It can generally go without saying that having a variety of colors in your garden is something that you are going to want to achieve. Out of all the bright, vibrant colors that you can choose from, the one color that you are not going to want to leave out is the color white.
White is a color that can tie together an entire garden, and there is no better plant to choose than the hydrangeas.
Hydrangeas are a wonderful type of plant that you can change the color of, depending on a few varying factors. However, this also means that if you are not careful and do not maintain your hydrangeas properly, they can begin to shift from white to pink or blue, which can create a lopsided color addition to your garden. Nobody wants this to happen.
Also see: What to Plant with Hydrangeas (Companion Planting Guide).
With this being said, understanding how to keep hydrangeas a particular color is going to be the first step in knowing how to keep your white hydrangeas their snow-white color.
Keep in mind that while you cannot intentionally change a white hydrangea to blue or pink, the color of the blossoms can shift to a light pink or tan, which is still something that nobody wants to have happen.
How Do Hydrangeas Keep Their Colors?

Hydrangeas are a curious type of plant, with their colors often changing because of the pH of the soil.
If you are keeping blue or pink hydrangeas, you should know that if there is a shift in the soil content, there’s a good chance that they can begin changing the color of their blossoms. This makes them an incredibly popular type of flower among gardeners of all different kinds.
However, white hydrangeas are slightly different than their blue and pink counterparts. Unlike most hydrangeas, white ones are going to stay white for as long as they are healthy and alive. They are not affected nearly as much by the pH of the soil as the other colors are.
Check the price of Incrediball Smooth Hydrangea Shrub on amazon.
In fact, the only time that they begin to change color is when the blossom is growing old and dying. Here, the blossoms will turn to a pink, tan, or blue color, depending on the genetics of the flower itself.
This isn’t to say that you can just leave your hydrangea in the nearest pot of dirt you find. You should still make the effort to give it its preferred pH of soil and make sure that it gets all the nutrients that it needs.
You simply don’t have to worry about micromanaging the pH of the soil to the extent that you need to for other colors.
Keeping Your Hydrangea Happy

Because the color of the hydrangea will change when the blossoms die, you will want to do everything you can to keep the blossoms alive.
Of course, there will come a time when the blossoms of the flower die of old age, but making sure that the plant is happy and healthy is going to be an important part of making sure the flowers stay alive for as long as possible.
First things first, you are going to want to work with the pH level of the soil. While white hydrangeas are not really affected by the pH of the soil, you should still try to keep it at its preferred level to keep it a happy and healthy plant.
You should test the pH of the soil (link to soil tester on amazon) to see where you are starting from. Your goal should be to get the pH of the soil between 6.0 and 6.2.
Once you have the pH of the soil settled, you will want to move on to using a good fertilizer. Fertilizer helps feed the plant the nutrients that it needs to keep it vibrant and happy. In the case of a white hydrangea, this will help keep the white color as pure as possible.
You will want to aim for using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. This means you will want to look for a fertilizer that has equal parts of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium for your hydrangea plant.
After you have added the fertilizer, you should test the pH of the soil. It should be no higher than 7.0, although closer to 6.0 is going to be best for the plant’s colors. When you are applying fertilizer, you should remember to fertilize it once during the winter seasons.
Depending on how expansive your garden is, you are going to want to make sure that you are applying one pound of fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil, so that every plant in your garden can get the nutrients needed.
You should also consider placing a fair amount of mulch around the base of the plant. This helps to protect your hydrangea from all sorts of trouble that can come from unprotected soil.

As for the exact type of mulch you will be using, you will want to make sure that you aim for some shredded wood bark, or a compost mulch that you have created. These are going to be the best mulches to keep your hydrangea happy.
Finally, you should make sure that you are watering the plant regularly. More often than not, you can use the water hose and your hydrangea will be just fine.
You should make sure that you are not watering the plant so much that the water is standing on the soil, as excess water will bring rot to your hydrangea, and nobody wants that. The exact amount you will be watering the plant depends on the temperature and humidity in your area.
In the end, keeping your white hydrangea happy, healthy, and protected is going to be the best thing that you can do for the color of the plant. Just because it isn’t affected by pH levels as much as other hydrangeas doesn’t mean that you can slack off on the amount that you care for the plant.
By giving the plant the care that it needs, you can rest assured knowing that the blossoms will retain their pure white color throughout the plant’s life.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.
Deborah w merrill
Saturday 18th of September 2021
I bought a white hydrangea and planted it last fall. This summer it rapidly turned from white to a deep pink and remains so. The flowers are not old and dying
Heather Morse
Friday 23rd of July 2021
I beg to differ with you that you cannot change the color of a white hydrangea. Mine have always been white. A week ago I came across something on the internet that said mix 1 cup of apple cider vinegar with 2 gallons of water and water the bush with it. Repeat weekly. My flowers are starting to turn pink!