Q.How do I winter a potted hydrangea?
Our basement is cool and damp in the summer but we burn wood down there in the winter.

Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Potted hydrangeas don't stand up well to a lot of freezing weather, but they also don't want to be warm in the winter, so your basement might not be the best spot unless there's a cool corner available. If you have a protected spot where you can surround them with something like hay bales or thick foam or cardboard, they'd be better off in a darkened area on a deck or porch than in a warm room. A garage or shed works best.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-winter-care-how-to-protect-hydrangeas-from-winter-cold-and-wind.htm