Potted Hydrangias

Hydrangeas will not survive in the house over the winter.Your location was not specified,It would be best for winter protection to plant them in a partial shaded localation

Lucky you! Here, see if this helps you out.

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/hydrangea/hydrangea-winter-care-how-to-protect-hydrangeas-from-winter-cold-and-wind.htm

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-overwinter-container-plants-1402050

Not knowing your growing zone, the following is general information from the Midwest, zone 6. -https://www.melindamyers.com/component/option,com_kb/Itemid,2323/article,1435/task,article/

Continue watering until the ground freezes. Make sure your container will withstand the rigors of winter. (Terra cotta won't, I know that for a fact.) If not you may want to move the plants to a nursery pot that can be place inside the decorative pot during the growing season. Overwintering these types of hydrangeas indoors is difficult and usually not successful.

Here are a few ways to overwinter your plants.

-Sink the pot in the ground, if it is an all weather non-decorative container, to protect the roots from the cold. Or move them into an unheated garage once the plants are dormant.

-Set the pot on a board and surround it with “stuff” (hay/straw/woodchips and old blankets) to provide added insulation. Or move the pots to a sheltered location and surround with bales of hay, mulch or other insulating materials. -Water whenever the soil is thawed and dry.

-As for pruning. Let the plants stand for winter – this increases hardiness.

- In spring prune off the dead wood. Leave any living stems stand for earlier bloom. (I am guessing you purchased Endless Summer or Blushing Bride that blooms on old and new growth.)

If theses plants die back to the ground they will still flower for you.

Why not just plant them in the ground? Believe it or not, fall is the best time to plant shrubs, ornamental trees and shrubs. You can plant all the way up till a hard frost. Just be sure to keep them well watered until the cold weather hits. id you keep them in pots, (you didn't mention your zone) they will freeze and definitely die. Planting them in the ground is the only way, short of bringing them in the house!! 😊

Try to find a magic marker the same color as the carpet. Fill in gently. It will probably look better than the bleach spots.