Flowers are always attractive to everyone. Many people find Hydrangeas alluring. The plant captivates the hearts of many people with its allure. The natural shade itself is captivating, but the change of colour makes it more attractive.
By amending the pH level of the soil, you can change the colour of its bloom. A hydrangea can change from pink to blue and vice versa. You can find this fascinating plant for your garden from The Plant Company. The company provide online delivery all around New Zealand.
In this post, you will learn more about this fascinating plant. However, before starting the discussion, let’s understand the pH and how it affects the colour change of the plant.
Understanding the pH level
Before you learn about the specifics of the plant, it is essential to know what pH is. The pH is the level of substances like alkaline or acidic measured on the scale of 0 to 14. The scale rates as –
- 7 – neutral
- Below 7 – acidic
- Above 7 – alkaline
The soil has a great impact not only on the overall health, but also on the vigour of the plant. The soil pH helps in specifying the nutrient level in the plants.
Which one of these plants changes colour?
Some specific varieties respond to the soil pH. The types that change colours include –
- Hydrangea macrophylla (Big leaf plant) – Lacecap and Mophead types
- Hydrangea serrata (Mountain hydrangea) – Cold-hardy variant of big leaf.
Smooth, panicle, climbing, and Oak does not change its colour and usually blooms in greenish, cream and white that age to red or pink. These plants stay constant year to year because the soil chemistry does not affect them.
You need a pH of 5.2 to 5.6 to change your plant’s colour to blue. Adding aluminium sulfate, garden sulfate, and peat moss will help you in lowering the soil pH. At the same time, use fertilisers with low phosphorus and avoid calcium-rich or lime amendments, as they can raise the pH of your soil. Blue flowers need aluminium-rich soil. Spread aluminium sulfate in early spring to get blue blooms in case your soil is naturally alkaline.
In case you want your flower to bloom in pink colour, raise the pH level to 6.0 to 6.5. You can use wood ash or lime to get these results. However, you need to avoid aluminium-rich additives to get the desired bloom. At the same time, use fertilisers with low phosphorus.
Once you achieve the desired colour flower, it is necessary to maintain the proper soil pH in the long run. You are required to monitor the soil frequently, especially if you see any changes in the colour of your plants. With this, you can promptly take action to restore the deviation.
You can change your simple garden into a focal point with some knowledge and effort. All you need is to comprehend the correlation between the colour of the plant and the pH level of the soil. With this, you can grow the floral palette you wish to have. What you need to do is to test the soil pH regularly to make necessary changes when required.
