Hydrangea Bushes

Hydrangea bushes come in a variety of colors. Hydrangea can also change their color depending on the type of soil conditions they are planted in. The PH level of the soil affects the ability of the plant to take in and use the micro-nutrient aluminum which causes the color change in the plant. For instance in acidic soil which has a higher aluminum content the flower will be a blue color. The more aluminum the bluer the flower. If the soil contains less aluminum the flower will be white and if the soil is alkaline the blooms will generally be pink.

Hydrangea are pretty hardy plants. They don't require a lot of pruning mainly remove the dead wood and old blooms to encourage new growth. Although cutting the hydrangea at the wrong time of year can leave you with fewer blooms. Some varieties bloom on last years growth and some from the new season. Identify what type of hydrangea you have before cutting stems. Cutting back blooms will encourage new buds. Thinning the canes on your plant will help to increase flowerhead size. Hydrangea are a wonderful plant for the novice gardener and add so much beauty to a garden with little work!

PH conditions are important in gardening as soil acidity or alkalinity directly affects the growth of plants. Soil that is too acidic or to sweet prevents plants from being able to take up the proper nutrients that they need to flourish. Most home grown plants prefer soil a little on the acidic side about 6.5 ph. The rule of thumb is below 7 is acidic above 7 is alkaline. Most plants acquire the nutrients that they need when the soil solution ranges between 6.0 and 7.5. Hydrangea bushes general prefer a more acid rich soil, with a ph of 5.0 to 5.8, you may have to experiment a little. Remember that the hydrangea color can change depending on the acidity or alkalinity of the soil.