Question
well, i just did what you indicated on your web sight i should NOT do and i cut back all the woody stems on my hydrangeas.  however, my question is this:  i have the big, leafy, white variety and my blooms are generally green.  i have acidified my soil according to package directions, with no change in color.  then, i literally "doused" the root with the soil acidifier powder and did see some flowers turn white.  am i hurting the plant?  are the blooms green because i cut off the woody  stems?  what should i try in order to get white blooms?  otherwise, they seem healthy.  thanks, in advance.  bernadette  

Answer
Bernadette,
This is a question I am most often asked.Those elusive Hydrangeas just have a mind of their own and it sounds like you did just about everything you could to get some color. Cutting off the old wood will cause the plant to produce NO bloom so I can't believe you actually got bloom.You may have an Annabelle Hydrangea,which is a little different from the big leaf macrophyllas.So it is possible that they don't mind being cut back. But the green shade of the blooms may be the result of that. What happened is that the blooms came out as premature or new buds as opposed to a more mature budding.So they may remain green for a few years.Adding an acidifier does help but time most likely will be the main factor here.In gardening patience is indeed a virtue.Hopefully next year you will see a more mature plant and therefore your blooms will again go through the color change process,just a bit more slowly.You can indeed keep adding some acidifier to your soil and douse the blooms as well.Just do not cut off the old wood.
Hope it turns out well for you!