"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...

"Graham Dixon" wrote in message
...
Last year I took a cutting from a Hydrangea in my late
Father-in-Laws
garden. The plant was a beautiful specimen and alwways produced a
wealth of
large deep-blue flowers.

My cutting rooted successfully and in spring I planted it in my
garden. It
has produced one large flower that is bright pink. Is this usual or
something to do with the different soils in each garden. (Or maybe
it's my
late Father-in-law having a last laugh)

Hydrangeas need a soil with a substanrial amout of a certain Iron ion
in order to produce blue flowers. Try using Squestrene or a similar
product. Ask your neighborhood garden centre what bluing agent for
hydrangeas he stocks.

Franz

******
I struck thirty cuttings from a deep purple hydrangea growing in shade on
the side of a countryside wood. They all rooted . They all flowered pink.
On all of my hydrangeas I have tried packs of rusty nails, water from a big
jug with rusty nails in it, cast-iron window-sash weights, Sequestrene.
You name it I've tried it.
I have recently replanted them and filled each the hole with half a bag per
plant of Ericaceous compost, with only fairish success.
All the bushes flower according to what colour they were before , blue,
pink, red or white.
Dear mother its a bugger sell the pig and buy me out.
Doug.
******