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Old 28-03-2007, 08:16 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Charlie Pridham Charlie Pridham is offline
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First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 412
Default Keeping hydrangea blue


wrote in message
oups.com...
On Mar 27, 5:54 pm, Jim S wrote:
On 27 Mar 2007 09:49:17 -0700, wrote:





On Mar 27, 5:35 pm, Jim S wrote:
On 27 Mar 2007 09:25:45 -0700, Snowflake wrote:


I have been given a present of a blue hydrangea because I do not

like
pink and the donor says there is a way to keep it blue but cannot
remember how. Any help is appreciated and the plant is to survive

in
North of Scotland.
Ailsa


There are blueing powders in the garden centres based on aluminium
sulphate(?) I think.
There are also claims that sticking (iron/steel) nails among the

roots does
the same thing. The colours are the opposite way to litmus paper so

you are
looking towards an acid soil.
I am trying a mixture of iron and aluminium roofing nails, but I did

put
them there before the winter.
If all the hydrangeas in your street are pink, you may be in for a

long
battle )
--
Jim S
Tyneside UKhttp://www.jimscott.co.uk


Jim, I've tried your method, mine still flower as pink!!! The only
ones that do come up a beautiful blue colour each year, without any
additives, are the Japanese ones.


Judith


Aaah. You have spoiled my anticipation (
I trust yours were blue to begin with?
--
Jim S
Tyneside UKhttp://www.jimscott.co.uk- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


They were. I have taken cuttings of a white one which have all taken,
do you know if white have any problems keeping true?

Fraid so my whites come pink or blue or sometimes both but never white!
except the year I bought them
--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea