Blue Sunset Hydrangea is a compact deciduous shrub with showy cone-shaped clusters of very dark violet-blue flowers. It has large, ovate leaves that are interesting, attractive and attractive in the landscape.
This shrub is hardy in USDA zones 4-8 and is perfect for anyone looking to add a touch of cool beauty in their garden. Its flowers bloom throughout the summer and easily attract butterflies and other wildlife.
The flowers also make great cut flowers. Blue Sunset Hydrangea is easy to care for, with only routine pruning and fertilizing needed. It also makes a great container plant, able to thrive in both sunny and partially shaded areas.
How do you keep a blue hydrangea blue?
Keeping a blue hydrangea blue involves managing the pH level of the soil as this can affect the color of your flowers. Hydrangeas need a more acidic soil than most plants, with an ideal pH of around 5.2-5.
5. To lower the pH level, you can add sulfur and/or aluminum sulfate to the soil. The amount and frequency of application varies depending on the type of soil, how much the soil will naturally adjust its pH and the desired pH.
Be sure to always read the instructions and test your soil to determine the best course of action. Once you have established the right pH range, monitor it regularly as your flowering hydrangea will need neutral to slightly acidic soil all season.
Additionally, hydrangeas require adequate water and fertilizer in order to remain healthy and vibrant. Ensure that soil is well-draining and give the hydrangeas regular waterings and dose with a fertilizer that’s high in potassium and phosphorus.
If you follow these steps you will be sure to have a spectacularly blue hydrangea for years to come!.
Do you cut back blue hydrangeas?
Yes, blue hydrangeas should be pruned in late winter or early spring each year to promote healthy growth and flowering. Pruning of blue hydrangeas should be done before the buds begin to open in the spring.
Start by removing dead and damaged branches back to healthy wood. If a plant is overgrown, you can cut back a third of the stems to the base of the plant to reduce size, but take care to leave the overall shape intact.
To encourage more blooms, you can pinch back the young shoots and flower buds in summer and autumn, removing just the tips of the shoot to promote a bushier, more compact shape. When pruning, always use sharp pruning shears and cut just above a leaf node, at an angle to allow water to run off the wound more easily.
Should I cut the dead blooms off my hydrangea?
Yes, you should cut the dead blooms off your hydrangea. This is a necessary task in the care of hydrangeas and is known as deadheading or pruning. Deadheading not only improves the appearance of your hydrangea, but it can stimulate the overall growth of the plant.
It’s easy to perform and can be done with sharp pruning shears. Simply cut off the dead blooms once they’ve begun to fade or turn brown. Avoid cutting any buds or green stems, as these are part of your hydrangea’s foliage.
Be sure to prune back just enough to keep the dead flowers removed and to help keep the shape of the plant looking neat and tidy.
What does baking soda do for hydrangeas?
Baking soda can be used on hydrangeas to help them absorb more nutrients, resulting in larger and brighter blooms. When used as a soil amendment, baking soda can increase the soil’s pH balance—this helps make magnesium and calcium more available to the plant.
These two nutrients are essential for strong, healthy stems and big, beautiful blooms. To use baking soda on your hydrangeas, simply mix two parts of baking soda with one part of garden lime. Then, spread the mixture in a 2- to 3-inch layer around the base of each hydrangea.
As the plants grow, mix the amendment into the top couple of inches of soil to ensure that the plant roots are getting the nutrients they need. Baking soda is not just a great source of nutrition for hydrangeas but is also effective in combating leaf spot and black spot caused by certain types of fungi.
To use baking soda as a fungicide, mix it with water to create a spray and spray it on the affected leaves. Be warned: baking soda can damage delicate foliage, so it’s important to take caution when using this method.
When used correctly, baking soda can be a great ally for healthy, vibrant hydrangeas.
Can you use Miracle Grow on hydrangeas?
Yes, you can use Miracle-Gro on hydrangeas. This popular plant food is specifically formulated to provide nourishment to gardens and outdoor plants. When Miracle-Gro is used on hydrangeas, it encourages growth, strengthens stems, and increases the number of blooms.
However, it should be noted that you should only apply Miracle-Gro to established hydrangeas, and should never apply it to freshly planted hydrangeas. When applying Miracle-Gro to established hydrangeas, apply it around the base of the plant, making sure not to get it directly on the leaves.
Be sure to water the plants after applying Miracle-Gro to give the plant food an opportunity to be absorbed by the soil. Miracle-Gro should be applied every two weeks during the growing season. Additionally, you should wait three weeks after applying Miracle-Gro to your hydrangeas before applying any insecticides or fungicides.
Do coffee grounds make hydrangeas bloom?
No, coffee grounds will not make hydrangeas bloom. Hydrangeas are acid loving plants, but the nitrogen found in coffee grounds is best suited to nitrogen hungry plants, not acid loving ones. In addition, even if adding coffee grounds was able to increase the acidity of the soil, most of the time it will not help the plant bloom – hydrangeas typically bloom on old wood, and adding coffee grounds would not affect the wood.
Therefore, adding coffee grounds around hydrangeas won’t make them bloom.
What happens if you don’t prune hydrangeas?
If you don’t prune hydrangeas, you will be limiting the potential of their blooms. Without pruning, the shrubs may become crowded and weak, with too much foliage and too few blooms. Many varieties of hydrangeas produce their best blooms on new growth, so pruning encourages the production of new branches and buds.
An unpruned hydrangea bush can become weak and overgrown, more susceptible to pests and diseases, with fewer blooms and weakened roots. Pruning is essential to a healthy hydrangea bush, and also helps improve the bloom size and growth of individual flowers.
Pruning also helps keep the mass of the bush in check and makes it easier to maintain. By trimming the base of the bush and removing the dead wood and branches, you can shape and direct the growth of the hydrangea.
Ultimately, proper pruning of your hydrangea will help improve the amount and quality of blooms you receive each year.
How do I know what kind of hydrangea I have?
In order to determine what kind of hydrangea you have, you should look at the characteristics of the flowers. If your hydrangea has mophead or lacecap flowers, then it is likely either a Macrophylla (Bigleaf) Hydrangea or a Lacecap Hydrangea.
If your hydrangea has clusters of small flowers, then it could be a Paniculata (Panicle) Hydrangea or a Smooth Hydrangea. Additionally, you can look at the leaf shape and size to help you identify the type of hydrangea.
Macrophylla (Bigleaf) Hydrangeas have large, round, and often heart-shaped leaves while Paniculata (Panicle) Hydrangeas have long, narrow leaves. Lacecap Hydrangeas have small, serrated leaves while Smooth Hydrangeas have smooth, long, and typically oval leaves.
Additionally, the size of your hydrangea can also indicate the type. Macrophylla Hydrangeas are typically smaller, while Paniculata Hydrangeas can have very large flower heads that tower over other plants.
In sum, you can use various characteristics of the flowers and leaves, as well as the overall size of the plant, to help you determine what type of hydrangea you have.
Which hydrangeas should not be pruned?
In general, most hydrangeas should not be pruned, since doing so would remove the blooms for the upcoming season. The only hydrangeas that typically should be pruned are Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) and Oakleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea quercifolia).
Bigleaf Hydrangeas can be pruned back in the late winter/early spring to encourage bushier growth and larger blooms. Oakleaf Hydrangeas can be pruned in the early spring to shape and size. Pruning other varieties, such as Climbing Hydrangeas (Hydrangea anomala ssp.
petiolaris), Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens), Panicle Hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata), and Mophead Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla), should be left alone, so that blooms can form without risk.
What are the different types of hydrangeas?
There are five main types of hydrangeas, each with its own unique characteristics. The types are:
1. Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla): The most common type and popular for its large, showy flower clusters. It usually blooms pink or blue in acidic soil, and white in alkaline soil.
2. Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): This type is known for its attractive, oak-shaped leaves and deep pink or white clusters of blooms.
3. Panicle Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata): This type is the most cold-hardy of hydrangeas and produces conical, cream-colored to pink blooms.
4. Smooth Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens): Smooth hydrangeas have white, star-shaped blooms, and often re-bloom in late summer.
5. Mountain Hydrangea (Hydrangea serrata): This unique type of hydrangea has smaller clusters of white or pink blooms, and often has exfoliating bark.
No matter which type you choose, hydrangeas are perfect for adding texture, color, and beauty to any garden!
Should hydrangea be cut back in the fall?
The decision to cut back hydrangeas in the fall depends on the type of hydrangea and its growing zone. For example, the Oakleaf and Bigleaf types of Hydrangeas should be left uncut in the fall, especially if they are growing in a colder climate.
These types of Hydrangeas die back naturally with the cold temperatures, and should be left alone to ensure that new growth can start in the spring.
In warmer climates, for the Bigleaf and Oakleaf types of Hydrangeas, it is okay to lightly prune the plant to remove dead or diseased branches in the fall. Doing so will help to promote vigorous and healthy growth in the spring.
However, if you are cutting back a lot of the branches, it’s best to wait until spring to do it, as the shrub is still getting ready to go dormant during the fall.
Another type of Hydrangea, called the Panicle Hydrangea, should be cut back in the fall. This type of plant is best pruned annually in the late fall or early winter in order to encourage larger blooms in the springtime.
Be sure to cut these plants back by about one third of their total height and prune off any dead or diseased branches.
Overall, cutting back hydrangeas in the fall should be done carefully and with consideration to the type and climate of the plant. It’s best to wait until late fall or early winter to do it, and make sure the plant isn’t being cut back too drastically.
What is the difference between lacecap and mophead hydrangea?
The main difference between lacecap and mophead hydrangeas is the size and shape of their flower clusters. Lacecap hydrangeas have small, flat clusters of flowers in the center, surrounded by colorful leaves or bracts called “sepals.
” Mophead hydrangeas, on the other hand, have large, round, fluffy clusters of flowers. These clusters are made up almost entirely of single petals and can range in color from white to pink to blue, depending on the soil acidity in the area.
In addition, lacecaps tend to be hardier than mopheads, and are less likely to suffer from heat stress or leaf scorch.
How do I identify a hydrangea serrata?
To identify a hydrangea serrata, look for a deciduous shrub with dark green, serrated leaves and large clusters of white, blue, or pink flowers. The leaves usually have five or nine leaflets. The flowers of a hydrangea serrata are often star-shaped or heart-shaped, and the blooms appear in mid- to late summer.
You may also want to look for inflorescences with four or five white, sterile ray florets around the edge of the bloom, in addition to the regular pink, white or blue petals. The hydrangea serrata’s woody stems are usually dark brown to gray in color and are often surrounded by shallow, pruned-back roots.
This shrub is popular to grow in gardens due to its unique beauty and often easy-to-care-for needs.
How much sun do blue hydrangeas need?
Blue hydrangeas typically need moderate sun exposure, ideally between four and six hours of direct sunlight per day. Avoid exposing them to full midday sun, as this can cause them to wilt. During very hot and/or windy days, you should provide some extra protection by shielding them from harsh sunlight.
If blue hydrangeas are grown in shade or partial shade, they may look very different from what you would expect from classic blue hydrangeas. Shaded or over-shaded plants will not develop their classic blue or purple hues.
In the right conditions, however, the flowers of a blue hydrangea can become a beautiful vibrant blue.
Which hydrangeas tolerate the most shade?
Oak leaf hydrangeas are some of the best hydrangeas for shady areas. They produce large, cone-shaped white blooms that are especially showy against their dark green foliage. Oakleaf hydrangeas prefer a location with afternoon shade.
They can handle full morning sun, but benefit from shade in the afternoon when temperatures soar. Other hydrangeas that do well in shady areas include Bigleaf hydrangeas and the Invincibelle Spirit hydrangea.
Bigleaf hydrangeas require a location with partial to full shade and can tolerate full sun in cooler climates. The Invincibelle Spirit hydrangea is a hardy plant and will even tolerate full shade. All three of these hydrangeas can also tolerate some drought.
However, they may need more frequent watering during periods of extreme heat as they are sensitive to wilt.
What month do blue hydrangeas bloom?
The blooming season for blue hydrangeas varies, depending on the region’s climate. In areas with mild winters, the blooming season typically runs from May to September. In areas with more extreme seasons, such as zones 8 and 9, blue hydrangeas can bloom in the spring and early summer months, from April through July.
However, hydrangeas can also flower early or late depending on weather fluctuations and the variety of hydrangea you have planted in your garden. In some cases, blue hydrangeas may even bloom into the fall months, from August through October.
Will vinegar turn hydrangeas blue?
No, vinegar will not turn hydrangeas blue. Although vinegar is sometimes used as a soil conditioner in gardens, its acidic nature will not affect the flower color of hydrangeas. To turn hydrangeas blue, you need to add aluminum sulfate to the soil.
Aluminum sulfate releases a form of aluminum that creates acidic soil and in turn causes the Blue Mophead and Bigleaf varieties of hydrangeas to bloom in blue or purple instead of pink or white. Adding agricultural lime to the soil can turn them pink.
Will Epsom salts make hydrangeas blue?
Unfortunately, soaking Epsom salts will not make your hydrangeas blue. While using Epsom salts as an input for certain plants (like tomatoes) can be beneficial, they are not ideal for hydrangeas. In fact, they are not recommended.
This is because Epsom salts act as a source of magnesium, but they do not contain an adequate balance of other nutrients, like sulfur and iron, needed for proper hydrangea growth. Furthermore, too much magnesium can lead to salt build up in the soil and make it toxic for your hydrangeas.
If you are trying to achieve blue hydrangeas, consider testing your soil for its alkalinity (pH) levels; some blue varieties can only achieve their desired colors in soils with a pH between 5.2 – 5.5.
Additionally, to obtain blue colors you can use aluminum sulfate or iron sulfate. Both of these products are available from garden centers and can be applied directly around the base of the hydrangea.
How long does it take for hydrangeas to turn blue?
The time it takes for hydrangeas to turn blue depends on a few factors. Factors that can influence the time it takes for them to turn blue include the soil pH, the presence of aluminum in the soil, the availability of phosphorous and potassium, and other nutrients in the soil, and climate and growing conditions.
The bluer the desired hydrangea color, the more acidic the ideal soil pH should be for a hydrangea to turn blue. The ideal soil pH for blue hydrangeas is 5.5 which is on the lower end of the acidic side and can take several weeks to months to obtain.
When the soil pH is below 6.0, the aluminum needed to cause the change of color can be absorbed by the plant and eventually turn the hydrangea blue. Typically, it takes around 4 to 8 weeks to see the first hints of a bluer color.
Once the desired pH range is obtained and other nutrients are readily available, the amount of time it takes for the hydrangea to turn blue can be reduced significantly. It is important to note that the presence of aluminum in the soil is necessary to turn the hydrangea blue, and some soils may be so lacking in aluminum content that hydrangeas can never reach that vibrant blue coloration.
Additionally, if the soil is too alkaline, the aluminum will not be able to be absorbed, and it can cause the bluer tones of the hydrangea to become hidden by greens, purples, and reds.
In conclusion, the amount of time it takes for a hydrangea to turn blue will depend on the soil pH, the presence of aluminum in the soil, the availability of other nutrients, and environmental factors.
In ideal conditions, it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks, but it can also take much longer if the environment is not conducive to a blue hydrangea.