Actually, hydrangeas are more likely to be pink if you add the lime. They need a pH around 6 for that, and the pH of 5-1-1 without lime is probably 5.5 or so. To get them toward blue, you add aluminum sulfate. I grew hydrangeas in 5-1-1 last year using the standard recipe with one tablespoon of dolomitic lime, and they were pink.

Thanks and yes I got that backwards! I have some Nikko Blue as well and my late night reading obviously didn't soak in!

Are yours doing well in the 511?

Wendy

Mine did very well in the 5-1-1 over last summer, but I didn't have a way to overwinter them, and they were killed by our record breaking cold temperatures.

Thanks ohiofern, I am going to do half in 511 and half in container mix to see what happens. I plan on overwintering in an unheated garage although our temps don't usually get too bad here on the rock, (Vancouver Island)