Marianne's Response

Mysterious changing hydrangea

My very pale baby blue hydrangea used to be the largest headed variety in my garden (9-12 inches across.) This year the flowers are tiny, and the heads are only 5-7 inches across. Plus the gorgeous color is gone and they are a light lavender/periwinkle on the outer petals with pale green centers. We have not added anything to the soil as I know that changes hydrangea color and I know you would ask about that. The bush is healthy looking. It looks like it was transformed to a different variety behind my back! The bush is at least 15 years old and could be much older.

Posted by K Summers on September 2, 2019

Marianne's Response

Ah yes, hydrangeas change as they age and it is often due to the soil changing as it becomes less acid with added fertilizers and perhaps lime added to a nearby lawn.  Lime and calcium make the soil less acid and the blooms pink. You can change your hydrangeas back to deep blue by adding aluminum sulfate to the roots six to nine months before the plants flower. For larger blooms prune so that you have fewer branches but larger flowers on each branch. Lack of water and too much heat can also cause smaller flowers. A 3 inch mulch of wood chips on top of the soil around the hydrangeas will not only keep the roots cool but also help to lower the ph of the  soil and keep the blooms blue. Gardening is an adventure so have fun watching how your plants change. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti