Hydrangea is white and pink. Change the color of the hydrangea

Hydrangeas will bloom blue (rather than pink) when grown in acidic soil. Sometimes hydrangeas can change color over time if the acidity level of the soil changes. Therefore, if you want to have blue flowers all the time, you will need to monitor the pH of the soil and take steps to maintain its acidity. This is pretty easy - go to Step 1 to get started.

Steps

Part 1

Scientific background

Be aware that hydrangeas will bloom blue in acidic soil, while hydrangeas will bloom pink in alkaline soil. Hydrangeas can be called unique garden plants precisely because of their ability to change the color of flowers in accordance with the pH of the soil. This means that the color of the hydrangea flowers in your garden will depend on whether the soil is acidic or alkaline.

FROM scientific point The reason for this is that the availability of aluminum to plants depends on the acidity of the soil (also known as pH). Acidic soils have a high aluminum content, which leads to the formation of blue flowers.
Alkaline soil is the reason for the appearance of pink flowers in hydrangea; on acidic soil, the same plant will have blue flowers. The exception to this rule is white or green hydrangeas, which have only one color. Therefore, you cannot make the white hydrangea bloom pink or blue.

Check the acidity (pH) of your soil. To find out if your garden soil is alkaline or acidic, take a pH reading. This will help you find out how likely the hydrangea is to have blue flowers.
- If the soil pH is below 5.5, then your hydrangeas will bloom bright blue flowers.
- If the pH is between 5.5 and 6.5, the flowers will have a fantastic purple color.
- If the pH is above 6.5, the flowers will be pink.
Use white vinegar to determine if your soil is acidic or alkaline. This requires distilled white vinegar. Take a handful of soil, pour vinegar on top and wait for the reaction.

Determine the pH of your soil scientifically. If you want to know the exact pH value of your soil, you can check it using the dedicated test set. These kits are widely available at garden centers or online stores. When using them, follow the instructions on the packaging.
- Alternatively, you can take a sample of your soil to your local garden center, where the acidity (pH) of your soil will be determined.

Part 2

How to make the soil more acidic

Spray the soil with elemental sulfur. To keep your hydrangea flowers blue, spray the soil around the shrub with elemental sulfur to lower the pH below 5.5. The amount of elemental sulfur required will vary depending on the type of soil and how much the pH needs to be changed.
- To lower the pH by one unit on loamy or silty clay soils, apply ¾ pound of elemental sulfur per 25 square feet. In other words, it takes ¾ pound to lower the pH from 6 to 5. On sandy or sandy loam soil, less than ¼ pound of elemental sulfur is required to lower the pH by one unit.
- Begin spraying the soil with elemental sulfur about 2 feet from the outer edge of the canopy. Spread the sulfur evenly over the soil about 4 to 6 inches from the hydrangea shoots. This is the area where most of the growing roots are located, which absorb water and nutrients.
- Use a small hand rake to stir the elemental sulfur into the topsoil (1 to 2 inches), then water liberally so that the sulfur is absorbed into the soil. Elemental sulfur will need to be reused from time to time in order for the flowers to retain their blue color.
Use acidic compost and aluminum sulfate powder. If you are planting a hydrangea in an alkaline garden and want blue flowers, you will need to add a sufficient amount of acidic compost and aluminum sulfate to the soil when planting and regularly apply these substances throughout the life of the plant.

Apply a fertilizer that is low in phosphorus and high in potassium. All hydrangeas benefit from fertilization. To make hydrangeas bloom blue or keep them blue, use a fertilizer that is low in phosphorus and high in potassium.

Use organic matter to increase soil acidity. If you do not allow the use of chemicals in your garden, then use organic substances such as cut grass, fruit and vegetable waste, or used coffee grounds. The soil will gradually become more acidic.

Water hydrangeas with rainwater. Try to water your hydrangeas using rainwater rather than tap water. If you use "hard" tap water for blue hydrangeas, it will neutralize the acidity of the soil, and the flowers will gradually turn pink. How to collect rainwater, you can learn from this article.

Hydrangea is one of the most beautiful and luxurious ornamental plantsthat can be grown on your site. In the summer-autumn period, beautiful bright green bushes with large spherical inflorescences catch the eyes of passers-by, and the pleasant aroma makes you dizzy. The variety of colors of hydrangea inflorescences is simply amazing, among which varieties with blue flowers are especially distinguished.

Blue hydrangea is not a separate type of culture, but only a group of shrubs united by the color of the inflorescences. Among them, hydrangeas can be distinguished with one or several colors, which change throughout the season. In addition, this plant has one very interesting feature... You can color the hydrangea blue to make it more vibrant.

In this article, we will consider the features of growing blue hydrangea varieties on your site, as well as their main characteristics. Let's note the important points of planting and caring for blue hydrangea.

Features and description of blue hydrangea

Hydrangea is a representative of the genus of flowering plants that belongs to the Hortensia family. This group of plants has about 80-100 species, which differ in different cultivation characteristics, as well as in the size and color of the inflorescences. The natural habitat is the territory of East and South Asia, namely Japan and China. There are some varieties of hydrangea on Far East at North America... In all these territories, you can find a variety of varieties of hydrangeas - tree-like forms, shrubs, vines, climbing plants, deciduous and evergreen, dwarf and tall forms of hydrangea. Blue hydrangea is most often found in the large-leaved species of this culture, which are famous for the brightest and most impressive inflorescences.

The flowering hydrangea plant has several interesting stories the origin of their name, which most accurately describe the appearance and growth features of the plant. According to one of the legends, the name of this ornamental shrub was given in honor of Princess Hortense, who was the sister of the Holy Roman Empire Karl of Nassau-Siegen. This girl was famous for her beauty, so her name began to be identified with this magnificent plant. The plant got its scientific name because of the important features of its growth - in Greek it is translated as "a vessel with water". This is due to the fact that the hydrangea loves to grow in wet areas, and can die from drying out.

In our gardens, you can find garden hydrangea with blue inflorescences and large-leaved blue hydrangea. Most often, it is these varieties that are famous for their large bright blue flowers. In addition, they can be grown not only in the garden and on the site, but also at home.

Description of blue hydrangea:

Blue flowered hydrangeas are considered to be deciduous flowering shrubs for the most part, and belong to the popular Large-leaved hydrangea variety.
Large-leaved hydrangeas have been cultivated for a long time. They were originally cultivated as a pot crop, as the first varieties were very delicate and capricious. In the future, breeders bred more frost-resistant varieties that can withstand severe frosts.
In nature, blue hydrangea bushes can reach about 1-3 meters, however, garden plot bushes of this plant can grow only 100-150 cm.
Throughout the season, bushes of varieties large-leaved hydrangea with blue and blue flowers are covered with large and oval leaves with a wavy edge. The leaf plate is bright green.
The main decoration of blue hydrangea is considered to be large spherical inflorescences, which are slightly flattened on top.
The inflorescences consist of fairly large flowers that have several beautiful petals and a vessel-like base.
The buds of this variety of hydrangea are laid on the shoots of the current year, and flowers are given the next year. That is why it is so important to carefully monitor the condition of the shoots throughout the season.
The group of hydrangeas with blue inflorescences includes varieties with sky blue flowers, bright blue, as well as flowers that change 2 or 3 colors per season.
Often on the Internet you can find questions on how to make a hydrangea blue. Don't be surprised, this plant has a very interesting feature. If a pink hydrangea grows on your site, you can get a non-two-color hydrangea with pink-blue flowers, the color of which changes as you wish. What can be used to water hydrangea for blue color? For this, fertilizers with a high content of sulfur or iron are suitable, i.e. you just need to increase the acidity of the soil. This is due to the presence of anthocyanin in the plant, which contributes to the color change of the buds. In the same way, you can enhance the color of flowers with initially blue inflorescences. Many gardeners simply bury rusty iron objects next to a hydrangea bush, which, through natural oxidation, will stain the inflorescences.
Many varieties of large-leaved hydrangea are not suitable for growing in central Russia, however, breeders have bred a large number of frost-resistant varieties that can be used to decorate your site. And since blue hydrangea varieties are most often found among large-leaved varieties, if you want to grow this gorgeous bush in a temperate climate, give preference to frost-resistant varieties.

Hydrangea varieties with blue flowers

Blue hydrangea is not a separate type of ornamental shrub, but a whole group of different varieties with blue or blue inflorescences. Mostly all varieties of blue hydrangea are large-leaved, which is famous for its beauty and splendor. Consider the characteristics of the most popular hydrangea varieties with bright blue flowers.

Hydrangea "Endless Summer". This is the first repair hydrangeawhich has gained popularity around the world. In height, the shrub can reach 120-150 cm, in width the plant also grows very strongly - by about 100-120 cm.This ornamental shrub will delight you with large and beautiful inflorescences, which can reach about 10-15 cm in diameter. Depending on the acidity of the soil , this variety of hydrangea can be blue and light blue. Sometimes flowers of two colors can be observed on one bush.
Hydrangea "Nikko Blue". It is the next cultivar after the Endless Summer hydrangea, which has a long and profuse flowering. It is a medium-sized and fast-growing shrub that can reach a height of 1.5 m. An important feature This hydrangea variety is that the inflorescences appear on the shoots of the current year and the past. Inflorescences can be white or sky blue, depending on the acidity of the soil. Flowers are collected in large, up to 15-30 cm in diameter, spherical inflorescences. If you want to get flowers in a rich blue color, the shrub can be watered with aluminum sulfate so that the soil pH is 5.2-5.5.
Hydrangea "Mini Penny". This is a remontant hydrangea variety that is compact bushes. Hydrangea Mini Penny is great for container growing due to its small size. This ornamental shrub forms flowering buds on the shoots of the current year. The inflorescences are pink or blue, depending on the acidity of the soil.

Hydrangea varieties "Tvist-n-Shout". A short bush, which can reach a height of 100-120 cm. The plant is formed by reddish shoots with bright green foliage, which become burgundy in autumn. The color of the inflorescences changes from pink to blue depending on the soil. The inflorescence is an openwork core surrounded by large flowers.
Hydrangea "Blue Wave". This hydrangea variety is bred in Holland. A medium-sized variety with a thick and tough stem and beautiful inflorescences that have almost white flowers, which only acquire a bluish tint towards the end of flowering. This variety does not change color as much.
Hydrangea "Bluebird". Hydrangea Bluebird is a very popular ornamental shrub that is great for decorating a plot. This hydrangea variety is distinguished by a large number of inflorescences, even on young bushes. The inflorescences are openwork cores surrounded by beautiful sterile flowers. The shade of the inflorescences can change: on acidic soil, the flowers will be white or light blue, and on alkaline soil they will be pink.

Hydrangea "Ramars". A very interesting variety of hydrangea, the main feature of which is the variety of colors. Some plants are completely covered with purple or violet flowers, others are delightful with white-blue or blue inflorescences.
Hydrangea variety "Freedom". It is a bicolor variety. At the very beginning of flowering, a lush bush is covered with pink inflorescences, the core of which becomes blue over time, and the edges are white.
Hortensia "Jomari". A beautiful variety of hydrangea with large double flowers of a light blue color. Inflorescences appear on the shoots of the second year.
Hydrangea variety "Compaito". Refers to hybrid varieties. It is a compact, medium-sized shrub. Inflorescences are large spherical, lilac-blue with a snow-white core.
Hydrangea "Hopcorn Blue". A very unusual variety of hydrangea, which is notable for its short stature. On average, the height of such a bush is 60-80 cm. The inflorescences have an interesting tulip-like shape of blue color. Inflorescences are formed on the shoots of the second year.

Reproduction of blue hydrangea: the most common ways

Blue hydrangea varieties reproduce in the same way as other varieties of this crop. Several methods are suitable for independent breeding of hydrangeas: seed propagation, propagation by cuttings, dividing the bush and layering. Each of the methods has its own characteristics that you need to know to get a beautiful and flowering plant.

Seed propagation of blue hydrangea

This method is suitable for breeding species of hydrangeas. It is used by breeders to develop new varieties. In addition, this is a rather complicated method that takes a lot of time.
Sowing blue hydrangea seeds should be done in the fall.
To do this, prepare a container and fill it with a soil mixture, which should consist of leafy earth, peat and river sand.
The soil is moistened and hydrangea seeds are sown over the surface, after which they are covered with a small layer of earth.
The container must be covered with foil or glass to create greenhouse effect and put in a sunny place, since the germination of hydrangea seeds requires a temperature of 14-20 degrees.
You regularly need to ventilate the crops and moisten the soil from a spray bottle. The soil should always be moist.
The first shoots appear in about 1-1.5 months, only after that the shelter is removed.
Seedlings need to be dived twice. The first time this is done when a pair of leaves appears, and the second time in May.
In May, young seedlings are planted in separate pots and periodically exposed to fresh air for hardening.
At home, hydrangea seedlings are grown for two years, after which in the fall the grown seedlings can be planted in a permanent place.

Reproduction of hydrangea blue by cuttings

This method of propagation of hydrangeas is considered the most popular, and it is also a fairly simple option.
It is necessary to harvest cuttings from April to June, while the planting material should be 10-15 cm and it should be cut from young shoots, or rather from their tops.
The cut should be at right angles.
For rooting, it is necessary to prepare special containers with soil mixture, or you can plant cuttings in greenhouses.
The soil mixture should consist of river sand and peat, where it is recommended to add a little moss to increase moisture.
Before planting, cuttings must be treated with growth stimulants.
The cuttings are rooted at a slight angle at a distance of about 5 cm between them.
It takes about 4-5 weeks for complete rooting. During this time, young plants acquire fairly strong and developed roots.
In the first year after planting, the seedlings need to be covered and the inflorescences cut off.
You can do winter cuttings, but this is only suitable for large-leaved hydrangea, to which most varieties of blue hydrangea belong.
Cuttings can be harvested in February, and for this you need to transplant an adult plant into a container and transfer it to the house. And then cut the ripe shoots into cuttings.
There should be 2 knots on the cuttings, lower leaves are completely cut off, and the upper ones are partially removed.
Before rooting, the cuttings are treated with a growth stimulant.

Reproduction of blue hydrangea by layering

Reproduction of hydrangea with blue layers is carried out in the spring.
To do this, it is necessary to select strong lateral shoots on an adult shrub, and grooves are prepared under them, the depth of which should be about 15-20 cm.
Shoots are bent into these furrows and fixed with staples.
After that, you can make small cuts on the part of the shoot that comes into contact with the soil.
The central part of the shoot is covered with soil.
Further care consists in regular watering.
The cuttings take root around the next spring or fall, when the young plant can be detached from the mother bush and transplanted to a permanent place.

Preparation before planting blue hydrangea

Hydrangeas of all varieties, including those with blue inflorescences, do not differ in their capricious character, however, for their full growth, some features and rules must be strictly observed. First of all, it is important to carry out thorough preparatory work, including purchasing a high-quality seedling and finding the ideal planting site on your site.

Stage 1. Choice of variety and seedling of blue hydrangea

First of all, you need to decide on the variety of blue hydrangea that you want to grow on your site. For middle band Russia needs to select modern frost-resistant varieties of hydrangea with blue inflorescences. You can turn your attention to such varieties as "Bluebird", "Early Sensation", "Endless Summer" and others.
It is necessary to purchase blue hydrangea seedlings in specialized garden centers and nurseries that are engaged in professional plant breeding. Only buying planting material in such a place will bring you the desired result.
You can buy blue hydrangea seedlings both with an open root system and with a closed one. It is only necessary to remember that young plants in a container can be planted at any time, and with open roots, they must be planted as soon as possible.
Be sure to carefully check the condition of the planting material before purchasing. The shoots of the plant should be strong, and young growing branches should also be visible.
If you are buying a seedling with an open root system, pay attention to the condition of the roots. They should be firm and soft. They can remain this way for some time.

Stage 2. Choosing a place for planting blue hydrangea

For hydrangea to grow fully, it is important to choose the right planting site.
It is important to remember that this plant prefers to grow in a slight partial shade, which allows the hydrangea to reveal all the beauty of its leaves and inflorescences.
Do not plant blue hydrangea seedlings on the open sunny side, as the inflorescences may become smaller.
A humid place is suitable for this plant.
If you decide to plant several hydrangeas side by side, do not forget to leave the necessary space for each plant, which should be about 2 m for a bush.

Stage 3. Selection and preparation of soil for planting blue hydrangea

Most importantly, you need to choose the right soil for planting hydrangeas. The condition of the plant and the color of its inflorescences will directly depend on this.
Hydrangea blue varieties prefers to grow in well-moist, drained soils. Ideal if soil moisture is natural.
The soil should not contain lime even in small quantities - this can affect the full development of the plant.
For hydrangeas with blue or blue buds, the soil should be at a pH of 5-5.5. This will contribute to brighter and more saturated colors. You can bury some rusty iron near the bush, this will enhance the color of the flowers.
It is important to carefully prepare the site before planting. To do this, carefully dig up the selected place, loosen the soil and level it. This can be done a couple of weeks before planting.

Blue hydrangea planting technology

In open ground, hydrangea is planted in spring or autumn. For central Russia, it is recommended to do spring plantingso that young plants can grow stronger before the onset of cold weather.
In the prepared area, it is necessary to dig a planting hole. It is best to do this one day before planting. The planting hole should be about twice the size of the root system with soil. You can focus on parameters 50 cm deep and 50 cm wide.
Also, about 3-5 buckets of water should be poured into the landing pits.
Prepare a potting mix consisting of leafy soil, high peat, sawdust compost that can be collected under spruce and pine trees, and river sand for drainage.
Mineral fertilizers and organic matter must also be added to the substrate.
In the prepared planting holes, you need to pour a small hill of soil mixture and put blue hydrangea seedlings on it.
After that, carefully fill the pits with soil and compact it around the plants with your hands. In this case, keep in mind that the root collar should be flush with the soil.
The near-stem trunk around the plants must be mulched. For this, a mixture of tree bark and sawdust is used.
Be sure to water the planted seedlings well.

Agrotechnology for growing blue hydrangea: secrets and nuances of care

Watering. Hydrangea is a moisture-loving plant that does not tolerate even the slightest drought. Therefore, it is important to strictly observe the watering regime. It is necessary to water each plant about 2 times a week, while 30-50 liters of warm and settled water should go to one plant.
Loosening and mulching. Periodically, it is important to loosen the soil around the plant well, thus providing oxygen access to the plant roots. However, you should be very careful when loosening, because the hydrangea root system is superficial. The permissible depth of loosening is 5 cm. At the very beginning of summer, it is worth mulching the trunk circle, which will protect the roots from overheating and drying out.
Top dressing. For the full growth of hydrangeas, it is important to carry out regular feeding. At least twice a year, plants are fed with complex mineral fertilizers - before and after flowering. You can use urea for this. During flowering, slurry can be used, but not often, so as not to overfeed the plant.

Hydrangea discoloration. If a pink hydrangea grows on your site, and you want to get a blue one, then you can try to repaint your flowers. To do this, use aluminum sulfate, about 1 tbsp. aluminum for 5 liters of water. With this composition, you can water the plant every 2 weeks.
Pruning. First of all, in the first year after planting, all flowers on the plant must be cut off. Pruning is done in the spring before the buds swell. Before winter, shoots are pruned to 4 buds, and if you need to update an old bush, cut the shoots to the very root. Formative pruning is needed to get a beautiful bush.
Hydrangea wintering. If you have planted a blue hydrangea of \u200b\u200bfrost-resistant varieties in the early years, you should still cover the plant for the winter. To do this, all shoots must be carefully bent to the ground and covered with spruce branches, sawdust and fallen grass. If a large amount of snow falls in winter, it is recommended to remove it, as its weight can break the shoots.

Photo of blue hydrangea

Hydrangea is a very bright and showy plant that will be a great decoration for your garden. The varieties with blue inflorescences are especially distinguished, the brightness of which can be changed at will independently. It is not difficult to grow such a miracle on your site, the main thing is to pay attention to the plant and take care of it.

Large-leaved hydrangea is one of the most spectacular ornamental-leaved shrubs. The lush caps of her flowers adorn the garden almost all summer. Few people know that this plant has one interesting feature: the color of the hydrangea buds, using special agronomic techniques, can be changed. For example, pink buds may turn blue.

What determines the color of a flower?

The possibility of changing the color of flowers in hydrangea is due to the presence in its buds of a special pigment delphinidin. It is he who, depending on the growing conditions, has the ability to change color.

Most growers believe that only the acidity level of the soil affects the color. But this statement is not entirely true. For example, in order for the pigment to acquire a blue tint, aluminum must enter into the reaction. In the overwhelming majority of cases, there is more than enough of it in the garden soil. Therefore, it is enough to change the acidity level, and it begins to be actively absorbed. As a result, the color of the inflorescences changes from pink to blue.

But this is not always the case. The availability of aluminum is strongly influenced by other batteries. With a high phosphorus content, aluminum is bound into hard-to-reach forms, which are practically not assimilated by hydrangea.

Of the main factors affecting the color of hydrangea, the following should be emphasized:

1. The level of acidity of the soil substrate.
2. The amount of aluminum available.
3. Varietal features.
4. Fertilizers used for feeding.

Features of color change

In the first year or two after transplanting, the hydrangea adapts to new conditions for it. Therefore, very often you can observe how after a while it changes color by itself. At the same time, inflorescences of different colors can be on one bush.

The vast majority of varieties of this shrub, with an acidic reaction of the soil substrate, bloom in blue. At alkaline or neutral pH, they turn pink. At intermediate values \u200b\u200bof acidity on one plant, you can observe shades of purple or a mixture of blue and pink colors.

To influence the color of the hydrangeas planted in the garden, it is imperative to monitor the acidity level of the soil. To do this, special kits for determining the pH level can be purchased in gardening stores. They include litmus paper and instructions for use, following which you can easily establish the acidity index.

The easiest way to control the color of hydrangeas is during container growing. It is more convenient and easier to maintain the acidity in the container at the required level and it is much easier to change the color.

The following ingredients are most commonly used to raise the pH level:

a piece of chalk
- dolomite flour
- fluff lime

Sulfur or ammonium sulfate is used to lower the soil pH. Also, the acidity level can be influenced by the introduction of acidic organic matter: peat, or the bark of coniferous trees. The exact amount of acidifying materials depends on the type of soil and the current acidity level.

For example, to lower the pH from 6.0 to 5.5 on loamy soils, about 110 g of sulfur will be required per square meter of area. On heavier clayey ones, it is recommended to increase its amount to 150 g.

When growing hydrangeas on alkaline soils, plants may lack iron and magnesium. With a lack of these microelements, the process of chlorophyll formation is disrupted. As a result, hydrangeas begin to suffer from interveinal chlorosis. It appears first on young leaves. Moreover, in severe cases, the newly formed leaves have white color... When there was no such choice modern means and fertilizers, to eliminate iron deficiency, various iron objects were buried in the soil. In the process of oxidation, they saturated the soil with the necessary compounds. In modern horticulture, iron chelate or iron sulfate is used for this.

How do I change the color to pink?

Hydrangea inflorescences will have pink color only if the plant is unable to assimilate the aluminum needed to form the blue pigment. And this can be achieved only by translating it into inaccessible forms. For this, the pH level must be greater than 6.5 units.

If the acidity level matches this indicator, nothing needs to be done to change the color to pink. In this case, it is simply necessary to monitor the condition of the plant, since under such conditions, iron deficiency is very often observed.

On acidic soils, the pH should be adjusted to between 6.0 and 6.2. To do this, dolomite flour or other limestone materials are added 2 - 3 times per season under the hydrangea. At the same time, acidity should be maintained at the same level and not allowed to rise to more than 6.5. The acidity index can be influenced by plants planted nearby. If you plan to get pink flowers, you should not place azaleas nearby, and others.

To convert aluminum into insoluble, difficult to digest forms under hydrangeas, fertilizers with a high content of phosphorus and nitrogen are additionally applied. In the process of soil oxidation, they will bind aluminum. When choosing fertilizers, preference should be given to those in which the ratio of the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium complex will be close to the value of 25:10:10. For example, ammonium monophosphate can be used.

When growing hydrangeas in highly acidic soils, you can get out of the situation using container growing methods. At the same time, landless substrates are used for stuffing flowerpots. For example, peat is well suited for these purposes, it has a very low aluminum content.

It is also not recommended to include in the substrate additives containing aluminosilicates: clay and expanded clay. Maintaining the correct pH in a container is much easier open ground... In addition, this method can be used to grow varieties with low level winter hardiness.

How do I change the color to blue?

For hydrangea flowers to be blue, aluminum in the soil must be in the form of readily available compounds and in sufficient quantities. This is only possible at pH 5.5 and below. If the garden soil meets these criteria, you do not need to do anything to change the color to blue. The plant itself will strive for blue and purple colors and their shades.

When growing hydrangeas in neutral or alkaline soil, acidification will be required to change the color. To do this, even when planting the plant, the soil from the planting pit is replaced with a more acidic one. In this case, the thickness of the acidified layer should be at least 25 - 30 cm. It is at this depth that most of the roots are located.

It is necessary to acidify soils with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction before planting hydrangeas. For this, high-moor peat or elemental sulfur is introduced for digging. In the future, to maintain acidity at the required level, irrigation is regularly carried out with a solution of ammonium sulfate. During the growing season, there should be at least 3 - 4. The consumption of ammonium sulfate is about 15 grams per liter of water.

When applying fertilizer, the following rules should be observed:

1. Strictly observe the application rate.
2. Do not feed sick and weakened bushes.
3. Apply fertilizers only on previously watered soil.

To maintain the acidic reaction, mulching materials with an acidifying effect are additionally used: moor peat or pine bark. It is impossible to use marble chips or expanded clay for mulching.

The following factors can also affect the color of hydrangeas:

1. Hard irrigation water. The calcium salts it contains will neutralize acidity.
2. Leached lime. Its source can be various concrete products or sidewalks.
3. The applied fertilizers. To maintain a rich color for application, it is recommended to use fertilizer types with a high potassium content and a small amount of phosphorus. At the same time, bone meal and superphosphate are not suitable for use.

On alkaline soils and soils heavily contaminated with alkaline compounds, it is difficult to maintain the required pH level. Therefore, in such conditions, it is most advisable to grow blue hydrangeas in large flowerpots. In this case, sour peat enriched with ammonium sulfate is used as a substrate for their packing. Also, you can additionally include about 10% clay. When purchasing ready-made earthen mixtures, preference should be given to those intended for cultivation or azaleas.

Enrich the soil in the container with ammonium sulfate as follows:

1. For each liter of potting mix, add 1.5 grams of powdered ammonium sulfate.
2. Moisten and stir the substrate well.
3. Withstand for 2 - 3 days.

Also, ammonium sulfate can be applied as a solution when watering. Its consumption is 15 grams per liter of water. For each liter of soil mixture, no more than 100 ml of such a solution should be spent.

After watering, the pH level should be checked constantly. Its optimal value should be in the range of 4 - 4.5 units. If necessary, after two weeks, re-irrigate with a fertilizer solution. During watering, care must be taken that the fertilizer mixture does not get on the leaves. When it comes into contact with green parts, plants can get serious chemical burns.

The process of changing the color of hydrangea buds is quite interesting. But doing this constantly is not worth it. Continuous application a large number fertilization will negatively affect the structure and composition of the soil.

Grassy perennial flower southern origin. During a long flowering period (from May to September) they are able to change color three times Paniculata varieties are very different: spreading, straight, with caps-inflorescences in the form of beautiful balls or pyramids with a diameter of up to 15 cm. They learned to protect him from winter frosts, and now he adorns the yards and front gardens of houses in

How the color of a herbaceous perennial hydrangea changes

Its paniculate varieties are green-red, and pink, but most often we find white ones. The color depends on the land on which the flower grows. The acidic soil gives a blue-blue hue, the slightly alkaline soil acts on this plant in such a way that the flowers turn pink. If in autumn you pour a forest soil mixture of coniferous needles and peat (with a bucket) under a bush, blue flowers will appear on the inflorescences. In the spring, the bush will acquire a reddish color from manure fertilizer with a glass of lime and two glasses of ash. Now special fertilizers are made for various shades.

Greenish yellow limelight panicles.

Lovely pink beauty on a background of blue spruce.

The wide leaves of the mini-penny hydrangea accentuate the vibrancy of the violet and blue.

Perfect with girlish grass.

Hydrangea paniculata "vanilla"

Vanilla fraise - this is the name of the new iconic Paniculata varieties of this species differ only in the size of the base of the inflorescence pyramid. There are large panicles up to 30 cm tall (giants), smaller clusters are no less popular. The color of creamy snow-white vanilla gradually changes to pale pink at the beginning of summer. By the end of summer, the base of the brush turns into a "red strawberry", fragrant and appetizing. “Red strawberry ice cream cone” - this is how the growers call it, other lovers of beauty add “with cream”. Under the weight of impressive inflorescences, the erect bush takes the shape of a ball.

Growing and care

The land for planting is dug up with the addition of organic fertilizers, if the soil is heavy, clayey or loamy. Planting does not begin immediately, when the ground has rest for several days. The bush is planted in a damp hole 40 cm deep. The ground around the bush is immediately mulched with peat or sawdust. During the summer, the plant is carefully cared for. Watering, loosening, top dressing, treatment with pest control is mandatory. A sunny place is perfect for hydrangeas. Its paniculate varieties also adapt well in the shade, you just have to water less. The wind doesn't like that. In the first winter, it must be sheltered from frost, in the following - as needed. In early spring, to form a beautiful crown and stimulate flowering, the tree is well pruned, about 60% of the total volume.

Any site can be decorated with a charming single beauty. It takes your breath away if you look at a group of snow-white, rose bushes.

HOW DO I CHANGE THE COLOR OF HORTENSE? It is often asked whether it is possible to change the white flowers of the tree hydrangea to blue. The answer is unequivocal - only large-leaved hydrangea has the ability to change color. White flowers even in large-leaved hydrangea do not stain at all. By the end of summer, they can acquire only a pink bloom, similar to a blush, and purple spots and dots will appear on the petals. Aluminum salts give a blue color. Changing the color of a hydrangea from pink to blue is easier than changing from blue to pink. Changing from pink to blue involves adding aluminum to the soil, and from blue to pink means removing aluminum from the soil or making it inaccessible to hydrangeas. Dye it pink Add dolomite flour several times a season to help reduce acidity. Hydrangea absorbs aluminum better from acidic soils and, therefore, to prevent this, the pH must be brought to 6.0-6.2. At pH values \u200b\u200babove 6.4, hydrangeas can suffer from iron deficiency. Since this plant absorbs aluminum better at low pH values, raising it will help to curb the bluing effect. Use fertilizers with a high phosphorus content - it prevents aluminum from entering the plant. Choose fertilizers containing NPK elements ~ 25:10:10. If you grow mostly blue hydrangeas (soil contains aluminum), grow pink hydrangeas in containers with a substrate for pink hydrangeas. "Repaint" in blue There should be aluminum in the soil - dig in aluminum sulfate around the bush. Recommended for 1 sq. m add 500 g of dry aluminum sulfate. In order for the color of the flowers to be true blue, you will have to apply it several times during the year, especially if the soil has a high pH. There is water-soluble aluminum sulfate, which is added to water during irrigation. You can prepare a solution (15 g of aluminum sulfate / 4 l of water) and water it with a 2-3 year old bush. Experts recommend watering with a solution of potassium alum twice (30-40 g / 1 bucket of water). For an adult bush with one watering - two or three buckets, otherwise the color change will be partial. For aluminum to be available to the plant, the soil pH should be no higher than 5.2-5.5. At a pH of 5.5 to 6.0, you will get a transitional color, shades of magenta. Firstly, aluminum sulfate itself increases acidity, and secondly, you can add organic matter, coffee grounds, cut grass, sawdust, shavings, apple infusion. Choose fertilizers that are low in phosphorus and high in potassium (NPK \u003d 20: 5: 30), this will enhance the blue color. If you want blue flowers, avoid adding superphosphate and bone meal. Once your hydrangea is bright blue or light blue, patiently create and maintain the conditions required to keep the color. Plants should not be planted in slightly acidic or alkaline soil, even for a short time, the water for irrigating hydrangeas should not be alkaline (pH not higher than 5.5). If the soil in the area is not acidic, you will need to keep the plant in a large container. So it is easier to control the composition of the soil and you can halve the concentration of aluminum sulfate solution during irrigation. What plays a more significant role in the color - acidity of the soil or the presence of aluminum in it? Scientists have proven that the presence of aluminum in soil has a blue color greater importancethan hyperacidity. Good luck in the country!