Hydrangeas change colour?

Question

I have heard that you can change hydrangeas colour buy putting pennys in soil or somthing like that I don't remember now. Anyone know about this? and what colours can you get..mine are now pink.

Answer 1

I think jerry g has got his colours mixed up. Alkaline soils produce pink flowered hydrangeas. Acid soils produce blue coloured hydrangeas. White hydrangeas don't change colours at all they remain white in any type of soil, and is never pink.

I have pink hydrangeas at my place because I have alkaline soil, and I also have white ones. If I wanted to change the pink ones to blue I would add aluminium sulphate to the soil. (you can buy special bluing additives at nurseries). Don't add lime to your soil as your flowers are already pink.

You can get pink, red (very dark pink) white and blue straight colours. You can also get ones with each little flower has 'pinked' edges, ones with white flowers with mid pink in the centre - like an eye. I also have one called Manchuria which has black stems. I have also seen very dark blue ones that aged to nearly black as the flowers aged. Look also for the ones with large flowers on the edge of flower bract and 'unopened buds' in the centre (they never open) these are called 'lacecaps'.

Answer 2

I know that you can change the color. I think usually by adjusting the minerals in the soil or by adjusting the pH in the soil with limes and fertilizers. I have no idea how much you need but you can always start small and gradually increase.

As for colors available, I've seen pink, blue, white, even a reddish pink that fades to green.

Give us an update if the pennies work.

Answer 3

Alkaline is white. Acid is Red/Pink. Alkaline would require the soil be rich in lime. Acid would be contra to that.
Since yours are pink they have yet to make-up their mind. You can dictate by applying either bone-meal or powder limestone around the plant (go out at least one foot per foot of plant height) for white. Do the same thing with an Miracle-Gro type of Granular(Acid) for the Red.
Your pink will become red before they become white. Leave them be. It adapts to any temp and condition. Hope it helps.

Answer 4

Blue Hydrangeas require acid soil. Aluminum is area of all soils, yet its availability to vegetation relies upon on the acidity of the soil. In acid soils, the roots can with no hardship take in aluminum. on your case ... in case you have Blue vegetation you "might" be waiting to alter them via making your soil much less acidic or "candy". upload lime or ph+

Answer 5

You can put rusty nail in the dirt and it changes the color I think from standard blue to pink.