| I purchased and potted (in a really big planter)an Endless Summer Hydrangea plant in the Spring. It had many big blooms on it which were blue originally and some were white. Now the blooms are green in color. Is this normal? The plant looks healthy otherwise and in a good location on my deck. I have read about additives to the soil to change the color, but do I have to do this to keep the color? Or is there something wrong with the plant? |
| This plant blooms on both old and new wood, so it develops flower buds ongoing during the summer. The original blooms were probably formed on wood that grew last year, the new flowers are more recently formed. To maintain the blue coloring the soil pH must be acidic; it is possible your plant is rooting out beyond the original potting mix and the mix you used is not acidic enough to maintain the blue coloring. However, it often takes hydrangeas a year or so to settle into a new location and soil, so I would suggest you wait and see what happens by the end of the season. If the color has gone to pink then you know your soil is somewhat neutral to alkaline in pH. If you would prefer blue, then you would need to gradually acidify the soil, you can also use a water soluble fertilizer for acid loving plants. This pH lowering can be done slowly over time using sulfur -- sold at garden centers. (Some people will suggest aluminum sulfate but the aluminum can build up in the soil and become toxic.) So, at this point I would still be a bit patient with it. Good luck with your hydrangea. |
