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pnbplus1
Family
Member since 5/09 5751 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
So my DH has recently developed a liking for the blue hydrangeas. I thought it would be nice to get him a hyndrangea bush (plant) for father's day.
Is it too late to buy and plant a hydrangea bush? If not, where do I buy one? And, are there any special instructions for planting them? Does the soil need anything special?
TIA!!
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Posted 6/18/10 2:11 PM  |
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PumpkinGirl
:o)
Member since 10/08 1838 total posts
Name:
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Costco had really nice ones yesterday for $20
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| Posted 6/18/10 2:20 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Most like part sun/part shade. And they love to be watered, so if you don't have sprinklers, make sure you water it probably everyday. I don't know exactly, but depending on what you soil is like, they might be blue or they might turn another color. You would have to get your soil tested. They do that at Hick's Nursery for free. I believe if there is too much acid in the soil then it makes the flowers one color over the other. Please someone correct me if you know the answer to this one. I love Hydrangea's. We have three of them.
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| Posted 6/18/10 2:32 PM |
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MaZz
* Lovin my baby girl!!! *
Member since 2/09 6243 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Posted by JldDolphin
Most like part sun/part shade. And they love to be watered, so if you don't have sprinklers, make sure you water it probably everyday. I don't know exactly, but depending on what you soil is like, they might be blue or they might turn another color. You would have to get your soil tested. They do that at Hick's Nursery for free. I believe if there is too much acid in the soil then it makes the flowers one color over the other. Please someone correct me if you know the answer to this one. I love Hydrangea's. We have three of them.
In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the exact colour often mirrors the pH of the soil; acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkaline soils results in pink or purple. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.[2][3]
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| Posted 6/18/10 4:08 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Posted by MaZz
Posted by JldDolphin
Most like part sun/part shade. And they love to be watered, so if you don't have sprinklers, make sure you water it probably everyday. I don't know exactly, but depending on what you soil is like, they might be blue or they might turn another color. You would have to get your soil tested. They do that at Hick's Nursery for free. I believe if there is too much acid in the soil then it makes the flowers one color over the other. Please someone correct me if you know the answer to this one. I love Hydrangea's. We have three of them.
In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the exact colour often mirrors the pH of the soil; acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkaline soils results in pink or purple. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.[2][3]
Yeah, what she said.  Thanks for all that info. Now I guess I know why I have pink flowers, but in the backyard they are blue. Weird! 
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| Posted 6/18/10 4:12 PM |
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MaZz
* Lovin my baby girl!!! *
Member since 2/09 6243 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Posted by JldDolphin
Posted by MaZz
Posted by JldDolphin
Most like part sun/part shade. And they love to be watered, so if you don't have sprinklers, make sure you water it probably everyday. I don't know exactly, but depending on what you soil is like, they might be blue or they might turn another color. You would have to get your soil tested. They do that at Hick's Nursery for free. I believe if there is too much acid in the soil then it makes the flowers one color over the other. Please someone correct me if you know the answer to this one. I love Hydrangea's. We have three of them.
In most species the flowers are white, but in some species (notably H. macrophylla), can be blue, red, pink, light purple, or dark purple. In these species the exact colour often mirrors the pH of the soil; acidic soils produce blue flowers, neutral soils produce very pale cream petals, and alkaline soils results in pink or purple. This is caused by a color change of the flower pigments in the presence of aluminium ions which can be taken up into hyperaccumulating plants.[2][3]
Yeah, what she said. Thanks for all that info. Now I guess I know why I have pink flowers, but in the backyard they are blue. Weird!
HA! I have 1 pink bush and my neighbor whose garden is about 5 ft from mine (condo) has a blue bush... its the strangest freakin thing!
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| Posted 6/18/10 4:28 PM |
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JldDolphin
Member since 1/07 6929 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Posted by MaZz
Yeah, what she said. Thanks for all that info. Now I guess I know why I have pink flowers, but in the backyard they are blue. Weird!
HA! I have 1 pink bush and my neighbor whose garden is about 5 ft from mine (condo) has a blue bush... its the strangest freakin thing!
Ok, so it's not just my crazy house. 
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| Posted 6/18/10 4:32 PM |
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tourist
Member since 5/05 10425 total posts
Name:
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
You can still plant them now--just water a lot- it is going to be hot this weekend.
Acidic soil turns them blue. You can buy one that is already blue. New blooms may be pink or purple if your soil is alkaline though. I think using fertilizer for azaleas & rhododendrons (which need acidic soil) will help with the blue.
Mine is having an identity crisis. -pink, blue & purple at the same time,. I will try & take a picture later.
Different varieties will be more intense that other.
Some are always white.
Message edited 6/18/2010 4:34:41 PM.
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| Posted 6/18/10 4:33 PM |
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Summerlove1
LIF Zygote
Member since 6/10 6 total posts
Name:
Jennifer
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Thats funny cause when I planted mine last year they were blue and now they are light purple, now I know why!
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| Posted 6/18/10 4:38 PM |
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pnbplus1
Family
Member since 5/09 5751 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
WOW!!! You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for all the info.. Can't wait to get him one (crossing fingers that I find some).
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| Posted 6/18/10 5:10 PM |
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ChrisDee
My Girls
Member since 11/06 9543 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
My blue one stayed blue, when it first starts to bloom is looks pink and then turns blue
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| Posted 6/18/10 7:24 PM |
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babymakes3
Almost there!
Member since 7/06 7376 total posts
Name:
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Re: Hydrangeas? buying and caring for them
Also, you can add a product called Holly-tone to make the soil more acidic and the blooms a deeper color.
I think the instructions are to do it in the Spring and Fall so it may be too late to do it this year.
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| Posted 6/18/10 8:06 PM |
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