Hydrangeas

[Bellringer]

My wife wants a blue hydrangea which she intends to keep in a large tub. How do I get one which A) is blue & B) stays blue. All those in this area are pink(ish)

[ladyalex]

I think the colouring of the hydrangea depends on the acidity/alkalinity of the soil in which they are grown.
Sadly I cannot now remember whether it is the same as for litmus paper (acid=pink, alkali=blue) or the other way round.
Maybe you could experiment with more peaty or more limey soils...

[ladyalex]

or you could have a look here:

http://www.hydrangeas....com/colorchange.html

[DTCwordfan]

correct.....

[sara3]

the local florist told me to bury rusty nails around it to keep it blue.. but I didn't buy one. she said the ones in the shop were struggling to stay blue.

[AlBags]

Rusty nails .. iron bits and pieces in soil at top.
Water with Sequestered .. or Miracle-Gro for alkaline lovers.

[carlton23]

Go to an iron-works and ask the foreman for some iron filing to add/mix to the soil, as they will take effect soonest.

[rowanwitch]

you can also buy hydrangea blueing solution
http://www.theonlineg...duct.asp?prod=1007819
saves a lot of faffing around

[katerich48]

I got the Hydrangea blue powder from a garden centre in London... I have used it for 2 years now on 5 hydrangea plants I have. and its been really successful.. I get light blue,,,navy,,,purple,,,lilac (one particular plant seems to have flowers with different colours - pink, pale blue, lilac)...But each plant seems to come up with a different shade of blue - the purple is great...