We were given a hydrangea plant at the end of April. It bloomed beautifully for 1 to 2 months inside. I cut it back when all the blooms were spent. Then I put it outside and the green leaves just grew and grew, but I don’t see any new blooms coming on. Do you think it will bloom again this season? What should I do with it once frost comes?

Generally, “gift” hydrangeas are the stunning pink or blue-blossomed bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla). These are often kept as houseplants in Michigan because they are not hardy to our zone 5. As container plants, they can be transplanted into the ground in zones 6 to 9, but only if they are well-sited in moist, well-drained soil heavily amended with peat moss and leaf mold. Protected partial shade is also very important.

Not only are hydrangeas particular about location and conditions, each species is picky about pruning. Cutting it back after the blooms were spent is appropriate for bigleaf hydrangea. The plant produces flowers from buds formed on the previous season’s growth. It does not typically bloom again this season. However, as you’ve experienced, you will get additional greenery.

Since this is more of a houseplant, you should bring it indoors for protection before temperatures drop and frost is possible. Be careful about placing the plant too close to heat or air conditioning vents, or windows with direct sun. As a container plant, you will need to keep the soil acidic through the use of water-soluble fertilizers, in addition to maintaining an appropriate soil medium. If you wish to encourage one color or the other for next year, you will need to check the pH of the soil on a regular basis. A pH of 5.0 to 5.5 will satisfactorily produce blue flowers while a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 will cause pink coloration.