The color of the blue or pink bloom on bigleaf and mountain hydrangea is determined by the soil in which they are planted . It ’s a common notion that pH , which is the measure of soil acidity , is the master factor that turns flowers puritanic . While pH plays an authoritative office , it is the atomic number 13 , which is present in most grunge , that makes the flowers downcast .

How pH effects hydrangea flower color

recollect of pH as a faucet in the ground that let aluminium to run . A pH of 5.5 or low ( more acidic ) spread the spigot , and the aluminum becomes uncommitted to the hydrangea tooth root arrangement . The plant move the Al from the root to the bloom , which rick them blue . As the pH rise ( becomes more alkaline ) , the faucet starts to close and finally close off , making the flowers pinkish . The aluminum is still in the soil , but it becomes unavailable to the plant because of soil chemistry .

What makes hydrangeas pink?

Many container - spring up hydrangeas have piffling or no aluminum in their soil , which is why you see many crimson and pink bloom in your garden center field .

In my experience :

How to use amendments to change hydrangea flower color

Bob Aube is the founder and cobalt - owner of Morningstar Nurseries , a wholesale greenhouse in West Kingston , Rhode Island .

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hydrangea color

Photo: courtesy of Proven Winners Color Choice

pink hydrangea in a nursery pot

Photo: courtesy of Proven Winners Color Choice

organic soil acidifier

Photo: Stephanie Fagan

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