skip to main content

2 Questions about my Endless Summer Hydrangea's

16 years ago

I purchased two Endless Summer Hydrangeas that were blue this year.

First question: Can anyone tell me where I can purchase aluminum sulfate? I looked at all of the garden stores and places like Lowe's and could not find any? If I do find, how often and how much to I apply?

Second question: How do I check the ph of my water (my soil is alkaline) and what do I use to amend it to bring the acidity level down? Do I water over the top of the plant or under the plant?

Sorry I guess more than two questions. Just two basic questions with subquestions.

Thanks!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

stephen9
16 years ago
I can't answer part of your question but I'll say if you use anything with a sulfur component you'll lower you ph. I'd go with somthing with amonium sulfate. How about using some organic manures and compost. They also lower the ph. I don't know much more. Here in the east we have natural acidic soils do to the sulfur in the air and the heavy soils.
blue_velvet_elvis
16 years ago
I've never not seen aluminum sulfate at any store. It's usually near where they have miraclegro. I was even able to find it at the little hardware store in my town of 1,000.

On the bag it has the numbers 00-00-00.
Related Discussions
2 Late bloomers flowers on my Endless Summer
Q
Comments (3)
These new late bloomers came from the new stems, it seems to me. Long stems with 10 to 12 pairs of leaves. When I took the shot, some hasn't opened fully yet but it is quite big now too. I'm the extreme of you Jen, I don't cut any flower from my ES. I just prefer them on the shrub. The older blooms are still beautiful, they are papery but still alright, attached to the plant. Thanks, I'm looking forward to see your ES pictures too. Next year, let's do an update on our ES here again! Isn't it fun and exciting?
...See More
Did I kill my endless summer hydrangea?
Q
Comments (1)
I seriously doubt you killed it. The Espoma product is just elemental sulfur and that is used routinely to lower soil pH. Sulfur in the garden combined with water creates sulphuric acid and there is a possibility that you burned some roots with this reaction. Watering well throughout the root zone may help to flush the excess down deep into the soil but the plant should recover well. If you can post photos of your hydrangea we might be able to advise on the flowers but I'd guess that they are just undergoing a natural aging process, of which drying browning and changing colors is completely normal.
...See More
Hydrangea Endless Summer "Summer Crush"
Q
Comments (62)
Is it a heated garage? Did you water it while dormant? Sorry @luis_pr for the delay in replying. The garage is not heated (the coldest I observed inside the garage was -12 C/10 F while it was -22 C/-8 F outside) and the only water it got was from 'clumps' of snow that I would put on it every once and awhile through the winter. So here it was on May 17: And today, about 6 weeks later: I can tell you that it looks lots larger than it actually is, but clearly it is producing flowers (on strictly new wood).
...See More
is all summer beauty the same as Endless summer/endless summer BS?
Q
Comments (23)
Sorry but that is not supportable evidence. And/or is grossly out of date. There is no mention of Semperflorens anywhere on the Esveld website. Nor is there any locatable documentation to support the notion that Pieter Zwijnenburg had anything to do with its introduction. Still not buying this without better documentation/proof.
...See More
bogie
16 years ago
I'm confused, if you have alkaline soil, why do you need to bring the acidity down? ES does well in acid soils, so you probably want to raise the acidity.
lovefornature
Original Author
16 years ago
Bogie, yes I do have very alkaline soil. I want to make my soil more acidic and bring down the ph so the hydrangea's will grow blue. I already know that ES does well in acidic soils.

Hope that makes more sense.

Blue Velvet Elvis, The aluminum sulfate comes in bags. I did not realize that. That is probably why I have not been able to find it. Is there a specific brand I can look for?

Thanks!!
jackz411
16 years ago
Just call your local garden stores and ask if they have aluminum sulfate. I'm sure any brand will do just fine. Cheers, jk
sue36
16 years ago
We purchased aluminum sulfate at Agway.

Related Stories

COLORFUL HOMES Houzz Tour: Color Brings Endless Summer to a Santa Monica Home

By Mary Jo Bowling

An interior designer gives her older house a casual cottage feel with vibrant hues and vintage pieces

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Have a Ball With Hydrangeas

By Living Small: City & Small Space Consulting

Even if you don't tinker with the hue by changing the soil, hydrangeas have an entertaining range of uses in all kinds of landscapes

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

REMODELING GUIDES Considering a Fixer-Upper? 15 Questions to Ask First

By Sarah Phipps Design

Learn about the hidden costs and treasures of older homes to avoid budget surprises and accidentally tossing valuable features

Easy Green: 6 Must-Answer Questions Before You Buy

By Laura Gaskill

Thinking about buying ecofriendly furniture? For a truly environmentally conscious home, ask yourself these questions first

GREEN BUILDING Considering Concrete Floors? 3 Green-Minded Questions to Ask

By Melanie Loftus

Learn what’s in your concrete and about sustainability to make a healthy choice for your home and the earth

EXTERIORS Curb Appeal Feeling a Little Off? Some Questions to Consider

By Becky Harris

Color, scale, proportion, trim ... 14 things to think about if your exterior is bugging you

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Oakleaf Hydrangea

By Becky Harris

Consider this full, flowering shrub for year-round beauty in the garden as you plan your fall plantings

BOOKS 11 Great Children’s Books About Home (and 2 Honorable Mentions)

By Caela McKeever

Homes come in many different shapes and sizes, and these kids’ books highlight the tallest, the smallest, the oldest and the silliest

LIGHTING What to Know About Switching to LED Lightbulbs

By Karen Egly-Thompson

If you’ve been thinking about changing over to LEDs but aren't sure how to do it and which to buy, this story is for you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Is there another name for a Hydrangea named "Sarena Blue"?

2

Transplanting Hydrangea

0

How to clean the fence -hydrangeas planted

3

When to add fertilizer? Zone 6b

3

"Little Spooky" hydrangea

1