Changing the color of hydrangeas

Hydrangeas are fascinating in that, unlike most other plants, the color of their flowers can change dramatically by altering the pH of the soil.

White hydrangeas cannot be changed to pink or blue by the grower. (The Almighty sometimes adds pink and red to blooms as they age).

If you live in a hot climate, it is unlikely you will ever see a "true red" hydrangea. No matter how convincing those pictures in the catalogs are or how much lime is added to the soil, one can only achieve a very deep or dark pink, but not a true red at least here in the South.

One can rarely change the intensity of a color (how strong or pale the color is). The intensity develops for a number of reasons: the heredity of a particular hydrangea variety, weather conditions (hot or cold, humid or dry), health of the plant, and possibly other natural factors. Fertilizing hydrangeas once or twice a year may result in a little more saturated color simply because the health of the plant may be improved.

4. A few varieties of hydrangeas tend more toward the pink or the blue range of colors but will not retain even this color if soil conditions are not right.

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