Hydrangeas are my wife's favorite so we have 7 of them in pots in the backyard.?

Question

How long is their bloom time. I take care of them like babies, fertilizing, watering, etc.

P.S. Contrary to readers' suggestions, the blueing stuff I bought at the nursery didn't work despite using 2 cans of it from early spring thru today. The color of the flowers turned an ugly dull pink/brown.

To reynwater: I tried coffee grounds, too, before I used the chemicals. Same result. Dull pink/brown, my wife says.

Answer 1

Theoretically hydrangeas should bloom from spring to fall, however, this will be influenced by your growing zone. Since they are in pots instead of the ground (and more effected by climate changes as such) they will probably have a shorter blooming cycle.

To change the color, you'll have to change the ph of your soil (more acidic for blue - hydragneas actually collect aluminim which is what effects its color). If the bluing stuff didn't work, maybe a fertilizer with a lower alkaline rating would help?

Lovely flowers - best of luck with them!

Answer 2

read and follow the info here...

http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/colorchange.html

it's easier to change the colors in a pot than in the ground, but it still takes time... like a year or more.... it is the combination of the soil pH and the presence of aluminum in the soil or NOT that make the difference between pink or blue mophead hydrangeas.... white ones, the PeeGee or Annabelles will not change color at all....

Answer 3

I would plant a couple of them in the yard somewhere and see the difference. Plant them near evergreens, as they prefer acidic soil and you may have better luck getting blue flower heads.
That said, check out oakleaf hydrangeas, they are lovely, unusual and have really nice fall color as a bonus.

Answer 4

Coffee grounds and tea bags will make them blue.