How to bring potted Hydrangea "back to life"?

Question

I have a co:worker who went on vacation and left a very small potted Hydrangea with someone else to take care of. Well, the poor thing looks dead. There is no drainage hole, and while I don't know that they overwatered it before now, it is soaked today which I doubt will do any good. The leaves all shriveled up and it's just plain dead looking.

But just in case there is any life left in it, I'm going to take it home now because the "plant sitter" is on vacation too and the plant owner is still out. I think some fresh soil and fresh (outdoors) air might help.

Anything else?

Please 0 I know if it's dead, nothing will help. But if there IS any life left in it, are there any other things I can do???

Answer 1

Many hydrangeas sold for houseplant use have very short lives. It's how they were bred. There's probably nothing you can do if this is the case. But for an experiment, you can put it outdoors in a well-lit but not intensely sunny place with a lot of water to see what happens. Sometimes they will live for a season or two after that. But don't expect much.

Answer 2

baby bio is very good plant food and may help.

re pot it.

Answer 3

I rescued one just like this from my assistant's desk several years ago and it is now a big ole bush in my backyard.  Here is what I did.  Transplant it into another, larger pot with drainage and some decent well composted potting soil.  Trim it back, especially where it is dead.  Don't worry, it will come back and give it a boost with some organic fertilizer.  Mine do like moist soil conditions, so don't neglect it.  Give it some time, some real sunlight, be patient and it will come back.