Hydrangea leafing out before spring

Question

Hi there. I planted a hydrangea in a pot last summer and brought it into the garage to overwinter. It looked pretty barren over Christmas. But now it is end of February and the plant seems to be awake. There are a bunch of new growths and the buds on the old stems are starting to swell and open. What do I do now? We are in Colorado and it’s still fairly cold outside.

Answer 1

This will depend on the variety of hydrangea that you have. It is most likely a variety that is hardy in your area. Most are hardy from zones 5-9. If this is the case, then keeping them in a garage all winter can do more damage than good, since they will need that cold dormancy to keep them healthy. As for right now, what you will have to do is treat it as a VERY HIGH LIGHT requirement houseplant. Keep in a southern window or under horticultural lights until you can plant it out for the year.

This article will give you more information on their care: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/growing-hydrangeas-hydrangea-care-guide.htm