How To Keep Potted Hydrangeas Over Winter

How to keep potted hydrangeas over winter

A potted hydrangea is a gift that keeps on giving. It can be planted outdoors after all chance of frost is past if you live in Zone 6 and south. (It's worth trying in Zone 5, too. Just plant the hydrangea in a protected place.)

How do you keep hydrangeas alive in pots?

Gently firm the soil around the roots to eliminate air pockets. When the top inch or so of the potting mix feels dry, water your hydrangea thoroughly. But it's better to underwater than overwater. Hydrangeas will signal you by wilting when they need a drink, but that can stress them, so check them every day or so.

How do you keep outdoor potted hydrangeas alive?

Deeply water 3 times a week to encourage root growth. Bigleaf and smooth hydrangeas require more water, but all varieties benefit from consistent moisture. Use a soaker hose to water deeply and keep moisture off the flowers and leaves. Watering in the morning will help prevent hydrangeas from wilting during hot days.

Should I cut down my hydrangea for winter?

Cut back these shrubs in late winter before new growth begins. Because they need to grow and set buds the same year that they bloom, shrubs that flower on new wood generally start blossoming later than old-growth bloomers, beginning in midsummer and continuing until the first frost.

How do you winterize hydrangeas?

How to Winterize Hydrangeas

1. Clean up your fall garden. Late fall is an ideal time to clear an excess of organic matter out of your garden.
2. Water before the first frost. ...
3. Lightly prune the plants. ...
4. Add a thick layer of mulch. ...
5. Wrap with winter protection.

How long will a potted hydrangea last?

If properly maintained, these shrubs can grow between 4 and 12 feet tall, and live for decades, sharing their frothy blooms most of the summer. Hydrangeas are long-lived shrubs, sometimes living for up to 50 years if properly cared for.

Should I deadhead hydrangeas in pots?

Removing the spent blooms triggers flowering shrubs to stop producing seeds and instead put their energy toward root and foliage development. This makes plants stronger and healthier, so by deadheading, you'll be doing your hydrangeas a favor.

Are hydrangeas happy in pots?

The good news is that they are easy to grow, both in pots and in the open ground. All they need is the right situation, plenty of water in dry weather and occasional feeding with the right fertiliser; one that is formulated to bring out the best in them.

Do hydrangeas grow better in pots or in the ground?

If you've already read up on how to grow hydrangeas, you'll know that these plants thrive in organically rich soil that doesn't dry out in summer. For this reason, they are generally happiest planted directly into the ground, as containers tend to dry out much quicker.

How do I overwinter hydrangeas in my garage?

Here are a few ways to overwinter your plants. Sink the pot in the ground, if it is an all weather non-decorative container, to protect the roots from the cold. Or move them into an unheated garage once the plants are dormant. Set the pot on a board and surround it with “stuff” to provide added insulation.

What temperature is too cold for potted hydrangeas?

Effectively, a hydrangea should be able to sustain a temperature of minus-10 degrees. But in the real world, temperatures as low as 12 degrees — and late fall or early spring freezes — may reduce the flowering capability of this hydrangea.

Will hydrangeas survive the winter in pots?

Potted hydrangeas overwinter best in a garage or basement where the temperature stays cool but doesn't freeze. The plants will go dormant, but you'll still need to water the pots occasionally, about once a month, to keep the roots moist, until spring.

Where do you cut hydrangeas for the winter?

Instead, trim back overgrown branches by up to one-third of their height to maintain the shape of the shrub, and cut any dead, damaged or crossed branches back to the base of the affected branch. You can cut back a badly overgrown 'Annabelle' hydrangea to just above soil level in winter after the shrub goes dormant.

What happens if you don't cut down hydrangeas?

What happens if you don't prune hydrangeas? If you don't prune hydrangeas then they can eventually resemble a tangled mass of woody stems, and the flowers will become smaller and less showy. If your hydrangeas are not blooming, lack of pruning is often a reason.

Can hydrangea live indoors?

Prized for their fantastic flowers, hydrangeas have been successfully grown as blooming indoor houseplants for ages.

What month do you cut hydrangeas back?

Trimming should be done immediately after flowering stops in summer, but no later than August 1. Do not prune in fall, winter, or spring or you could be cutting off new buds. Tip-pruning the branches as leaves emerge in spring can encourage multiple, smaller flower heads rather than fewer larger flower heads.

Do potted hydrangeas come back every year?

Many people discard their hydrangeas after the flowers initially fade, but with the proper care, the plant will bloom again.

Do you water hydrangeas in winter?

They're supposed to lose their leaves this time of year. Make sure it stays hydrated throughout the winter if you don't have snow cover. Even though the plants are dormant, they still need some hydration at their roots. Snow cover not only provides insulation, but also a water source.

Is Miracle Grow good for hydrangeas?

Feeding Hydrangeas A slow-release plant food works well. For best results, try Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed® Flowering Trees & Shrubs Plant Food, which feeds for up to 3 months.

Should I cut off brown hydrangea blooms?

The best time to deadhead is when the first set of blooms on your hydrangeas begin to turn brown and dry. Cut the stem below the flower head and just above the first set of leaves. For reblooming types, you can deadhead again when this second set begins to fade, but only through mid-August or so.

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