People often cannot resist the attractive flowers of potted Hydrangeas and finally, they purchase one. But they wonder about lasting their indoor Hydrangea after buying or getting it as a gift. Contrary to what most of my colleague believes, in my experience, indoor hydrangeas last for years if you know how to parent them. Stay with me in this post.
Hi, I’m a horticultural consultant. Most nurseries sell potted Hydrangeas as indoor plants; however, I know they aren’t real houseplants. I discussed it in my other post when I answered a frequent question “Is there any indoor Hydrangea?”.
Most of the indoor Hydrangeas are varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla. Unlike the outdoor cultivars, indoor varieties cannot tolerate the cold weather. Are you thinking “So, they are a kind of houseplant.’? I must say you, if you bought it for its stunning flowers, unfortunately, your lovely potted Hydrangea cannot bloom indoors!
Yeah, in nature, the Hydrangeas only bloom after experiencing the cold short days of winter. so, if you keep them indoors, they never bloom again. Let me tell you a fact, the ones you buy from nurseries were treated under special treatments including specific temperatures and lighting periods to force them to flower before presenting in the market. I discussed it in my other post “Differences between indoor and outdoor Hydrangeas”.
If you are thinking of putting your indoor hydrangea outside to produce flowers, I must say these varieties cannot tolerate the cold weather. It is the reason most gardeners believe indoor hydrangeas last only for one year. Nevertheless, I will give you tips to parent your potted Hydrangea for years, although doing this plan is not easy.
I put my indoor Hydrangea in a bright place with direct sunlight in my house or outside during spring and summer. As I told you above most Indoor Hydrangea are varieties of Hydrangea macrophylla and produce their bloom buds in the previous summer after flowering. If you are interested to know more about the flowering cycle of Hydrangea macrophylla and the importance of winter in its blooming, read my other post “Can I Bring My Potted Hydrangea Inside for the Winter?”.
By the coming cold seasons, when it loses its leaves, I decrease watering and put its pot in a larger planter and fill it in between with straw, packing peanuts, etc. Then I create a greenhouse for it by covering my Hydrangea with plastic. I look for a sheltered spot for my hydrangea, near a wall or under a porch, to protect it from harsh winds and extreme temperatures.
In late March, I bring it outside from its greenhouse and let it wake up. I recommend reading my other post “Can I Leave My Potted Hydrangea Outside in Winter?” to gain more details on this issue.
In conclusion, you can make arrangements for wintering your indoor Hydrangea and enjoy its stunning flowers for years.
Elahe Rabiei
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.