Content
Hydrangeas are plants that can change the color of flowers under the influence of various external factors. This property is widely used in decorative floriculture, and changing its shade does not require any serious expenses. In order for a hydrangea to be blue or pink, it just requires the presence of certain substances in the soil.
Is there a blue hydrangea?
Breeders have developed many varieties of hydrangeas, among which there are those that, under certain conditions, acquire a blue or light blue color. Here are some of them:
- Aisha. It belongs to the large-leaved variety and is often grown as a tub plant due to its low frost resistance. Flowering begins in July. The inflorescences are large, up to 15 cm, collected from flowers about 3 cm in size.
Depending on the acidity of the soil, it can change color from pink to bright blue.
- Blue Wave. This variety of large-leaf hydrangea was bred in Holland. Blooms in July-August.
Color from blue to pink, depends both on the PH level of the soil and on the content of aluminum salts in it
- Blueberry Cheesecake. Remontant variety, blooms from May to September.The height of the bush can reach up to 1.2 m.
The inflorescences are semi-double, large, depending on the acidity of the soil, colored from blue to purple
- Verena Blue. It is distinguished by very large inflorescences of sky blue color, the size of which can reach up to 20 cm.
Blue inflorescences of Verena Blue are very often used for wedding bouquets
- Mini Penny. A variety of large-leaf hydrangea, grows up to 0.9 m. The inflorescences are spherical, the color can vary from blue to pink.
The frost resistance of this variety is low, and when grown in the middle zone, the bushes must be covered for the winter
What determines the color of hydrangea
The color of hydrangea flowers, its saturation and shade largely depend on the acidity of the soil in which the plant is grown. At a pH below 5.5, which corresponds to a slightly acidic reaction, aluminum salts dissolve in the soil. In the form of ions, this element, along with other nutrients, enters the flower, where it reacts with other organic compounds, causing the corolla to turn blue. Thus, the color of the petals is a kind of indicator of soil acidity.
Turns blue when grown in acidic soils rich in aluminum.
It is not only the presence of aluminum salts in the soil that is important, but also its concentration. If it is small, then the blue color will be weak, barely noticeable. Another factor that directly affects the ability of hydrangeas to absorb aluminum from the soil is the content of elements such as phosphorus and potassium in the soil.The first binds aluminum, collecting it into complex, poorly soluble compounds, so its concentration should be minimal. Potassium has the opposite properties, so it is desirable that there is a sufficient amount of it in the soil.
How to make hydrangea blue
Getting blue petals from hydrangea flowers is quite easy. To do this, you just need to ensure suitable soil acidity and the presence of a sufficient amount of aluminum compounds in it.
How to water hydrangea for blue color
In order for the plant to absorb aluminum from the soil faster and more completely, it is better to add all the substances necessary for this in dissolved form, along with watering. For this you can use the following drugs:
- Aluminum-potassium alum. This compound is highly soluble in water and contains substances in an easily accessible form. The consumption rate is 5 g per 1 liter of water.
- Complex mineral fertilizers with high potassium content and minimal phosphorus percentage.
- Potassium sulfate. This fertilizer not only enriches the soil, but also acidifies it. Requires 15 g of substance per 1 liter of water.
- Organic acids. To acidify the soil, you can use solutions of oxalic, citric, acetic and other acids.
By adjusting the acidity of the soil, you can get blue and light blue colors of varying intensities.
How to paint a hydrangea blue
It has been established that hydrangea flowers turn blue when the soil pH level is from 4 to 5.5. The closer this indicator is to the minimum value, the more saturated the color will be.For hydrangea to bloom blue, an acidity of about 5-5.5 is sufficient. You can monitor this indicator using special indicator strips available in gardening stores. You can also measure the acidity level with a special electronic device.
Blue hydrangea inflorescences look very attractive
Useful tips
To “paint” a hydrangea blue or blue yourself, you can use some tips from experienced flower growers:
- A constant level of soil acidity can be maintained using citric acid. Once every 1.5-2 weeks, the root zone of hydrangeas is moistened with a special solution, for the preparation of which 2 tbsp is dissolved in 1 bucket of water. l. dry citric acid. You can also use oxalic acid, the proportions remain the same.
- You can increase the aluminum content in the soil by adding compost, pine litter or ground coffee.
- In specialized stores you can purchase a special product for dyeing hydrangeas blue or blue yourself. Its main component is aluminum sulfate. The substance is added in dissolved form, it is very convenient to use. This is what flower growers use on large hydrangea plantations to color them blue.
Special product for coloring hydrangeas - aluminum sulfate
- Do not use water from wells or tap water to water hydrangeas. The dissolved calcium and magnesium salts contained in it will quickly lead to alkalization of the soil.It is better to use settled rainwater for irrigation, after adding a little lemon juice to it.
- You can increase the digestibility of aluminum, as well as prevent the development of fungal diseases, using potassium permanganate - potassium permanganate. When using this substance, it is very important to follow the dosage; the solution should be pink.Important! Exceeding the concentration can cause burns to the plant.
- To acidify the soil, you can use regular 9% table vinegar. To treat the soil, 100 ml of this substance is diluted in 10 liters of water. Treatment begins in the spring, with the beginning of the hydrangea growing season, and is completed in the fall, after the end of flowering.
Vinegar acidifies the soil well
- You can maintain acidity by mulching the root zone of hydrangea with fresh sawdust, high-moor peat or conifer bark.
- When working with acids, even low concentrations, you must be careful and use personal protective equipment.
A short video on how to independently adjust the color of hydrangeas:
Conclusion
In order for the hydrangea to be blue or dark blue, it is necessary to choose a variety suitable for coloring and provide it with the necessary soil acidity parameters and aluminum content in it. This is relatively easy to do, given the availability of the necessary drugs. And by quantitatively adjusting their application, you can grow hydrangeas of the required brightness and saturation, from pale blue to dark blue.
