Questions and Answers for PROVEN WINNERS 4.5 in. Qt. Tuff Stuff Reblooming (Mountain Hydrangea) Live Shrub, Blue, Pink, and Purple Flowers

A:  Hi Wen, Flower color will vary depending on the soil. In acidic soils with abundant aluminum color will tend more to purple-blue. In alkaline soil or those lacking in aluminum, flowers will be a deep pink. To achieve more purple blooms, add more aluminum to the soil. If you have any other questions, feel free to call our hotline at (734) 654-7485. Best regards, Amanda

A:  Yo bloom blue/purple the soil must be acidic. I have pellets to work into soil around a plant to make our soil acidic and have made the color change. Bought them at White Flower Farm but should be available at HD or certainly a garden store

A:  To change colors on hydrangea takes a chemistry lesson. PH scale from 1 to 7 is acidic from 7 to 14 is alkaline. Blue has a lot of aluminum sulphate in the soil, pink has a lot of lime. Now to turn one to purple takes a red hydrangea, example teller red hydrangea, if you add a cup of aluminum sulphate around the base in a year or so it should turn purple. But this particular hydrangea and a lot of the new cultivar have the color bred into them. The way I understand it, it is the older varieties that you can change colors by adding either lime for pink and aluminum sulphate for blue. I have seen the same hydrangea bush both pink and blue on very old types.

A:  This plant can withstand up to Zone 5 areas, and has a hardiness of -20 F degrees.

A:  It has a cold hardiness of -20 degrees. You should apply extra mulch around the base. If it will get a lot of cold winds, I would also wrap some burlap around it.

A:  We now live in NC but I can say that we had a wonderful hydrangea - kind unknown - that thrived in our backyard in Cleveland Hts. Ohio

A:  yes I am in Pa. I tie my stems up with string so the wind during winter doesn't break them off.

A:  Mine survived 2 winters already in Dutchess County NY. I did all a little mulch around it during the onset of winter. Patricia

A:  This did not make it through the season in Lakewood, Colorado.

A:  Hi Lincoln, Tuff Stuff Reblooming Hydrangea is hardy in zones 5-9. Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to find out what zone you are in. If you have any other questions, feel free to call our hotline at (734) 654-7485. Best regards, Amanda

A:  Can't say... no deer in my yard lately? thanks for asking though. Gd

A:  Hi kk, Unfortunately none of our hydrangeas are deer resistant. However, Sonic Bloom Pink Reblooming Weigela and Bloomerang Dark Purple Reblooming Lilac are deer resistant. If you have any other questions, feel free to call our hotline (734) 654-7485. Best regards, Amanda

A:  In my time on earth I have witnessed dear eating plants they were not suppose to like if they are hungry enough they will eat anything green. I have a deer family that took bites out of all my vegetables this spring when it was dry.

A:  No, this hydrangea is not deer resistant.

A:  If food is scarce, a hungry deer will eat just about any plant. Hydrangeas are susceptible to deer damage. Since these bloom on new growth, you might still get flowers if deer damage happens in winter or early spring. The ones I planted last year did not suffer any die back and have abundant buds on old wood and lots of new buds pushing out from base of plant. This might be a good sign that these would recover quickly if heavily deer damaged.

A:  No, this is not deer resistant.

A:  Hi Mae, Tuff Stuff Reblooming is not deer resistant, but our Buddleias and Sonic Bloom Pink are. If you have any other questions, feel free to call our hotline (734) 654-7485. Best regards, Amanda

A:  Hi Linda, The Tuff Stuff's blooms are usually spent by late summer. You may snip off the old blooms if it looks better to you than to leave them on. However, do not prune it now. Only prune to shape immediately after the spring bloom. The best time to fertilize is in the spring also, when plants are putting on new leaf/stem growth. Fertilizing now may do more harm than good because the plant needs to shut down the foliage, store energy in the roots, and put on some new root growth. As the weather becomes colder, you'll notice your plant not looking its best. Not to worry, it's just going dormant. It will come back in the spring with new leaves and blooms. If you have any questions, please call our hotline (734) 654- 7485. Best regards, Fallon

A:  when your flowers wilt it is to hot,needs water.

A:  They are supposed to get about 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide from what I have read. I just bought mine this year (2017) so they are still small. I bought 2 plants and one is blooming this year. They are growing well and I'm very pleased with them. I tried ordering one from another web site (Burpee) and it was DOA due to the shipping. Hydrangeas can be pruned too of course.

A:  Hi Liftlikelizzy, The Tuff Stuff Reblooming Mountain Hydrangea reaches a mature height and width of 2-3 feet. If you have any questions, please call our hotline (734) 654- 7485. Best regards, Fallon

A:  I believe so. They are pretty hardy and should do well.

A:  Hi Mendoza17, The Tuff Stuff Reblooming Hydrangea is hardy in zones 5-9 and Texas varies from 6b, located in the northern part of the state, to 9a in the south of Texas. Tuff Stuff requires four or more hours of direct sunlight a day, or part to full sun. The semi-double to double florets begin with creamy coloration in the center before maturing to an intense pink. Flowers may shift to blue in acidic soils. Add aluminum sulfate to the soil to encourage blue flower color. If you have any questions, please call our hotline (734) 654- 7485. Best regards, Fallon

A:  hydrangea droop in the sun they like shade in hottest part of day. They do grow in poor soil.

A:  Hi Maisie, The Tuff Stuff Reblooming Hydrangea, although it looks delicate, is a great plant for sandy soil and holds up well to wind too. Prefers moist, well-drained soil. Supplemental water may be needed in very hot weather. Fertilize in spring with a controlled release fertilizer. Flower color will be affected by soil: in acidic soils with aluminium availability the flowers will be purple or blue. If you have any questions, please call our hotline (734) 654-7485. Best regards, Fallon