How to manage hydrangeas over the winter?

Hydrangea is loved by many people for its long flowering period and rich colors, and is often grown at home. As the temperature drops, some flower lovers will move hydrangeas indoors, constantly watering and fertilizing them to promote their growth and keep the leaves bright green. However, this approach is actually wrong. Hydrangeas should be managed with moderation in winter, which will help them bloom better next year and may even cause the pots to overflow. If you continue to water and fertilize frequently, your hydrangea may not bloom next year. Let’s learn how to manage hydrangeas over the winter.

1. Moderate freezing

Most hydrangea varieties are quite cold-resistant, but the degree of cold resistance varies. For example, panicle hydrangeas and wood hydrangeas can withstand temperatures as low as minus 20 to 30 degrees Celsius, while common large-flowered hydrangeas (such as Endless Summer) can also withstand temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius. Therefore, do not rush to move the hydrangea indoors, but instead let it experience moderately low temperatures to cause the leaves to fall off and prepare for better flowering next year.

For large-flowered hydrangeas, it is best to place them outdoors or in a cool environment, and keep the temperature below zero for a period of time so that their leaves will naturally wither and fall off, leaving only the main trunk, and keep it for at least a month to allow them to naturally enter a dormant state. After that, move it to an environment where the indoor temperature is above 15 degrees, and its top buds will begin to grow and eventually bloom.

2. Reduce watering

When caring for hydrangeas indoors in winter, watering should be reduced due to poor ventilation and slow evaporation of water. Too much water may cause the soil in the pot to freeze and affect the plant roots. Just keep the soil in the pot slightly moist. It is recommended to water it at noon when the light is good, and then water it again when the soil in the pot is half dry. In this way, the sunlight during the day helps the water evaporate, keeps the soil moist, and prevents the pot soil from freezing.

3. Stop fertilizing

Hydrangeas require ample fertilizer during the growing and flowering periods, but in winter, if you want them to bloom better, you should not fertilize them once they enter a dormant state. Fertilizing during dormancy may cause root burn. The correct approach is to add fertilizer during growth and germination, especially high-phosphorus potassium dihydrogen phosphate, to promote flowering.

4. Adequate lighting

Hydrangea is a shade-tolerant plant and is afraid of strong sunlight, especially in the hot summer noons. However, in spring, autumn and winter, sufficient light should be ensured, because light helps the branches to photosynthesize, slowly produce nutrients, return to the root system, and keep the root system healthy. Even during dormancy, hydrangeas need sufficient light and should be avoided in places with weak light to prevent damage to the branches and roots.

To sum up, hydrangeas are very beautiful when they bloom in the spring. If you want to enjoy the sight of it bursting out of the pot, you should place it in a low temperature environment moderately in winter. As long as the temperature is not lower than minus 15 degrees, keep it for a few months and then move it to an indoor environment above 15 degrees. Water and fertilize normally, the hydrangea will quickly grow buds and bloom.