Strawberry and cream hydrangea?

patty78

My DH got me one of these for mothers day, I would love to plant it outside but I am afraid it will change colors.  I have other hydrangeas and they have all turned blue, which I like, but I don't want this one to turn blue too.  Anyone know if it will stay pink and white?

pugznploons

you will need to amend the soil to change the ph if you don't want it to turn blue.  

ootmother2

Ask at the nursery where he got them.  All hydrangea near the coast turn blue because of the salt in the soil

kastle

There are hydrangeas that change colors due to pH but there are some (namely the green & white ones) that def. don't change color based on the soil.  And, I have an electric purple hydrangea (so, not blue or pink)...and I've got quite acidic soil.

I do second the rec on asking the nursery.  This variety/cultivar may be bred to stay the color it is.

dirtyred

If it's one of the hydrangeas that changes color according to soil pH, you'll need to lime your soil to make it alkaline to get the pink color.  Acid soil makes them blue.

strangebird

Not all hydrangeas change color due to ph variances.

 However, you may have trouble planting your particular Hydrangea outside. The "Strawberries and Cream" Hydrangea is a genetically designed Lace Cap cultivar. It was adapted from more traditional Lace Cap varieties and then selected for color variance, in a greenhouse. It is grown in greenhouses and sold as a houseplant. These hydrangeas are generally presented as a gift line and, in most instances, grown in a greenhouse at 60-65 degrees, forced and marketed as a floral hydrangea and therefore perform best indoors. They can eventually be moved outdoors and planted, but it is recommended to wait until the average night time temperature reaches 60 degrees. Personally, I have had no luck planting these cultivars outdoors. Greenhouse-grown hydrangeas are temperamental at best and, at least here in Illinois, flounder when placed outdoors.

I have read a bit that says these cultivars are winter hardy only to zone 7, whereas Hydrangeas are usually hardy to zone 4a. If you really like the plant, I would keep it indoors.