Fertilizer for Hydrangeas

[Molly Gene]

What is the best fertilizer for hydrangeas? I think that I found the perfect place for my little bush; it sends out lots of blooms. However, the blooms fade in color pretty quickly. Or, they don't get much more colorful than pale white-blue. Would fertilizer help?

 

[ChanellG]

When I brought home my hydrangea last year, I posted a similar question to a plant swap group I belong to on Facebook. Some of the members are growers who sell plants and have been in business for a number of years. I was told to give my hydrangea fish emulsion once per month. The plant stayed gorgeous until I started slacking off in the garden just before the holidays.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

My garden contains 13 Hydrangeas. Not all Hydrangeas are created equal. There are 3 basic groups. Knowing what group yours belongs in is a start. And over the course of many years, its a rarity I fertilize them. And they all look just beautiful all their normal season. In fact, I rarely fertilize anything. Maybe once every couple years. And all my gardens are lush .

 

[Daren]

13 vary nice Hydrangeas .....I want them as mine looks like a dog in an avator

spring or early summer feeding can be worth doing if you think the soil could be lacking?....fertilizer with a NPK ratio of 10-30-10 Granular. Slow release or regular liquid feed's can all benefit a plant as long as it is applied correctly. But if you over feed you can end up with big healthy green leaves and few flowers

you can change the Acidity of the soil also to get different color flowers. For instance if the flowers are pink that suggests your soil is Alkaline If they are Blue the PH is more Acid. If you wish to change a Pink to blue

First off you need to test the soil & a PH tester Kit is one way Or if you don't have one you can lay your hands on? you can put some soil in a container & Pour distilled white vinegar over it. If the solution fizzes, the pH level is high and your soil is alkaline. But If it doesn’t fizz, then the soil is neutral or acidic; you will not have to amend it as much to get that Blue hydrangeas blue.


Start Add organic materials to your soil to make it more acidic. Coffee grounds are good. So is ground-up citrus peel. Just Keep adding And watering in Every couple of weeks. It can take a couple of years But if you Can neutralise or lower your PH & your Flowers will change color.

 

[Esther Knapicius]

you can change the Acidity of the soil also to get different color flowers. For instance if the flowers are pink that suggests your soil is Alkaline If they are Blue the PH is more Acid. If you wish to change a Pink to blue

That information is incorrect, as Hydrangeas fall into three types, and only one type can possibly change colors with soil PH. Not all are created equal. My cream ones stay cream. I have blue ones and pink ones and lavender ones all in the same garden are, and same soil, and they remain the same color year after year, and I do nothing to each individual one.

 

[Trellum]

When I brought home my hydrangea last year, I posted a similar question to a plant swap group I belong to on Facebook. Some of the members are growers who sell plants and have been in business for a number of years. I was told to give my hydrangea fish emulsion once per month. The plant stayed gorgeous until I started slacking off in the garden just before the holidays.

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what is fish emulsion exactly? I'd like to know more because I want to grow hydrageneas as well. I want them to be really gorgeous Is fish emulsion something you can do yourself? If so, how?

 

[Molly Gene]

13 vary nice Hydrangeas .....I want them as mine looks like a dog in an avator

spring or early summer feeding can be worth doing if you think the soil could be lacking?....fertilizer with a NPK ratio of 10-30-10 Granular. Slow release or regular liquid feed's can all benefit a plant as long as it is applied correctly. But if you over feed you can end up with big healthy green leaves and few flowers

you can change the Acidity of the soil also to get different color flowers. For instance if the flowers are pink that suggests your soil is Alkaline If they are Blue the PH is more Acid. If you wish to change a Pink to blue

First off you need to test the soil & a PH tester Kit is one way Or if you don't have one you can lay your hands on? you can put some soil in a container & Pour distilled white vinegar over it. If the solution fizzes, the pH level is high and your soil is alkaline. But If it doesn’t fizz, then the soil is neutral or acidic; you will not have to amend it as much to get that Blue hydrangeas blue.


Start Add organic materials to your soil to make it more acidic. Coffee grounds are good. So is ground-up citrus peel. Just Keep adding And watering in Every couple of weeks. It can take a couple of years But if you Can neutralise or lower your PH & your Flowers will change color.

Thank you! My hydrangea is blue, so hopefully coffee grounds and citrus peels will help it!

 

[Esther Knapicius]

http://www.centertonnursery.com/howto/HydrangeaColor.pdf

 

[ChanellG]

Sorry if this is a silly question, but what is fish emulsion exactly? I'd like to know more because I want to grow hydrageneas as well. I want them to be really gorgeous Is fish emulsion something you can do yourself? If so, how?

Fish emulsion is pretty much what it sounds like. It's a fertilizer made from fish. You could make your own, but you probably don't want to! Just ask @zigs about that, lol. I get it at the garden center in a bottle. This is the one I use:

http://data:image/webp;base64,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

You can get it on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Alaska-Fertil...&qid=1456317399&sr=8-1&keywords=fish+emulsion

 

[ChanellG]

@Esther Knapicius, your hydrangeas are beautiful! I am envious! Was that an Annabelle? And did I see and oak leaf? I only have the one Mathilda Gudges, but I want to get a limelight and a nice big white one. They are just so gorgeous!

 

[zigs]

Take all your fish guts, heads and tails. put them in a bucket and wee on them

 

[Esther Knapicius]

@Esther Knapicius, your hydrangeas are beautiful! I am envious! Was that an Annabelle? And did I see and oak leaf? I only have the one Mathilda Gudges, but I want to get a limelight and a nice big white one. They are just so gorgeous!

Thanks, yes that was an Annabelle, have three of them, the one you saw was the mother, have two babies doing well from her. And Yes its an Oak leaf, and also have three total, two babies. And the pic are not all of them.