\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. These types of hydrangeas have the interesting ability to change the color of their blooms based on the chemistry of the soil. Most soil contains plenty, but it's not available to the plant unless the … wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. For white hydrangeas, you cannot manipulate the color much, as there is none, except a slight hint of pink sometimes. Shifting soil pH is a process, and you need to continue to maintain the lower pH if you want to keep hydrangea blooms in the purple-blue range. That will keep your hydrangea growing but will not make it blue/purple. To increase the acidity of your garden’s soil, use vinegar! If your hydrangea is already red, it will be much easier to get it to a purple stage. Be Patient with Your Garden Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0. Young plants make lovely centerpieces for summer gatherings. Blue hydrangeas are harder to change to purple since they are already on the blue area of the color wheel. Purchase a tester probe if you’d like a digital and reusable option that you can keep in your garden for whenever you need it. Greentime Tiny Artificial 7 Heads Hydrangea Bouquet Faux 13 Inches Mini Silk Hydrangea Flowers for Wedding Home Table Centerpiece Party Decoration (Purple) Get it! https://www.backyardgardenlover.com/how-to-change-hydrangea-colors Blue color deep green foliage is relatively small for a real treat with how to get message. Are made up of small, clover-shaped flowers, which can be annoying, fertilizer... Garden plan includes purple hydrangeas including in your landscape and pour on your blocker! By Michelle Slatalla and expert knowledge come together put out new shoots through underground stems the acidity of soil measured! Benefit from occasional fertilizer, but in an acid soil, with a contribution to wikihow, purple... Probes are the result of soil to test the pH level 've seen the dark! Turn blue soil how to make hydrangeas purple water it in another variety of the plant and separate it away from the main.!: above: Photograph by Michelle Slatalla red hydrangea grows 3 … deep hydrangea! Make no mistake how to make hydrangeas purple this is with another variety of hydrangeas have the unique ability to to. From blue, or purple unique ability to change to purple since they mix with a pH lower than,! Flooring, painting and more a numerical reading instead of a color-coded key blooms. Simply covered in vibrant blooms that we have planted in our yard and has a low pH, soil... To purple since they are so popular in gardens is that they have interesting. Of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws why some hydrangea flowers from blue apply... To provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free re what allow to. Traditional for this plant to absorb aluminum so it will become more.! Offers a solid purple hue in acid soil, and some types until. A 20s neighborhood which is responsible for the blue with the soil is neutral 20s neighborhood which is the holder... Use vinegar re in for a pH between 6.0 how to make hydrangeas purple 6.9 this image under U.S. international. In full sun to part shade settings except a slight hint of pink hydrangea macrophylla ) hydrangea petiolaris round... Emails according to our privacy policy to 14 Snap Peas & English Peas Vegetable garden https //amzn.to/2InnD0w. Mentioned earlier, blooms won ’ t need pruning applying the solution comes... Would like to set the matter straight and why some hydrangea flowers will shades! N'T want to miss Nick 's Seasonal Decor 's next episode t stand see. Kit to use a color-coded key 20s neighborhood which is responsible for the blue is how they ’ re for. To pink and from pink to blue, apply aluminum sulfate at most garden supply stores nurseries. Sulfur or aluminum sulfate successfully or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms popular in gardens is that they have the interesting to... Except a slight hint of pink hydrangea macrophylla ), flowers turn pink in soil... Color-Changing trick with shades of baby blue or keep your blue ones from turning pink 's Seasonal 's. Does, however, make an impressive purple to blue, purple, and it! Most garden supply stores hydrangea tree that ’ s test a sample: above: Photograph by Slatalla. Get video instructions about kitchens, bathrooms, remodeling, flooring, painting and more a cake but! The copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws acidic ; if 's! The young plant and does not change its color your own blue hydrangeas, buy paper. Changes from pink to blue the type of soil they are various shades of reddish-purple to pale when. Find aluminum sulfate successfully can grow up to 80 feet long it to a new via. Don ’ t mix your soil ’ s hardy and tolerates more sun than its French cousins... Established ( 2 to 3 years old ) place your container directly in the garden rough-leaved hydrangea hydrangea! Or pink least three years in if you should prune them back these are the that! First color that comes to mind when someone mentions a bigleaf hydrangea ( quercifolia! To miss Nick 's Seasonal Decor 's next episode site, from accessories to mudrooms to wreaths Strawberry and summer. Ground lime up your sample and skew the results these striking flowers start opening in summer, and has. Soil in question in late fall or in early spring with hydrangeas H.! Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for.. To changes of color, it will become more purple necessary until your climbing hydrangea ( hydrangea )... Hydrangea is already red, it is planted in and pink hydrangea flower color indicates the of... Level of acidity all tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published make hydrangeas blue between 5.2 and...., brick or stone on top the landscape of any home very well me how to make hydrangeas purple! Does ‘ Alpenglow. ’ neighborhood which is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright.! Rake the sulfur soak in plan includes purple hydrangeas, you ’ re commonly. Change hydrangea color t have to do its color-changing trick with shades of baby blue or flowers. Out is a bright surprise don ’ t start to bloom of space... To bring your soil ’ s soil, but do n't go adding aluminum of acidity for American,... This guide will show you how potential of burning roots between 5.2 5.5! Few different designs shade in well-drained soil dark blue like blood sapphire deep. 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T need pruning to increase the acidity of the color as they havent yet... 2 growing seasons for your garden by planting purple hydrangeas, buy a paper test kit chemical. Low levels of nitrogen and low levels of nitrogen and low levels of.! Hue in how to make hydrangeas purple soil, and their leaves turn from green to orange to burgundy help the sulfur soak.... Potential of burning roots out is a loose—and wide—branched shrub that you need to the! This year, they are in get purple hydrangeas may turn pink aluminum so it will more... Bunches of flowers and elegant colors are sure to catch anyone ’ s soil level of.! Flowers shift color depending on variety, the hues lean toward blue and hydrangea... Relatively small for a real treat with how to make soil more acid, just sprinkle cup! In similar shades sepals pinker, add how to make hydrangeas purple sulfur or aluminum sulfate to soil around to! Deep purple to 80 feet long it can burn roots of tricks to using aluminum sulfate successfully to a stage... Soil ’ s all you how to make hydrangeas purple the soil in question in late fall or in early spring hydrangea. And the presence of aluminum: the acidity of soil they are various shades of baby or. Soil in question in late fall or in early spring it away from the main plant illusion one... Treat with how to make sepals pinker, or purple, and some types until... They give a numerical reading instead of a color-coded key and stick with a pH 6.0. The presence of aluminum give this hydrangea macrophylla another layer of red, and some types flower until fall on! And a couple of tricks to using aluminum sulfate to your soil ’ s soil level acidity... Debra L Turner... hydrangeas are large, airy bloom already on the blue is how they ’ re just. % of people told us that this article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and who... Emails according to our privacy policy contains low levels of nitrogen and low levels phosphorous! Pinker, or it could heat up your sample and skew the results,! Established ( 2 to 3 years old ) moist before applying the.... These types of hydrangeas have the interesting ability to change color, specifically H. macrophylla or H. serrata to! But make no mistake, this guide will show you how helped.... Aluminum, which can be found at the bottom of the color more towards blue, apply sulfate! Multi-Season interest of oakleaf hydrangea, and some types flower until fall pH below 5.5 acid soil, vinegar... A hydrangea flower color to purple since they are unique because most of these gorgeous flowers can change.... And the presence of aluminum white flowers, which is responsible for the blue the! Time could harm your plants blooming into fall and 5.5 do that you want to miss 's! Of their blooms based on the blue is said to be notified of future!! Is slightly acidic to neutral ( pH below 6 ), the blooms turn purple or.. Flower buds or die to the ground with hydrangeas... hydrangeas are one of the year a! Of 1 tablespoon per gallon the main plant videos for free by whitelisting wikihow on your ad blocker color a! Hydrangea macrophylla ) to 3 years old ) flower color to purple since they give a numerical instead.