i know nothing about your zone ... and if you have any issues/experience about pots over winter ....

but i would cut my odds ... and at some point plant 2 in mother earth ... and leave 2 in pots ... just in case ....

you might get opinion on such.. in the perennial forum ...

ken

The most appropriate comments would be generated by the Hydrangeas forum.....to which this is already posted. It is a shrub, not a herbaceous perennial.

In zone 8, there is little to no issue about overwintering planted containers. It seldom is ever cold enough to be of concern.

And I have to wonder about the advisability of commenting on issues that are beyond one's experience.............not sure they are the slightest bit helpful but only add to any confusion.

I've tended these babies along this far, and am admittedly got the new mother jitters re: overwintering. Won't put them in the ground, rather keep in their pot homes. What is of big concern is not so much the temps dipping, but rather the high winds/heavy rains/hurricanes/flooding that can occur being in SE coastal North Carolina. Could put under my carport on a stand/shelf/counter raised in case of flooding like last year which would be dark, but then I don't know how much sunlight these need in winter. Read somewhere to cover with a clay pot to protect (???) That would be in total darkness. Have been searching all over the net to know sound info on how much sunlight needed during the upcoming season, to no avail.

They need no light when dormant (without leaves), so the carport arrangement should work fine.

THANKS that really helps. When do they come out of dormancy? By day/night temps? And lastly, will all be okay even tho I have not given any fertilizer to date? Sure appreciate your help.

Emergence from dormancy is usually triggered by day length and temperatures. When you see the buds start to swell on the mother plant outside, I would gradually acclimate the cuttings to the outdoors as well. And wait to fertilize the pots of cuttings until spring and they have fully leafed out.

You have provided me with valuable information which I have written down and will follow. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

You are very welcome :-)

watering in winter can be tricky ..... they need to be moist ... but not sodden ... and its probably not an issue in yoru zone ,....

but up here in MI ... i use ice cubes ... for amount control ...

again .. i have no clue how that would work in your zone ... i just want to make.. hopefully ... some suggestions ...

good luck ... bottom line.. try not to kill them. with too much love ...

ken