How to Grow Hydrangea
VIDEO: Choosing, Planting & Caring for Hydrangeas
Guide to Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a quintessential part of southern gardens! To learn about the different types and more, check out this garden guide.
Choosing a Hydrangea
- Depending on the variety, a hydrangea grows 4-15 feet tall and can grow equally as wide. Choose a variety that will grow to about the size you are seeking based on the amount of space you have. Also consider your lighting - some hydrangeas thrive in partial shade while others can take more sun.
Changing the color of your hydrangea blooms in the Southeast
(Different areas of the country may differ depending on native soils.)
- Some hydrangeas change color based on the acidity of the soil, while others are not affected by soil pH:
- Acidic Soil (pH below 6) turns hydrangeas blue
- Alkaline Soil (pH above 7) turns hydrangeas pink
- Neutral Soil (pH between 6 and 7) produces blooms that are blue and pink and often even purple
How to change the color of your hydrangea
- To make the soil more acidic for blue flowers, add garden sulfur beneath the plant and above the soil (about a half a cup) before the plant begins to bloom
- To make the soil more alkaline for pink flowers, add ground lime beneath the plant and above the soil (about a half a cup) before the plant begins to bloom
- Changing the color can take time and you may need to apply the lime or sulfur multiple times. In Georgia, it is easier to change the bloom from pink to blue because of our soil.
