Best Overall
Espoma Organic Holly-Tone 4-3-4
Runner-Up
Down to Earth All Natural Acid Mix Fertilizer
Best Bang For The Buck
Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Blooms Nutrition
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A perennial ducky in the landscape painting , hydrangeais hardy in a wide mountain chain of growing zones and is a comparatively easy keeper . While hydrangea diverge in shape , color , and bloom time , they are known for the large flower heads that cover the plant — so turgid , in fact , the blooms often consider down the stem . Once established , the hydrangea is one of the summertime season ’s most telling shrubs , but it needs plant food to reach out its full potential .
The best fertilizer for hydrangea plant should take a blend of food to encourage goodly root and outgrowth development while promote the coloration , size , and quantity of flower heads . Do n’t just grab a package ofgarden fertilizeroff the ledge , though .
We recommendEspoma Organic Holly - Tone 4 - 3 - 4as our top pick for its versatility , organic formulation , and availability . There are other mutual hydrangea fertilizer choice on the market place , includingMiracle - Gro Acid - Loving Plant FoodandJR Peters Jacks Classic Blossom Booster Fertilizer . However , they do not meet our sustainability guideline and are not recommended in our top pick due to their potentially harmful element and negative impact on the environment .
see what to look for when choosing a fertilizer for hydrangea , and find out why the following intersection can help this telling plant become a focal point in the landscape painting .
Before You Buy a Fertilizer for Hydrangeas
Before buying fertilizer for hydrangeas , it ’s important to perform asoil testto see the stain ’s pH level and tick off for nutrient deficiencies . Hydrangea blooms will vary in colour found on the acidity of the soil , and if the pH level is too high or too low , it can bear on the plant ’s ability to absorb essential nutrients from the ground . A dirt psychometric test can also let on if the grease lack sealed nutrient , such as N , Lucifer , or potassium , which can feign the plant ’s growth and overall health . cognise the soil ’s pH level and nutrient content enables shopper to choose the appropriate fertilizer and make any necessary amendments to ensure hydrangeas thrive .
Product Comparison
Our Top Picks
The just overall pick is an acid - base fertiliser from a well - known and respected manufacturing business in the gardening industriousness . A granular flora food for thought designed for hydrangeas and other plant that prefer slightly acidic dirt , this plant food comes in a 4 - pound bag of granules . It features a 4 - 3 - 4 N - P - K ratio to help hydrangea get off to a rich start in spring and grow smartly throughout the summer .
The flora food ’s Zen formulation lightly reduces the soil ’s pH level , increasing the hazard the hydrangea flowers will be a inscrutable garden pink , purple , or blue timber . Along with hydrangeas , this fertiliser knead well for holly , azaleas , rhododendron , blueberries , evergreen , strawberries , camelia , and other plants that thrive in acidulent soil .
Get the Espoma Organic Holly - Tone 4 - 3 - 4 atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
This acidic , farinaceous fertilizer comes in a 5 - pound bag and is suitable for use on many type of flowers and plants . One software will provide hydrangeas with a steady 4 - 3 - 6 N - P - K dieting for about a month . In addition to the N - P - K food , the fertilizer contains additional beneficial ingredients like calcium and Mg as well as S , which helps to make the filth more acid .
plan to encourage orotund , bountiful blooms , this fertiliser should be spread around the base of the plant at a proportion of 1 pound per 1 inch of torso diam . Along with hydrangea , it ’s a great picking for feeding rhododendrons , azaleas , camelia , evergreens , blueberries , hoot , and strawberries .
Get the Down to Earth All raw Acid Mix Fertilizer atAmazon .
There ’s no demand to spend a big money on flora food for thought . This affordable option features an 8 - 8 - 8 N - P - K conceptualization that promotes more bloom of youth per shrub , along with vivacious flush heads . This is an all - purpose peak booster shot that ’s suitable for manipulation on a wide variety of perennial and annual blooming industrial plant , including hydrangea .
It ply various mineral , including copper , calcium , and branding iron , to append common nutrient deficiencies . The urine - soluble formulation should be practice every 7 daytime throughout the growing time of year for the biggest , bright flush and healthiest plants .
Get the Miracle - Gro Performance Organics Blooms Plant Nutrition atAmazon , Lowe ’s , orThe place Depot(2.5 pound ) .
Photo: istockphoto.com Photo: istockphoto.com
Best For Blue
Dr. Earth Acid Lovers Organic Acid Fertilizer
Dr. Earth ’s acid fertilizer contains only instinctive ingredient , including alfalfa meal , bone repast , and kelp meal , in a 3 - 4 - 3 N - atomic number 15 - K formulation . In addition to nutrients , it contains choice strains of probiotic flora that improve land health and increase flora carrying into action . Some of its fixings are designed to decoct the soil ’s pH point , too , making the product suitable for utilization on all acid - screw flora and increasing the chance that hydrangeas will produce blue peak .
For the best results , implement in mid - to - early spring and then every 60 days afterwards . The granules should be integrate with the grunge and water well .
Get the Dr. Earth Acid Lovers Organic Acid Fertilizer atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Most Versatile
Dr. Earth GL61100518430 Fertilizer
Dr. Earth Flower Girl has a 3 - 9 - 4 NPK depth psychology and let in additional probiotics to further overall plant health , do it a great option for feeding bulbs , Tuber , corm , and rootstock . It contains eight strains of ecto- and endomycorrhizae , which work together to increase drought permissiveness and provide enhanced nourishing availability .
The 4 - pound udder of granule is designed to provide slow - release nutrients for several month after the initial app . The convention includes ingredient like fish bone meal , lucerne repast , feather repast , soft rock phosphate , and mine potassium sulfate , and is GMO - liberal . It ’s free of Gallus gallus manure and sewage sludge .
Get the Dr. Earth GL61100518430 Fertilizer atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Photo: amazon.com
Best Acidifier
Espoma Organic Soil Acidifier
gardener and landscapers looking to create highly desirable blue flower heads need look no further than this soil acidifier from Espoma Soil . While not a strict fertilizer in the common signified — Espoma does not total with an N - P - K proportion — the Cartesian product does contain primary S and gypsum that act together to turn down the land ’s pH level , encouraging depressed hydrangea blooms . For the good results , use Espoma granules around the plant ’s root in other spring before flowerhead bud modernize and reapply every 60 day .
It comes in a 6 - pound dish and is suitable for exercise on hydrangeas and other Lucy in the sky with diamonds - loving plants . Be aware that pH levels aline step by step . reckon on the soil ’s current pH level , two or more lotion may be necessary before the acidulousness is downcast enough to produce dreary flower heads . This product can be used in co-occurrence with an all - function fertilizer to encourage robust plant life health as well as low flower heads .
Get the Espoma Soil Acidifier atAmazonorThe Home Depot .
Photo: amazon.com
Or, DIY Your Own Fertilizer for Hydrangeas
One of the most effective and sustainable ways to make fertiliser for hydrangea is by making compost from family scraps . Composting is a process of breaking down organic materials , such as yield and veggie fighting , leave , and Mary Jane clippings , into nutrient - robust grime amendments that can be used to fertilise plants .
Start by collecting constitutive fabric that are rich in nutrient , such as banana peels , eggshells , chocolate grounds , and fish emulsion . Add them to an outdoor compost ABA transit number and mix in leave and pasturage clipping .
Once the compost bin includes a unspoilt mix of materials , add up some H2O and call on the compost mound on a regular basis to supply O and secure even decomposition . As the compost demote down , it will transform into a nutrient - rich grease amendment that can be tot to the land around the hydrangea .
Photo: amazon.com
Not only is make compost a great way to provide hydrangea with rude and levelheaded fertilizers , but it also help to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact .
Jump to our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Fertilizers for Hydrangeas
To keep hydrangea grow and blossom bountifully , you need a fertilizer or soil amender that ’s made specifically for these acid - loving plants . Our recommendation let in a assortment of options to help improve the wellness and beauty of these works . We ’ve selected traditional body of water - soluble fertilizers that help get root growth , chondritic plant food , and soil amenders that avail increase the soil ’s sour to achieve blue flowers .
To qualify as a top pick , a fertilizer should allow the nutrients hydrangeas need for developing strong ramification , healthy leafage , and beautiful bloom . Our favorite option in effect increase the bloom rate of hydrangea , and gardeners can choose between organic and non - organic products .
What to Consider When Choosing a Fertilizer for Hydrangeas
Like all plants , hydrangeas pull nutrients from water , sunlight , air , and soil , but not all grime stop the food necessary for robust growth and flower ontogeny . That ’s where hydrangea fertilizer can help . The best fertilizer for any individual hydrangea industrial plant will depend on the nurseryman ’s preferred method of delivering the fertilizer to the ground , and the condition of the exist filth .
Type
Hydrangea fertilizers come in three primary frame : liquidity , granule , and compressed spikes . All three pop the question slightly different benefits .
Organic vs. Inorganic Fertilizers
Fertilizers are made up of either organic or inorganic ingredients .
N-P-K Ratio
Commercial fertiliser are labeled by the measure of N ( N ) , phosphorus ( phosphorus ) , and atomic number 19 ( K ) they contain by weight , which come out on the package as the N - P - K proportion . Hydrangeas will gain from an all - use , balanced fertilizer , such as a 10 - 10 - 10 N - P - K , that hold back equal amount of each nutrient . A balanced fertilizer will further healthy leaf as well as bountiful blooms . For gardeners explicitly search to increase the bloom ’ amount and size , a plant food with a higher engrossment of Lucifer ( the mediate number ) , such as a 10 - 20 - 10 N - P - K , may be good .
Plant Needs
The hydrangea will tolerate partial sunlight , but it prefers a mostly shady situation in the yard . When potential , locate the bush where it will not receive direct sun in the later good afternoon in hot climates . Morning sun is commonly satisfactory and well digest . In northerly clime where afternoon temp are moderate , some hydrangea will also thrive if they find some early good afternoon Lord’s Day . It ’s the combining of hot temperatures and blazing sunshine that can take a bell on these spectacular shrubs . Hydrangeas like a lasting spot in the landscape , so planting them in pots orgrow bagsmight not allow for the shrubs to reach their full potential .
Soil Condition
Well - drained soil that ’s eminent in organic subject is optimal for growing hydrangea . Heavy , clay - type soil and sandy soil will gain from extra organic topic , such as compost or dried leave-taking . By append constituent matter , the gardener will increase drain and heighten the soil ’s phosphorus level , which is favorable to producing colorful hydrangea rosiness . Before amending soil , it ’s a good idea to take a sample of the existing soil to alocal extension officefor testing . The test issue will include recommendations for creating sizeable , balanced soil .
Color and pH
White hydrangea species bring about only lily-white flush heads , but an interesting matter pass off to colored hydrangeas when the gardener change the soil ’s pH level . The more acidulous the soil ’s pH , the more likely it is that the hydrangea flower will be blue . The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 , with 7 view neutral . Levels high than 7 are think alkaline , while degree lower than 7 are consider acid . The outstanding the pH variation , the more pronounced the hydrangea color variety .
When shopping for hydrangea fertilizers , you may notice that a good number of them are anticipate acid fertilizers . In addition to the Cartesian product ’s N - P - K nutrient , acidulent fertiliser contain pH - changing additive , such as sulfur or aluminum sulfate . For those who endeavour for blue flower head , it ’s worthwhile to buy a pH soil examiner to supervise the land ’s pH level .
FAQs
Hydrangeas grow in most region of the country and are prized for their spectacular flower , so it ’s natural to have a few questions about how to make the most of these eye - catch bush .
Q. When do hydrangeas start to bloom?
In lovesome climates , hydrangeas bug out to flower in early summer . In northerly climes , they bloom in mid - summer .
Q. What is the best time to fertilize hydrangeas?
It bet on the type of fertilizer . It ’s a good idea to give hydrangeas a first feeding in mid - to - recent saltation . After that , practice additional fertilizer at intervals recommended by the manufacturer . Time - release fertilizers might need to be applied only once every 3 months , while other types should be apply every 1 to 2 hebdomad .
Q. How do I fertilize hydrangeas?
It ’s all-important to keep an eye on the guidance on the ware recording label . Liquids can be cut and poured around the plant ’s base or sprinkled on the foliage , while granules are often run into the top inch or so of the territory . Fertilizer spike heel are slip in near the basis of the plant and pushed beneath the soil ’s surface .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a rear bed , or an in - ground plot of land out back — and pick out the good works for your dirt and region .
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
Photo: amazon.com
