeas are toxic. Keep the plant away from small children or pets.
The 1. Choose the Right Kind of Hydrangea
Only the flowers of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) can change color. Other types, such as oakleaf hydrangeas or smooth hydrangeas such as 'Annabelle', only bloom in white or cream. These plants are just as full and beautiful, but if your goal is blue hydrangeas, make sure you're planting varieties that can turn the shade you want.
The 2. Choose Blue Hydrangea Varieties
Look for hydrangeas that are bred to be blue such as 'Nikko Blue', Endless Summer The Original, 'Penny Mac', 'Blauer Prinz', or Endless Summer Twist-n-Shout. The photo on the plant tag will help you choose blue-blooming varieties if the plants aren't in flower at the nursery.
The 3. Measure the Soil pH
Although doing this may sound like complicated chemistry, it's not. All soil has a pH value that measures its acidity or alkalinity. The pH scale is from 0 to 14; 7 is neutral. Soil pH values of less than 7 indicate degrees of acidity, and those greater than 7 indicate degrees of alkalinity. Use a soil test kit to determine your soil's current pH levels.
The 4. Pick the Flower Hue You Want
For true blue hydrangeas, the plants need to be grown in acidic soil with a pH of 5.5 or lower. For pink flowers, the plants need neutral to alkaline soils (pH 6.5 and higher). For purple blooms (or a mix of blue and pink flowers on the same plant), the pH of the soil must be between pH 5.5 and 6.5. Your soil test results will help you figure out what to do next.
The 5. Adjust the Soil pH
Most garden soils tend to be neutral, so you'll need to amp up the acidity to go blue. You can do that in a variety of ways. Organic acidifiers include sulfur and sulfate. There are also easy-to-use soil additives made specifically for hydrangeas. Bailey's Color Me Blue (soil sulfur) or Bailey's Color Me Pink (garden lime) change the pH of the soil so you can enjoy the hydrangea bloom color you want. These all-natural products make the soil more acidic (for blue hydrangeas) or alkaline (for pink). Add the pelleted mixture to the soil when you plant your hydrangea.
The 6. Continue to Acidify the pH for Blue Hydrangeas
Your soil pH likely will need regular adjustment to produce consistently blue blooms. Gently work acidifying soil additives into the top layer of the soil around the root zone whenever you'd normally fertilize your hydrangeas, usually in early spring. Also, if you're starting with alkaline or neutral soil and trying to make it more acidic, remember that blue hydrangeas won't suddenly appear overnight. It'll probably take multiple applications to make your soil acidic enough, and if your hydrangeas have already bloomed pink, you might not see blue flowers until next year.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will blue hydrangeas come back after the winter?Most planted hydrangeas, blue, white, or pink, are pretty hardy and should survive winter. Still, some hydrangeas gifted in pots and replanted may not do as well. Ensure the hydrangea you choose for your garden suits your climate. In very cold temperatures, hydrangeas will need protection during the winter months.
Most planted hydrangeas, blue, white, or pink, are pretty hardy and should survive winter. Still, some hydrangeas gifted in pots and replanted may not do as well. Ensure the hydrangea you choose for your garden suits your climate. In very cold temperatures, hydrangeas will need protection during the winter months.
- Can I use vinegar to turn my hydrangeas blue?Adding vinegar to the soil around hydrangeas may work to turn them blue, but it will take a long time for them to change color, and the blue tint will last a short time. Also, vinegar will repel beneficial insects while inviting destructive ones to your garden, so using vinegar to turn hydrangeas blue isn't recommended.
Adding vinegar to the soil around hydrangeas may work to turn them blue, but it will take a long time for them to change color, and the blue tint will last a short time. Also, vinegar will repel beneficial insects while inviting destructive ones to your garden, so using vinegar to turn hydrangeas blue isn't recommended.
- What meaning do blue hydrangea flowers have?Blue hydrangeas are the perfect gift to give when an apology is needed or you're asking for forgiveness. They symbolize regret and remorse.
Blue hydrangeas are the perfect gift to give when an apology is needed or you're asking for forgiveness. They symbolize regret and remorse.