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Should I use holly-tone with my Nikko Blue Hydrangea

Posted on June 21, 2002

Question:
I was advised to use "holly-tone" to help acidify my soil so that the flowers on my Nikko Blue Hydrangea are in fact blue, not pink. If this is correct, how much should I use, how often should I do this, and how long should it take for the change to take place?
Thanks. Tim

Answer:

Holly tone sounds like a trade name and I am not familiar with it. However, the ingredient that you are looking for is aluminum sulphate. It is the aluminum that changes the flower color to blue. There is no fertilizer value in this so you still need to fertilize regularly. Suggested rate of application is one pound for every foot of height. This can be done in early spring each year. If you have not done it yet, you may apply it now and it may still help for this year, just depending on how far along the plants are in your area. Happy Gardening, Chuck.

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