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overwintering hydrangeas #776557

Asked October 27, 2021, 12:17 PM EDT

If I bring in my potted hydrangea for the winter, do I put in a dark garage and ignore it until spring or do I bring it into my home and keep watering it?

Denver County Colorado

Expert Response

thank you for your question. Hydrangeas in pots can survive in the winter with planning and care. Before there is a freeze, prune  back the old wood. If you bring them indoors don't over water or give too much sunlight.  It might be best to put in a dark garage with some minimal light, and wrap so the plant won't freeze. Hydrangea are for outdoor planting so think about planting it in the pot/in the ground during the early summer for next winter.

Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied October 28, 2021, 4:26 PM EDT
If I put my hydrangea into hibernation in a dark, cool (not cold) place should I water it at all? For years I have just put my shamrocks away from November to March and ignored them. They always come back when I water them again. I tried that with a Cyclamen and it never came back.  I live in a loft condo so the hydrangea would go in a closet or storage unit.  I live in a condo with lots of windows. I don't have a good shady corner to put it in.

The person who sold us the hydrangea said we could keep it outside if we wrapped it in bubble wrap. That was a bit confusing. Would it need any water?

I appreciate any advice you can give me.

Lynn Buschhoff

On Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 2:27 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied October 29, 2021, 12:41 PM EDT

Thank you for your follow-up question. 

If you keep the plant at room temperature and keep watering it, it might not bloom again. 

If you want your hydrangea to bloom again, it needs a period of cool temperatures in order to induce re-flowering. This involves keeping it at temperatures of 35 to 60 degrees F for about six weeks. Before getting the pot ready to store, make sure it is well watered, and check occasionally. Even after above-ground growth has gone dormant, the roots continue to need a little water.  After the cooling period, the plant can be moved to a sunny room with night temperatures of 55 to 60 degrees F. Water it well and fertilize about every two weeks and it could flower about four months later.

Here are some links to more information about overwintering hydrangeas and other potted plants.  

https://ipm.missouri.edu/MEG/2018/3/hydrangea/

https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-11-18-overwintering-potted-plants

https://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/articles/2004/pottedtreesshrubs.shtml

Colorado Master Gardener, Denver County Replied October 30, 2021, 2:05 PM EDT

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