What is the best type of soil to grow hydrangeas?

1. 66

   lupineposted 12 years ago

   What is the best type of soil to grow hydrangeas?
   
   Have read the color of the flower depends on the type of soil. Colors range from pink to blue/purple. Any suggestions on what has worked for you?
   
   

   replyreport
2. 64

   cat on a soapboxposted 12 years ago

   Hydrangeas are so beautiful and perform best in acidic soil as do camellias, azaleas, fuschia, and gardenias. Over time, blue blooms may turn pink.  This is an indication that it is time to feed with an acidifying fetlilizer like cottonseed meal, specialty blends, or alumium sulfate. I recommend feeding twice a year in  the Spring and again in the Fall.

   replyreport
   1. 66

      lupineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for this informative answer.  I will try fertilizing.

      replyreport
   2. 64

      cat on a soapboxposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You're welcome!

      replyreport
3. 78

   Barbara Kayposted 12 years ago

   I've written an entire hub about hydrangeas "How to Plant and Grow Hydrangeas." Some hydrangeas are white no matter how you fertilize them. Some are pink and some blue, also no matter how you fetilize them.
   
   Then there are the hydrangeas that you can change the color. Hydrangeas like fertile soil with lots of organic matter. You can provide this with cow manure , mulch and peat moss. To get a blue color, apply aluminum sulfate. To get a pink color apply dolomite lime.
   
   For more information, you need to read my hub, which has a lot of information about when and what to use for fertilizing a hydrangea.
   
   I guess I should have written an entire hub on how to change the colors of hydrangeas or how to fertilize them.

   replyreport
   1. 66

      lupineposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for this informative answer, I will read your hub...have not seen white hydrangeas, only when they are sort of white with green when they first come up and don't have color yet.

      replyreport