Color of Hydrangea Flowers - Knowledgebase Question

Medford, NJ
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Question by plembo
July 25, 1999
How can I retain the deep burgandy color flower that my hydrangea had when I purchased it? After two years the flowers are light pink in color. I have used Mir-acid occasionally.


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Answer from NGA
July 25, 1999
Soil acidity or alkalinity will change the color of hydrangea blooms. You can change the color back by treating the soil. Pink and red bydrangeas often turn blue or purple in acid soils, and plants can be made red by liming the soil or applying superphosphate. For blue flowers, treat the soil with 2 Tablespoons of aluminum sulphate per plant, making 4-6 applications at 2 week intervals, starting in the early spring before the plants bloom. (Sulfur will acidify the soil. The desired pH range would be between 5.5 and 6.) For pink flowers, add lime to the soil, to raise the pH above 7.8). Test your soil to measure the pH range.

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