Potted hydrangeas are a very popular purchase in early spring, when their gorgeous pink, blue, or white blossoms add a welcome splash of colour indoors when things are still drab outside. Not only will they give you a long period of bloom when you bring them home from the store, but they can be kept indefinitely as potted plants indoors or outside!
Potted hydrangeas will bloom for as long as 6 months, depending on the variety you are growing. Once you bring them out of dormancy in mid to late winter, it may take 4 months for flowers to open, but the long-lasting blooms make them worth the wait.
How to Care for Potted Hydrangeas?
1. Keep your potted hydrangea in a spot with bright but indirect light, in a cool spot away from heat sources that will dry them out.
2. Water whenever the soil surface is dry to the touch, but never let the pot sit in water.
3. Feed once a month with a water-soluble fertilizer, slowly poured over the soil surface shortly after watering.
4. Prune immediately following blooming, and repot in fresh soil.
5. Set the pot in a cool spot for the early winter. An unheated garage or cold cellar is ideal. 6 weeks is the minimum required chilling period. Do not water or feed it at all.
6. Set the pot in a cool, bright spot out of the direct sun, and start watering and feeding regularly.
Can Hydrangeas Survive the Winter in Pots?
Depending on how cold your winters are, you have a few alternative methods to over-winter hydrangeas in pots.
If you have them planted in large containers with a considerable amount of soil, they will be fairly well insulated from freezing temperatures, as long as you’re in Zone 6 or higher.
However, to be perfectly safe, you can remove the hydrangeas from their pots in early to mid fall and plant them out in a vegetable bed for the winter. Lay down a good layer of mulch once freezing weather arrives.
You can also move smaller pots into an unheated garage or basement for the winter. Hydrangeas require at least 6 weeks of chilling to ensure blooms the following year, so be sure you give them that cold break.
Potted Hydrangeas Temperature Tolerance?
Hydrangeas bloom best at temperatures from 50 to 60°F (10 to 15°C). This is obviously cooler than most heated homes, so find a spot well away from any heat source, and move the plant to the coolest place possible overnight.
They need temperatures at 45°F (7°C) or lower for their dormant period.
Do Potted Hydrangeas Come Back Each Year?
While many people simply toss their indoor potted hydrangeas when they are finished flowering, you can keep them blooming from year to year with some simple tricks.
Once they have finished flowering, cut the branches back to the lowest 2 pairs of leaves or leaf buds, and move the pots outdoors to a shady spot that gets some morning sun. Water and fertilize them regularly until mid-fall, when cooler temperatures will start their dormant cycle.
As temperatures continue to drop, either move them to an unheated garage or basement, and keep them there for a minimum of 6 weeks.
You can then move them to a cool, bright spot indoors and start feeding and watering them, and they should bloom again in about 4 months.
When Should You Plant Hydrangeas in a Pot?
The best time to replant hydrangeas in a pot is after they have finished blooming. Use heavy clay or ceramic pots to support the top-heavy growth, and fill them with a fluffy mix of potting soil and peat moss.
How Long Do Potted Hydrangeas Take to Grow?
Once they have broken dormancy, potted hydrangeas will bloom in about 4 months. Until then, enjoy their fresh green foliage as a backdrop to other flowering plants.
How Long Will Potted Hydrangeas Last Inside?
Potted hydrangeas can bloom for several months inside when kept well-watered and fertilized. Once they’re finished flowering, it’s best to cut them back and move them outside to a shady spot until the fall.
Final Thoughts
Instead of treating a potted hydrangea as a one-and-done flowering plant, you can take a few simple steps to keep these gorgeous perennials as potted plants for years to come!
Read my related plant articles:
- How Long Do Potted Daffodils Last?
- How Long Do Potted Azaleas Last?
- What to Do with Potted Plants at End of Season?
- How Long Do Potted Geraniums Last?
- How Long Does It Take for Leaves to Decompose?
- How Long Does It Take for Tree Branches to Decompose?
- How Long Will Sod Last on a Pallet?
Janice is a retired High School teacher who is spending her leisure years keeping busy with all sorts of projects. Aside from freelance writing, she’s an enthusiastic amateur chef, home wine maker, and tends a large raised-bed vegetable garden, while at the same time running a Bed & Breakfast.