Turn pink hydrangeas 'beautiful' blue with scrap kitchen item

Daily Mirror

5 hours ago

Hydrangea flowers can range in colour from pink to blue, and one gardener has shared a simple trick to turn your pink hydrangeas blue - and it's all down to one kitchen scrap item
Hydrangea varieties such as hydrangea macrophylla and hydrangea serrata offer a spectrum of colours, ranging from pink to blue, encompassing every shade of fuchsia, plum and periwinkle in between. Interestingly, the colour of these blooms can alter based on the quantity of aluminium absorbed by the plants from the soil, which is influenced by the soil's pH level.
High concentrations of aluminium in acidic soil conditions result in the much sought-after bright blue to purple flowers. Conversely, lower levels of aluminium in the soil produce a variety of pink blooms. However, not all hydrangea species exhibit this colour-changing phenomenon.
‌
White hydrangeas remain unchanged, and some varieties are specifically bred for a particular colour scheme, reports the Express. The initial step involves testing your soil's pH level. Acidic soil (lower pH) will produce blue flowers, while alkaline soil (higher pH) will yield pink blooms.
‌
Soil test kits are readily available for purchase on Amazon for £12.99 or at B&Q for £6.99 to determine your soil's pH level. Once you've established your soil's general pH, you can adjust it accordingly to achieve either pink or blue hydrangea blooms.
But what can be used to modify the colour of your hydrangeas? One gardener took to the Hydrangeas in the UK Facebook page to share her secret. She posted a photo of her "beautiful" hydrangeas adorned with vibrant blue blooms, attributing their colour to a common kitchen waste item.
Shanta Patel posted: "This was a few years ago. Fed with coffee grounds." She revealed that the plant was initially pink when she purchased it from Ikea.
When queried about the approach to utilising coffee grounds for plants, Shanta explained: "Add a layer [of used coffee grounds] on top every month and water it in."
Shanta also disclosed the timeline for her pink hydrangeas' transformation into a blue hue, noting she observed changes "within the first year".
Moreover, to sustain the soil's acidity, gardeners are advised to consider using orange peels, eggshells, or peat when viable.
For those eager for swifter results, aluminium sulphate is a trusted aid in altering the colour of your pink hydrangeas to blue.
The Trustleaf 1kg Tub Aluminium Sulphate, which is available on Amazon for £9.90, has been praised by customers who successfully turned their hydrangeas blue and maintained the shade.
Another option for garden enthusiasts is acquiring the Hydrangea Colourant from Thompson & Morgan at the price of £5.99, which is equally effective in changing pink hydrangeas to blue.