Hydrangeas

[sandy10]

mother-in-law has just planted a hydrangea & her neighbour says you have to put special feed on it or the flower will go brown, but I've always grown hydrangeas & have not had any trouble with them & I only feed now & again, no special feed at all. What is he on about??

[pixie373]

I've never used anything on mine either. Are they plants that need ericaceous soil? Can't remember now

[paddywak]

Hydrangeas can change colour depending on the soil content for instance a high iron content turns the flower red.

[Brinjal]

You put something on them to change the colour. I think it chanes the pink to blue or it could be the otherway round but just to have normal flowers you don't need anything special.

[Fusion5]

If you plant them in a pot they need loads of water. I feed mine with tomato plant feed.

[pixie373]

It depends if the soil is acidic or alkaline. You can put rusty nails(iron) down to change the colour too.

[coccinelle]

My hydrangeas flower pink as the soil is alkaline if I want blue flowers I need to add acid based fertilizer and water with rain water.

[paddywak]

This will tell you how to change your plants colour
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/hydrangea-color-00417000078239/

[pixie373]

That's helpful, paddywack, i couldn't remember which way round it was. Mine are pink and we have chalky soil, so makes sense.

[katburd]

I think this article makes good reading
http://www.hydrangeashydrangeas.com/colorchange.html

[katburd]

oops! paddywak sorry, your link wasn't there at the time

[paddywak]

No problem kayburd,better too hav too much information then too little,

[katburd]

thanks paddywak, my hydrangea only has 1 flower this year so far