Hydrangea is a beautiful decorative culture that is often used in landscape design to decorate the garden. This plant is able to change its color. The color of the flower petals directly depends on the composition of the soil. So, how to change the color of hydrangea - this will be described in detail in this material.
What types and varieties of hydrangea are able to change color
Today, many types of hydrangeas are known, each of which has its own characteristics. The most popular varieties include tree-like, oak-leaved, paniculate, garden culture.
Some varieties of hydrangeas are able to change the color of their petals
Each flower looks very attractive. However, only garden hydrangea is capable of changing the color of the petals. Most often it is called large-leaved. The culture is able to reach a height of 1.4-1.8 m.
The shape of the culture is like a ball. A distinctive feature of the variety is bright emerald foliage. It has a large size and oval shape. Notches are present on the leaves.
Inflorescences have large caps. In diameter, they are able to reach 15-20 cm. Lignification of shoots begins only after 1 year. Therefore, culture should be harbored for the winter. Today there are dwarf varieties - they are suitable for growing at home.
Important! The uniqueness of hydrangea lies in the fact that it is able to perfectly develop not only in acidic soil. It can also be grown in alkaline or neutral soil.
Many varieties of large-leaved hydrangea are able to vary in color. There is a color relationship between the acidity of the soil and the presence of aluminum in its composition. The color change is due to the presence of special pigments - anthocyanins. They respond to the pH of the earth.
In addition, another pigment substance is present in the flowers - delphinidin-3-monoglycosite. It responds to the conditions in which the flower is grown - primarily the presence of aluminum in the soil.
To change the color of inflorescences to blue or blue, you should give preference to these varieties of culture:
- Masya
- Blue wave
- Endless summer.
You can also grow Reneta Steiniger culture.
The listed varieties can bloom for quite some time. The first buds open in mid-summer. At the same time, flowers adorn the bushes until the frost.
To be able to change the color of the petals, you need to choose the right kind of hydrangea
What determines the color of garden hydrangea inflorescences
Many gardeners are interested in what the color of hydrangea depends on. First of all, the composition of the soil affects the color of the buds.
Soil acidity and methods for its determination
How to make hydrangea color? First of all, you need to analyze the parameters of soil acidity.
- Most known varieties of hydrangeas have blue flowers when grown in acidic soil - at pH 5 or less.
- In neutral soil with pH 6.5 and higher, the plant has pink flowers.
- Moreover, the acidity of pH 5-6.5 allows you to get purple-pink buds.
To determine the balance of the soil, it is worth paying attention to the weed grass that grows on the site. Nettle, bindweed, clover, coltsfoot grow in alkaline soil.
With the active development of wood lice, sorrel, horsetail, dummy or plantain, one may suspect an increased acidity of the soil. In this case, hydrangea will have a blue color.
For reference! To quickly determine the acidity, you can use vinegar. The substance should be watered with dry soil. The appearance of bubbles on the surface of the earth indicates an increased alkali content.
Horticultural stores sell special indicator strips. When reacting to soil acidity parameters, they are painted in different colors. After determining the indicators, you can understand how to water hydrangea to change color.
Availability and availability of aluminum
If there is aluminum in the soil and low pH, the flowers themselves will be blue. If only naturally acidic soil is available, it may be necessary to add aluminum sulfate.
Phosphorus
What to do to make hydrangea blue? It is important to control the content of elements in the soil. Of particular importance is the amount of phosphorus. This substance binds aluminum ions, turning them into sparingly soluble compounds.
To ensure the mobility of aluminum and facilitate its getting to the colors, you need to reduce the amount of phosphorus.
The composition of the soil affects the color of the petals
How to "color" hydrangea in blue or blue: technology and tools
Many gardeners are interested in the question: how to make hydrangea blue? To achieve the desired results, it is necessary to provide the soil with a sufficient number of mobile aluminum ions. This can be achieved if the soil has an acid reaction.
Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to determine the pH parameters of the soil. For this, you can use acidity indicators. In such a situation, it will be possible to purposefully bring the acid balance to the required level.
If the pH is less than 5.5, the flowers of planted hydrangea will be blue. If the pH is higher, this indicates that the soil has a neutral or alkaline composition. In such a situation, it must be acidified before and during the formation of the buds.
What is it worth watering hydrangea to turn blue? Today there are many folk recipes and top dressings that will help to achieve good results:
- Alum potassium alum. They are used for watering bushes. To get the right shade, it is recommended to mix 3 g of alum with 1 liter of water. An adult plant requires about 10 liters of solution. For a young bush, 5 liters is enough. Feeding should be performed 1-2 times a week for 1 month. In this case, the dosage should not be exceeded. Excess alum provokes falling leaves. As a result, bare branches remain on the bushes.
- Sulphate of aluminum. To tint hydrangea petals, you need to take 3-4 g of the substance per 1 liter of water. Also, the product can be used in dry form. To do this, use 500 g of substance per 1 square meter of beds.
- Colloidal sulfur. It must be applied to the ground once a year. This is recommended in spring. Fertilize the soil should be 40 g of the product per 1 adult plant. 20 g of substance are taken on a young bush.
- Special means. They are designed to change the color of the buds. Effective remedies include Rainbow and Blue Hydrangea. The composition contains aluminum sulfate.
Chemicals and folk recipes will help make hydrangea blue.
How to water hydrangea so that it changes color? Experts advise using soft water for this purpose. With increased hardness, the liquid should be acidified with lemon juice. You can also use acetic acid. It will help neutralize the alkali present in the water. You can also use rainwater.
Many people are interested in how to water hydrangea to change the color to blue. In this case, the bush can be fed with fertilizer with a minimum of phosphorus and a high potassium content. Do not use bone meal as top dressing. You should also abandon the use of superphosphate.
If the soil on the site is highly alkaline or contains a lot of lime, it is recommended to plant hydrangea in containers. Thanks to this, it will be possible to keep the pH parameters under control. To do this, use a special acidic peat soil. To saturate the soil with aluminum, 5-10% clay is added to the composition.
How to make hydrangea pink or red: technology and tools
What to do to make hydrangea pink? For this, aluminum in the ground must be made inaccessible. It is recommended to increase the pH to 6.5 or more. If the soil on the site is alkaline, no special action should be taken.
If the pH is below 6.5, it is worth the work to alkalize the earth. For this, alkaline substances - dolomite, chalk, lime should be added to the soil composition. You can also use chopped eggshells.
Important!When using additives, it is necessary to control the pH and not to exceed the level of 7. In too alkaline soil there are problems with the absorption of iron and magnesium, which plants need.
With iron deficiency, hydrangea may develop iron chlorosis. This pathology is accompanied by lightening of leaves against a background of green veins. With the appearance of magnesium chlorosis, the leaves acquire a mosaic structure. Such conditions need treatment, therefore their occurrence should be avoided.
Answering the question of how to color hydrangea, we can recommend the following methods:
- Water blue hydrangea with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This should be done 1-2 times a week in the spring - before the formation of the buds. In the summer, pink flowers will appear on the bush.
- Apply fertilizer with large amounts of nitrogen and iron for top dressing. In this case, the drug should contain a minimum amount of potassium.
- If the soil on the site is too acidic, it is best to plant a flower in a container. Peat substrate without aluminum should be used as soil. A great option would be any universal soil. At the same time, clay, expanded clay, mineral earth should not be used.
Important! Any procedures for changing the color of flowers should be started before the buds are formed. It is best to carry them out in early spring, when the culture begins to grow, but inflorescences have not yet appeared.
To give hydrangea a pink color, it needs to provide alkaline soil
Folk remedies for changing the color of hydrangea from white to color
To change the color of white hydrangea, it is worth using effective folk recipes.
Potassium permanganate
This tool has excellent tinting properties. To change the color of hydrangea, it should be watered 1-2 times a week with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Using this substance, it is possible to increase the absorption of aluminum. This contributes to the formation of blue buds.
At the same time, potassium permanganate helps prevent the development of fungal infections, promotes the laying of peduncles and more magnificent flowering.
Important! A saturated solution of potassium permanganate is not recommended. It is able to stain the plant with spots and lead to burns of leaves and roots.
Before using the substance, you should make sure that all crystals are well dissolved in water. Also, to change the shade of the buds, fertilizers should be used that contain a lot of nitrogen and phosphorus and a minimum of potassium.
To change the color of the petals use potassium permanganate
Vinegar
To give the buds an interesting color, you can use apple cider vinegar or acetic acid. To prepare a healthy solution, it is recommended to take 100 ml of the substance in a bucket of water.
Flower processing is carried out every 2 weeks. Before use, lightly dig and water the soil.
Tin cans, nails, horseshoes
To change the color of the buds in the ground near the roots you need to bury cans, horseshoes or nails. It is worth considering that folk remedies have a slower effect compared to chemicals. Therefore it is so important to be patient.
Other means
To change the color of flowers in the soil, you can add acidic organic matter. For this purpose, such tools are perfect:
- high peat;
- sawdust;
- coffee grounds;
- needles;
- pine bark.
Important! These funds can be applied directly to the ground during planting. They are also used as mulch.
General recommendations for changing the color of the bush
After changing the color of the plant, you need to provide him with full support. For this, it is important to control the parameters of soil acidity and maintain them at the right level.
Experts do not advise annually experimenting with the color of the petals. A strong change in acidity causes stress to the plant. Therefore, it is recommended to plant flowers of different shades in the garden.
A change in the shade of hydrangea can be carried out in various ways. To achieve good results, it is necessary to determine the acidity of the soil and take measures to change the indicators. Of great importance is the quality care of the flower. It should be comprehensive.
