I don't understand why you are trying to prevent the plant from going dormant. Dormancy is a period of rest for plants that helps ensure their long term survival.

When hydrangeas "go dormant", the leaves and blooms brown out and the stems harden and -sometimes- change color. But in tropical locations, they keep their foliage and produce new leaves while temporarily keeping the old leaves a tad longer. You can see this in mild winters sometimes; some of my oakleaf hydrangeas do that.

I would not worry much at the plant's refusal to produce new foliage or branches. I have seen them produce leaves quickly and very slowly. It will do that when it wants to. All you can do is keep the soil evenly moist and properly fertilized.

In Texas, many other shrubs go semi dormant during my hot summers. They (roses for example) stop blooming or produce small blooms or even produce blooms with a different color. Hydrangeas here do not show foliage changes in Summer but their root systems continue developing. So, just keep giving it TLC (tender loving care) until it decides to produce new growth. But your temps are way cooler than mine.

Do not forget to fertilize more often when the shrub is potted. And amend the soil too so the soil does not become too alkaline.

Hi @mintcar123, I am not trying to stop the plant to go into dormancy. just that it's unusual in the weather we have here.

Just give it time. A long time sometimes. In the meantime, keep it well watered, fertilized and amended (if it needs to be amended). I have had to wait sometimes as long as next Spring. And other times, when I cut as new growth was starting, I got new foliage somewhat quickly.

Hi @luis_pr @gardengal48 thanks for your inputs. I do give the plant liquid homemade fertilizer for growth. is it a slow growing plant ? The temperature out here in Mumbai is 23 C low and 32 C high with a humidity from medium to high ( 50 % - 85 % ) mostly clouded at present with a little sunshine. Can I propagate it now ? Am I loving the plant too much : p

Gotcha, aki.

Nice temps! Hydrangeas root fairly easily from softwood cuttings best taken in May through July so I would "hurry". :o)

Can I root the cuttings in water and let it grow there??

I have not tried it but ophoenix has grown them for long periods of time... temporarily. Here is a post that someone created on the subject:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1989194/rooting-hydrangeas-in-water