How do I care for a potted, blooming hydrangea?

Question:

How do I care for a potted, blooming hydrangea?

Answer:

Bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is frequently sold in garden centers and floral shops during winter and early spring and features large ball-shaped clusters of blue or pink flowers. Place hydrangeas in bright, indirect light and cool temperatures (60 to 65°F). Keep soil evenly moist and water just as the soil becomes dry to the touch. Do not allow water to collect in the decorative plastic or foil pot cover.

Plants require a complicated series of steps to force them into bloom indoors. The cultivars used for florist plants are not reliably winter hardy in Iowa and if they survive the winter, they do not reliably flower. For these reasons, discard plants once the flowers fade.