Indoor hydrangea help!

[flaria]

I was given a beautiful indoor hydrangea, which according to the label says it can go outdoors once we’re past the frosts. Its flowers have been beautiful but are now starting to wilt and dry up and it appears to have new buds growing further down the stem. Should I prune it when I pot it out? I’ve never had an indoor hydrangea before, I don’t know what type it is, google suggests it’s a penny mac. Any advice greatly received

Can you not put it in the ground, in the shade, it would be happier there?
And yes, I’d snip the dead flowers off. It would also benefit from a feed.

It will be a Hydrangea macrophylla - most likely a mop head. It's only an indoor plant because it has been forced to flower early in a Dutch greenhouse and sold in flower. It will need careful gardening off, very gradually exposing it to more sun, cold and wind. You will probably find it's not one plant but a group of cuttings.

It will feel much better when it gets in the fresh air outside. Remove the spent flower heads, and start standing it outdoors in a shady place every day. If there's a mild night it can stay out, otherwise if the temperature is likely to fall below 7 degrees then bring it in overnight. This process is called 'hardening off'. Keep it well watered and it will be fine. Then in early May you can plant it in the ground. Make sure you do continue to water it all summer though, until it is established.

Thanks all - will give it a go! Unfortunately we don’t have any space in the shady parts of our garden, so think it will have to go in a pot. Really hoping I can keep this one going 🤞

Always gardening is correct. There's technically no such thing as an indoor hydrangea.its a shrub,it's too hot and dry inside for it. They like shade damp soil,yes, put it in a pot outside. Don't feed or prune,it will have enough shock by the re potting.