Re: Ash
- To: perennials@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Ash
- From: L*@aol.com
- Date: Mon, 7 Jun 1999 04:04:25 EDT
In a message dated 99-06-06 12:01:49 EDT, you write:
<< Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 08:24:14 -0600
From: Don Martinson <llmen@execpc.com>
Subject: Re: Ash
>Don
>
>when you mentioned wood ashes I did not realize that it was quite
>alkaline. do you think it would turn my blue hydrangea pink. I have
>been using Lime without any results. I've been adding lime for years.
>this year I've got a lighter blue, but no pink.
>do you think it would be ok to try? don't want to kill it, just turn
>it pink?
>
>Donna in NE Mississippi zone 7
>
> Donna...
> Unfortunately, hydrangeas are not my forte. I only know that the color of
> at least some hydrangeas is dependent upon the acidity/alkalinity of the
> soil and the availability of aluminum and iron (less available under
> alkaline conditions, I believe).
>Perhaps some other list members have more practical experience?
> Don
Donna & Don --
Don, you are correct. The flower color on some cultivars of Hydrangea
macrophylla, Bigleaf Hydrangea, is affected by the concentration of aluminum
ions in the soil. The more acidic the soil, the higher the concentration of
aluminum, and the bluer the flowers. In high pH (alkaline) soil the flowers
will be pink.
As to practical experience, I have found that if I sprinkle agricultural lime
on the soil here and there around the base of my blue hydrangea I can get
some pink and some blue flowers on the same plant. It's a pretty fetching
effect. If you have a hydrangea blooming pink you ought to be able to get
the same effect by using sulfur.
Donna, I would guess that you have a cultivar that is not pH dependent. The
lime should have worked by now. While wood ashes will cause an alkaline soil
reaction, if the lime hasn't worked, I would not think the ashes would. You
might consider buying one of the pink cultivars, such as H. macrophylla
'Pia', or 'Forever Pink'. Some of the cultivars which will produce pink or
blue flowers depending on pH are:
'All Summer Beauty', 'Compacta', Domotoi', 'Nikko Blue', 'Otaksa', and
'Westfalen'.
Donna, if you can tell me the pH of your soil and/or the name of the
hydrangea you are growing, I might be able to help more. --Janis
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